Sanjjanaa Galrani

Sanjjanaa Galrani (also known as Mahira;[1] 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.[2][3] In 2017, she played Chandri in the Kannada crime drama Dandupalya 2.[4]

Sanjjanaa Galrani
Galrani at Filmfare awards
Born
Archana Galrani
NationalityIndian
Other namesMahira
Occupation
  • Actress
Years active2005–2018
2022–present
Spouse
Azeez Pasha
(m. 2021)
Children1
RelativesNikki Galrani (sister)
Aadhi Pinisetty (brother-in-law)

Early life

Brought up in Bangalore, Galrani is of Sindhi origin.[5] She appeared a Fastrack advertisement with John Abraham.[5] She has a sister, Nikki Galrani, who is also an actress.[6]

Career

Debut (2005)

After appearing in advertisements and as child artist in roles in the films Soggadu and Panduranga Vittala,[7] she got her first starring role in Ganda Hendathi.[citation needed]

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".[8]

Ganda Hendathi, a Kannada remake of the Hindi film Murder (2004), itself an adaptation of the Hollywood film Unfaithful (2002).[9][10] 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".[9]

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.[citation needed] 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.[11][12]

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,[5] and co-starring Mohanlal and Shriya Saran, the film saw Galrani portray a salsa dancer.[13] Director Rosshan Andrrews signed her for the particular role, since she was trained in salsa.[5] 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?[14] She is currently filming for a Telugu film, Saradha, directed by RP Patnaik.[15][16]

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.[17][18] 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.[19][20][21] She was later granted bail after spending 3 months in prison.[22]

Personal life

Galrani converted to Islam and secretly married a Bangalore-based vascular surgeon Azeez Pasha in intimate function.[23] Together, they have a baby boy.[24] She performed her first Umrah at Mecca in 2023.[1][25]

Filmography

Film

List of film credits
YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes
2005SoggaduAnuTeluguUncredited role[citation needed]
2006Oru Kadhal SeiveerSubhaTamil
Ganda HendathiSanjanaKannada
JackpotHerselfCameo
2007Autograph PleaseHerself
2008ArjunArjun's girlfriend
VarasdhaaraSanjana
BujjigaduKanganaTelugu
2009Satyameva JeyatheSanjana
Mast Maja MaadiHerselfKannadaCameo
SamardhuduNandhiniTelugu
2010Police PoliceSandhya
Huduga HudugiSachin's friendKannadaSpecial appearance
MylariSwathi
2011Ee SanjeAnu
Rangappa HogbitnaSneha
DushasanaKajalTelugu
I Am Sorry Mathe Banni PreethsonaSinchanaKannada
Take It EasyHerselfCameo
MugguruYaminiTelugu
2012Ko KoKannadaSpecial appearance
CasanovvaNidhiMalayalam
The King & the CommissionerNitha Rathore[26]
NarasimhaRaniKannada
Ondu KshanadalliShilpa
SagarJenny
Yamaho YamaNishaTelugu
2013MahanadiMeenakshiKannada
Nenem…Chinna Pillana?Telugu
Jagan Nirdoshi
2014Love You BangaramHerselfSpecial appearance[27]
AgrajaHerselfKannada
2015RebelLaila
Ram-LeelaPooja
Bangalore 560023Swathi[28]
Ring Road
Avunu 2SanjanaTelugu
2016Sardaar Gabbar SinghGayathri[29]
Just AkasmikaAarohiKannada[30]
Santheyalli Nintha KabiraSanjana
Mandya to Mumbai[31]
2017Dandupalya 2Chandri[32][33]
2 CountriesTamannahTelugu
2018RajasimhaSanjuKannada
Dandupalya 3Chandri
2022ChoranMalayalam[34]
2024Matthe MattheKannada[35]
Poda Mundam TBATamilFilming[36]

Web series

  • 2020 : Shit Happens (Telugu)
  • 2019: Aivar (Tamil)

Television

Awards

  • Best Actor in a Negative Role Female for Mathe Banni Preethsona – The Bangalore Times Film Awards 2011[38]
  • In 2015, she entered into the Limca Book of World Records by cycling for 104 hours.[39]
  • She was given the Celebrity Social Media Icon 2016 award by GMASA.[40]

References