Meena ✓
Actor

Meena

Active South Indian Cinema (Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada Films) Rating 4.3/5 Fan 9.0/10
  • FromChennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu, India
  • Based inChennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Age50 years
  • Active1982–Present
  • Updated

Meena – Biography

Meena – Full Information

  • Full Name: Meena Durairaj
  • Popular Name: Meena
  • Nickname: Baby Meena
  • Profession: Actress, Television Presenter
  • Known For: Lead roles in iconic South Indian hit films including Ejamaan, Muthu, Avvai Shanmughi, Rhythm, and the Drishyam franchise.
  • Date of Birth: September 16, 1976
  • Age: 49 years (as of September 2026)
  • Birthplace: Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu, India
  • Hometown: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Nationality: Indian
  • Zodiac Sign: Virgo
  • Current Residence: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Profession Category: Actor / South Indian Cinema & Television

Physical Appearance

  • Height: 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) approx.
  • Eye Colour: Dark Brown
  • Hair Colour: Dark Brown / Black

Family Member Name

  • Father: Late Durairaj
  • Mother: Raj Mallika
  • Spouse: Late Vidyasagar (m. 2009; d. 2022)
  • Children: Nainika Durairaj (Daughter)

Education Details

  • School: Vidyodaya School, Chennai
  • College / University: University of Madras, Chennai
  • Qualification: Master of Arts (M.A.) in History

Career Highlight

Year Career Highlight
1982 Debut as a child artist in Nenjangal alongside Sivaji Ganesan
1991 Breakout lead performance in the hit Telugu drama Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu
1993 Starred as Vaitheeswari in the Tamil blockbuster Ejamaan opposite Rajinikanth
1995 Played Ranganayaki in Muthu, which gained widespread acclaim in India and Japan
1996 Featured in the smash-hit comedy-drama Avvai Shanmughi opposite Kamal Haasan
1997 Award-winning performances in Bharathi Kannamma and Porkkaalam
2000 Critically acclaimed portrayal of Chitra in Vasanth’s romantic drama Rhythm
2003 Starred in the hit Kannada film Swathi Muthu
2013 Played Rani in the record-breaking Malayalam thriller Drishyam
2021 Reprised her role in Drushyam 2 and starred alongside Rajinikanth in Annaatthe

Awards List

Year Award Name Category Film Result
1991 Cinema Express Awards Best Actress Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu Won
1992 Nandi Awards Best Actress Rajeswari Kalyanam Won
1993 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Best Actress Ejamaan Won
1996 Dinakaran Film Awards Best Actress Avvai Shanmughi Won
1997 Filmfare Awards South Best Tamil Actress Bharathi Kannamma Won
1997 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Best Actress Porkkaalam Won
1998 Kalaimamani Awards Kalaimamani Contribution to Tamil Cinema Honored
2000 Cinema Express Awards Best Actress Rhythm Won
2002 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Best Actress Ivan Won
2003 Filmfare Awards South Best Kannada Actress Swathi Muthu Won
2013 Asianet Film Awards Best Character Actress Drishyam Won

At a Glance

15 Awards
90 Popularity Score
90 Trending
Moderate Controversy Index
95% Profile Complete

Social Reach

2,100,000 Instagram

About Meena

What are Meena's most famous movies?
Some of her iconic films include Ejamaan, Muthu, Avvai Shanmughi, Rhythm, Bharathi Kannamma, and the Drishyam series.
Did Meena act with Rajinikanth as both a child artist and a lead actress?
Yes, she is one of the few actresses who worked with Rajinikanth as a child artist (e.g., Enkeyo Ketta Kural) and later starred opposite him as the lead heroine in hits like Ejamaan and Muthu.
In which languages has Meena acted?
She has worked primarily across all four major South Indian languages—Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada—along with a few Hindi films.
Is Meena's daughter also an actress?
Yes, her daughter, Nainika, made her acting debut as a child artist alongside Vijay in the blockbuster film Theri (2016).
What is Meena's educational background?
She holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in History from the University of Madras.

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Meena Career highlight & Awards