Sanjjanaa Galrani Explained

Sanjjanaa Galrani
Birth Name:Archana Galrani
Other Names:Mahira
Nationality:Indian
Yearsactive:2005–2018
2022–present
Relatives:Nikki Galrani (sister)
Aadhi Pinisetty (brother-in-law)
Children:1

Sanjjanaa Galrani (also known as Mahira; born Archana Galrani) is an Indian actress who made her film debut in the 2005 Telugu film Soggadu. She is known for her role in the Kannada film Ganda Hendathi (2006). She played a supporting role in the 2008 Telugu film Bujjigadu starring Prabhas.[1] [2] In 2017, she played Chandri in the Kannada crime drama Dandupalya 2.[3]

Early life

Brought up in Bangalore, Galrani is of Sindhi origin.[4] She appeared a Fastrack advertisement with John Abraham. She has a sister, Nikki Galrani, who is also an actress.[5]

Career

Debut (2005)

After appearing in advertisements and as child artist in roles in the films Soggadu and Panduranga Vittala,[6] she got her first starring role in Ganda Hendathi.

Her first release, however, was the Tamil feature film, Oru Kadhal Seiveer. S R Ashok Kumar of The Hindu noted that Galrani, then credited under her birth name, was "very beautiful but has to work on her acting".[7]

Ganda Hendathi, a Kannada remake of the Hindi film Murder (2004), itself an adaptation of the Hollywood film Unfaithful (2002).[8] [9] The film was released in Telugu as Mogudu Pellam O Boy Friend. While Sify wrote, "Sanjjanaa has made a decent debut and she is extremely daring and does justice to her role".

In 2008, she made her official Telugu film debut in Puri Jagannadh's Bujjigadu, in which she played the role of Kangana alongside Prabhas and Trisha Krishnan. Although this was a supporting role, it gained her considerable attention and popularity. In 2010, she was seen in the Telugu film Police Police, which was followed by a cameo role in Huduga Hudugi. Her final release of that year was Mylari with Shivrajkumar, in which she played a journalist and was featured in a special song opposite Shivrajkumar. The film's success gained her offers in Kannada cinema. She won the Bangalore Times Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role Female in 2012 for I Am Sorry Mathe Banni Preethsona.[10] [11]

In January 2012, she played one of the lead female roles in Casanova, her maiden Malayalam venture. Reportedly the costliest Malayalam production of all time, and co-starring Mohanlal and Shriya Saran, the film saw Galrani portray a salsa dancer.[12] Director Rosshan Andrrews signed her for the particular role, since she was trained in salsa. Her last release is her second Malayalam film, the Shaji Kailas directed The King & the Commissioner, co-starring Mammooty and Suresh Gopi. Later in 2012 she appeared in films including Narasimha, Ondu Kshanadalli, Sagar, all of which being Kannada projects, and Yamaho Yama.

In 2013 she appeared in Jagan Nirdoshi in Telugu which was made under Padmalaya Films and in Mahanadhi in Kannada, which was her first heroine-centric film. She was then seen in Nenem…Chinna Pillana?[13] She is currently filming for a Telugu film, Saradha, directed by RP Patnaik.[14] [15]

Controversy

Galrani was arrested by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Karnataka Police on 8 September 2020 in connection with the investigation into the drug racket involving the Kannada film industry. She is the second actor to be arrested by the CCB after Ragini Dwivedi.[16] [17] Her bail application was denied several times by the courts, with the CCB claiming that she has admitted to being part of the drug racket.[18] [19] [20] She was later granted bail after spending 3 months in prison.[21]

Personal life

Galrani converted to Islam and secretly married a Bangalore-based vascular surgeon Azeez Pasha in intimate function.[22] Together, they have a baby boy.[23] She performed her first Umrah at Mecca in 2023.[24] [25]

