Roja Selvamani

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Roja Selvamani, born Sri Latha Reddy on 17 November 1972, is an Indian actress and politician from Andhra Pradesh. She served as the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement in the Andhra Pradesh government from 11 April 2022 until the 2024 assembly elections.

Early life and education
She was born in Bhakarapeta, Tirupati district, to Nagaraja Reddy and Lalitha Reddy and later moved to Hyderabad. Roja earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Sri Padmavathi Women’s University in Tirupati and trained in Kuchipudi dance.

Film career
Roja began her film career in Telugu with Prema Thapassu (1991). She became famous in Tamil cinema with Chembaruthi (1992) and Suriyan (1992). Her big breakthrough came with Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen (1998). She acted in many Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam films, including Roja (1994), Bhairava Dweepam (1994), Anna (1994), Gadibidi Ganda (1993), and others. Her 100th film was Pottu Amman (2000). Later she appeared in supporting roles in films like Arasu (2003) and Parijatham (2006).

Political career
Roja joined the Telugu Desam Party in 1998 and led its women’s wing from 1999 to 2009. She unsuccessfully contested Nagari in 2004 and Chandragiri in 2009. She left TDP in 2009 to join the Indian National Congress and later moved to the YSR Congress Party. She won the Nagari Assembly seat in 2014 and again in 2019. She served as Chairperson of the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation from 2019 to 2021 and was appointed Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement in 2022. In 2015, she was suspended from the assembly for one year, a move that drew opposition criticism.

Personal life
Roja married Tamil director R. K. Selvamani in 2002, and they have two children. She has hosted and judged TV shows, including Modern Mahalakshmi, Jabardasth, Extra Jabardasth, and Lucka Kicka on Zee Tamil.