Dr. Sharmila (born 15 November 1974) is an Indian doctor, actress, social activist and YouTuber. She debuted in a STAR Vijay show, Puthira Punithama? along with N. Mathrubootham, which made her popular. She went on to act in various television series in both Tamil and Malayalam, and some Tamil films.
Early life Sharmila was born on 15 November 1974 in Bombay (now Mumbai), the capital city of Maharashtra, into a Brahmin family who later settled in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu. Her father Kothandaraman owned a pharmaceutical concern.
Sharmila had a younger brother Hari who died sometime before 2022.
Sharmila attended C.S.I. Ewart Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Chennai, and was a topper there. She also learnt Bharatanatyam for ten years under Nandana Gopalakrishnan.
Career Medicine Sharmila went on to pursue MBBS degree at Kilpauk Medical College (Chennai) in 1993. Later, she worked as a house surgeon at Government Royapettah Hospital around 1996.
Television Sharmila started anchoring quiz shows on Jaya TV (formerly JJ TV), following which she conducted a talk show Indha Vaaram Ivar, in which she interviewed celebrities. She was subsequently selected by reputed psychiatrist Dr. N. Mathrubootham, who wanted to conduct sex education discussions on television, to read the letters from the public. The show, Puthira Punithama? brought Sharmila, who was dubbed "gutsy" for hosting the show, to popularity. Director K. Balachander took notice of her and offered her roles in his tele-serials such as Jannal and Irandaam Chanaakiyan. Sharmila considers Balachander as her mentor and guru who taught her the nuances of acting.
YouTube On 24 February 2022, Sharmila announced her Youtube channel named "Sharmila Talkies". The channel's content originally included politics, society, art, literature, food, life, health, soap opera, and cinema. Later, it predominantly discussed politics. On 1 December 2024, another channel named "Sudar" was announced, to cover topics other than politics, including fashion, science and history.
Television Year Title Role Language ChannelNotes Punnagi Tamil Kurangu Manasu 1999Guhan Sun TV1999–2000Jannal-Marabu KavithaigalGomathiRaj TV1999Dhik Dhik DhikVijiSun TV2000Kelviyin NayaganeJeevitha2001Oorarinda Rahasiyam Krishnaveni DD Podhigai2000–2001Irandaam Chanakyan Sun TV2000VishalamVishalam DD Podhigai2001–2002Nandini OppolNandini Nurse MalayalamAsianet2001–2003 NambikkaiNandiniTamilSun TV2002–2004 Agni SaatchiNilaVijay TVIndhiraManogiriSun TV2003–2004Sahana Jaya TV2003–2007Avargal Sun TV2003–2005Adugiran KannanGayathriAbinaya creations 2006PennUmaThe Hindu http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/02/24/stories/2006022402910800.htm 2005–2007Malargal Muhurtham 2007Chellamadi Nee EnakkuShylajaNaanayam 2007–2010AthipookalDr. Jhansi2007Aṟiviyal Aruvi DD Podhigai2008DevimahathmyamMenaMalayalamAsianet2008–2009Savale SamaliRajakumariTamilRaj TVNaalavathu Mudichu Jaya TVThenmozhiyal Kalaignar TV2011DevimahathmyamMaharani/JanakiMalayalamAsianetAdhiparasakthi TamilVijay TVBilingual with Devimahathmyam2012–2014Paartha Gnabagam Illayo Kalaignar TVMerku Mambalathil Oru Kadhal Zee Tamil2012–2013Karthigai Pengal Sun TV2013–2014Agni Paravai Puthuyugam TV2014–2018 KaruthamuthuJagadambaMalayalamAsianet2015–2019ValliGayatriTamilSun TV2016Sathyam Shivam SundaramMaharaniMalayalamAmrita TVAmme MahamayeRugmini Mohini / Neeli / Dr. KarthikaSurya TV2017–2019 Pagal NilavuMalarvizhiTamilVijay TV2018–2022RojaShenbagam / SaraswathiSun TV2019Kadaikutty SingamNaachiyaarVijay TVThazhampooDevaki2019–2020Tamil SelviDr. IndiraSun TV2020ChandralekhaVasundhara DeviPoove UnakkagaShenbagamSpecial Appearance MagarasiVasundhara Devi2022–2025Ninaithale InikkumSavithriZee Tamil
Shows Hero Heroine (Sun TV) Candit Camera (Sun TV) Puthira Punithama?(Vijay TV) Quiz program (JJ TV) Indha Varam Ivar (Vijay TV) Kitchen Super Star - Doubles (Vijay TV) Puthandu Saval (Sun TV) Roja Rojadan (Sun TV) Maathi Yosi (Sun TV) Kalviya? Selvama? Veerama? (Sun TV)
Filmography All films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted. Year Title Role Notes 1997Kaadhali Interviewer 1998PonmanamPriya 2000Chinna Chinna KannileHerself 2001Citizen Bhai's wife 2001 Paarthale Paravasam 2002Onnaman Ravisankar's sister in law Malayalam film2009 Padikathavan Kavitha 2010Bale Pandiya Pandiya's mother 2011Mappillai Saravanan's sister Narthagi 2013Kalyana Samayal SaadhamRaghu's aunt 2014Marumunai Aindhaam Thalaimurai Sidha Vaidhiya Sigamani Dr. Sathish Kumar's wife 2016ZeroSharmila 2017Kaadhali Bandhavi's mother Telugu film2018Yenda Thalaiyila Yenna Vekkala
Personal life Sharmila married AL Mohan, a TV production executive, but later they filed and were granted a divorce. Later, she married S. S. Balaji, a member of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
Sharmila has one child, a daughter, born on 28 December 2004 with a Sri Lankan man named Sivakaran Kulanthavel.
Awards and nominations Won, Asianet Television award 2015 for Best Character Actress (special Jury) for Karuthamuthu Nomination, Vijay Television Awards for Best Negative role 2017 for Pagal Nilavu
References
External links Sharmila Talkies