Filmography

Film

List of film credits
YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes
2005 Soggadu Anu Telugu Uncredited role
2006 Oru Kadhal Seiveer Subha Tamil
Ganda Hendathi Sanjana Kannada
JackpotHerself Cameo
2007 Autograph Please Herself
2008 Arjun Arjun's girlfriend
VarasdhaaraSanjana
Bujjigadu Kangana Telugu
2009 Satyameva Jeyathe Sanjana
Mast Maja Maadi Herself Kannada Cameo
Samardhudu NandhiniTelugu
2010 Police Police Sandhya
Huduga Hudugi Sachin's friend Kannada Special appearance
Mylari Swathi
2011 Ee Sanje Anu
Rangappa Hogbitna Sneha
Dushasana Kajal Telugu
I Am Sorry Mathe Banni Preethsona Sinchana Kannada
Take It Easy Herself Cameo
Mugguru Yamini Telugu
2012 Ko Ko Kannada Special appearance
Casanovva Nidhi Malayalam
The King & the Commissioner Nitha Rathore [26]
Narasimha Rani Kannada
Ondu KshanadalliShilpa
Sagar Jenny
Yamaho YamaNisha Telugu
2013MahanadiMeenakshi Kannada
Nenem…Chinna Pillana?Telugu
Jagan Nirdoshi
2014 Love You Bangaram HerselfSpecial appearance[27]
Agraja HerselfKannada
2015 Rebel Laila
Ram-Leela Pooja
Bangalore 560023 Swathi[28]
Ring Road
Avunu 2 Sanjana Telugu
2016 Sardaar Gabbar Singh Gayathri [29]
Just Akasmika Aarohi Kannada [30]
Santheyalli Nintha Kabira Sanjana
Mandya to Mumbai [31]
2017 Dandupalya 2 Chandri [32] [33]
2 CountriesTamannah Telugu
2018 RajasimhaSanju Kannada
Dandupalya 3 Chandri
2022 ChoranMalayalam [34]
2024Matthe MattheKannada[35]
Tamil Filming[36]

