R. K. Roja Selvamani
Roja at an interview with Sakshi TV
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement Government of Andhra Pradesh
In office 11 April 2022 – 4 June 2024
Governor	Biswabhusan Harichandan S. Abdul Nazeer
Chief Minister	Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy
Preceded by	Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao
Succeeded by	Kandula DurgeshMandipalli Ramprasad Reddy
Chairperson of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation
In office 15 July 2019 – 17 July 2021
Succeeded by	Mettu Govinda Reddy
1stPresident of YSRCP Women's Wing
In office 2015–2021
YSRCP President	Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy
Preceded by	Office Established
Succeeded by	Pothula Sunitha
Member of Legislative Assembly Andhra Pradesh
In office 19 June 2014 – 4 June 2024
Preceded by	Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu
Succeeded by	Gali Bhanu Prakash
Constituency	Nagari
3rdPresident of Telugu Mahila United Andhra Pradesh
In office 1999–2009
TDP President	N. Chandrababu Naidu
Preceded by	Nannapaneni Rajakumari
Succeeded by	Shobha Haymavathi
Personal details
Born	Sri Latha Reddy[1] Bhakarapeta,Andhra Pradesh, India
Political party	Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (2011 - present)
Other political affiliations	Telugu Desam Party (1998 - 2009) Indian National Congress (2009 - 2011)[2]
Spouse	R. K. Selvamani ​ (m. 2002)​ [3]
Children	2
Occupation	Actress Politician
Awards	Nandi Awards Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress Cinema Express Awards

R. K. Roja Selvamani (bornSri Latha Reddy), is an Indian politician and former actress.^[4] She served as Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement ofAndhra Pradesh since 11 April 2022 until a landslide defeat in2024 assembly elections.^[5]

Roja was born in Bhakarapeta,Tirupati to Nagaraja Reddy and Lalitha Reddy, she has two brothers by the name of Kumaraswamy Reddy and Ramaprasad Reddy. Roja Was One of the Top Actress 1990S .Roja was a leading and established actress in the Indian cinema featuring in multipleTamil andTelugu, Malayalam, Kannada films as a leading actress from the 1990s till 2000s and featured in blockbuster films such asChembaruthi (1992),Sarpayagam (1992),Anna (1994) andUnnidathil Ennai Koduthen (1998)Gadibidi Ganda (1993) in which she won multiple awards such as theTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress and theNandi Awards for her film performances.

Roja became theMinister for Tourism Culture and Youth Advancement for theGovernment of Andhra Pradesh in April 2022.

Roja was born as Sri Latha Reddy to Nagaraja Reddy and Lalitha inTirupati,Tirupati district,Andhra Pradesh. She has two brothers, Kumaraswamy Reddy and Ramaprasad Reddy.^[6] Later, the family moved to Hyderabad. She got herbachelor's degree in Political Science fromSri Padmavathi Women's University, Tirupati. Roja learntKuchipudi and was performing in dance before she entered films.^{[citation needed]}

Roja entered the film industry with Telugu filmPrema Thapassu (1991) withRajendra Prasad. The entire movie was shot in Tirupati.

She was introduced to theTamil film industry by directorR. K. Selvamani withChembaruthi (1992), along with actorPrashanth. The movie was a hit and paved way for role in another success,Suriyan withSarath Kumar. Both the films established her in Tamil cinema.^[7] She became known for songs such as "Meloor Maman" in the filmMakkal Aatchi withMammootty and "Mastana Mastana" inRaasaiyya withPrabhu Deva. Her performance in films with actors such asRajinikanth inVeera,Arjun Sarja inAyudha Poojai andPrabhu inThirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa were praised. Roja's major career breakthrough was in the filmUnnidathil Ennai Koduthen, directed byVikraman. InTelugu, she appeared in successful movies likeMutha Mestri,Mugguru Monagallu,Bhairava Dweepam,Bobbili Simham,Annamayya,Anna,Peddannayya,Kshemamga Velli Labhamga Randi,Subhalagnam,Sri Krishnarjuna Vijayam andKalavida. Her 100th movie wasPottu Amman. Roja later appeared in supporting roles in films likeArasu (2003),Parijatham (2006),Shambo Shiva Shambo (2010),Golimar (2010),Mogudu (2011),Kodipunju (2011),Veera (2011),Kaavalan (2011) andSaguni (2012).

Roja joinedTelugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1998 and was the president of theTelugu Mahila wing of the Party.^[8] In the2004 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, she contested from theNagari Assembly constituency but did not emerge victorious. In2009 Indian general election, Roja ran for theChandragiri Assembly constituency but faced another defeat, this time againstAruna Kumari Galla. In the same year she left TDP and joined theIndian National Congress, which was led byY. S. Rajasekhara Reddy at the time.^[9] Following the passing of Rajasekhara Reddy, his son,Jagan Mohan Reddy, decided to part ways with the Congress and established the YSR Congress Party.^[10] In response to these developments, Roja made the decision to leave the Congress and joined the YSRCP. In2014 assembly elections, she won as an MLA from Nagari assembly constituency. She contested once again from Nagari in2019 assembly election and won the seat again. In 2020, she assumed the role of Chairperson ofAPIIC. Then, in 2022 she was appointed as the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement portfolio.^[11]

Despite Roja being an active speaker among women MLAs, she was suspended from attending the legislative assembly for one year.^[12][13] The decision was taken by majority in the legislative house, on 18 December 2015, and by the approval of the Speaker.^[12][13] Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, leader of the opposition, opposed the suspension. There were several concerns on the procedure followed while suspending Roja. Such doubts made the opposition to move no-trust motion against the speaker.^[14] An issue was raised by the opposition party on how the media clipping, property of the house, released and published on social media without the speaker's approval and the speaker also noted their concern and set up an inquiry to probe the issue further and submit a report by next meeting.^[15]

Roja was the anchor of a show namedModern Mahalakshmi before getting replaced by Anasuya. This show was telecast onMAA TV.^[16] She is one of the judges for the comedy showsJabardasth andExtra Jabardasth. These shows are telecast onETV.^[17] She hosted one show forZee Tamizh calledlucka kicka, which was a huge hit inTamil Nadu.^[18]

Roja married Tamil film directorR. K. Selvamani on 21 August 2002.^[19] The couple has a daughter and a son.^[20]

Roja had a penchant for hairdressing and it was evident as whenever she was on the sets she was seen hairdressing her peers likeDevayani,Khushbu,Ranjitha andMumtaz to name a few.^{[citation needed]} According toRamya Krishna,Soundarya,Nagma,Rambha,Meena, her friends and co-stars, Roja is one of the few artists who can do their makeup themselves.^{[citation needed]}

Nandi Awards^[23]

• Special Jury Award –Sarpayagam (1991)^[24]
• Best Supporting Actress –Anna (1994)^[25]
• Best Actress – Swarnakka (1998)^[24]

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

• 1998 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress –Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen^[26][22]

Cinema Express Awards

• 1998 – Cinema Express Award for Best Actress – Tamil –Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen^[27]

Filmfare Award South

• 2010 – Nominated –Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu –Golimaar

Wikimedia Commons has media related toRoja Selvamani.

• Roja atIMDb

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