Suja Varunee is an Indian former actress who has appeared in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam language films.[1] She is the winner of BB Jodigal (season 2).

Suja Varunee
Suja in 2014
Born
Other namesSujatha
OccupationActress
Years active2002–2022
Spouse
(m. 2018)
Children1

Career

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Aged fourteen, Suja was selected to portray the leading role in the coming-of-age, romantic drama Plus Two (2002) after being recommended to the film's director Ramana by her neighbour Rajarajan, who was a cinematographer. Her parents were initially reluctant to allow Suja to act in films at such a young age, but later agreed.[2] The film took a low-profile opening at the box office and did not perform well, prompting Suja to take a break from the film industry. In 2004, Suja was offered a chance to perform in a dance number in the Srikanth–starrer Varnajalam (2004), which she accepted, prompting several other film makers to approach her for similar roles. Throughout the mid-2000s, Suja became popular for such glamorous, single song appearances and worked on projects including Maayavi (2005), Pallikoodam (2007), Kuselan (2008) and Jayamkondaan (2008). Amidst several appearances in single songs, Suja had the opportunity to portray minor supporting roles in films including A. K. Lohithadas's Kasthuri Maan (2005) and Masala (2005). Suja has since reflected on that period in her career and stated she "used to get song offers almost every other day" but "did not know then that the industry would brand [her] as an item girl" and that she "did not have the proper guidance".[3][4][5]

Following her appearance in the Rajinikanth-starrer Kuselan (2008), Suja actively supports Patali Makkal Katchi and sought to shed her image of being a glamorous dancer and move towards portraying supporting roles. The director of Kuselan, P. Vasu, supported her move and cast her in two of his subsequent films – the Kannada horror-comedy Aptharakshaka (2010) and its Telugu remake, Nagavalli (2010).[5] The roles meant that she received further opportunities in the Telugu language with roles in films including Gundello Godari (2013) and Doosukeltha (2013), as well as the lead role in the low-budget comedy film Alibaba Okkade Donga (2014) opposite Ali. Simultaneously, she began to work in key roles in Tamil films, winning acclaim for her role as a traditional village girl in Milaga (2010), while also playing key roles in black comedy Settai (2013) and science-fiction film, Appuchi Gramam (2014).[6][7] Suja won acclaim for her portrayal of a fiery, rustic woman in the village drama, Kidaari (2016), where she starred alongside Sasikumar.[8]

In 2017, she expressed her disappointment of her scenes in films being cut through a Twitter post. The move followed reports that her scenes were edited out in the film, Kuttram 23 (2017).[9] She has finished her commitments for films including the Arulnithi-starrer Iravukku Aayiram Kangal, Thamira's Aan Devathai, Arun Vijay's Vaa Deal and Sathru among other projects.[10] In 2017, Suja took part in the reality television show Bigg Boss hosted by Kamal Haasan, where she entered on day 52.

Personal life

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Suja is wife of the actor Shivaji Dev. In August 2019 she gave birth to their first child a baby boy Adhvaaith [11]