Web series

Television

Awards

Notes and References

  1. News: Sanjana hopes to make a mark. https://web.archive.org/web/20131016080145/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-08-21/news-interviews/27949572_1_sanjana-kannada-film-samardhudu . dead . 16 October 2013 . .
  2. News: Sanjana on a roll. https://web.archive.org/web/20131016080142/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-06-28/news-interviews/27781673_1_sanjana-kannada-film-satyameva-jayathe . dead . 16 October 2013 . .
  3. Web site: Hot Sanjjjanaa turns cold-blooded murderer in 'Dandupalya 2' [PHOTOS] ]. Prakash . Upadhyaya . 10 June 2016 . International Business Times, India Edition . 21 September 2020 . 20 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200320102638/https://www.ibtimes.co.in/hot-happening-sanjjjanaa-chandrika-dandupalya-2-photos-682134 . live.
  4. Web site: Sanjjanaa dancing her way into Mollywood . https://web.archive.org/web/20120130062348/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/mollywood/sanjjanaa-dancing-her-way-mollywood-627 . dead . 30 January 2012.
  5. News: Nikki Galrani sister Sanjana Galrani says she was not fully nude while shooting for the scene in Dandupalyam 2 – Tamil Movie News – IndiaGlitz . IndiaGlitz.com . 2 August 2017 . 2 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170802205430/http://www.indiaglitz.com/nikki-galrani-sister-sanjana-galrani-says-she-was-not-fully-nude-while-shooting-for-the-scene-in-dandupalyam-2-tamil-news-190755 . live.
  6. News: Sanjjanaa reunites with Sogadu director . The Times of India . 10 March 2016 . 30 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171030183721/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/Sanjjanaa-reunites-with-Sogadu-director/articleshow/40179641.cms . live. Joy . Prathibha .
  7. News: Sordid affair – Oru Kadhal Seiveer . The Hindu . 10 March 2006 . 25 July 2018 . 21 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191221152158/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/sordid-affair-oru-kadhal-seiveer/article3217471.ece . live.
  8. Web site: Review : Ganda Hendathi . https://web.archive.org/web/20150916043718/http://www.sify.com/movies/ganda-hendathi-review-kannada-14260805.html . dead . 16 September 2015 . Sify . 10 March 2016.
  9. Web site: Ganda Hendathi review. Ganda Hendathi Kannada movie review, story, rating . IndiaGlitz . 10 March 2016 . 16 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160316092820/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/review/8137.html . live.
  10. News: The Times of India: Latest News India, World & Business News, Cricket & Sports, Bollywood. https://web.archive.org/web/20131214140021/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-21/news-interviews/32336976_1_ramya-video-clear-winner/2 . dead . 14 December 2013 . .
  11. News: Sanjjanaa took home the Best Actor in a Negative Role Female award . The Times of India . 8 November 2013 . 17 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131217074126/http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/awards/times-regional-film-awards/times-regional-film-awards-2011/bangalore-times-film-awards-2011/Best-Actress-in-Negative-Role--Sanjjanaa/articleshow/14294546.cms . live.
  12. Web site: A season of releases for Sanjjanaa . 24 January 2012 . dna . 10 March 2016 . 8 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120308051743/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_a-season-of-releases-for-sanjjanaa_1641591 . live.
  13. News: Sweden calling for Sanjjanaa's next Telugu film. https://web.archive.org/web/20131214140018/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-14/news-interviews/39254934_1_sanjjanaa-mahanadhi-yamaho-yama . dead . 14 December 2013 . .
  14. News: Three men for Sanjjanaa. https://web.archive.org/web/20131021144627/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-17/news-interviews/43143508_1_sanjjanaa-three-men-three-films . dead . 21 October 2013 . .
  15. Web site: Features . Express . Sanjjanaa lives her dreams . The New Indian Express . 5 June 2014 . 16 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160316041713/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/Sanjjanaa-lives-her-dreams/2013/10/12/article1828135.ece . dead.
  16. News: Kannada cinema drug racket probe: actor Sanjjanaa Galrani arrested . Imran . Gowhar . The Hindu . 8 September 2020 . 29 May 2021 . 2 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212627/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/drug-racket-probe-ccb-searches-actor-sanjjanaa-galranis-house/article32549058.ece . live.
  17. Web site: Actor Sanjana Galrani arrested in Bengaluru drugs case . 8 September 2020 . The News Minute . 29 May 2021 . 2 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213846/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/actor-sanjana-galrani-arrested-bengaluru-drugs-case-132600 . live.
  18. Web site: Actress Sanjjanaa Galrani admits she's part of drug ring: CCB . The New Indian Express . 26 September 2020 . 29 May 2021 . 2 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212600/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2020/sep/26/actress-sanjjanaa-galrani-admits-shes-part-of-drug-ring-ccb-2201978.html . live.
