Meena (born 16 September 1976) is an Indian actress born in Chennai who primarily works in the South Indian film industry. Meena started her career as a child artist in 1982. She has appeared in a number of movies produced by several regional industries.
She has appeared in movies of number languages – Tamil, Telegu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. The actress is one of the top leading South actress of the South from the ’90s.In addition to her acting career, she is also a dancer, model, singer, TV judge and dubbing artist.
Table of Contents
Meena Actress, Age, Biography, Career
| Name | Meena Durairaj |
| Nickname | Not known |
| Profession | Actor and playback singer |
| Height | 168cm or 1.68m or 5’6” |
| Weight | 60kg or 132lbs |
| Figure measurements | 36-27-37 |
| Eye colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Debut Films | Nenjangal (Tamil, 1982), TV: Anbulla Amma (Tamil, 1990) |
| Date of birth | 16 September 1976 (43 years as of 2020) |
| Zodiac | Virgo |
| Birthplace | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Hometown | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Schools | Vidyodaya School, Chennai |
| College/University | University of Madras |
| Educational Qualification | M.A. in History |
| Food Habit | Non-Vegetarian |
| Hobby | Dancing and Singing |
| Marital status | Married |
| Husband | Vidyasagar (Software engineer) |
| Marriage date | 12 July 2009 |
| Daughter | Nainika |
| Father | Late Durairaj |
| Mother | Raj Mallika |
Early life and background
Meena was born to Tamil father Durairaj and Malayali mother Rajamallika from Chirakkal Palace in Kannur district of Kerala. She studied in Vidyodhya School in Chennai till class 8 after which she has to discontinue her schooling and obtain private coaching and completed 10th in Vidyodaya schools in Chennai due to her tight schedule as a child artist.
She did her masters in History from the University of Madras through the open system in 2006. Meena is trained in Bharatnatyam and can speak Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam, Kannada, English and Hindi.
Meena married a Bangalore based software engineer, Vidyasagar at Arya Vysya Samaj Kalyana Mandapam on 12th July 2009. The couple later visited the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh and came back to give a reception party at Mayor Ramanathan Chettiar Hall, where leading South stars attended. The couple had a daughter on 1st January 2011 and named her Nainika Vidyasagar. Nainika made her acting debut opposite actor Vijay at the age of 5 in Theri (2016).
Personal favourites
Actor – Sivaji Ganesan
- Actress – Savitri
- Music Director – Ilayaraja and A.R. Rahman
- Director – Raj Kapoor and Kranthi Kumar
- Singer – S. Janaki and Lata Mangeshkar
- Film – Soggade Chinni Nayana (Telegu, 2016)
Career
Meena started off her career as a child artist in 1982 with the film Nenjangal. She was spotted by Ganesan at her birthday party. Meena appeared in a number of films with Dr Sivaji Ganesan and Rajnikanth. Meena appeared in the Kollywood film Anbulla Rajnikanth. She did over 45 films as a child artist.
As a lead female artist, she made her Telegu debut with the film Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu. She won the Nandi Award for Best Actress from the Government of Andhra Pradesh for the film.
She made her Tamil debut with the film Oru Pudhiua Kadhai. She also did a number of films like – Sandhwanam, Parda hai Parda(Bollywood debut,1992), Maaman Magal, Putnanja, Swathi Mutthu, My Autograph, Nattamai, Avvai Snanmughi(1996), Porkkaalam(1997), Bharathi Kannamma (1997), Chanti, Sundarkanda, Rhythm(2000), Yejaman, Muthu, Shahjahan, Kadha Parayumbol, Kuselan, Kathanayakudu, Bharathi Kannamma, Shock, Mariyadhai(2009), Thambikottai(2011), Hendtheera Darbar, Sri Vasavi Vaibhavam(2012), Drishyam(2013), Balyakalasakhi and Mama Manchu Alludu Kanchu. The actress also did a cameo in the devotional film Jagadguru Adi Shankara.
Other than Meena’s acting career she is also a playback singer. She has been a playback singer with Manoj for some albums. She sang a song for the Tamil film Kadhai Sadugudu.
Meena has composed, sung and recorded two pop albums, 16 Vayathinile, and Kadhalism which she stared recording with actor Vikram in 2001. She has also been a playback singer for D. Imman in the movie Sena and sung the song “Indru intha kalayil en”, a super hit song.
Meena has dubbed for Cheran’s movie Pokkisham and has rendered voice for Padmapriya Janakiraman.
Lesser-known facts
- Meena started her acting career in 1982 with the film Nenjangal as a child actor.
- She has done over 45 films as a child actor.
- She is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer.
- The star has judged several shows such as Super Kuttumbam (2014) and Bharathakkanmarude Sradhaku (2013).
- Her father Durairaj died of a heart attack on 19th June 2014.
- She is also a playback singer.
- She has won numerous awards for Best Actress category – Tamil Nadu State film award, Nandi award, Cinema Express award Dinakaran Award etc.
