Raasi (actress)

{{short description|South Indian actress}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Raasi | image = | caption = | birth_name = Vijaya Venkatesh | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1982|6|29}} | birth_place = West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = Manthra (Tamil and Malayalam) | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1988–2006<br />2013–present | spouse = {{marriage|Sri Muni|2004}} | children = 1 }}

'''Raasi''' (born '''Vijaya''') is an Indian actress known for her work in Telugu and Tamil cinema, with appearances in a few Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam films. She is credited as '''Manthra''' in Tamil and Malayalam films.<ref name="si-28jul2000">{{cite news |last=Prakash |first=BVS |date=28 July 2000 |title=Raasi: An award for Preyasi Raave? |url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/20000728/reobi.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428060819/http://www.screenindia.com/old/20000728/reobi.htm |archive-date=28 April 2010 |access-date=13 February 2010 |work=Screen Magazine |publisher=Indian Express Group}}</ref> Raasi gained recognition for her performances in notable films such as ''Subhakankshalu'' (1997), ''Gokulamlo Seeta'' (1997), and ''Pelli Pandiri'' (1998). She transitioned to television with Telugu soap operas, debuting in ''Girija Kalyanam'' (2020) and later appearing in ''Janaki Kalaganaledu'' (2021).

==Personal life== Raasi was born as Vijaya on 1982 in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India.<ref name="ntv">{{cite web |title=ఓహో… అభినయ'రాశి' |url=https://ntvtelugu.com/senior-actress-raasi-birthday-special/ |website=NTV |date=28 June 2021 |access-date=12 July 2021 |language=te |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210712082334/https://ntvtelugu.com/senior-actress-raasi-birthday-special/ |archive-date=12 July 2021}}</ref> She married film director Sri Muni.<ref>{{Cite web |last=kavirayani |first=suresh |date=23 April 2017 |title=Lanka movie review: Raasi's return not a good one! |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/230417/lanka-movie-review-raasis-return-not-a-good-one.html |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en |archive-date=1 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301073943/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/230417/lanka-movie-review-raasis-return-not-a-good-one.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Film career ==

She started her career as a child artiste has grown to a level of heroine.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sexy Raasi ready to do for money. |url=https://www.cinejosh.com/news/1/2352/sexy-raasi-ready-to-do-for-money.html|access-date=2009-10-26 |work=Cine Josh}}</ref>

She also worked in the Hindi movies ''Angaara'' (1996), ''Rangbaaz'' (1996), ''Jodidar'' (1997) and ''Suraj'' (1997) with Mithun Chakraborty.

In Telugu, Raasi rose to fame with ''Subhakankshalu'' (1997). She was labelled "traditional" after ''Gokulamlo Seeta'' (1997). Later, hits like ''Snehithulu'' (1998), ''Pandaga'' (1998), ''Gilli Kajjalu'' (1998), ''Devullu'' (2000) and proved her mettle as an actress. When Raasi's career started taking a nosedive, she took to doing item numbers in Telugu films like ''Samudram'' (1999).<ref>{{cite web |title=Raasi plays vamp, rockets to the top |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/jun/10south.htm |publisher=Rediff |access-date=11 February 2013 |archive-date=14 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214004417/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/jun/10south.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In her prime, Raasi was one of the most sought-after actresses in the Telugu film industry.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Today's actresses are lucky, says Raasi|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/200417/todays-actresses-are-lucky-says-raasi.html |access-date=2017-04-19 |work=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref>

She debuted her first Tamil film ''Priyam''. Following a prolific year 1996, she received offers including the Vijay-starrer ''Love Today'' (1997) and the Ajith Kumar-starrer ''Rettai Jadai Vayasu'' (1997). Some of her other movies in Tamil are ''Periya Idathu Mappillai'' (1997), ''Ganga Gowri'' (1997), ''Thedinen Vanthathu'' (1997), ''Kondattam'' (1998), ''Kalyana Galatta'' (1998), ''Pudhu Kudithanam'' (1999), ''Kannan Varuvaan'' (2000), ''Kuberan'' (2000) and ''Simmasanam'' (2000). She played a negative character in Telugu movie ''Nijam'' (2003), which was directed by Teja.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Raasi plays vamp, rockets to the top |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/south/20030610.htm |access-date=2025-05-10 |work=Rediff}}</ref>

