Darshana Rajendran

Darshana Rajendran (born 17 June) is an Indian actress and playback singer who works predominantly in Malayalam films. She made her acting debut in 2014 with the Malayalam film John Paul Vaathil Thurakkunnu. Darshana had her career breakthrough with the 2022 Malayalam films—Hridayam and Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey. The latter earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam.

Early life Darshana was born on 17 June to Rajendran and Neeraja in Thiruvananthapuram. She studied Mathematics at the Lady Shri Ram College and Financial Economics at City, University of London, and worked for the Institute for Financial Management and Research in Chennai.

Career Darshana made her acting debut in 2014 with John Paul Vaathil Thurakkunnu. She went onto appear in supporting parts in films such as Mayaanadhi (2017), Koode (2018) and Virus (2019). She had her first major role in the 2020 film C U Soon, where she appeared opposite Fahadh Faasil. Saibal Chatterjee was appreciative of her "moving portrayal".

Darshana achieved her career breakthrough in 2022 with Hridayam and Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey. In Hridayam, she played an engineering student opposite Pranav Mohanlal. Sajin Shrijith stated, "Darshana is aptly cast in her role." A major commercial success, it was one of the highest grossing film of the year. She then played a domestic violence abuse opposite Basil Joseph in Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey. The film emerged a commercial success and earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam. Anna M. M. Vetticad noted, "Darshana chews up every scene in which the writing gives Jaya an inner presence. She is also undoubtedly congenitally attuned to action."

Filmography

Films Year Title Role Language Notes 2014 John Paul Vaathil Thurakkunnu Dr. Anna Paul Malayalam Debut film 2015 Moone Moonu Varthai KeerthiTamil Bilingual film; debut in both languages Moodu Mukkallo Cheppalante Telugu 2017 Samarppanam Krishna Malayalam Kavan Kalpana Tamil Mayaanadhi DarshanaMalayalam 2018 Koode Alina Irumbu Thirai Selvi Tamil 2019 Vijay Superum Pournamiyum Pooja Malayalam VirusAnjali Vasudevan 2020 C U Soon Anumol Sebastian Debut as lead actress in Malayalam; released on Amazon Prime Video Theeviram Alia Tamil 2021 Aanum Pennum Rani Malayalam Segment: "Rani" IrulArchana Pillai Released on Netflix 2022 Hridayam Darshana Dear Friend Jannath Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey Jayabharathi "Jaya" 2023 Thuramukham Khadeeja Purusha Pretham Susanna Released on SonyLIV Paradise Amritha Indian-Sri Lankan Co-productionAlso shot in Sinhala 2024 Rifle Club Kaduvachalil Tresa "Kunjumol" Mary Skaria 2025 Paradha Amishta Telugu 2026 Patriot Jyothi Kurian Malayalam Athiradi Merin Cameo appearance

Television Year Title Role Language Network Notes 2016 Ctrl Alt Del Madhumitha Tamil YouTube Web Debut 2022 Unpaused: Naya Safar Geetanjali Hindi Amazon Prime Video Segment: "Gond Ke Laddu" 2025 The Chronicles of the 4.5 Gang RamaniMalayalamSonyLIV

Discography Year Film Song 2017 Mayaanadhi "Bavra Mann" 2021 Sarcas Circa 2020 "Kattuneerin Chaalilayi" 2022 Hridayam "Darshana" Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey "Ingottu Nokkanda"

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Film Result Ref. 2021 Filmfare Awards South Best Actress – Malayalam C U Soon South Indian International Movie Awards Best Actress – Malayalam 2023 Filmfare Awards South Best Actress – Malayalam Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey South Indian International Movie Awards Best Actress – Malayalam Best Actress Critics – Malayalam Kerala Film Critics Association Awards Best Actress Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey & Purusha Pretham 2024 Filmfare Awards South Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam Purusha Pretham South Indian International Movie Awards Best Actress – Malayalam