Heera Rajagopal is an Indian former actress who has appeared in a number of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi language films.
Early life and family Heera Rajagopal was born to Colonel Dr. Rajagopal and his wife. Her father was a doctor in the Army Medical Corps of the Indian Army. After retiring from the army, he worked as a dermatologist at the Apollo Hospital in Chennai. Her mother was a nurse in the Military Nursing Service of the Indian Army. She has a younger sister named Sangeetha. Heera married Pushkar Madhav Natu in 2002 and divorced him in 2006.
Career As a military brat, Heera shifted to schools across different states in India every few years. She later pursued a degree in psychology at Women's Christian College, Chennai. During her time in college, Heera was approached to model for print magazines, and she took on the opportunities for financial independence. She also briefly worked as an encyclopedia-seller, a hotel worker, and a model coordinator in her days as a student. Heera was initially not keen on a career in films and turned down initial approaches for roles by film directors. She first received a film offer on a family holiday at Gulmarg in Kashmir, where a producer had approached her to play the body double for Tina Munim. She also later rejected an offer from filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who had attended one of her modeling assignments.
In 1991, soon after finishing college, Heera accepted to play the lead female role in Kathir's Tamil romantic drama film Idhayam. Despite her initial apprehensions, she was convinced by film producer T. G. Thyagarajan to become an actress, and she obliged, crediting the professional approach and continued determination of the film's team to sign her on. Heera's second film Nee Pathi Naan Pathi (1991), was directed by Vasanth and produced by Kavithalayaa Productions. She then starred in four films opposite actor Sarathkumar in quick succession, before playing a single mother in Sabash Babu (1993), written by T. Rajender.
Heera was cast by Mani Ratnam in his caper film Thiruda Thiruda (1993), and portrayed a rural belle who becomes a thief on the run, alongside actors Prashanth and Anand. A critic from The New Indian Express wrote there was "a drastic change of image from her hitherto sophisticated roles" and that she enacts it "so successfully". She later debuted in Bollywood through Raj Sippy's Amaanat (1994) co-starring Sanjay Dutt and Akshay Kumar. The film had a delayed release, after being impacted by Dutt's criminal litigation process.
In the mid-1990s, Heera continued to act in high-profile Tamil productions, though often as one of several female lead actresses. She notably appeared in Balu Mahendra's comedy drama Sathi Leelavathi (1995), alongside an ensemble cast including Kamal Haasan, Ramesh Aravind and Raja. She portrayed a corporate manager in Agathiyan's Kadhal Kottai (1996), co-starring Ajith Kumar and Devayani. The film performed well at the box office, and went on to win several National Film Awards. She later featured in a supporting role opposite Kamal Haasan in K. S. Ravikumar's comedy drama Avvai Shanmugi (1996).
Heera opted to quit the film industry in late 1999 citing she did not want to "succumb to the inevitable pressures" to play roles that did not appeal to her intellect sensibilities.
Filmography Year Film Role Language Notes1984AparadhiTelugu1986Poojaku Panikiraani PuvvuTelugu1991 Idhayam Geetha Tamil Nee Pathi Naan Pathi Madhu Tamil 1992 Public Rowdy Telugu Endrum Anbudan Kamali Tamil 1993 Dasarathan Tamil Munarivippu Padma Tamil Band Master Gita Tamil Sabash Babu Lalitha Tamil Thiruda Thiruda Rajathi Tamil Apoorva Jodi Kannada 1994 Namma Annachi Priya Tamil Thaatboot Thanjavoor Tamil Dongala Rajyam Telugu Amaanat Gita Hindi The Gentleman Hindi 1995 Sathi Leelavathi Priyadharshini “Priya” Tamil Nirnayam Annie Malayalam Minnaminuginum Minnukettu Pinky Menon Malayalam Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary Indu Malayalam 1996 Little Soldiers Anitha Telugu Sri Karam Telugu Krishna Tara Tamil Kadhal Kottai Neha Tamil Mr. Bechara Asha Varma Hindi Aur Ek Prem Kahani Kokila Hindi Avvai Shanmugi Ratna Tamil 1997 Aahvaanam Sireesha Telugu Kalavida Prema Kannada Chelikadu Telugu 1998 Aavida Maa Aavide Jhansi Telugu Sundara Pandian Ramya Tamil Poothiruvathira Raavil Aswathy Malayalam Yaare Neenu Cheluve Diana Kannada Padutha Theeyaga Uma Telugu Anthahpuram Dancer Telugu Special appearance in a song Yuvaratna Rana Telugu Pooveli Shalini Tamil 1999 Thodarum Meera Tamil Peddamanushulu Bhanumathi Telugu Alludugaaru Vachcharu Shalini Telugu Suyamvaram Maheshwari Tamil
Television + Year Title Role Director Language 1995 Chinna Chinna Aasai – AarambamSupriyaHerself Tamil
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