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Sameera Reddy

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Sameera Reddy
Reddy in 2017
Born (1978-12-14) 14 December 1978 (age 46)
Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Alma materSydenham College
OccupationActress
Years active2002–2013, 2024
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Spouse
Akshai Varde
​
(m. 2014)​
Children2
RelativesSushama Reddy (sister) Meghna Reddy (Sister)

Sameera Reddy (born 14 December 1978) is a former Indian actress who primarily worked in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu language films. She made her film debut with the 2002 film Maine Dil Tujhko Diya.[1] Reddy is best known for starring in films such as Darna Mana Hai (2003), Musafir (2004), Jai Chiranjeeva (2005), Taxi No. 9211 (2006), Ashok (2006), Race (2008), Vaaranam Aayiram (2008), De Dana Dan (2009), Aakrosh (2010), Nadunisi Naaygal (2011), Vettai (2012) and Tezz (2012).

Early life

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Reddy was born on 14 December 1978 in Bombay (present day Mumbai), Maharashtra[2] to a Telugu father and a Mangalorean Konkani mother.[3][4] Her mother Nakshatra,[5] referred to as Niki by her daughters and the media, was a microbiologist and worked with an NGO.[6][7] She has two siblings, Meghna Reddy, a former VJ and supermodel,[8] and Sushama Reddy, a Bollywood actress and model,[9] both elder to her.[10] She did her schooling at Bombay Scottish School in Mahim, Mumbai and graduated from Sydenham College.

Reddy described herself as a "tomboy" and "the ugly duckling in the family", while citing: "I was plump, had glasses and my glam quotient was rather low till I was 19."[10]

Career

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Reddy in 2015

Reddy first appeared in ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas's "Aur Aahista" music video in 1997.[11] She was meant to make her debut as an actress in Saravana Subbiah's Tamil film Citizen, during the early 2000s, but eventually did not feature.[12] She made her screen debut in the 2002 Hindi film Maine Dil Tujhko Diya opposite Sohail Khan. It was a box office failure.[13] Taran Adarsh noted, "Sameera is plain mediocre. She needs to polish her acting skills, work on her facial expressions and improve diction."[14]

Following her debut, Reddy earned recognition with her performance in the films: Darna Mana Hai (2003), Musafir (2004), Jai Chiranjeeva (2005), Taxi No. 9211 (2006), Ashok (2006), Race (2008), Vaaranam Aayiram (2008), De Dana Dan (2009), Aakrosh (2010), Nadunisi Naaygal (2011), Vettai (2012) and Tezz (2012). In 2013, Reddy appeared in the Kannada film Varadhanayaka opposite Sudeepa.[15] The film was a box office success and following this Reddy took a break from acting.[16] In 2024, her long delayed film Naam was released, where she appeared opposite Ajay Devgn.[17]

In Taxi No. 9211, she played a businessman's lover opposite John Abraham.[18] It was a box office success.[19] In Race, she played a police officer's assistant alongside Anil Kapoor. The film emerged as the fifth-highest-grossing Hindi film of 2008.[20] Taran Adarsh noted, "Sameera excels as the dumb girl. It's a tough job and she does well."[21] Reddy earned acclaim for her playing a college topper in Vaaranam Aayiram opposite Suriya.[22] The film was one of the highest grossing Tamil film of 2008 and got her recognition in South India.[23] Pavithra Srinivasan noted, "Sameera is full of life and creates a pang in your heart."[24] A critic from Sify stated she brings an "uninhibited joie" to her role.[25]

Reddy played a Punjabi woman in De Dana Dan opposite Suniel Shetty.[26] It became one of the highest grossing Hindi film of 2009.[27] She played a psychopath's victim in Nadunisi Naaygal opposite Veera, which emerged a surprise success at the box office.[28][29] Gautaman Bhaskaran found it to be her "career-best" performance.[30] In Vettai, Reddy played a talkative wife of a police officer opposite R. Madhavan.[31] Malathi Rangarajan stated, "While Sameera performs well, she could have had a better makeover."[32] It emerged a commercial success.[33]

