Rohini

Early life

A native of Anakapalli in Andhra Pradesh, Rohini spent all her childhood in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Her father, Appa Rao Naidu, was a panchayat officer and her mother, Radha, was a housewife. Her father always wanted to become an actor, though he could not be an actor owing to various reasons; he encouraged Rohini to become an actress.

Personal life

Her brother Balaji is also an actor. Rohini married actor Raghuvaran in 1996 but divorced in 2004. They have one son, Rishi.

Career

She started her career in 1974 as a child actress. She was first seen as a wide-eyed five-year old in Yasodha Krishna (1975), a Telugu film. She is also a dubbing artist in the Telugu and Tamil film industries. She has voiced six characters in five of Mani Ratnam's films.

She has dubbed for actresses like Girija Shettar (Geethanjali), Amala (Siva), Manisha Koirala (Bombay and Indian) Aishwarya Rai (Iruvar and Raavanan), as well as Jyothika (Perazhagan and Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu). She wrote lyrics for the Tamil film Pachaikili Muthucharam (2007), before ending another hiatus by writing all songs in the album, Maalai Pozhudhin Mayakathilaey (2012).

She writes episodes for Tamil TV serials. She started writing scripts for TV series way back in 1996, and has adapted the Sahithya Academy Award winning novel Verukku Neer for a tele film in 2005. She hosted the live TV talk show Kelvigal Aayiram for Vijay TV, which she said "dealt with issues close to my heart". She moderated the Tamil programme Azhagiya Tamizh Magal on Kalaignar TV and has worked as the anchor of Raj TV's show, Rohini's Box Office in which she reviewed the latest releases.

Being an activist for AIDS awareness, Rohini has also directed short films for M.G.R. Medical University and Tamil Nadu Aids Control Society. In 2008, Rohini had directed a 50-minute documentary Silent Hues about film industry's Child actress, she being one herself. In 2012, she has directed a feature film titled Appavin Meesai which is yet to be released.

Awards

1995 – National Film Award – Special Mention – Stri

1995 – Nandi Award for Special Jury Best Performance – Stri

2017 – Vanitha Film Awards – Best Supporting Actress (Guppy, Action Hero Biju)

2017 – CPC Awards for Best Supporting Actress (Guppy, Action Hero Biju)

Filmography

Rohini has mainly acted in Malayalam, Telugu, and Tamil films along with a few Kannada films. Having started her acting career at five, she has about 130 South Indian films to her credit.

As lyricist

2007 – Pachaikili Muthucharam (Unakkul Naane) (Song composed by Harris Jayaraj)

2009 – Villu (Jalsa)

2010 – Mundhinam Paartheney (Maya, Kanavena)

2012 – Maalai Pozhudhin Mayakathilaey (All Songs)

2013 – 11th Chennai International Film Festival Anthem (Song composed by Prakash Nikki)

2020 – Galatta Kalyanam (Murali Mogha – Tamil Dubbed Version of "Tere Rang" from Atrangi Re) (Song composed by A. R. Rahman)

2023 – En Viruppam (Music Video) (Music by Sindhuri Vishal)

As director

1995 – Chinna Chinna Aasai – Ganga (Sun TV)

2008 – Silent Hues (documentary film)

As dialogue writer

2013 – Welcome Obama

As playback singer

1995 – Chinna Vathiyar – Kanmaniye Kanmaniye (along with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam)

Television

Tamil

Chinna Chinna Aasai – Ganga (Sun TV (India) ) acted and directed

Kelvigal Aayiram (Vijay TV) as Host

Azhagiya Tamizh Magal (Kalaignar TV) as Moderator

Rohini's Box Office (Raj TV) as Host

Kelvigal Neram (Vendhar TV) as Host

Geethanjali – Telefilm (Doordarshan) as Writer

Engae Aval- Actress

Malayalam

Nerukku Neer – Telefilm (Doordarshan) Screenplay and lyrics

Kadha Ithu Vare (Mazhavil Manorama) as Host

Ugram Ujjwalam Season 2 Grand Finale (Mazhavil Manorama) as Judge

Comedy Stars season 2 (Asianet) as Judge

Red Carpet (Amrita TV) as Mentor

Oru Chiri Iruchiri Bumper Chiri (Mazhavil Manorama) as Mentor/Judge

Sudhamani Superaa (Zee Keralam) as Mahima

Telugu

Addham (Aha)