Jayashree Raj is an Indian actress, television host, producer and director known for her work in Kannda television and cinema. After beginning her career as an actress with Kathegara, Jayashree has gone on to appear in more than 50 television serials, and 20 films. She turned director and producer with Aramane in 2017 with her husband Rakesh Chandru, before they produced Kasturi Nivasa two years later. In addition to Kannada, Jayashree has also acted in Tamil and Telugu serials.
Early life Jayashree hails from Karnataka. Her parents Rajanna and Jagadamba ran a pharmacy store in Bangalore. Jayashree did her schooling there at the Nehru Smaraka Vidya Kendra Trust. Jayashree did not rceive formal education after her matriculation, considering she began screen acting when in school. While in school, she was an athlete and represented her school as a volleyball and a kho kho player. She also trained as a classical dancer. She earned a bachelor's degree in arts from Mysore Open University. In an interview with Deccan Herald in 2001, Jayashree recalled that she was first noticed by popular television director T. N. Seetharam, who offered a role in his serial, Mayamruga.
Career Jayashree made her screen debut in the mid-1990s with the television serial titled Kathegara, which was a collection of short stories adapted to the small screen, in P. Lankesh's Umapatiya Scholarship Yatre, when she was 13. In Seetharam's Mayamruga, she played the second daughter of Shastri. Jayashree would go on to star in multiple serials in the mid- to late-1990s, often appearing in serials that would run parallelly, considering most serials during the time ran to 13, 26 or 52 episodes. Some of them include Chakra which was aired on DD Chandana, and Minchumareyadavaru, Sulivu, Haavina Hejje, Chaduranga and Kathasagara. Jayashree also compered a musical programme Sangeetha Sagara, and hosted a talk show titled Namaste ETV in 2001.
Jayashree's film debut came in Ravichandran's Preethsod Thappa (1998). She played the daughter of Srinivasa Murthy's character. She would go on to play supporting roles in Sparsha (2000), Bannada Hejje (2000) and Majnu (2001).
Jayashree would go on to play lead roles in mega serials such Rathasapthami, Guptagamini and Punyakoti, all of which completed 1,000 episodes. However, in 2014, after acting roles dried up, she turned to direction. In 2017, along with her husband Rakesh Chandru, she produced and directed Aramane for Udaya TV. She called the project being "...like an oasis for a thirsty traveller in a desert." It was her 50th serial as an actress. In 2019, the couple produced Kasturi Nivasa. In addition to production, Jayashree continued to act in serials. In 2025, she appeared in Telugu serials such as Padamati Sandhyaragam and Malli. In Jhansi, a courtroom drama, she played a lawyer Mrunalini, who has confrontations with the titular character.
Personal life Jayashree has been married twice. She was first married to Ganesh Prasad, a US-based engineer, in April 2002. The couple divorced in November 2006. They had a daughter together, Anagha Abhivandana. Jayashree is presently married to Chandrashekhar, also known as Rakesh Chandru, a television actor and director. They met on the sets of Brungada Benneri, which had Jayashree playing the lead role in, and Chandru serving as production manager. They would go on to star together in Samaagama. In an interview with Deccan Herald in 2017, Jayashree mentioned that she has been married to him for 14 years.
Filmography Television All television serials are in Kannada, unless otherwise noted. + Year Title Role Notes 1997 Kathegara 1997 Mayamruga Sharada Janani Sangama Suptamanasina Saptaswaragalu Samagaama Chanchala Chakra Minchumareyadavaru Sulivu Haavina Hejje Chaduranga Kathasagara Sangeetha Sagara Presenter 2001 Bhargavi 2001 Sahana Tamil serial 2001 Chandrabimba 2001 Namaste ETV Host 2002 Manvanthara Brungada Benneri –2014 Rathasapthami Guptagamini Punyakoti Sangeetha Samagamam Host Malayalam reality show –2014 Mukta Mukta Niveditha –2014 Shubhamangala 2014 Seere Beka Seere Host 2016–2020 Naagini Nagarani 2017 Aramane Also director and producer 2018 Bigg Boss Kannada Self Season 6 2019–2022 Kasturi Nivasa Durga Cameo; also producer 2019 Devayani 2021 Ninnindale 2024 Chukki Tare Yashoda Karve 2025 Jhansi Mrunalini Telugu serial 2025– Padamati Sandhyaragam Janaki Telugu serial 2025 Malli Telugu serial
Film + Year Title Role Notes 1998 Preethsod Thappa 2000 Sparsha 2000 Bannada Hejje 2001 Majnu 2007 Honganasu Shilpa 2007 Meera Madhava Raghava 2007 Cheluvina Chittara 2008 Chaitrada Chandrama 2008 Inthi Ninna Preethiya Kalyani 2010 Sugreeva 2012 Anna Bond 2013 Cool Ganesha 2014 Baanaadi Girija 2014 Dil Rangeela 2016 Priyanka 2016 John Jani Janardhan 2019 Eesha Mahesha 2025 Sanju Weds Geetha 2 2025 Guri
See also List of Indian television actresses
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