Rajani
Rajani is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Rajani began their career in 1979 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 47 years. With 30 credits to their name, Rajani remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. Spanning 40+ years, Rajani's career remains one of the longest and most celebrated in Tamil cinema.
- Born
- Age
- 60
Biography
Rajani (born Shashi Kaur Malhotra on 27 July 1965 in Bengaluru) is an Indian actress of Punjabi-Kannadiga heritage who built her career primarily in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam cinema during the 1980s and 1990s, often credited as Sasikala in Tamil productions. She appeared in the blockbuster Tamil film Vetri Vizha (1989), a remake of the Hindi film Mr. India directed by Prathap K. Pothen and starring Kamal Haasan and Prabhu, which ran for 175 days at the box office. Her role as Rasathi in Oor Mariyadhai (1992), directed by K. S. Ravikumar and starring Sarathkumar, is among her notable character performances in Tamil drama cinema. Over her career she appeared in approximately 150 films across South Indian industries before her marriage to Dr. Mullagiri Praveen in 1998.
Career Milestones
Film debut in Tamil cinema
Notable early role as Lakshmi in Tamil film
View film →Prolific peak period across Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada industries — appeared in 150+ films
Major Tamil role as Shirley in hit remake of Hindi blockbuster Mr. India
View film →Continued career in character and supporting roles across South Indian industries
View film →Rajani by the Numbers
If you watched every Rajani film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 21 hours. Most-paired with Sasikala — 4 films together.
Filmography
See all 30 credits →



Collaboration Network
The Constellation
Top 10 most-paired collaborators. Bubble size and line thickness reflect how many films they share with Rajani.
Career Analytics
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
See all →Rajani has worked most frequently with Manivannan (2 films), Sasikala (4 films), Senthil (2 films), Delhi Ganesh (2 films), and Goundamani (2 films).








Legacy & Influence
Rajani is a respected figure in Tamil cinema, primarily recognized for her work in the 1990s. Her career trajectory is defined by her role in the critically acclaimed film 'Oor Mariyadhai' (1992), directed by Manivannan. In this film, she delivered a powerful performance opposite actor-director R. Sundarrajan, tackling the sensitive and socially relevant theme of caste-based honor killings. The film was a bold narrative for its time and is remembered for its strong social message and realistic portrayal. Rajani's performance was integral to the film's impact, helping to bring a difficult subject to mainstream Tamil audiences. While her filmography may not be extensive, her association with this significant film has cemented her place in the industry's history. Her contribution lies in being part of a cinematic work that used the medium for social critique, a trend that was gaining momentum in Tamil cinema during that era. 'Oor Mariyadhai' remains a reference point for discussions on socially conscious filmmaking from the period, and Rajani's involvement is a key part of that legacy. Beyond this, details of her broader career arc and subsequent contributions are not widely documented in public sources, making it difficult to elaborate further with certainty. Her impact is thus intrinsically linked to this single, potent film which continues to be studied and discussed for its thematic courage.