Mamilla Shailaja Priya (20 May 1981), popularly known as Priya, is an Indian actress. She appears primarily in Telugu feature films and television soap operas, and has also acted in Hindi and Tamil language films.She made her acting debut in 1998 with the movie Master which featured Chiranjeevi. She has won the Nandi Award presented by the government of Andhra Pradesh for her role in this serial Priya Sakhi. Apart from soap operas, she has acted in about 200 feature films.

Early and personal life

Popularly known as Priya, Mamilla Shailaja Priya was born in 1981, in Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh. Her parents are Mamilla Venkateswar Rao and Mamilla Kusuma Kumari. She is the third child, among three sisters. She did her schooling in Hyderabad, Telangana. While in college, she won the Miss College Pageant. She later started pursuing her acting career. She completed her graduation with a B.A. Priya married Venkata Kishore Machiraju in 2002. They have a son, Nischay, who was born in 2003. They resided in Hyderabad.

Career

She started her television career with the runaway hit ''Priya Sakhi'' in which she portrayed the lead role which had different shades(ranging from the young to the old).It was so popular that she is still identified as "Priyasakhi" Priya and the name stuck to her. She has acted in serials like ''Priya Ninu Choodaleka'' and ''Priya O Priya''. Later, she has acted in almost all the leading Television channels in Telugu and Tamil. Her serials include ''Lady Detective'', ''Sangarshana'', ''Pelli Chesukundam'' & ''Jwaala'' for ETV, ''Dairy of Mrs Sharada'' & ''Kotha Bangaaram'' for Gemini TV, ''Maanasa'' for Maa TV, ''Vaidehi'' for Doordarshan, ''Chinna Kodalu'' for Zee TV, and ''Naagamma'' in Tamil for Sun TV. She has also done a Hindi serial titled ''Yehi hai Zindagi''. She has also appeared in Vani Rani serial in Tamil which aired on Sun TV. She was acting in the serial Kalyani in Telugu which airs on Gemini TV and Piriyadha Varam Vendum and Chocolate in Tamil which airs on Zee Tamizh and Sun TV.Santoor top 10 was a program anchored by Priya which ran for two years in Gemini Channel and she had portrayed different characters in each episode of the show. Similarly, ''Geethanjali'' was another music based show anchored by Priya for ETV and ran for a year. ''Endaro Mahanubhavulu'' is another show anchored by Priya which portrayed the achievements of various famous people in Andhra Pradesh from all walks of life.She has appeared in commercials for brands like Chandana Brothers, Shakthi Gas, Til Sona Oil and Kanchan Mixer Grinder. She has been credited with the cover page of the most popular Telugu family magazine, ''Swathi''. And also she was one of the 19 contestants in Bigg Boss Telugu season 5She started her television career with the runaway hit ''Priya Sakhi'' in which she portrayed the lead role which had different shades(ranging from the young to the old).It was so popular that she is still identified as "Priyasakhi" Priya and the name stuck to her. She has acted in serials like ''Priya Ninu Choodaleka'' and ''Priya O Priya''. Later, she has acted in almost all the leading Television channels in Telugu and Tamil. Her serials include ''Lady Detective'', ''Sangarshana'', ''Pelli Chesukundam'' & ''Jwaala'' for ETV, ''Dairy of Mrs Sharada'' & ''Kotha Bangaaram'' for Gemini TV, ''Maanasa'' for Maa TV, ''Vaidehi'' for Doordarshan, ''Chinna Kodalu'' for Zee TV, and ''Naagamma'' in Tamil for Sun TV. She has also done a Hindi serial titled ''Yehi hai Zindagi''. She has also appeared in Vani Rani serial in Tamil which aired on Sun TV. She was acting in the serial Kalyani in Telugu which airs on Gemini TV and Piriyadha Varam Vendum and Chocolate in Tamil which airs on Zee Tamizh and Sun TV.Santoor top 10 was a program anchored by Priya which ran for two years in Gemini Channel and she had portrayed different characters in each episode of the show. Similarly, ''Geethanjali'' was another music based show anchored by Priya for ETV and ran for a year. ''Endaro Mahanubhavulu'' is another show anchored by Priya which portrayed the achievements of various famous people in Andhra Pradesh from all walks of life.She has appeared in commercials for brands like Chandana Brothers, Shakthi Gas, Til Sona Oil and Kanchan Mixer Grinder. She has been credited with the cover page of the most popular Telugu family magazine, ''Swathi''. And also she was one of the 19 contestants in Bigg Boss Telugu season 5She started her television career with the runaway hit ''Priya Sakhi'' in which she portrayed the lead role which had different shades(ranging from the young to the old).It was so popular that she is still identified as "Priyasakhi" Priya and the name stuck to her. She has acted in serials like ''Priya Ninu Choodaleka'' and ''Priya O Priya''. Later, she has acted in almost all the leading Television channels in Telugu and Tamil. Her serials include ''Lady Detective'', ''Sangarshana'', ''Pelli Chesukundam'' & ''Jwaala'' for ETV, ''Dairy of Mrs Sharada'' & ''Kotha Bangaaram'' for Gemini TV, ''Maanasa'' for Maa TV, ''Vaidehi'' for Doordarshan, ''Chinna Kodalu'' for Zee TV, and ''Naagamma'' in Tamil for Sun TV. She has also done a Hindi serial titled ''Yehi hai Zindagi''. She has also appeared in Vani Rani serial in Tamil which aired on Sun TV. She was acting in the serial Kalyani in Telugu which airs on Gemini TV and Piriyadha Varam Vendum and Chocolate in Tamil which airs on Zee Tamizh and Sun TV.Santoor top 10 was a program anchored by Priya which ran for two years in Gemini Channel and she had portrayed different characters in each episode of the show. Similarly, ''Geethanjali'' was another music based show anchored by Priya for ETV and ran for a year. ''Endaro Mahanubhavulu'' is another show anchored by Priya which portrayed the achievements of various famous people in Andhra Pradesh from all walks of life.She has appeared in commercials for brands like Chandana Brothers, Shakthi Gas, Til Sona Oil and Kanchan Mixer Grinder. She has been credited with the cover page of the most popular Telugu family magazine, ''Swathi''. And also she was one of the 19 contestants in Bigg Boss Telugu season 5She started her acting career with Chiranjeevi-starrer ''Master'' in 1997. In all, she has acted in about 60 feature films, often appearing alongside leading stars of Telugu film industry. She was a constant accompaniment to almost all the leading heroines in her movies. Some of her movies are ''Master'' & ''Annayya'' with Chiranjeevi, ''Gokulamlo Seetha'' with Pawan Kalyan, ''Chandra Lekha'' with Nagarjuna, ''Raja Kumarudu'' with Mahesh Babu, ''Jayam Manadera'' with Venkatesh and most importantly, ''Soorya Vamsham'' in Hindi Amithabh Bachchan.Her other films include ''Taamboolalu'', ''Pedda Manushulu'', ''Maa Vidaakulu'', ''Greeku Veerudu'', ''Sakutumba Saparivara Samethamga'', ''Velugu Needalu'', ''Dongaata'', ''Chiru Navvutho'', ''Harishchandra'', ''Madhuri'', ''Manavudu Danavudu'', ''Sambhavam'' and ''Kathi Kantha Rao''. In 2012 she appeared in Nagarjuna's most acclaimed ''Dhamarukam''. She played Richa Gangopadhyay's mother in Prabhas's ''Mirchi'' and appeared in ''Iddarammayilatho'' as mother of Catherine Tresa's character.She started her acting career with Chiranjeevi-starrer ''Master'' in 1997. In all, she has acted in about 60 feature films, often appearing alongside leading stars of Telugu film industry. She was a constant accompaniment to almost all the leading heroines in her movies. Some of her movies are ''Master'' & ''Annayya'' with Chiranjeevi, ''Gokulamlo Seetha'' with Pawan Kalyan, ''Chandra Lekha'' with Nagarjuna, ''Raja Kumarudu'' with Mahesh Babu, ''Jayam Manadera'' with Venkatesh and most importantly, ''Soorya Vamsham'' in Hindi Amithabh Bachchan.Her other films include ''Taamboolalu'', ''Pedda Manushulu'', ''Maa Vidaakulu'', ''Greeku Veerudu'', ''Sakutumba Saparivara Samethamga'', ''Velugu Needalu'', ''Dongaata'', ''Chiru Navvutho'', ''Harishchandra'', ''Madhuri'', ''Manavudu Danavudu'', ''Sambhavam'' and ''Kathi Kantha Rao''. In 2012 she appeared in Nagarjuna's most acclaimed ''Dhamarukam''. She played Richa Gangopadhyay's mother in Prabhas's ''Mirchi'' and appeared in ''Iddarammayilatho'' as mother of Catherine Tresa's character.

