Gabriella Charlton

Gabriella Charlton (full name Gabriella Natalie Charlton) is an Indian actress and dancer who works in Tamil television and films. She began as a child artist, winning the Star Vijay dance show Jodi Number One Junior in 2009 and playing Shruti Haasan's younger sister in the Dhanush film 3 (2012), and went on to win the adult edition of Jodi Number One in 2014. She reached a much wider audience as a contestant on Bigg Boss Tamil season 4 in 2020.

After Bigg Boss she moved into lead roles in serials: Kavya in Star Vijay's Eeramana Rojave 2 (2022 to 2023), which won her a Vijay Television Award for Best Pair with Siddharth Kumaran, and Aadhirai in the Sun TV serial Marumagal, which began in June 2024. Her first film as an adult lead was the action drama Varunan (2025).

As of November 2026, she continues to play Aadhirai in Marumagal, which airs on Sun TV at 8 pm on weekdays and Saturdays.

Quick facts

Career

Child artist and dance shows (2009 to 2016)

Charlton first appeared on television as a child contestant on Jodi Number One Junior, the children's edition of Star Vijay's celebrity dance show, which she won in 2009. In 2012 she played Gaby in 7aam Vaguppu C Pirivu, a Star Vijay serial set among schoolchildren.

Her film debut came the same year in 3, the directorial debut of Aishwarya Rajinikanth, starring Dhanush and Shruti Haasan, released on 30 March 2012. Charlton played Sumi, the younger sister of Haasan's character Janani. In 2013 she played Riya, the daughter of Prakash Raj's character, in Chennaiyil Oru Naal, Shaheed Kader's Tamil remake of the Malayalam thriller Traffic, released on 29 March 2013.

She returned to Jodi Number One as a contestant in the adult edition in 2013 to 2014 and won the season. At the first Vijay Television Awards in May 2014 she received the Favourite Dancer (Female) award for the show.

In 2016 she played Rashitha Banu in Appa, written and directed by Samuthirakani and released on 1 July 2016, a drama about three fathers and their contrasting ways of raising their sons.

Bigg Boss Tamil 4 and BB Jodigal (2020 to 2021)

Charlton entered the fourth season of Bigg Boss Tamil, hosted by Kamal Haasan on Star Vijay, on its opening day, 4 October 2020. She was introduced as a dancer and former child artist. She left the house on Day 102, three days before the finale on 17 January 2021, by accepting the show's cash offer of ₹5 lakh to walk out. Aari Arjunan won the season.

In 2021 she paired with fellow housemate Aajeedh Khalique on BB Jodigal, the Star Vijay dance competition for former Bigg Boss contestants, which ran from May to September 2021. The pair finished as runners-up; Anitha Sampath and Shariq Hassan won.

Eeramana Rojave 2 (2022 to 2023)

Her first lead role in a serial came with Eeramana Rojave 2 on Star Vijay, which ran for 502 episodes from 17 January 2022 to 2 December 2023. Directed by Thai Selvam and Raja Sundaram and produced by A Tele Factory, it starred Dhiraviam Rajakumaran and Swathi Konde, with Charlton as Kavya, the sister of Konde's character, and Siddharth Kumaran as her husband Parthiban. At the Vijay Television Awards 2023 Charlton and Siddharth Kumaran won Best Pair (Fiction) for the show.

Marumagal (2024 to present)

In 2024 Charlton moved to Sun TV as the female lead of Marumagal, a family drama produced by Udayasankar under Aura Creations. It premiered on 10 June 2024 in the 8 pm slot, replacing Ethirneechal, and opened with a launch-week rating of 8.55 TVR. Charlton plays Aadhirai, a young woman pushed into marriage with Prabhu, played by Rahul Ravi, with whom she has little in common. Narayanamoorthy directed the first 199 episodes, after which Kuruvithurai K. J. Thangapandian took over. The serial has been remade in Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, and has run for more than 670 episodes.

Varunan (2025)

Her first film as an adult lead was Varunan, an action drama written and directed by Jaayavelmurugun and produced by Yakkai Films with Vaan Productions, with music by Bobo Shashi. Charlton played Sittu opposite Dushyanth Jayaprakash in a story about rival groups in north Chennai fighting over water supply; Sathyaraj provided a voice-over. The trailer was released on 22 February 2025 and the film reached theatres on 14 March 2025, with reviews ranging from mixed to negative. It began streaming on Aha Tamil on 1 May 2025.

Filmography

Television

Awards

FAQ

Which serial is Gabriella Charlton in now?

As of November 2026 she plays Aadhirai, the female lead of Marumagal on Sun TV, opposite Rahul Ravi. The serial began on 10 June 2024.

Which film did Gabriella Charlton act in as a child?

She played Sumi, the younger sister of Shruti Haasan's character, in 3 (2012), and Riya, Prakash Raj's daughter, in Chennaiyil Oru Naal (2013). She also appeared in Appa (2016).

Did Gabriella Charlton win Bigg Boss Tamil 4?

No. She left the house on Day 102, three days before the finale, by accepting the ₹5 lakh cash offer. Aari Arjunan won the season.

Which dance shows has Gabriella Charlton won?

She won Jodi Number One Junior in 2009 and the adult edition of Jodi Number One in 2014, and was a runner-up with Aajeedh Khalique on BB Jodigal in 2021.

What awards has Gabriella Charlton won?

Favourite Dancer (Female) at the first Vijay Television Awards in 2014, and Best Pair (Fiction) with Siddharth Kumaran for Eeramana Rojave 2 at the Vijay Television Awards 2023.

What is Gabriella Charlton's latest film?

Varunan, released on 14 March 2025, in which she played Sittu opposite Dushyanth Jayaprakash. It has been streaming on Aha Tamil since 1 May 2025.