Filmography

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Year Film Role Language Notes
2002 Plus 2 Tamil
2003 Ilasu Pudhusu Ravusu Suja Tamil
2004 Varnajalam Tamil Special appearance in song "Vadha Vadhane"
Udees Kannada Special appearance
2005 Kasthuri Maan Sunitha Tamil
Ulla Kadathal Samyuktha Tamil
Masala Preethi Kannada
Maayavi Tamil Special appearance
Kadhal Seiya Virumbu Tamil Special appearance
Yeshwanth Kannada Special appearance
Jyestha Kannada Special appearance
Gunna Kannada Special appearance
Ben Johnson Malayalam Special appearance
Ponmudipuzhayorathu Malayalam Special appearance
2006 Naalai Sudha Tamil
Vathiyar Tamil Special appearance in "Yennadi Muniyamma" song
Chacko Randaaman Malayalam Special appearance
Suntaragaali Kannada Special appearance
2007 Mudhal Kanave Tamil Special appearance
Thirutham Priya Tamil
Adavadi Tamil
Achacho Tamil Special appearance
Lee Tamil Special appearance
Madurai Veeran Tamil Special appearance
Pallikoodam Tamil Special appearance in song "Roseberry"
Rasigar Mandram Tamil Special appearance
Black Cat Malayalam Special appearance
Ammuvagiya Naan Tamil Special appearance
2008 Pazhani Tamil Special appearance in song "Lo Lo Local"
Mulla Malayalam Special appearance
Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan Urvashi Tamil
Vaitheeswaran Sharmila Tamil
Unnai Naan Tamil
Uliyin Osai Tamil
Thangam Tamil Special appearance
Valluvan Vasuki Tamil Special appearance
Vasool Tamil Special appearance
Sandai Tamil Special appearance
Singakutty Tamil Special appearance
Thozha Tamil Special appearance
Muniyandi Vilangial Moonramandu Tamil Special appearance
Kuselan Tamil Special appearance in "Perinba Pechchukaran" song
Jayamkondaan Tamil Special appearance in "Orey Or Naal" song
Thenavattu Tamil Special appearance
Thiruvannamalai Tamil Special appearance in "Amma Maare" song
2009 Ainthaam Padai Tamil Special appearance in "Orampo" song
Black Dalia Jessica Malayalam
Engal Aasan Usha Tamil
Solla Solla Inikkum Megha Tamil
2010 Aptharakshaka Hema Kannada
Milaga Sowmya Tamil
Moscowin Kavery Tamil Special appearance in "Gramam Thedi Vaada" song
Nagavalli Hema Telugu
2011 Aayiram Vilakku Tamil
2013 Gundello Godari Bangari Telugu
Settai Tamil Special appearance
Doosukeltha Kedareswari Telugu
2014 Ali Baba Okkade Donga Chetana Telugu
Appuchi Gramam Tamil
2015 Killadi Tamil Special appearance
2016 Pencil Nandini Tamil
Kidaari Loganayaki Tamil
Sadhuram 2 Divya Tamil
2017 Kuttram 23 John Matthew's wife Tamil
Vaigai Express Madhavi Tamil
Achayans Panchami Malayalam
Munnodi Tamil
2018 Iravukku Aayiram Kangal Maya Tamil
Aan Devathai Belita Tamil
2019 Sathru Kasthuri Tamil
2021 Drushyam 2 Saritha Telugu

Television

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Year Title Role Channel Notes
2017 Bigg Boss Contestant Star Vijay Evicted Day 91
2018 Genes Zee Tamil
Bigg Boss Tamil 2 Herself Star Vijay Guest from day 85 to 91
2020 Start Music Season 2 Participant Star Vijay
2021 Chithi 2 Herself Sun TV Serial, Guest Appearance in Mahasangamam episode
Rowdy Baby Contestant Participated along with Shivaji Dev
Anbe Vaa Herself Serial, Guest Appearance in Super Dance Competition
2022 Bigg Boss Ultimate (Season 1) Contestant Disney Hotstar Evicted Day 14
BB Jodigal Contestant Star Vijay Winner

References

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  1. ^ "Suja Varunee Biography". CrunchWood.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  2. ^ "Its not easy to do sexy numbers": Suja. Sify.com. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  3. ^ My First Break – SUJA. The Hindu (16 October 2009)
  4. ^ Viggy.com (13 March 2011). Retrieved on 2017-09-22.
  5. ^ a b An interview with actress Suja Varunee. Behindwoods.com. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  6. ^ Suja praised for Milaga!. The Times of India. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  7. ^ Suja Varunee clarifies the rumours regarding her future plans. Behindwoods.com (7 December 2015). Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  8. ^ Suja varunee is the heroine of Sasikumar next film with Prasath – Tamil Movie News. IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  9. ^ Suja Varunee goes emotional about the removal of her scenes by directors. Behindwoods.com (6 March 2017). Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  10. ^ Exclusive: Suja Varunee is a gangster now!. Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Shivaji Dev confirms relationship with Suja Varunee".
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