Personal life

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Reddy married Akshai Varde, an entrepreneur, on 21 January 2014, in a traditional Maharashtrian ceremony.[34][35] They have a son and daughter.[36][37]

Being a fan of American talk show hostess Oprah Winfrey, Reddy met and presented a saree to Winfrey during her visit to India.[38]

Media image

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Reddy in 2012

In Rediff.com's "Best Tamil Actresses" list, Reddy was placed 4th in 2011.[39] In the Times Most Desirable Women list, Reddy was placed 33rd in 2009, 26th in 2010 and 29th in 2011.[40][41][42] Femina also placed her in its "50 Most Beautiful Women" list.[43] Reddy is the first Indian actress to have her own video game, named, "Sameera: The Street Fighter".[44] Reddy also judged the Miss Sri Lanka Online contest in 2012.[45]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role(s) Language Notes Ref.
2002 Maine Dil Tujhko Diya Ayesha Verma Hindi
2003 Darna Mana Hai Shruti Hindi
2004 Plan Sapna Hindi
Musafir Sam Hindi
2005 Narasimhudu Parvathy Telugu
Casualty Anita English BBC Medical drama [46]
Jai Chiranjeeva Sailaja Telugu
No Entry (Beach Girl) Hindi cameo appearance
2006 Taxi Number 9211 Rupali Hindi
Ashok Anjali Telugu
Naksha Riya Hindi
2007 Migration Divya Hindi Short film
Fool & Final Payal Khanna Hindi
Ami, Yasin Ar Amar Madhubala Rekha Bengali
2008 Race Mini D'Souza Hindi
One Two Three Laila Hindi
Kaalpurush Supriya Bengali
Vaaranam Aayiram Meghna Tamil Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Debut Actress
2009 De Dana Dan Manpreet Oberoi Hindi
2010 Aasal Sarah Tamil
Oru Naal Varum Meera Malayalam
Red Alert: The War Within Lakshmi Hindi
Aakrosh  ———  Hindi Special appearance in song Isak Se Meetha
2011 Nadunisi Naaygal Sukanya Tamil
Vedi Parvathi Tamil
2012 Vettai Vasanthi Thirumurthy Tamil
Tezz Megha Hindi
Chakravyuh  ———  Hindi Special appearance in the song "Kunda Khola" [47]
Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum  ———  Telugu Special appearance in the song "Sai Andri Nanu" [48]
2013 Varadhanayaka Lakshmi Kannada
2024 Naam Lovely Hindi Filmed in 2004;
Released after 20 years		 [49]

Music videos

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Year Title Singer(s) Album Ref.
1998 "Ahista" Pankaj Udhas Stolen Moments [50]
2000 "Tere Aane Ki Jab Khabar Mehke" Jagjit Singh Saher

