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Roja Selvamani Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth17 November 1972

Age51 Years

BirthplaceTirupati, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh

ProfessionPolitician, Former actress

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseR. K. Selvamani

FamilySon - Krishna Lohith Selvamani; Daughter - Anshumalika Selvamani

Roja Selvamani Biography

Roja Selvamani is an Indian politician and former South Indian film actress from Tirupati. A leading actress in Telugu cinema through the 1990s, she later转

Early life and background

Roja Selvamani was born Sri Latha Reddy on 17 November 1972 in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. She grew up in Tirupati and studied political science at Sri Padmavathi Women's University. Her father worked as a sound engineer and gave her an early opportunity to appear in a documentary at around age ten. Roja trained in Kuchipudi and pursued dance before starting a career in films.

Career

Roja began her film career in Telugu cinema in 1991 with a role in Prema Thapassu. She quickly became a prominent lead actress in Telugu films through the 1990s, appearing in more than fifty Telugu productions including projects such as Sarpayagam, Atta Sommu Alludi Daanam, Subhalagnam, Anna and Maya Bazaar. Her work across South Indian cinema expanded when director R. K. Selvamani introduced her to Tamil films; her Tamil debut came in 1992 with Chembaruthi opposite Prashanth.

Through the 1990s and into the 2000s Roja worked in Tamil as well as Telugu films, building a filmography that includes Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen, Veera, Asuran and Adimai Changili. Across her career in South Indian cinema she has acted in over 100 films, and she also appeared in a few Kannada and Malayalam titles. In later years she transitioned to supporting roles in films such as Arasu, Parijatham, Shambo Shiva Shambo, Golimaar, Mogudu, Kaavalan and Saguni.

Roja moved into television in the early 2000s, debuting in the Tamil serial Nathi Enge Pogirathu (2002–2003) on Star Vijay. She acted in the Kannada series Uttarayana in 2004 and worked as a television host and judge on several shows, including anchoring a program called Modern Mahalakshmi on MAA TV, judging Jabardasth and Extra Jabardasth, and hosting Lucha Kicka for Zee Tamizh.

Politics

Roja entered politics in 1999 by joining the Telugu Desam Party, where she served as president of the party's Telugu Mahila wing. After contesting the Nagari assembly seat for TDP in 2004 and 2009 without success, she left the party and joined the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party. Contesting Nagari on a YSRCP ticket, she won the seat in 2014 and was re-elected in 2019. In 2015 she became president of the YSRCP Women's Wing. From 2019 to 2021 she served as chairperson of the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation. In April 2022 she was appointed Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement in the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Later in 2022 she announced that she would quit the film industry to focus on politics and public service.

Awards and recognition

Roja's performances have been recognised with several state and industry awards. Early in her career she received Special Jury recognition at the Nandi Awards and later won Nandi Awards for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress. Her work in Tamil cinema earned her the Tamil Nadu State Film Award and a Cinema Express Award for Best Actress. She was nominated for a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Golimaar and received an Evergreen Heroine Award at the ZEE Telugu Apsara Awards in 2018.

Public profile

Roja is publicly known by her screen name and is identified with both her acting career and political work. She has been active in public programmes, television and party leadership roles. Her personal life has also been a matter of public record: she married film director R. K. Selvamani on 21 August 2002 and they have two children. She lists reading, travelling, shopping and social activities among her interests.

Latest updates

In 2022 Roja accepted a ministerial portfolio in the Andhra Pradesh government and publicly announced her decision to step away from acting to devote herself fully to politics and serving the public.
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Recent Work

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement, Government of Andhra Pradesh

Appointed to the Andhra Pradesh cabinet in April 2022; announced quitting films to focus on politics.

2022
Chairperson, Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC)

Served as APIIC chairperson from 2019 to 2021.

2019-2021
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Career Highlights

  1. Acted in over 100 South Indian films across Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.
  2. Became a leading Telugu film actress in the 1990s with multiple Nandi Awards.
  3. Entered politics in 1999; elected MLA from Nagari in 2014 and 2019.
  4. Served as president of the YSRCP Women's Wing and later as a state minister.
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Roja Selvamani born?

17 November 1972

What is Roja Selvamani known for?

Politician, Former actress

What is Roja Selvamani’s marital status?

Married

Who is Roja Selvamani married to?

R. K. Selvamani