Roja

Roja Selvamani (born Sri Latha Reddy on 17 November 1972), credited as Roja is an Indian politician and actress with the YSR Congress Party. She served as Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement of Andhra Pradesh since 11 April 2022 until a landslide defeat in 2024 assembly elections.

Starting her acting career in a supporting role in the Telugu film, Prema Thapassu in 1991, Roja earned her first Nandi Award under Special jury category for her performance in Sarpayagam (1991). She further expanded her career to Tamil with Chembaruthi (1992) and Kannada with Gadibidi Ganda (1993). Both these projects were successful and paved the way for her future commercial films such as Uzhaippali (1993) and Veera (1994) (both opposite Rajinikanth), Muta Mestri (1993), Bhairava Dweepam (1994), which fetched her Nandi Award for Best Actress, Raasaiyya (1995) and Vallal (1997). Her biggest commercially successful and critically acclaimed role came with the film, Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen (1999), for which she won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress and Cinema Express Award for Best Actress – Tamil. These films established Roja as a leading actress in Tamil Telugu Malayalam Kannada films through 1990s and early 2000s.

Roja served as a Minister for Tourism Culture and Youth Advancement for the Government of Andhra Pradesh from 2022 until a landslide defeat in 2024 assembly elections. Her first political stint, although, was with the Telugu Desam Party from 1999 till 2009.

Early life Roja was born as Sri Latha Reddy to Nagaraja Reddy and Lalitha in Tirupati, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh. She has two brothers, Kumaraswamy Reddy and Ramaprasad Reddy. Later, the family moved to Hyderabad. She got her bachelor's degree in Political Science from Sri Padmavathi Women's University, Tirupati. Roja learnt Kuchipudi and was performing in dance before she entered films.

Career

Film career Roja entered the film industry with Telugu film Prema Thapassu (1991) with Rajendra Prasad.

She was introduced to the Tamil film industry by director R. K. Selvamani with Chembaruthi (1992), along with actor Prashanth. The movie was a hit and paved way for role in another success, Suriyan (1992) with Sarath Kumar. Both the films established her in Tamil cinema.

She became known for songs such as "Meloor Maman" in the film Makkal Aatchi (1995) with Mammootty and "Mastana Mastana" in Raasaiyya (1995) with Prabhu Deva. Her performance in films with actors such as Rajinikanth in Veera (1994), Arjun Sarja in Ayudha Poojai (1996) and Prabhu in Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa (1999) were praised. Roja's major career breakthrough was in the film Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen (1998), directed by Vikraman.

In Telugu, she appeared in successful movies like Mutha Mestri (1993), Mugguru Monagallu (1994), Bhairava Dweepam (1994), Anna (1994), Bobbili Simham (1994), Subhalagnam (1994), Roja (1994), Kshemamga Velli Labhamga Randi (1996), Peddannayya (1997), Annamayya (1997) and Sri Krishnarjuna Vijayam (2000)

In Kannada, she appeared in successful movies like Gadibidi Ganda (1993), Kalavida (1997), Sundara Kanda (2001)

Her 100th movie was Pottu Amman (2000).

Roja later appeared in supporting roles in films like Arasu (2003), Parijatham (2006), Shambo Shiva Shambo (2010), Golimar (2010), Kaavalan (2011), Veera (2011), Kodipunju (2011), Mogudu (2011) and Saguni (2012).

Political career Roja joined Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1998 and was the president of the Telugu Mahila wing of the Party. In the 2004 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, she contested from the Nagari Assembly constituency but did not emerge victorious. In 2009 Indian general election, Roja ran for the Chandragiri Assembly constituency but faced another defeat, this time against Aruna Kumari Galla. In the same year she left TDP and joined the Indian National Congress, which was led by Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy at the time. Following the passing of Rajasekhara Reddy, his son, Jagan Mohan Reddy, decided to part ways with the Congress and established the YSR Congress Party. In response to these developments, Roja made the decision to leave the Congress and joined the YSRCP. In 2014 assembly elections, she won as an MLA from Nagari assembly constituency. She contested once again from Nagari in 2019 assembly election and won the seat again. In 2020, she assumed the role of Chairperson of APIIC. Then, in 2022 she was appointed the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement portfolio.

Despite Roja being an active speaker among women MLAs, she was suspended from attending the legislative assembly for one year. The decision was taken by majority in the legislative house, on 18 December 2015, and by the approval of the Speaker. An issue was raised by the opposition party on how the media clipping, property of the house, released and published on social media without the speaker's approval and the speaker also noted their concern and set up an inquiry to probe the issue further and submit a report by next meeting.

Electoral history Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly

Other work Roja was the anchor of a show named Modern Mahalakshmi before getting replaced by Anasuya. This show was telecast on MAA TV. She is one of the judges for the comedy shows Jabardasth and Extra Jabardasth. These shows are telecast on ETV. She hosted one show for Zee Tamizh called lucka kicka, which was a huge hit in Tamil Nadu.

Personal life Roja married Tamil film director R. K. Selvamani on 21 August 2002. The couple has a daughter and a son.

Roja had a penchant for hairdressing and it was evident as whenever she was on the sets she was seen hairdressing her peers like Devayani, Khushbu, Ranjitha and Mumtaz to name a few. According to Ramya Krishna, Soundarya, Nagma, Rambha, Meena, her friends and co-stars, Roja is one of the few artists who can do their makeup themselves.

Filmography

Tamil cinema

Telugu cinema

Kannada cinema

Year Title Role Notes 1993 Gadibidi Ganda Neelambari Kannada Debut 1997 Kalavida Kavana 1999 Premotsava Bhavana 2000 Independence Day Bharatha Naari 2001 Grama Devathe Parvati Sundara Kanda 2002 Parva Sudha 2004 Maurya Meena

Malayalam cinema Year Title Role Notes 1997 Gangothri Nandana Menon Malayalam Debut 2002 Malayali Mamanu Vanakkam Parvathy 2015 Jamna Pyari Neelambari 150 th film

Television

Awards Nandi Awards Special Jury Award – Sarpayagam (1991) Best Actress - Bhairava Dweepam (1994) Best Supporting Actress – Anna (1994) Best Actress – Swarnakka (1998) Filmfare Award South 2010 – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu – Golimaar