Ranjini (actress)
Ranjini | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sasha Selvaraj Entrepreneur Social-Activist |
| Years active | 1985–1992 2014–present |
| Spouse | Pierre Kombara |
Sasha Selvaraj, better known by her stage name Ranjini, is a
Career
Ranjini was born in
Her first Malayalam film was Swathi Thirunal in 1987, a National Award feature directed by Lenin Rajendran. The film was a critical success and she won The Cinema Express Award for Best Actress. She went on to act in Malayalam films like Chithram, Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu (1988) and Kottayam Kunjachan (1990). Ranjini quit acting in films at the peak of her career to move to London, where she continued her studies.[5] Her last film was Customs Diary (1993), directed by TS Suresh Babu.
Ranjini was in the committee of "Nirbhaya-Kochi", an initiative of district administration under Ernakulam District Collector, MG Rajamanickam IAS (The Welfare for Women & Children Safety) in 2014. She was also in the founding committee of "Stree", a project for Women and Health under Maradu municipality in 2016. She regularly appears as a panelist on TV debates for various social topics on National, Malayalam and Tamil Channels. In 2018, she was one of 12 elite panelists invited by The National Commission for Women to a discussion on sexual harassment in the workplace.
Ranjini is known for her voice against The Supreme Court verdict on women-entry at Sabarimala.She was also instrumental in stopping TV counselling shows i.e. Nijangal & Solvathellam Unmai.
Personal life
She married Malayali businessman Pierre Kombara.[4] In London, she also did a degree in credit management and later acquired a law degree. She also worked for the BBC for a short time.[4] She is a graduate lawyer and is currently working as a joint director in an overseas education institution in Kochi, Kerala.
Ranjini is also an avid wildlife and environmental activist.
Filmography
Tamil films
| Year | Film | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Mudhal Mariyathai
|
Sevuli | Tamil debut |
| 1986 | Avalai Cholli Kutramillai | ||
| Kadalora Kavithaigal | Gangamma | ||
| Aayiram Pookkal Malarattum | Saras | ||
Paru Paru Pattanam Paru
|
|||
Needhana Andha Kuyil
|
|||
| Nalellam Pournami | |||
| Mannukkul Vairam | Chitte | ||
| 1987 | Kudumbam Oru Koyil
|
||
| Aayusu Nooru | |||
| Paasam Oru Vesham | |||
| Muthukkal Moondru | |||
| Parisam Pottachu | |||
| Arul Tharum Ayyappan | |||
| Velicham | |||
| 1988 | Thaimel Aanai | Meena | |
| Urimai Geetham | Ganga | ||
| 1989 | Puthu Mappillai | ||
| Poruthadhu Podhum | |||
| Neruppu Nila | |||
| Sariyana Jodi | |||
| Dilli Babu | |||
| Sakalakala Sammandhi | Jhansi | ||
| Ellame En Thangachi | |||
| Samsarame Saranam | |||
| 1990 | Kalyana Rasi | ||
| 1991 | Sir...I Love You
|
Lalitha | |
| 1991 | En Mamanukku Nalla Manasu |
Malayalam films
| Year | Film | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Swathi Thirunal
|
Sugandhavalli | Her debut film in Malayalam |
| 1988 | Chithram | Kalyani | |
| Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu | Sumitra | ||
| Adholokam | |||
| 1989 | Varnam | Ammu | |
News
|
Megha | ||
| Kaalal Pada | Maya Menon | ||
| 1990 | Kauthuka Varthakal
|
Rose Mary | |
| Rajavazhcha | Mini | ||
| Anantha Vruthantham | Lateesha | ||
| Prosecution | Jyothi | ||
Orukkam
|
Radha | ||
| Mukham | Usha | ||
| Nanma Niranjavan Srinivasan | Mary | ||
Pavakkooth
|
Krishna | ||
Thooval Sparsam
|
Sujatha | ||
| Khandakavyam | |||
| Kashandikku Marumarunnu | |||
| Vacation | |||
Sandram
|
Police Officer's wife | ||
| Sunday 7 PM | Dilip's step moter/Dilip's lover | ||
| Kottayam Kunjachan | Mollykkutty | ||
| Vembanad | Abused/Lead role | ||
| 1991 | Agni Nilavu | Rekha | |
| 1992 | Kingini | Nandhini | |
| 1993 | Customs Diary | Priya | |
| 2008 | Twenty:20 (film) | Ranjini | Archive footage |
| 2014 | Ring Master | Elizabeth | Comeback film |
| 2014 | Koothara | Ram's mother | |
| 2016 | Pa Va | Lillykutty | |
| 2018 | Mohanlal | Herself | Photo only /Archive footage/Uncredited role |
| 2019 | Thankabhasmakuriyittu Thampuratti | Herself | Photo only /Archive footage/Uncredited role |
| 2023 | Phoenix | Margaret |
Telugu
| Year | Film | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Brahma Rudrulu | Jyothi |
| 1988 | August 15 Rathri | Sheela |
| 1989 | Police Report | Lakshmi |
| 1989 | Maa Inte Maharajalu | |
| 1989 | Paape Maa Pranam | Mary |
Kannada
| Year | Film | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Agni Kanye |
Television
Shows
| Year | Program | Role | Channel | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Lunars Comedy Express |
Judge | Asianet Plus |
Malayalam |
| Comedy Stars Season 2 | Asianet | |||
| Gruhalakshmi | Jaihind TV
| |||
| Patturumaal | Kairali TV | |||
| Veruthey Alla Bharya | Mazhavil Manorama | |||
| 2015 | Yuvatharam | Jaihind TV
| ||
| 2017 | Malayali Veettamma | Flowers TV | ||
| 2018 | Makkal Mandram | Panelist | Thanthi TV | Tamil |
| 2019-2020 | Sharp Shoot | Debate Moderator | Jaihind TV
|
Malayalam |
| 2022 | Flowers Oru Kodi | Participant | Flowers TV | |
| 2022 | Red Carpet | Mentor | Amrita TV | |
| 2024 | Star Magic | Guest | Flowers TV |
Soap Opera
| Year | Program | Role | Channel | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023- present | Chandrikayilaliyunna Chandrakantham | Arundhati Devi Amma | Asianet | Malayalam |
Beauty Pageants as Judge
- Miss India/Kerala 2010 (Miss World-Femina)
- Miss South India 2012 (Miss Asia-Manappuram)
- Mrs. Malayali 2019
References
- ^ "Interview with Ranjini". Vanitha (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
- ^ "People still call me Kalyani: Ranjini". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ^ "Ranjini - Mangalam Varika". Mangalam. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
- ^ a b c "Will she? Won't she?". Deccan Chronicle. 10 January 2012. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ^ People still call me Kalyani: Ranjini (Navamy Sudhish) 24 September 2013 [1]
External links
- Ranjini at IMDb