Meghana Sundar Raj Sarja is an Indian actress who primarily works in Malayalam and Kannada films along with a few Telugu and Tamil films. She made her acting debut in the 2009 Telugu film Bendu Apparao R.M.P. She has won Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Iruvudellava Bittu, a 2018 Kannada film. She was married to late Kannada actor Chiranjeevi Sarja.

Early life

Meghana Raj was born as the only daughter to film actors to Sundar Raj, a Tamilian, and Pramila Joshai, a Kannadiga. Her father Sundar has acted in more than 180 films, predominantly in Kannada language, while her mother Pramila Joshai is a noted Kannada film actress and film producer. She completed her schooling from Baldwin Girls' High School and holds Bachelor's degree in psychology at Christ University, Bangalore.

Acting career

Meghana Raj debuted as a theatre artist, when she was a child, acting alongside her father Sunder Raj in the play ''Jokumaraswamy''. During the audio launch function of the Tamil film ''Poi'' in February 2006, she was invited by its director K. Balachander to pursue an acting career, starring in one of his forthcoming films. Accepting his offer, she was given the lead female role in the Tamil film ''Krishnaleelai'', a Balachander production, directed by Selvan. However, despite continuing shooting throughout 2008, which was completed in early 2009, the film got stuck in production hell, and its release got delayed for various reasons.Even before the release of that film, she commenced shooting for a Telugu film ''Bendu Apparao R.M.P'', which would eventually be her first feature film release. She played the character of a school teacher in the comedy entertainer, starring Allari Naresh and Kamna Jethmalani as well, which released in October 2009 and went on to become highly successful at the box office. However, despite continuing shooting throughout 2008, which was completed in early 2009, the film got stuck in production hell, and its release got delayed for various reasons.Even before the release of that film, she commenced shooting for a Telugu film ''Bendu Apparao R.M.P'', which would eventually be her first feature film release. She played the character of a school teacher in the comedy entertainer, starring Allari Naresh and Kamna Jethmalani as well, which released in October 2009 and went on to become highly successful at the box office. She debuted in the Kannada films by enacting the female lead role in ''Punda'', a remake of the 2007 Tamil film ''Polladhavan''. Meghana's next release was her debut Tamil film, the Boopathy Pandian-directed ''Kaadhal Solla Vandhen'', while she also signed up her first Malayalam project, the horror film ''Yakshiyum Njanum'' under Vinayan's direction, which was released in August 2010. Although the film was just an average grosser, its glamorous and sensual songs on Meghana was a hit among the youth and made her an instant favorite among the youth. During that time she also acted in two more projects, ''Nanda Nanditha'', which is a remake of the 2008 Kannada film ''Nanda Loves Nanditha'' and the Tamil film ''Kalla Siripazhaga''.Meghana starred in the Malayalam film ''Beautiful'' which was released in December. The film was a success both commercially and critically, with critics regarding it as one of the best Malayalam movies of 2011. Meghana's portrayal of Anjali, a home nurse in the film won her very good reviews. Since getting noticed with ''Beautiful'', Meghana got a lot of Malayalam films offers and was briefly the most sought out actress in Malayalam.It was during this time when Meghana started to undergo a total physique revamp by going through a strict diet and exercise regime. Her 2012 Malayalam film ''Namukku Parkkan'' did a decent business at the box office. Subsequent films ''Mullamottum Munthiricharum'', ''Banking Hours 10 to 4'', ''Maad Dad'', ''Madirasi'' and ''Red Wine'' failed to perform. However, her next film ''Memories'' opposite Prithviraj Sukumaran opened to overwhelmingly positive reviews and was a box office success. Her 2012 Malayalam film ''Namukku Parkkan'' did a decent business at the box office. Subsequent films ''Mullamottum Munthiricharum'', ''Banking Hours 10 to 4'', ''Maad Dad'', ''Madirasi'' and ''Red Wine'' failed to perform. However, her next film ''Memories'' opposite Prithviraj Sukumaran opened to overwhelmingly positive reviews and was a box office success.Meghana Raj returned to Kannada films in late 2013 with the film ''Raja Huli'', followed by ''Bahuparak''; her performances in both films were well appreciated. Meghana's next Kannada movie ''Aatagara'' was released in late August 2015 to both critical and commercial acclaim . Her next film was Vamshodharaka.

