Padmaja Rao

Padmaja Rao is an Indian actress, television soap director and producer in Karnataka, India. She is a versatile actor known for playing a wide variety of character roles in various film genres. Some of the notable films of Padmaja Rao as an actress include Hatavadi (2006) Mungaru Male (2006), Gaalipata (2008), Ugramm (2014). She has also forayed into tulu film industry with the blockbuster Chaali Polilu (2014)

Personal life
Padmaja Rao did her schooling in Mumbai and then her college in London. She is married and has a son named Sanjeev who is renowned Herpetologist Conservationist and Animal Activist.

Career
Padmaja Rao started her career with the mega teleserial Moodala Mane directed by Vaishali Kasaravalli which garnered huge popularity across Karnataka. This was followed by Preethi Illada Mele mega serial co-starring Yash and Anant Nag which made her household name yet again. She made her Kannada movie debut with V.Ravichandran's Hatavadi. She subsequently received recognition for her role in the 2006 blockbuster Mungaru Male. She was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress three times. She has been a part of more than 100 Kannada films and many serial/soaps in Kannada. She has also worked as TV serial director and Producer.

Selected filmography

 * Hatavadi (2006)
 * Mungaru Male (2006)
 * Gunavantha (2007)
 * Gaalipata (2008)
 * Rocky (2008)
 * Madesha (2008)
 * Psycho (2008)
 * Taj Mahal (2008)
 * Circus (2009)
 * Vayuputra (2009)
 * Mylari (2010)
 * Prithvi (2010)
 * Pancharangi (2010)
 * Sri Harikathe (2010)
 * Krishnan Love Story (2010)
 * Silence (2010)
 * Vaare Vah (2010)
 * Panchamrutha (2011)
 * Aata (2011)
 * Shiva (2012)
 * Parijatha (2012)
 * Varadhanayaka (2013)
 * Bachchan (2013)
 * Bahaddur (2014)
 * Nam Duniya Nam Style (2014)
 * Chaali Polilu (2014)
 * Athi Aparoopa (2014)
 * Brahma (2014)
 * Typical Kailas (2014)
 * Kwatle Satisha (2014)
 * Daksha (2015)
 * Vajrakaya (2015)
 * Ring Road (2015)
 * Muddu Manase (2015)
 * Rocket (2015)
 * Style King (2016)
 * Jai Maruthi 800 (2016)
 * Eradane Sala (2017)
 * Chowka (2017)
 * Kanaka (2018)
 * Dalapathi (2018)
 * Krishna Tulasi (2018)
 * Orange (2018)
 * Brahmachari (2019)
 * Rustum (2019)
 * Adyaksha in America (2019)
 * Body God (2022)
 * Petromax (2022)
 * Ambuja (2023)...Padma

Television series

 * As a director and producer and actor


 * Benkiyalli Aralida Hoovu (Zee Kannada)
 * Sama Rekhegalu
 * Shikara
 * Aramane gili
 * Jothe Jotheyali
 * Hoovi
 * Bhagyalakshmi

Game shows

 * Savalige Sai (Udaya TV)
 * Thutha Mutha (Udaya TV)
 * Krazy Couple (Zee Kannada)
 * Paddus Kitchen (Kalki Kannada)

Short films

 * Chocolate (Kannada)
 * Me too (English)
 * Oofie (English)