Gautami Tadimalla (born 2 July 1969) is an Indian actress and politician who has worked mainly in Tamil and Telugu, in addition to Malayalam, Hindi, and Kannada films. She was one of the leading South Indian actresses from 1987 to 1998. She is also a television actress, television host, the founder of Life Again Foundation, and a costume designer.[1][2]
Personal life
Gautami was born in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh to Dr. T. R. Seshagiri Rao and Dr. Vasundhara Devi. Her father was a pioneering radiation oncologist and her mother was a pathologist and diagnostician. Gautami attended Bishop Cotton Girls' School, Bangalore.[3]
Gautami married Sandeep Bhatia, a businessman, in 1998, and the couple have a daughter, Subbulakshmi born in 1999. They later got divorced in 1999.
Gautami was in a relationship with actor Kamal Haasan from 2004 till 2016. In 2016, Gautami had announced on her blog that she had ended her relationship with him.[4] Gautami wrote on her blog: "It is heartbreaking for me to have to say today that I and Mr. Haasan are no longer together. After almost 13 years together, it has been one of the most devastating decisions that I have ever had to make in my life".[5]
She was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35,[6] and had recovered later.[7][8][9]
Film career
Gautami went to GITAM University in Visakhapatnam to pursue engineering. She made her first appearance in the Telugu film Dayamayudu, that was produced by her cousin.[1][10]
She was introduced to Tamil film industry through Guru Shishyan, a film that starred Rajinikanth and Prabhu.[1] She was most active in Tamil cinema from 1987 to 1998 and was a tough competitor to the other heroines of her time, Khushbu, Revathy, Amala and Bhanupriya. Her filmography includes notable movies like Apoorva Sagodharargal,His Highness Abdullah,Raja Chinna Roja, Thevar Magan, Panakkaran, Guru Sishyan, Ooru Vittu Ooru Vanthu, Dharma Durai, Dhruvam, Rickshaw Mama as well as Mani Ratnam's Iruvar (1997), which co-starred Mohanlal, Prakash Raj, Aishwarya Rai, Tabu, Nassar and Revathi.
She played the lead in the Tamil serial Indira. She made a guest appearance in the song "Chikku Bukku Railu" with Prabhu Deva in the film Gentleman.[1] She had hosted a talk show in Sun TV titled Anbudan.[10] She acted in the serial Abirami which was telecast on Kalaignar TV.[11] She made a comeback to the film industry in the late 2000s as a costume designer for films starring her partner Kamal Haasan. She won the Vijay Award for Best Costume Designer for Dasavathaaram.[12] After sixteen years, she returned to acting, by starring in the Tamil film Papanasam, in which she was paired with her partner Kamal Haasan.[13]
Political career
Gautami is a member of the BJP since 1997. She was BJYM vice president [14] She joined the party in 1997 under the leadership of LK Advani. She extensively campaigned for Atal Bihari Vajpayee during that period in Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. She took a break from politics after her daughter was born. She is back into BJP in 2017. In 2021, she was appointed as in-charge of the Rajapalayam Assembly constituency.[15][16]
Charity work
Gautami founded Life Again Foundation (LAF) to help cancer patients.[17] Life Again Foundation has conducted more than 360 motivational camps for cancer patients, cancer awareness campaigns, and food drives. It also conducts Yoga and Alternative Therapy programs. It also periodically conducts health camps to conduct tests that screen for cancer and overall health.[18] LAF also runs 2 Mobile hospitals.[18] It also sponsors under-privileged students for higher education.[19] It runs Supplementary Education Centres and Vocational Training Centres.[19]
Awards and honours
| Year | Award Category | Awarded Work | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize | Namma Ooru Poovatha | |
| 1991 | Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil | Nee Pathi Naan Pathi | [20] |
| 1991 | Cinema Express Awards for Special Best Tamil Actress | Nee Pathi Naan Pathi | [21] |
| 1994 | Ramu Kaaryatt Award for Best Actress-Malayalam | Sukrutham | |
| 2009 | Vijay Award for Best Costume Designer | Dasavathaaram | [22] |
| 2017 | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Costume Designer | Vishwaroopam |
Filmography
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Rediff On The NeT, Movies: An interview with Gauthami Template:Webarchive. Rediff.com (1999-06-12). Retrieved on 2012-07-11.
- ↑ A banquet of ideas at TEDx Chennai. The Hindu(1 October 2012). Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ↑ Gautami talks about her milestone movies and Kamal. The Hindu(11 July 2015). Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ↑ Kamal Haasan and Gautami part ways after living together for 13 years, Bhattacharya, Ananya. India Today(1 November 2016). Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ↑ Gautami opens up on Kamal Haasan: After 13 years together, our paths have irreversibly diverged(2 Nov 2016).
- ↑ Gauthami: 'Don't feel scared of breast cancer' | startrack – Movies Template:Webarchive. ChennaiOnline (2012-03-09). Retrieved on 2012-07-11.
- ↑ Gautami narrates her experience of fighting breast cancer Template:Webarchive The Hindu
- ↑ Don't let mediocrity be the standard:Kamal Template:Webarchive The Times of India
- ↑ It's the genes at playTemplate:Dead link India Today
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Friday Review Chennai / Interview : Determined to make a mark, again. The Hindu(15 October 2007).
- ↑ Gauthami enters small screen – Times Of India. Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com (2009-11-25). Retrieved on 2012-07-11.
- ↑ Univercell 3rd Vijay Awards – Winners List – Tamil Movie News Template:Webarchive. IndiaGlitz (2009-06-15). Retrieved on 2012-07-11.
- ↑ Give timely support to good films, Kamal tells media. The Hindu(9 July 2015). Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ↑ Major reshuffle of office bearers in Tamil Nadu BJP; VP Duraisamy becomes state vice president.
- ↑ Gautami warns protest BJP if road works not completed(30 December 2020).
- ↑ '24 வருடங்களாக நான் பா.ஜ.க-வில் இருந்துவருகிறேன்' - நடிகை கௌதமியின் புது விளக்கம்!.
- ↑ Archived copy. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Life Again Foundation | One for One... We are there for Everyone!.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Life Again Foundation | One for One... We are there for Everyone!.
- ↑ 39th Annual Filmfare Tamil Best Actor Actress(8 February 2017). Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- ↑ Chinna Thambhi Bags Cinema Express Award. The Indian Express(1992-02-25). Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- ↑ Kamalhassan bags 4 awards for Dasavatharam ~ Template:Webarchive. Yoory.com. Retrieved on 2012-07-11.