Television career

She started her television career with the runaway hit Priya Sakhi in which she portrayed the lead role which had different shades(ranging from the young to the old).It was so popular that she is still identified as "Priyasakhi" Priya and the name stuck to her. She has acted in serials like Priya Ninu Choodaleka and Priya O Priya. Later, she has acted in almost all the leading Television channels in Telugu and Tamil. Her serials include Lady Detective, Sangarshana, Pelli Chesukundam & Jwaala for ETV, Dairy of Mrs Sharada & Kotha Bangaaram for Gemini TV, Maanasa for Maa TV, Vaidehi for Doordarshan, Chinna Kodalu for Zee TV, and Naagamma in Tamil for Sun TV. She has also done a Hindi serial titled Yehi hai Zindagi. She has also done in Vani Rani serial in Tamil which aired on Sun TV. She is currently acting in the serial Kalyani in Telugu which airs on Gemini TV and Piriyadha Varam Vendum and Chocolate in Tamil which airs on Zee Tamizh and Sun TV.
Santoor top 10 was a program anchored by Priya which ran for two years in Gemini Channel and she had portrayed different characters in each episode of the show. Similarly, Geethanjali was another music based show anchored by Priya for ETV and ran for a year. Endaro Mahanubhavulu is another show anchored by Priya which portrayed the achievements of various famous people in Andhra Pradesh from all walks of life.
She has appeared in commercials for brands like Chandana Brothers, Shakthi Gas, Til Sona Oil and Kanchan Mixer Grinder. She has been credited with the cover page of the most popular Telugu family magazine, Swathi.

Film career

She started her acting career with Chiranjeevi-starrer Master in 1997.
In all, she has acted in about 60 feature films, often appearing alongside leading stars of Telugu film industry. She was a constant accompaniment to almost all the leading heroines in her movies. Some of her movies are Master & Annayya with Chiranjeevi, Gokulamlo Seetha with Pawan Kalyan, Chandra Lekha with Nagarjuna, Raja Kumarudu with Mahesh Babu, Jayam Manadera with Venkatesh and most importantly, Soorya Vamsham in Hindi Amithabh Bachchan.
Her other films include Taamboolalu, Pedda Manushulu, Maa Vidaakulu, Greeku Veerudu, Sakutumba Saparivara Samethamga, Velugu Needalu, Dongaata, Chiru Navvutho, Harishchandra, Madhuri, Manavudu Danavudu, Sambhavam and Kathi Kantha Rao. In 2012 she appeared in Nagarjuna's most acclaimed Dhamarukam. She played Richa Gangopadhyay's mother in Prabhas's Mirchi and appeared in Iddarammayilatho as mother of Catherine Tresa's character.