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{{Short description|Indian actress (born 1971)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox actor
| image =Heera-rajagopal.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption =
| name = Heera Rajagopal
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|12|29}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jointscene.com/artists/Kollywood/Heera/11345|title=Jointscene.com|website=www.jointscene.com}}</ref>
| birth_place = India
| birthname = Heera Rajagopal
| spouses =
| occupation = [[Actress]], [[philanthropist]]
| yearsactive = 1991–1999
| homepage =
}}

'''Heera Rajagopal''' is a former Indian actress who has appeared in a number of [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]] and [[Hindi]] language films.

==Career==
As a [[military brat]], Heera shifted to schools across different states in India every few years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heerarajagopal.com/biography1.html|title=Biography | HeeraRajagopal.com|date=25 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225074610/http://www.heerarajagopal.com/biography1.html|archive-date=25 February 2012}}</ref> She later pursued a degree in psychology at [[Women's Christian College, Chennai]].<ref name="bio2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.heerarajagopal.com/biography2.html|title=Biography | HeeraRajagopal.com|date=25 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225074635/http://www.heerarajagopal.com/biography2.html|archive-date=25 February 2012}}</ref> 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 encyclopaedia-seller, a hotel worker and a model coordinator in her days as a student. Heera was initially not keen for 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 modelling assignments.<ref name="filmo1">https://web.archive.org/web/20120225075238/http://www.heerarajagopal.com/film/films.html</ref>

In 1991, soon after finishing college, Heera accepted to play the lead female role in [[Kathir]]'s Tamil romantic drama film ''[[Idhayam (film)|Idhayam]]''.<ref name="filmo1"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Rajitha|title=Pretty piqued|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/aug/16ss.htm|work=[[Rediff.com]]|date=16 August 1999|access-date=20 June 2016|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223524/http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/aug/16ss.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkqzOc5vyL8|title=Actress Heera Rajagopa - Old Interview|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> She portrayed a medical student, who does not notice her classmate's love for her, throughout the entire film. The film performed well at the box office, and has since been discussed as a "cult film" in [[Tamil cinema]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/100-cult-tamil-movies-you-shouldnt-miss-out/idhayam.html|title=Idhayam | 150 All-Time Best Cult Tamil Films by Behindwoods | Part 01|date=12 April 2018|website=Behindwoods}}</ref> Heera's second film ''[[Nee Pathi Naan Pathi]]'' (1991), was directed by [[Vasanth]] and produced by [[Kavithalayaa Productions]].<ref>https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19910913&printsec=frontpage&hl=en</ref> 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]].<ref>https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19931119&printsec=frontpage&hl=en</ref>

Heera was cast by [[Mani Ratnam]] in his [[caper story|caper film]] ''[[Thiruda Thiruda]]'' (1993), and portrayed a rural belle who becomes a thief on the run, alongside actors [[Prashanth (actor)|Prashanth]] and [[Anand (actor)|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".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19931119&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=The Indian Express - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref> She later debuted in [[Bollywood]] through [[Raj N. Sippy|Raj Sippy]]'s ''[[Amanaat]]'' (1994) co-starring [[Sanjay Dutt]] and [[Akshay Kumar]]. The film had a delayed release, after being impacted by Dutt's criminal litigation process.<ref name="Kumar1995">{{cite book|last=Kumar|first=K. Naresh|title=Indian cinema: ebbs and tides|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gt1kAAAAMAAJ|year=1995|publisher=Har-Anand Publications|isbn=9788124103449|access-date=30 October 2016|archive-date=15 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615050832/http://books.google.com/books?id=gt1kAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref>

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 film)|Sathi Leelavathi]]'' (1995), alongside an ensemble cast including [[Kamal Haasan]], [[Ramesh Aravind]] and [[Raja (Tamil actor)|Raja]]. She portrayed a corporate manager in [[Agathiyan]]'s ''[[Kadhal Kottai]]'' (1996), co-starring [[Ajith Kumar]] and [[Devayani (actress)|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 Shanmughi]]'' (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.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20130908064404/http://www.heerarajagopal.com/film/films.html</ref>

