Aparna (television presenter)

Aparna
Born(1965-10-17)17 October 1965
Chikkamagluru , Karnataka, India
Died (aged 57)
Banashankari, Bangalore, Karnataka, India[1]
Occupation(s)Television presenter, actress, radio jockey
Years active1984–2024
Known forThe voice behind Namma Metro-Bangalore, KSRTC announcement

Aparna Vastarey (17 October 1965 – 11 July 2024) was an Indian actress, television presenter, and radio jockey. A popular face in Kannada television, she was known for her work as a presenter of various shows that aired on DD Chandana in the 1990s. She made her cinematic debut in 1984 with Puttanna Kanagal's last film, Masanada Hoovu. Between 2015 and 2021, she played Varalakshmi on the sketch comedy show, Majaa Talkies.[2]

Biography

Aparna was born on 17 October 1965 at Chikkamagaluru district in Karnataka, India.[3] Aparna made her feature film debut in Puttanna Kanagal's 1984 film, Masanada Hoovu, starring alongside stalwarts Ambareesh and Jayanthi. She began working as a radio jockey (RJ) with All India Radio in 1993, and went on to work with AIR FM Rainbow as its first presenter. Her career in Kannada television as a presenter began in 1990 with DD Chandana; she was part of a majority of its productions until 2000.[4] As part of Deepawali celebrations in 1998, she presented shows for a record eight hours.[5]

Aparna worked as an actress in television shows such as Moodala Mane and Mukta. In 2013, she appeared as a contestant in the first season of the Kannada reality television show Bigg Boss, which aired on ETV Kannada.[6] Since 2015, she appeared in the sketch comedy television show, Majaa Talkies, as Varalakshmi, the vain and boastful sister-in-law of the character of Srujan Lokesh who claimed to be friends of popular personalities such as Barack Obama and Salman Khan.[4]

In 2011, Aparna lent her voice for the recorded announcements of passenger boarding and deboarding for the Bangalore Metro.[4] In 2024, after more than 20 years away from acting, she returned with Gangadhar Salimath's cybercrime film Grey Games, in which she played the mother of a boy addicted to online gaming.[7] Of the gap, she stated, "It is not that I did not want to work; I did receive offers. But the role's significance mattered to me. Often, I was not fully briefed on what exactly I was supposed to do. I prioritised the importance of my role rather than its duration. Many times, the roles I was offered did not satisfy me, so I was not eager to accept them." A review in the Deccan Herald stated that she took on "a powerful role and is absolutely convincing."[8]

Death

On 11 July 2024, Aparna died at the age of 57 due to complications from lung cancer.[9][10]

Partial filmography

Television

Year Title Role Ref.
2003–2004 Moodala Mane Sukanya [4]
2005 Ee Family Host [11]
2008–2010 Mukta [4]
2013 Bigg Boss Kannada 1 Herself [6]
2015–2017 Majaa Talkies Varalakshmi [12]
2018–2021 Majaa Talkies Super Season [13]
2019–2020 Ivalu Sujatha Durga [14]
2021 Nannarasi Radhe Janaki (Cameo appearance) [15]

Films

Year Title Role Ref
1985 Masanada Hoovu Parvati [16][17]
1987 Sangrama (film)
1988 Nammoora Raja
1988 Sahasa Veera
1988 Mathru Vathsalya Rohini
1989 Olavina Aasare
1989 Inspector Vikram Vijaya
1989 Ondaagi Balu
1989 Doctor Krishna
1989 Onti Salaga [18]
2024 Grey Games Tara

References

  1. ^ Bose, Sharath (12 July 2024). "Kannada Actress and Anchor Aparna Vastarey Passes Away at 57 Due to Cancer". Filmibeat. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Swetha Changappa, Aparna, Kuri Prathap, and Other Cast Members of Majaa Talkies Enjoy a Reunion". The Times of India. 12 November 2021. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Renowned Kannada anchor Aparna Vastarey no more". Star of Mysore. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e Srinath, Shruthi (22 May 2016). "The one & only..." Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 30 May 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Aparna, RJ, TV anchor and actress". Rediff.com. 25 March 2013. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Details about People of Bigg Boss Kannada". karnatakakaravali. 19 August 2014. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  7. ^ Sharadhaa, A. (8 May 2024). "A closer look at strong female characters in Grey Games". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  8. ^ Angadi, Jagadish. "'Grey Games' movie review: Despite flaws, this psychological thriller manages to entertain". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  9. ^ Kumar, Chethan. "ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಆಘಾತ, ಅಚ್ಚ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಖ್ಯಾತ ನಿರೂಪಕಿ ಅಪರ್ಣ ಇನ್ನಿಲ್ಲ!". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd (in Kannada). Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Renowned Kannada anchor-actress Aparna Vastarey passes away due to Cancer at 51". The Times of India. 11 July 2024. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  11. ^ "The many talents of 'RJ' Aparna". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 29 December 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  12. ^ "Aparna turns Nagavalli on Maja Talkies". The Times of India. 28 February 2015. Archived from the original on 9 September 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  13. ^ "Sharan to be first guest of Majaa Talkies Super Season". The Times of India. 31 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2 June 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Ivalu Sujatha to premiere today; Actress Meghashri to play the lead role". The Times of India. 26 August 2019. Archived from the original on 15 September 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Aparna Vastrey plays a cameo in the TV show Nannarasi Radhe". The Times of India. 31 August 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  16. ^ "Who was Aparna Vastarey: Five lesser-known facts about the late actress, anchor". Hindustan Times. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Aparna Vastarey, actor-presenter and Kannada voice of Bengaluru Metro, passes away". The Hindu. 11 July 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Popular TV anchor and actor Aparna Vastarey passes away". www.msn.com. Retrieved 18 July 2024.