# Dr. Sharmila

Dr. Sharmila (born 15 November 1974) is a doctor, actress, social activist and YouTuber from Tamil Nadu, India. She debuted in a STAR Vijay show, Puthira Punithama? along with N. Mathrubootham, which made her popular. She went on to act in various television series in both Tamil and Malayalam, and a couple of Tamil films.

## Early life

Sharmila was born on 15 November 1974 in Bombay (now Mumbai), the capital city of Maharashtra, into a Brahmin family who later settled in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu. Her father Kothandaraman owned a pharmaceutical concern.
Sharmila had a younger brother Hari who died sometime before 2022.

## Education

Sharmila attended C.S.I. Ewart Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Chennai, and was a topper there. She also learnt Bharatanatyam for ten years under Nandana Gopalakrishnan.

## Medical career

Sharmila went on pursue an MBBS degree in Orthopedics at Kilpauk Medical College (Chennai) in 1993. Later, she worked as a house surgeon at Government Royapettah Hospital around 1996.

## Television career

Sharmila started anchoring quiz shows on Jaya TV (formerly JJ TV), following which she conducted a talk show Indha Vaaram Ivar, in which she interviewed celebrities. She was subsequently selected by reputed psychiatrist Dr. N. Mathrubootham, who wanted to conduct sex education discussions on television, to read the letters from the public. The show, Puthira Punithama? brought Sharmila, who was dubbed "gutsy" for hosting the show, to popularity. Director K. Balachander took notice of her and offered her roles in his tele-serials such as Jannal and Irandaam Chanaakiyan. Sharmila considers Balachander as her mentor and guru who taught her the nuances of acting.
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Channel | Notes |
| | Punnagi | | Tamil | | |
| | Kurangu Manasu | | Tamil | | |
| 1999 | Guhan | | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 1999–2000 | Jannal-Marabu Kavithaigal | Gomathi | Tamil | Raj TV | |
| 1999 | Dhik Dhik Dhik | Viji | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2000 | Kelviyin Nayagane | Jeevitha | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2001 | Oorarinda Rahasiyam | Krishnaveni | Tamil | DD Podhigai | |
| 2000–2001 | Irandaam Chanakyan | | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2000 | Vishalam | Vishalam | Tamil | DD Podhigai | |
| 2001–2002 | Nandini Oppol | Nandini Nurse | Malayalam | Asianet | |
| 2001–2003 | Nambikkai | Nandini | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2002–2004 | Agni Saatchi | Nila | Tamil | Vijay TV | |
| 2002–2004 | Indhira | Manogiri | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2003–2004 | Sahana | | Tamil | Jaya TV | |
| 2003–2007 | Avargal | | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2003–2005 | Adugiran Kannan | Gayathri | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2006 | Penn | Uma | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2005–2007 | Malargal | | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2005–2007 | Muhurtham | | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2007 | Chellamadi Nee Enakku | Shylaja | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2007 | Naanayam | | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2007–2010 | Athipookal | Dr. Jhansi | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2007 | Aṟiviyal Aruvi | | Tamil | DD Podhigai | |
| 2008 | Devimahathmyam | Mena | Malayalam | Asianet | |
| 2008–2009 | Savale Samali | Rajakumari | Tamil | Raj TV | |
| 2008–2009 | Naalavathu Mudichu | | Tamil | Jaya TV |
| 2008–2009 | Thenmozhiyal | | Tamil | Kalaignar TV | |
| 2011 | Devimahathmyam | Maharani/Janaki | Malayalam | Asianet | |
| 2011 | Adhiparasakthi | Maharani/Janaki | Tamil | Vijay TV | Bilingual with Devimahathmyam |
| 2012–2014 | Paartha Gnabagam Illayo | | Tamil | Kalaignar TV | |
| 2012–2014 | Merku Mambalathil Oru Kadhal | | Tamil | Zee Tamil | |
| 2012–2013 | Karthigai Pengal | | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2013–2014 | Agni Paravai | | Tamil | Puthuyugam TV | |
| 2014–2018 | Karuthamuthu | Jagadamba | Malayalam | Asianet | |
| 2015–2019 | Valli | Gayatri | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2016 | Sathyam Shivam Sundaram | Maharani | Malayalam | Amrita TV | |
| 2016 | Amme Mahamaye | Rugmini Mohini / Neeli / Dr. Karthika | Malayalam | Surya TV | |
| 2017–2019 | Pagal Nilavu | Malarvizhi | Tamil | Vijay TV | |
| 2018–2022 | Roja | Shenbagam / Saraswathi | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2019 | Kadaikutty Singam | Naachiyaar | Tamil | Vijay TV | |
| 2019 | Thazhampoo | Devaki | Tamil | Vijay TV | |
| 2019–2020 | Tamil Selvi | Dr. Indira | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2020 | Chandralekha | Vasundhara Devi | Tamil | Sun TV | |
| 2020 | Poove Unakkaga | Shenbagam | Tamil | Sun TV | Special Appearance |
| 2020 | Magarasi | Vasundhara Devi | Tamil | Sun TV | Special Appearance |
| 2022–Present | Ninaithale Inikkum | Savithri | Tamil | Zee Tamil | |

### Shows

* Hero Heroine (Sun TV)
* Candit Camera (Sun TV)
* Puthira Punithama?(Vijay TV)
* Quiz program (JJ TV)
* Indha Varam Ivar (Vijay TV)
* Kitchen Super Star - Doubles (Vijay TV)
* Puthandu Saval (Sun TV)
* Roja Rojadan (Sun TV)
* Maathi Yosi (Sun TV)
* Kalviya? Selvama? Veerama? (Sun TV)

## Filmography

* All films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | Kaadhali | Interviewer | |
| 1998 | Ponmanam | Priya | |
| 2000 | Chinna Chinna Kannile | Herself | |
| 2001 | Citizen | Bhai's wife | |
| 2001 | Paarthale Paravasam | | |
| 2002 | Onnaman | Ravisankar's sister in law | Malayalam film |
| 2009 | Padikathavan | Kavitha | |
| 2010 | Bale Pandiya | Pandiya's mother | |
| 2011 | Mappillai | Saravanan's sister | |
| 2011 | Narthagi | | |
| 2013 | Kalyana Samayal Saadham | Raghu's aunt | |
| 2014 | Marumunai | | |
| 2014 | Aindhaam Thalaimurai Sidha Vaidhiya Sigamani | Dr. Sathish Kumar's wife | |
| 2016 | Zero | Sharmila | |
| 2017 | Kaadhali | Bandhavi's mother | Telugu film |
| 2018 | Yenda Thalaiyila Yenna Vekkala | | |

## YouTube career

On 24 February 2022, Sharmila announced her Youtube channel named "Sharmila Talkies". The channel's content originally included politics, society, art, literature, food, life, health, soap opera, and cinema. Later, it predominantly discussed politics. On 1 December 2024, another channel named "Sudar" was announced, to cover topics other than politics, including fashion, science and history.

## Awards

* Won, Asianet Television award 2015 for Best Character Actress (special Jury) for Karuthamuthu
* Nomination, Vijay Television Awards for Best Negative role 2017 for Pagal Nilavu

## Personal life

Sharmila married AL Mohan, a TV production executive, but later they filed and were granted a divorce. Later, she married S. S. Balaji, a member of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
Sharmila has one child, a daughter, born on 28 December 2004.