After her marriage, the actress did only one film titled ''Suyetchai MLA'' before taking a long break from the cinema industry in 2006. She made a comeback with the film ''Onbadhule Guru'' after 7 years.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Here's How Veteran South Actress Raasi Found Love |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/heres-how-veteran-south-actress-raasi-found-her-love-8859716.html |access-date=2024-04-20 |work=News18}}</ref>

She is with a Telegu thriller film ''Lanka'' (2017) where she plays the central character.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Raasi plays lead in thriller Lanka|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/240217/raasi-plays-lead-in-thriller-lanka.html |access-date=2017-02-23 |work=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref>

She made her television debut in the Telugu soap operas ''Girija Kalyanam'' and ''Janaki Kalaganaledu''.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Remember Former South Actress Raasi? Here's What She Is Doing Now|url=https://www.news18.com/movies/remember-former-south-actress-raasi-heres-what-she-is-doing-now-8856767.html|access-date=2024-04-18 |work=News18}}</ref>

In 2025, Raasi plays a pivotal role in the Tamil film ''Usurae''.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Rural love story 'Usurae' locks release date |url=https://pynr.in/rural-love-story-usurae-locks-release-date/|access-date=2025-07-24 |work=Pynr}}</ref>

== Filmography == ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Language !! Notes |- | rowspan="2" | 1988 || ''Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal'' || Young Lakshmi || Malayalam || Child Actress |- | ''Rao Gari Illu'' || Chitti || rowspan="9" | Telugu || Child Actress |- | rowspan="3" | 1989 || ''Chettu Kinda Pleader'' || Nani || Child Actress |- | ''Mamatala Kovela'' || Hero's daughter || Child Actress<ref name="ntv" /> |- | ''Bala Gopaludu'' || Lakshmi || Child Actress |- | 1991 || ''Aditya 369'' || Kishore's friend || Child Actress |- | 1993 || ''Ankuram'' || Sindhura's sister || Child Actress |- | rowspan="2" | 1994 || ''Palnati Pourusham'' || Raja Rao's daughter || Child Actress<br />credited as Vijaya |- | ''Puttinilla Mettinilla'' || Lakshmi || Child Actress |- | rowspan="4" | 1996 || ''Oho Naa Pellanta'' || in a song || Child Actress |- | ''Priyam'' || Preetha || Tamil || Debut in a lead role |- | ''Angaara'' || Chutki || rowspan="2" | Hindi || credited as Vijaya |- | ''Rangbaaz'' || || credited as Vijaya |- | rowspan="11" | 1997 || ''Evandi Pelli Chesukondi'' || Geetha || Telugu || |- | ''Subhakankshalu'' || Nandini || Telugu || Debut in Telugu as a lead |- | ''Suraj'' || || Hindi || credited as Vijaya |- | ''Jodidar'' || Landlord's daughter || Hindi || credited as Manthra |- | ''Love Today'' || Preethi || Tamil || |- | ''Gokulamlo Seetha'' || Sirisha || Telugu || |- | ''Periya Idathu Mappillai'' || Priya || rowspan="4" | Tamil || |- | ''Ganga Gowri'' || Ganga || |- | ''Thedinen Vanthathu'' || Janaki || |- | ''Rettai Jadai Vayasu'' || Anjali || |- | ''Pelli Pandiri'' || Kasthuri || Telugu || |- | rowspan="10" | 1998 || ''Kondattam'' || Vidhya || Tamil || |- | ''Pandaga'' || Prameela || rowspan="3" | Telugu || |- | ''Vasantha'' || Vasantha || <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.zaminryot.com/pdf/1998/May/1-May-1998.pdf |title=Vasantha film review |date=1 May 1998 |work=Zamin Ryot |page=11 |access-date=19 August 2022 |archive-date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111005236/http://www.zaminryot.com/pdf/1998/May/1-May-1998.