Sharanya Sundaraj

Sharanya Turadi Sundarraj (born 22 October 1987) is an Indian television actress and former news presenter who works mainly in Tamil television. She spent her early career reading news on Puthiya Thalaimurai and reporting for News18 Tamil Nadu before acting became her main work.

She became a familiar face to Tamil viewers as Dr. Saranya, the female lead of the Star Vijay serial Nenjam Marappathillai (2017 to 2019), a role that won her the Favourite Find award at the 2018 Vijay Television Awards. Serials on Sun TV, Gemini TV and Star Vijay followed, along with a handful of film roles.

As of November 2026, she plays Thangamayil, known as Mayil, in the Star Vijay family drama Pandian Stores 2, a role she took up in 2024.

Quick facts

Career

Journalism (2012 to 2016)

Sharanya began her working life in television news rather than in acting. She joined the Tamil news channel Puthiya Thalaimurai, where she read the news and worked as a reporter for about four years, and also anchored a programme on film personalities. After leaving the channel she spent a few months in London, and on her return to India she joined News18 Tamil Nadu as a senior news reporter in 2016.

Early acting and Mahabharatham (2012 to 2016)

Her first film was Aayiram Muthangaludan Thenmozhi (2012), in which she played the title role of Thenmozhi, credited under the screen name Akshara. While she was still with Puthiya Thalaimurai she took a role in Chennai Ungalai Anbudan Varaverkirathu (2015), a satire written, produced and directed by Maruthu Pandian about bachelors living in crowded rented rooms in Chennai, with Bobby Simha and Alphonse Putharen in the cast.

On television, she appeared as Paali in Sun TV's Sunday mythological series Mahabharatham, which ran from February 2013 to May 2016.

Nenjam Marappathillai (2017 to 2019)

Her breakthrough came with Nenjam Marappathillai, a Star Vijay family drama that aired from 9 October 2017 to 22 February 2019 for 358 episodes. Directed by Abdul Hafees and produced by Kala Communication, its main plot was drawn from the Bengali serial Kusum Dola. Sharanya played Dr. Saranya, a newly qualified doctor and the daughter of a police inspector, who is pushed into marrying the police officer Vikram, played by Amit Bhargav. The cast also included Nisha Krishnan and later Sowmya Rao Nadig as Sathya, Ashwanth Thilak as Arjun and Anuradha as the scheming aunt Akhilandeshwari.

The serial earned her the Favourite Find award at the 4th Vijay Television Awards in 2018, where she was also nominated for Favourite Actor Female and, with Amit Bhargav, for Favourite Screen Pair. When it ended it was replaced in its slot by Bharathi Kannamma.

Roja, Run and Ayutha Ezhuthu (2019 to 2020)

In 2019 she played the title role in Roja on Gemini TV, the Telugu remake of Sun TV's serial of the same name. The same year she was cast as Divya, the female lead of Sun TV's Run, a remake of the Turkish series Black Money Love, opposite Krishna Raghunandan as Shakthi. Run premiered on 5 August 2019; Sharanya left the serial in November 2019 and was replaced by Chaya Singh. She then returned to Star Vijay to play Indhira in Ayutha Ezhuthu (2019 to 2020).

Vaidhegi Kaathirundhaal (2021 to 2022)

Sharanya headlined Vaidhegi Kaathirundhaal on Star Vijay, directed by Siva Sekar, which aired from 20 December 2021 to 23 April 2022 for 40 episodes and was also available on Disney+ Hotstar. She played Vaidehi, a missing granddaughter who has grown up as Poornima and is later drawn back into her grandmother's household, with Prajin and later Munaf Rahman as Vijay Rajarathinam.

During this period she also appeared as a contestant on Start Music season 2 on Star Vijay (2021) and as a celebrity partner on Zee Tamil's Dance Jodi Dance Reloaded season 2 (2023 to 2024), paired with Nagaraj.

Pandian Stores 2 (2024 to present)

In 2024 Sharanya joined Pandian Stores 2, the Star Vijay drama that premiered on 30 October 2023 as a spiritual follow-up to Pandian Stores. Created by Priya Thambi and produced by K. Jayalakshmi's Venus Infotainment, it follows the Pandian family, with Stalin Muthu and Nirosha as the parents. Sharanya plays Thangamayil, known as Mayil, whose marriage to the eldest son Saravanan, played by VJ Kathirvel Kandasamy, and its later breakdown form one of the serial's central storylines. Her character's sister Muthu Sudar is played by Sofia. As of November 2026 she continues in the role.

Filmography

Television

Other television appearances

Awards

Personal life

Sharanya is married to Rahul Sudarsan.

FAQ

Who is Sharanya Turadi Sundarraj?

She is a Tamil television actress and former news presenter, born in Chennai on 22 October 1987, best known for Nenjam Marappathillai and Pandian Stores 2.

Which serial is Sharanya Turadi acting in now?

As of November 2026 she plays Thangamayil, known as Mayil, in Pandian Stores 2 on Star Vijay, a role she took up in 2024.

Which serial made Sharanya Turadi famous?

Nenjam Marappathillai on Star Vijay, which aired from 2017 to 2019. She played Dr. Saranya opposite Amit Bhargav.

Was Sharanya Turadi a news anchor?

Yes. She read news and reported for Puthiya Thalaimurai for about four years and later joined News18 Tamil Nadu as a senior news reporter in 2016.

Has Sharanya Turadi won any awards?

She won Favourite Find at the 4th Vijay Television Awards in 2018 for Nenjam Marappathillai.

Which films has Sharanya Turadi acted in?

Aayiram Muthangaludan Thenmozhi (2012), Chennai Ungalai Anbudan Varaverkirathu (2015) and the short film Miruna (2020)