Video games

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Year Title Role Ref.
2006 Sameera: The Street Fighter Ancient Warrior Princess [51][52]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Sameera Reddy Reveals A Secret About Her Casting In Pankaj Udhas' 1998 Song Aur Ahista". NDTV.com. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Watch: Sameera Reddy is turning 42 and her message for women is inspiring". The News Minute. 10 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Spicing it up". 21 October 2011.
  4. ^ "Reddy-made memories, Lifestyle — Leisure — Pune Mirror, Pune Mirror". Punemirror.in. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  5. ^ "Haute and spicy". MiD DAY. 15 September 2002. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  6. ^ Basu, Arundhati (10 December 2005). "The Telegraph — Calcutta : Weekend". The Telegraph (India). Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Girl interrupted". MiD DAY. 17 February 2006. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Mumbai (Bombay), India, Sari and Catsuit, 1999, Photo of the Day, Picture, Photography, Wallpapers". National Geographic. 25 June 2001. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  9. ^ Barkha MathurBarkha Mathur, TNN (9 February 2008). "Why star siblings don't make it big — The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.comTimes of India. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Metro Plus Kochi / Cinema : Reddy reckoner". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 11 March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  11. ^ "I love the bombshell tag: Sameera Reddy — Entertainment — DNA". Daily News and Analysis. 28 February 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  12. ^ "Tamil Movies Online ::::: News". Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Sohail Khan debuts as director-producer". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2005. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  14. ^ Adarsh, Taran (23 August 2002). "Maine Dil Tujhko Diya Review by Taran Adarsh". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Review: Varadanayaka is for action lovers". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  16. ^ "Sudeep ruled box-office in 2013". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  17. ^ "'Naam' trailer: Ajay Devgn's action-packed thriller unveiled". The Statesman. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  18. ^ "Taxi 9 2 11: Surprise of the year?". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2006. Retrieved 15 February 2006.
  19. ^ "Box Office Results 2006". Archived from the original on 4 March 2007. Retrieved 1 March 2007.
  20. ^ "Top Earners 2008". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  21. ^ Taran Adarsh. "Race Movie Review By Taran Adarsh". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 22 January 2008.
  22. ^ Iyer, Aruna V. (5 August 2011). "Love for the shots". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Great expectations". The New Indian Express. 14 May 2012. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  24. ^ Srinivasan, Pavithra (14 November 2008). "Review: Vaaranam Aayiram". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  25. ^ "Vaaranam Aayiram". Sify. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  26. ^ Lal, Preeti Verma. "Romancing the scene". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Akshay Kumar finally gets a hit with de Dana Dan". Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  28. ^ "Nadunisi Naaygal's post production begins". The Times of India. 26 September 2010. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  29. ^ Krishnamurthy, Akhila (9 July 2011). "The new darlings of Kollywood". Tehelka. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  30. ^ Bhaskaran, Gautaman (24 February 2011). "Gautaman Bhaskaran's review: Nadunisi Naaygal". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  31. ^ "Sameera's in the hunt". The Times of India. 26 October 2010. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
  32. ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (21 January 2012). "Vettai: Brothers and the baddies". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  33. ^ "Baahubali to Thuppakki: Tamil Cinema's 100 Cr Films". NDTV. 5 August 2015. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  34. ^ "Sameera Reddy ties the knot today". The Times of India. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  35. ^ "Sameera Reddy and Akshai Varde to marry in April 2014". Biharprabha News. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  36. ^ ""Motherhood is very humbling" - Sameera Reddy"
  37. ^ "Sameera Reddy shares pic with daughter asks 'how in our country the girl child was considered a burden'". Hindustan Times. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  38. ^ Hungama, Bollywood (19 January 2012). "Sameera Reddy gifts saree to Oprah Winfrey : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  39. ^ "The Best Tamil Actresses of 2011". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  40. ^ "2009 Most Desirable Women: Sameera Reddy - No 33". Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  41. ^ "Times 50 Most Desirable Women". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  42. ^ "Times 50 Most Desirable Women of 2011 : The Winners". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  43. ^ "50 Most Beautiful Indian Women". Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  44. ^ "Ahead of her game". The Telegraph (India). Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  45. ^ "Maria Alkasas Wins First Ever Online Beauty Pageant". AdaDerana.lk. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  46. ^ "Sameera "Reddy" for Casualty experience". Biz Asia. 14 March 2005. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  47. ^ "Sameera Reddy - Chakravyuh"
  48. ^ "Sameera Reddy|Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum"
  49. ^ "AJAY DEVGN - ANEES BAZMEE: 'NAAM' TRAILER OUT NOW... 22 NOV RELEASE... (Taran Adarsh)". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  50. ^ "Aur Aahista Kijiye Baatein Lyrics - Stolen Moments (1998)". LyricsBogie. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  51. ^ "Sameera turns Street Fighter". Bollywood Hungama. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  52. ^ "Sameera: Warrior princess". Rediff.com. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
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