2009–11: Debut, breakthrough and setback

Meghana Raj debuted as a theatre artist, when she was a child, acting alongside her father Sunder Raj in the play ''Jokumaraswamy''. During the audio launch function of the Tamil film ''Poi'' in February 2006, she was invited by its director K. Balachander to pursue an acting career, starring in one of his forthcoming films. Accepting his offer, she was given the lead female role in the Tamil film ''Krishnaleelai'', a Balachander production, directed by Selvan. However, despite continuing shooting throughout 2008, which was completed in early 2009, the film got stuck in production hell, and its release got delayed for various reasons.Even before the release of that film, she commenced shooting for a Telugu film ''Bendu Apparao R.M.P'', which would eventually be her first feature film release. She played the character of a school teacher in the comedy entertainer, starring Allari Naresh and Kamna Jethmalani as well, which released in October 2009 and went on to become highly successful at the box office. However, despite continuing shooting throughout 2008, which was completed in early 2009, the film got stuck in production hell, and its release got delayed for various reasons.Even before the release of that film, she commenced shooting for a Telugu film ''Bendu Apparao R.M.P'', which would eventually be her first feature film release. She played the character of a school teacher in the comedy entertainer, starring Allari Naresh and Kamna Jethmalani as well, which released in October 2009 and went on to become highly successful at the box office. She debuted in the Kannada films by enacting the female lead role in ''Punda'', a remake of the 2007 Tamil film ''Polladhavan''. Meghana's next release was her debut Tamil film, the Boopathy Pandian-directed ''Kaadhal Solla Vandhen'', while she also signed up her first Malayalam project, the horror film ''Yakshiyum Njanum'' under Vinayan's direction, which was released in August 2010. Although the film was just an average grosser, its glamorous and sensual songs on Meghana was a hit among the youth and made her an instant favorite among the youth. During that time she also acted in two more projects, ''Nanda Nanditha'', which is a remake of the 2008 Kannada film ''Nanda Loves Nanditha'' and the Tamil film ''Kalla Siripazhaga''.

2011–13: Beautiful and commercial success

Meghana starred in the Malayalam film ''Beautiful'' which was released in December. The film was a success both commercially and critically, with critics regarding it as one of the best Malayalam movies of 2011. Meghana's portrayal of Anjali, a home nurse in the film won her very good reviews. Since getting noticed with ''Beautiful'', Meghana got a lot of Malayalam films offers and was briefly the most sought out actress in Malayalam.It was during this time when Meghana started to undergo a total physique revamp by going through a strict diet and exercise regime. Her 2012 Malayalam film ''Namukku Parkkan'' did a decent business at the box office. Subsequent films ''Mullamottum Munthiricharum'', ''Banking Hours 10 to 4'', ''Maad Dad'', ''Madirasi'' and ''Red Wine'' failed to perform. However, her next film ''Memories'' opposite Prithviraj Sukumaran opened to overwhelmingly positive reviews and was a box office success. Her 2012 Malayalam film ''Namukku Parkkan'' did a decent business at the box office. Subsequent films ''Mullamottum Munthiricharum'', ''Banking Hours 10 to 4'', ''Maad Dad'', ''Madirasi'' and ''Red Wine'' failed to perform. However, her next film ''Memories'' opposite Prithviraj Sukumaran opened to overwhelmingly positive reviews and was a box office success.

2013–15: Second wind in Sandalwood and continuing success

Meghana Raj returned to Kannada films in late 2013 with the film ''Raja Huli'', followed by ''Bahuparak''; her performances in both films were well appreciated. Meghana's next Kannada movie ''Aatagara'' was released in late August 2015 to both critical and commercial acclaim . Her next film was Vamshodharaka.

2016 onwards: Dull phase at the box office

thumb’, during the 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI-2016), in Panaji, Goa on 26 November 2016, along with the cast of the film]]
Post 2016 Meghana Raj's releases such as Hallelooya, Lakshmana, Bhujanga and Allama all turned out to be non-performers at the box office. She has committed few more Kannada and Malayalam films as of now. Meghana was recently chosen to portray princess Bhanumati in the Kannada magnum opus ''Kurukshetra''.

Personal life

After a 10-year relationship with fellow Kannada actor Chiranjeevi Sarja, Meghana got engaged to him on 22 October 2017. They got married on 2 May 2018. Sarja died on 7 June 2020 from cardiac arrest when Meghana was expecting their first child. Their son Raayan Raj Sarja was born on 22 October 2020.