  19. News: Kannada cinema drugs case | HC declines to grant bail to actors Ragini, Sanjana and others . The Hindu . 3 November 2020 . 29 May 2021 . 2 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212357/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/kannada-cinema-drugs-case-hc-declines-to-grant-bail-to-actors-ragini-sanjana-and-others/article33011451.ece . live.
  20. Web site: Special court rejects bail plea of Sanjana Galrani, Ragini Dwivedi in drugs case . 28 September 2020 . Hindustan Times . 29 May 2021 . 2 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212419/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bengaluru/special-court-rejects-bail-plea-of-sanjana-galrani-ragini-dwivedi-in-drugs-case/story-9wkDQY3SQd4HsXTA2ombmL.html . live.
  21. Web site: Sandalwood drug case: Actor Sanjjanaa Galrani gets bail after 3 months . 11 December 2020 . The News Minute . 29 May 2021 . 2 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212405/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/sandalwood-drug-case-actor-sanjjanaa-galrani-gets-bail-after-3-months-139425 . live.
  22. News: Sanjjanaa Galrani Pens Heartwarming Note For Husband On National Doctor's Day . 2 July 2021 . News18.
  23. Web site: 2022-05-19 . Kannada actress Sanjjanaa Galrani and her husband Azeez Pasha blessed with a baby boy; See PIC . 2023-05-21 . PINKVILLA . en.
  24. Web site: Actress Sanjjanaa Galrani Leaves For Mecca With Her Family, Shares Video . 16 May 2023 . News18 .
  25. Web site: Sanjjanaa Galrani set to perform her first Umrah in Mecca: 'I don't want to be judged by people who are not secular' . 17 May 2023 . indianexpress.com .
  26. News: 'Malayalam industry is very professional' . The Times of India . 5 August 2018 . 9 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181009010512/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Malayalam-industry-is-very-professional/articleshow/10566119.cms . live.
  27. Web site: Sanjjanaa's wait continues . Deccan Chronicle . 18 January 2014 . 5 June 2014 . 12 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160312055100/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140118/entertainment-tollywood/article/sanjjanaa%E2%80%99s-wait-continues . live.
  28. Web site: Sanjjanaa enjoying 'spicy' song shoot for Bangalore 23 . The Times of India . 7 May 2014 . 5 June 2014 . 19 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141019024143/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news-interviews/Sanjjanaa-enjoying-spicy-song-shoot-for-Bangalore-23/articleshow/34780612.cms . live.
  29. News: Elated to act with Pawan Kalyan: Sanjjanaa . The Times of India . 10 March 2016 . 25 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151125022737/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Elated-to-act-with-Pawan-Kalyan-Sanjjanaa/articleshow/49889319.cms . live. Nayak . Elina Priyadarshini .
  30. Web site: Sanjjana recommends Tilak for Just Akasmika . The New Indian Express . 9 April 2015 . 16 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160816231947/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/Sanjjanaa-Recommends-Tilak-for-Just-Akasmika/2015/04/09/article2754412.ece . dead.
  31. Web site: Sanjjana in 'Life In a Metro' . https://web.archive.org/web/20140301143041/http://www.sify.com/movies/sanjjana-in-life-in-a-metro-news-kannada-oc2kh7jjhdb.html . dead . 1 March 2014 . . 28 February 2014 . 5 June 2014.
  32. News: Sanjana goes de-glam to play a cold-blooded murderer . The Times of India . 21 September 2020 . 21 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200221043532/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Sanjana-goes-de-glam-to-play-a-cold-blooded-murderer/articleshow/52360857.cms . live. Nayak . Elina Priyadarshini .
  33. News: Sanjjana goes de glam to play cold blooded murderer . The Times of India . 20 May 2016 . 26 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160526145146/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Sanjana-goes-de-glam-to-play-a-cold-blooded-murderer/articleshow/52360857.cms . live. Nayak . Elina Priyadarshini .
  34. News: ChoranUA . The Times of India .
  35. Web site: Matthe Matthe Review: Arun Hosakoppa's Film is Neither Suspenseful nor Hilarious . 19 January 2024 .
  36. Web site: விஜய் டிவி ராமருக்கு ஜோடியாக நடிக்கும் பிரபல நடிகையின் தங்கை.... . 7 September 2019 . nakkheeran . 5 February 2020 . 22 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200422143217/https://www.nakkheeran.in/cinema/cinema-news/ramar-going-pair-sanjana-galrani . live.
  37. News: Sanjjanaa turns producer . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220206230135/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Sanjjanaa-turns-producer/articleshow/20122205.cms . 6 February 2022 . 18 February 2020 . The Times of India.
  38. News: The Bangalore Times Film Awards 2011 . https://archive.today/20121210140027/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-21/news-interviews/32336976_1_ramya-kiccha-sudeep-kannada-film-industry . dead . 10 December 2012 . . 21 June 2012.
  39. News: Sanjjanaa's in the Limca Book of Records . The Times of India . 21 September 2020 . 26 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201126013127/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/Sanjjanaas-in-the-Limca-Book-of-Records/articleshow/46229687.cms . live.
  40. Web site: GMASA 2016 Wraps Up With A Bang . TechTree.com . 21 September 2020 . 27 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200927024239/https://www.techtree.com/content/news/11082/gmasa-2016-wraps-bang.html . live.