Madhavi (actress)

Madhavi was born in Hyderabad, India to Sasirekha and Govindaswamy, on 12 August 1962.[1] She grew up with a sister and a brother, named Keerthi Kumari and Dhananjay respectively.[2] She learnt Bharat Natyam from Uma Maheswari and folk dance from Mr. Bhatt from an early age and gave more than a thousand dance performances. She attended Stanley Girls High School in Hyderabad, Abids Branch.[3]

Director Dasari Narayana Rao gave her a starring role in the Telugu film Thoorupu Padamara when she was a teenager. The film became a huge hit.[4] She acted in a number of films with Telugu actor Chiranjeevi. Her first movie with Chiranjeevi was Intlo Ramaiah Veedhilo Krishnaiah in 1982. She acted again with Chiranjeevi in the movie Khaidi which was a massive hit. Her last movie in Telugu was Big Boss (another Chiranjeevi film). K. Balachander then cast her in a supporting role in his Telugu film Maro Charitra (1978). She reprised her role in its Hindi remake Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981), which became the top-grossing film of 1981. In both films, she showed remarkable sensitivity as a lonely wealthy woman who falls in love with Kamal Haasan's character. She earned a Filmfare Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress.[5] K. Balachander was so impressed with her performance in both films that he introduced her to the Tamil film industry with Thillu Mullu (1981), opposite Rajinikanth. By the end of the decade, she was starred opposite Amitabh Bachchan in the Hindi film Agneepath (1990).

She has acted in many Kannada movies alongside popular Kannada actors including Dr. Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Anant Nag and Ambareesh. With Rajkumar, she acted in many commercially successful and critically acclaimed movies like Haalu Jenu, Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma, Anuraga Aralithu, Shruthi Seridaaga, Jeevana Chaitra, Aakasmika, Odahuttidavaru, etc. Her performances in Haalu Jenu and Malaya Marutha were widely acclaimed.

Madhavi acted alongside Kamal Haasan in Raja Paarvai, Tik Tik Tik, Kaakki Sattai,Sattam, Ellam Inba mayam and Mangamma Sabadham. Her films with Rajinikanth include Garjanai,Thillu Mullu, Thambikku Entha Ooru, Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal and Viduthalai. She showed her ability in movies like Enga Oor Kannagi, Neethi Devan Mayakkam and Nirabaraadhi.

She appeared in many Malayalam films especially in those starring Mohanlal and Mammootty. Her portrayal of Unniyarcha in the National Award-winning movie Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha was critically appreciated and is often recognized as one of the best roles in her acting career. Her portrayal as a mother who met her end with leukemia in Akashadoothu won her the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress and Filmfare Award for Best Actress for 1993. Other notable films include Ormakkayi, Changatham, Novemberinte Nashtam and Nombarathi Poovu. Most of her author-backed roles were in Malayalam films. She has won three Kerala State Film Awards, one for Best Actress and two for Second Best Actress.

In 1996, her Hindu spiritual teacher Swami Rama arranged her marriage to one of his followers, a pharmaceutical businessman named Ralph Sharma,[6] who was born to an Indian Hindu father and a German mother in the United States. Ralph first met his Hindu Guru, Swami Rama at the age of 23 at the Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy.,[7] whereas Madhavi first met Guru Swami Rama, in 1995. She married within a few weeks on 14 February 1996 of their introduction.[8] They have three daughters and live in New Jersey.[9]

• Official website
• Madhavi at IMDb