==Personal life==
Heera dated actor [[Ajith Kumar]], who she co-starred with in films such as ''[[Kadhal Kottai]]'' (1996) and ''[[Thodarum]]'' (1999). The pair eventually split up in July 1998.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/19990503151650/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/interviews/18-07-98/ajith.htm</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/photo-features/Most-talked-about-link-ups-in-Kollywood/Most-talked-about-link-ups-in-Kollywood/photostory/48093579.cms |title=Archived copy |website=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=21 June 2016 |archive-date=16 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916170248/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/photo-features/Most-talked-about-link-ups-in-Kollywood/Most-talked-about-link-ups-in-Kollywood/photostory/48093579.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20040523005934/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/interviews/01-06-99/ajith4.htm</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Year !! Film !! Role !! Language !! Notes
|-
|rowspan="2"|1991 || ''[[Idhayam (film)|Idhayam]]'' || Geetha || [[Tamil language|Tamil]] ||
|-
| ''[[Nee Pathi Naan Pathi]]'' || Madhu || Tamil ||
|-
|rowspan="2"|1992 || ''Public Rowdy'' || || [[Telugu language|Telugu]] ||
|-
| ''[[Endrum Anbudan]]'' || Kamali || Tamil ||
|-
|rowspan="6"|1993 || ''[[Dasarathan]]'' || || Tamil ||
|-
| ''[[Munarivippu]]'' || Padma || Tamil ||
|-
| ''[[Band Master (film)|Band Master]]'' || || Tamil ||
|-
| ''[[Sabash Babu]]'' || Lalitha || Tamil ||
|-
| ''[[Thiruda Thiruda]]'' || Rajathi || Tamil ||
|-
| ''Apoorva Jodi'' || || [[Kannada (language)|Kannada]] ||
|-
|rowspan="5"|1994 || ''[[Namma Annachi]]'' || Priya || Tamil ||
|-
| ''Thaatboot Thanjavoor'' || || Tamil ||
|-
| ''Dongala Rajyam'' || || Telugu ||
|-
| ''[[Amanaat]]'' || Gita || [[Hindi]] ||
|-
| ''[[The Gentleman (1994 film)|The Gentleman]]'' || || Hindi ||
|-
|rowspan="4"|1995 || ''[[Sathi Leelavathi (1995 film)|Sathi Leelavathi]]'' || Priya || Tamil ||
|-
| ''[[Nirnayam (1995 film)|Nirnayam]]'' || Annie || [[Malayalam]] ||
|-
| ''[[Minnaminuginum Minnukettu]]'' || Pinky Menon || Malayalam ||
|-
| ''[[Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary]]'' || Indu || Malayalam ||
|-
|rowspan="7"|1996 || ''[[Little Soldiers]]'' || Anitha || Telugu ||
|-
| ''Sri Karam'' || || Telugu ||
|-
| ''[[Krishna (1996 Tamil film)|Krishna]]'' || Tara || Tamil ||
|-
| ''[[Kadhal Kottai]]'' || Neha || Tamil ||
|-
| ''[[Mr. Bechara]]'' || Asha Varma || Hindi ||
|-
| ''[[Aur Ek Prem Kahani]]'' || Kokila || Hindi ||
|-
| ''[[Avvai Shanmughi]]'' || Ratna || Tamil ||
|-
|rowspan="3"|1997 || ''[[Aahvaanam]]'' || || Telugu ||
|-
| ''[[Kalavida]]'' || || [[Kannada]] ||
|-
| ''Chelikadu'' || || Telugu ||
|-
|rowspan="8"|1998 || ''[[Aavida Maa Aavide]]'' || Jhansi || Telugu ||
|-
| ''[[Sundara Pandian]]'' || Ramya || Tamil ||
|-
| ''Poothiruvathira Ravil'' || Aswathy || Malayalam ||
|-
| ''[[Yaare Neenu Cheluve]]'' || Diana || Kannada ||
|-
| ''[[Antahpuram]]'' || Dancer || Telugu || Special appearance in a song
|-
| ''Padutha Thiyaga'' || || Telugu ||
|-
| ''Yuvaratna Rana'' || || Telugu ||
|-
| ''[[Pooveli]]'' || Shalini || Tamil ||
|-
|rowspan="4"|1999 || ''[[Thodarum]]'' || Meera || Tamil ||
|-
| ''[[Pedda Manushulu (1999 film)|Peddamanushulu]]'' || || Telugu ||
|-
| ''[[Alludugaaru Vachcharu]]'' || Shalini || Telugu ||
|-
| ''[[Suyamvaram]]'' || Indiran's girlfriend || Tamil ||
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajagopal, Heera}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses from Chennai]]
[[Category:Women's Christian College, Chennai alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil television]]

Heera Rajagopal - Revision history

CleanupBot at 06:40, 28 August 2023