[en] | Shubha Poonja

Shubha Poonja is an Indian actress and former model. She has mostly appeared in Kannada films. She is best known for essaying the leading role alongside Radhika Pandit in the movie Moggina Manasu for which she received Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada.

Shubha Poonja
Born
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Occupation(s)Actress, model
Years active2004–present

Shubha started her career in 2003-04 and has completed 2 decades (20 years) in the film industry working in nearly 50 movies. She established herself as one of the leading actresses in Kannada Cinema from 2008 to 2012. She still remains one of the most known faces with her regular appearances on T.V. shows and now with her YouTube channel.

Career

Shubha Poonja is of Mangalorean descent from the Tuluva community.[1] She was raised in Bangalore and studied in Carmel Convent School, Jayanagar, Bangalore, before she started modelling, appearing in various television ads.[2][3]

Meanwhile, she won the “Miss Chennai-Top Model 2003” title.[3] Subsequently, she entered the Tamil film industry, after K. S. Vasanthakumar, director of the Tamil film Machi approached her to enact the lead female role in the film, having seen her photos.[4]

After starring in the Tamil films Thirudiya Idhayathai in the following months, she entered the Kannada film industry with the 2006 film Jackpot. She immediately rose to fame with back to back hits having appeared in several Kannada films, including Chanda, Moggina Manasu which won her a filmfare award and Slum Bala, Thaakath and more.

After becoming a household name, Shubha stuck with similar kind of stereotypical roles and choices that impeeded her career. Up until 2016, her films underperfomed and with Jai Maruthi 800 becoming a commercial success, she made a positive comeback. She also was one of the mentors and led a team for Super Kabbadi – a sports reality show for women in the Kannada Film Industry.

Following this, she participated in the Kannada reality show, Bigg Boss Kannada (season 8). She was one of the most anticipated celebrities since season 1 to be in the house. Shubha stayed in the house almost till the finale, her glamorous perception took a turn with her becoming fan favourite among kids and women.

After Shubha’s stint with Bigg Boss, she married her boyfriend Sumanth[5] and went on a promotional drive for her recently released movies like Naragunda Bandaya, Rhymes and Ambuja. While none of them performed to expectations, her latest film 3Devi is all set to release. This is also Shubha’s first movie as a producer and has already made waves across several International Film Festivals worldwide winning many awards.

Filmography

Kannada films

List of Shubha Poonja Kannada film credits
YearTitleRoleNotes
2006JackpotPreethi
2007ChandaSwapna
2008Moggina ManasuRenukaFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Kannada
Slum BalaMalliga
2009AnjadiruUththara
ThaakathBhagya (Bhageerathi)
2010Preethi HangamaGeetha
Naari Adda
2011KanteeravaIndra
NaanallaBhavya
2012GolmaalPreethi
2013ParariUrmila
2014Chirayu
2015Kotigond Love Story
2016Tarle Nan Maklu
Jai Maruthi 800Smitha
Sigandur Chowdeshwari Mahime
2017MeenakshiMeenakshi
Thatan Thithi Mommagan PrasthaSanjana
2018GoogalNandini
Kelavu Dinagala NantharaPriya
Raja Loves RadheRukku
Raambo 2HerselfCameo
2019JayamahalJaya
2020Naragunda Bandaya
2021BeeraShuba
2022Rhymes
2023AmbujaNandini
20243DeviMain lead and Producer[6]

Tamil films

List of Shubha Poonja Tamil film credits
YearTitleRoleNotes
2004MachiRakshita
2005Thirudiya IdhayathaiHaritha
2007Oru Ponnu Oru PaiyanShubha
2008Sutta PazhamVandana

References

  1. ^ “Shooting of Kannada film “Chirayu” at padubidri beach”. Padubidri News.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  2. ^ “Shuba – The new girl!”. Sify. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  3. ^ a b “Mangalorean Actress Shuba Punja Hits ‘Jackpot'”. mangalorean.com. 27 May 2005. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  4. ^ “Shuba Punja: Sreedevi is my role model”. IndiaGlitz.com. Archived from the original on 22 April 2005. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  5. ^ “Shubha Poonja ties the knot with Sumanth Billava”. The Times of India. 28 October 2023. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  6. ^ “Instagram”. www.instagram.com. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
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