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | ''Suprabhatam'' || Vasundhara || |- | ''Kalyana Galatta'' || Pooja || Tamil || |- | ''Gilli Kajjalu'' || Sruthi || rowspan="12" | Telugu || |- | ''Snehithulu'' || Mahalakshmi || |- | ''Manasichi Choodu'' || Yamuna || |- | ''Kalavari Chellelu Kanaka Maha Lakshmi'' || Roopa || |- | ''Daddy Daddy'' || Subadhra || |- | rowspan="12" | 1999 || ''Neti Gandhi'' || Bharthi || |- | ''Swapnalokam'' || Swapna || |- | ''Harischandraa'' || Nandini || |- | ''Veedu Samanyudu Kadhu'' || Mythili/Pooja || |- | ''Seenu'' || Herself || |- | ''Krishna Babu'' || Shilpa || |- | ''Samudram'' || Herself || Item number |- | ''Pudhu Kudithanam'' || Nila || Tamil || |- | ''Preyasi Rave'' || Mahalakshmi || Telugu || Nominated-Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu |- | ''Pallavur Devanarayanan'' || Seethalakshmi || Malayalam || credited as Mantra |- | ''AK-47'' || || Telugu || |- | ''Sneha'' || Mahalakshmi || Kannada || Debut film |- | rowspan="11" | 2000 || ''Postman'' || Sirisha || rowspan="3" | Telugu || |- | ''Manasu Paddanu Kaani'' || Swati || |- | ''Balaram'' || || |- | ''Kannan Varuvaan'' || Rajeshwari || Tamil || |- | ''Oke Maata'' || || rowspan="2" | Telugu || |- | ''Shivaji'' || || |- | ''Kuberan'' || Chandra || rowspan="2" | Tamil || |- | ''Simmasanam'' || Manju || |- | ''Moodu Mukkalata'' || Aliveni || rowspan="8" | Telugu || |- | ''Ammo! Okato Tareekhu'' || Gayatri || |- | ''Devullu'' || Nirmala || |- | rowspan="4" | 2001 || ''Maa Aavida Meeda Ottu Mee Aavida Chala Manchidi'' || Subhadra || |- | ''Deevinchandi'' || Lakshmi || |- | ''Cheppalani Vundi'' || Vani / Rani || |- | ''Akka Bavekkada?'' || Sowmya || |- | rowspan="9" | 2002 || ''Naga Pratista'' || Naga Lakshmi || |- | ''Raja'' || Herself || Tamil || Item number |- | ''Police Sisters'' || Ramya || rowspan="3" | Telugu || |- | ''2 Much'' || Geeta || |- | ''Trinetram'' || Vijaya || |- | ''Jamindaru'' || || Kannada || |- | ''Sandade Sandadi'' || Vasundhara || rowspan="2" | Telugu || |- | ''Coolie'' || || |- | ''Ninne Preethisuve'' || Meghamala || Kannada || |- | rowspan="4" | 2003 || ''Nijam'' || Malli || Telugu || |- | ''Aalukkoru Aasai'' || Manthra || Tamil || |- | ''Raja Narasimha'' || Mahalakshmi || Kannada || |- | ''Sriramachandrulu'' || Sailaja || rowspan="4" | Telugu || |- | rowspan="2" | 2004 || ''Venky'' || Herself || Special appearance |- | ''Oka Pellam Muddu Rendo Pellam Vaddu'' || Satya || |- | 2005 || ''Devi Abhayam'' || Lakshmi || |- | 2006 || ''Suyetchai MLA'' || || rowspan="2" | Tamil || |- | rowspan="2" | 2013 || ''Onbadhule Guru'' || Neelambari || |- | ''Man of the Match ''|| || Telugu || |- | 2015 || ''Vaalu'' || Mrs. Stephen || Tamil || |- | rowspan="3" | 2016 || ''Kalyana Vaibhogame'' || Parimala Devi || Telugu || |- | ''Kavalai Vendam'' || Divya's mother || Tamil||| |- | ''Padesave'' || Swathi's mother || rowspan="3" | Telugu || |- | rowspan="2" | 2017 || ''Aakatayi'' || Vikranth's mother || |- | ''Lanka'' || Rebecca || |- |2025 || ''Usurae'' || Anasuya || Tamil || |- |2026 |''Papam Prathap'' | |Telugu | |}

;As dubbing artiste *''Keka'' (2008) for Ishani *''Mirchi'' (2013) for Nadhiya<ref>{{Cite news |title=Raasi is as charming as ever|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/raasi-is-as-charming-as-ever/article7757338.ece |access-date=2015-10-13 |work=The Hindu}}</ref> *''Anthaka Mundu Aa Tarvatha'' (2013) for Madhoo *''Galipatam'' (2014)

===Television=== * ''Girija Kalyanam'' (2020-2021) on Gemini TV * ''Janaki Kalaganaledu'' (2021–2023) on Star Maa

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{IMDb name|id=0704682}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raasi}} Category:Indian film actresses Category:Living people Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema Category:20th-century Indian actresses Category:21st-century Indian actresses Category:Child actresses in Telugu cinema Category:Child actresses in Malayalam cinema Category:Child actresses in Tamil cinema Category:Actresses from Andhra Pradesh Category:Actors from West Godavari district Category:1980 births