Ashok Ogra
Priyadarshini Rajkumar is a woman who dons many roles, literally. She’s an actor who has appeared in many Tamil films, is a trained Bharat Natyam dancer, a model and actively engaged in social sector. If she’s in the headlines today, it’s for earning yet another feather in her cap – she was recently crowned the winner of Dazzle Mrs. India Pageant held in Delhi.
After earning bachelors of Arts Degree in painting at the College of Arts and Crafts Chennai, she completed MBA in Finance from University of Newcastle and worked in the financial services in Australia and India.
However, her heart was to work in media and entertainment industry.
Born to Kashmiri Panditex IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre Chander Kanta Gariyali and Dr. Sadanand Rajkumar Bhatt (Saraswat Brahmin from Mangalore), Priyadarshani is now fulltime actor in Tamil film industry.
‘I was always an artistic person and fascinated by performing arts. Since my early days, I was enchanted by film and television and was an ardent theatre actor in school.While in college, during the late 90’s, I chanced to meet eminent director late K. Balachandar who casted me in a small role in his epic serial ‘Premi’. This was my first exposure to professional acting and the industry,’ she fondly recalls.
She also appeared in the romantic-action-thriller ‘Achcham Yenbabdhu Madamiyada’ (2017)- directed by Gautham Menon.
However, it was her performance in K.V. Anand’spopular political- thriller film ‘Kavan’ that earned her critical acclaim and brought her recognition in the film industry. The film proved to be a box office hit and is considered one of the best films of the year 2017. Priyadarshini’s latest film to hit the theatres is’SarpattaParamparai – a sports action film, directed by PA Ranjith and’PonManikavel’ starring Prabhudeva and directed by AC Mugil- both the films were released in 2021.
She also features in the recently released drama-film ‘Sangatalaivan’ directed by Manimaran, and is now streaming on OTT platforms.
She has taken part in several short films such as Paravaigal, Nila,Iragai Pole,The masculinity, Kummiadi, etc.
She has been conferred with many honoursincluding best supporting actor award for her role in ‘ThiruthaiAvale’- a multi award winning film about transgender women’s desire to experience motherhood.
Her foray into the field of modeling began when she joined a course to explore plus-size modeling and personal branding. “Wanting to be an actor and model required me to create a portfolio so this course helped me achieve it apart from boosting my self-confidence, understanding styling, body language and more,” she says. It was around the same time she applied to audition for Mrs. India.
After various rounds, Priyadarshini was finally crowned Mrs. India World Classic for the 35-45 age group of married women. She considers herself very lucky to have won the title and thinks it was her answer to the final question that got her the laurel. “We were asked, ‘If a woman has three births in her life – daughter, wife and mother, which is the most significant and why?’ I told them ‘mother’ because I had a beautiful childhood followed by a nice marriage. I never had to face hardship as a daughter or wife but struggled to become a mother. When my baby came along, I felt pure, unconditional love so it made me believe that to nurture is the purpose of womanhood,” she says.
The whole reason I decided to contest the title of Mrs. India is because the title gives one a voice in public, and a standing in society, which could be used to reach out to people and encourage them in social action.
As a trained Bharatanrityam Dancer, a student of Padma BhushanDr Padma Subramaniam and has performed extensively in India and abroad.
Priyadarshini is also the Secretary of Saraswathi Educational Cultural and Charitable Trust, which runs many social initiatives and charitable programmes in Tamil Nadu.
The Trust was founded in 1998 by the late Smt. Indira Garyali, grandmother of Priyadarshani with an impetus to bring education to underprivileged children and those with special needs. Over the years, the Trust has conducted many activities under its core objectives and has grown from strength to strength to be recognized in India and abroad for affordable education, promotion of Vedic heritage, Indian classical dance and music, and charitable assistance and endowments.
The Trust conducts the renowned Vasant Utsav – Annual Festival of dance – at Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore, Chennai during the month of May. ‘We invite classic dancers from across India to perform for the public at the temple premises. We believe that this programme will encourage more and more people to take up the arts,’ explainsPriyadarshani.
The Trust has collaborations with Equitas Development Initiative Trust and the Sai Jeya Trust to conduct charitable activities that help youth and families build a future for them. The project aims to rehabilitate homeless pavement dwellers in simple housing and provide them the stability so that the families can have a permanent address, social security, and education for their children, besides sustainable livelihoods. We also provide vocational training for street children.
The Trust also runs the Madras Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology in collaboration with the SreeAnnamalaiyar Educational Trust providing education to many underprivileged students.
The Equitas Development Initiative Trust has also conducted several job fairs for Kashmiri migrant students in Delhi and Jammu. The creation of the Vitasta Welfare fund by Saraswati Educational Cultural and Charitable Trust is another initiative. This fund is raising money for the VitastaWefare project, a new project dedicated to helping Kashmiri Pandits in Jagathi camp and surrounding areas to gain a good education, receive help and funds for education, death, marriage and other important issues faced by the community.
Priyadarshini has been spearheading the cause of educating the homeless children passionately and been fundraising for this cause. She is also involved in promoting the Transgender community. Recently, she co-authored a book with Dr C.K Gariyali IAS(retd.) on’Transgender in India, Achievers and Survivors’. The book has been written to build awareness and positivity about the transgender people in India. It hails the achievements of the community in various fields and also traces the history of the community. When asked what comes to her mind when referring to Kashmir, Priyadarshani replies ‘the unique beauty of the land. The abode of Lord Shiva. Every inch of it echoes his name. The wooden houses on the banks of the river Jhelum and the gorgeous lakes and gardens.’
She wishes that Kashmir would be once more a peaceful, sacred place- that there could be love and harmony in the valley once more amongst all the people regardless of their faith.
(The author works for the reputed Apeejay Education Society)
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