# Hema Chaudhary
**Hema Chaudhary** (ಹೇಮಾ ಚೌಧರಿ) is an Indian actress whose original name is Durga Prabha (ದುರ್ಗಾಪ್ರಭಾ), known for her work in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema) since the mid-1970s. She has appeared in numerous films, became especially identified with negative roles in [Kannada cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannada-cinema), and is also a recognized [Kuchipudi](https://www.edgepedia.org/kuchipudi) dancer.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth | Hyderabad; Filmibeat gives 1955, Asianet Suvarna News gives 1955[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) • [2](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/sandalwood/actress-hema-chaudhary-suffering-from-brain-hamrage-and-son-comes-from-ireland-srb-s80jk2) |
| Original name | Durga Prabha; adopted the screen name Hema Chaudhary early in her career[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) |
| Debut | Lead role in the Telugu film *Pelli Kani Pelli* (1976); Kannada entry with *Vijayavani* the same year[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) |
| Output | Films across four South Indian languages, including more than 150 in Kannada[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) • [3](https://vijaykarnataka.com/tv/news/amruthavarshini-serial-actress-hema-chaudharyis-hospitalized/articleshow/106143931.cms) |
| Signature image | Negative and character roles in Kannada cinema, notably in *Vijayavani*, *Shubhashaya*, *Deepa*, *Gaali Maathu*, and *Nee Bareda Kadambari*[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) • [4](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/amp/sandalwood/senior-actress-hema-chaudhary-admitted-to-hospital-due-to-brain-hemorrhage-gow-s5y92i) |
| Dance career | Kuchipudi performer with more than 700 stage shows worldwide, alongside Padma Bhushan Vempati Chinnasatyam[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) |
| Television | Played the strict mother-in-law Shankutala Devi in the popular Suvarna serial *Amruthavarshini*[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) |
## Early life and training
Hema Chaudhary was born in [Hyderabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/hyderabad). Filmibeat's biography dates her birth to 1955, while an Asianet Suvarna News profile gives 10 December 1955; both agree on Hyderabad and on her original name, Durga Prabha.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) • [2](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/sandalwood/actress-hema-chaudhary-suffering-from-brain-hamrage-and-son-comes-from-ireland-srb-s80jk2) She was born into a film family: Filmibeat identifies her parent as the Telugu actress and dubbing artist Brundavana Chaudhary, while Vijaya Karnataka names the same parent as Bhavana Chaudhary.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) • [3](https://vijaykarnataka.com/tv/news/amruthavarshini-serial-actress-hema-chaudharyis-hospitalized/articleshow/106143931.cms)
Watching the films of stars such as [M. G. Ramachandran](https://www.edgepedia.org/m-g-ramachandran), [N. T. Rama Rao](https://www.edgepedia.org/n-t-rama-rao), and [Sivaji Ganesan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sivaji-ganesan) at home gave her an early interest in acting, and she trained at a film institute in Madras (now Chennai). Her classmates there included Rajinikanth and Ashok, a connection she later recalled in interviews that circulated widely online.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) • [5](https://lr-cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/120170/cinema/Kollywood/Flashback-%3A-Rajinis-classmate-Hema-Chaudhary.htm)
## Film career
**Debut and leading roles.** Hema entered films through the [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema) *Dampatulu* era piece *Chinnamatalu* according to one account, and first played a heroine in *Pelli Kani Pelli* in 1976.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) • [6](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/top-listing/from-marimuthu-to-hema-choudharytop-iconic-female-villains-of-sandalwood--3-5489.html) In the same year she made her Kannada debut with *Vijayavani*, in a second-lead role.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) • [6](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/top-listing/from-marimuthu-to-hema-choudharytop-iconic-female-villains-of-sandalwood--3-5489.html) She then appeared opposite [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan) in the Tamil film *Manmatha Leelai* (1976), in which she played Madhavi.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2458934/)
**Shift to character and negative roles.** From the 1980s she moved into supporting roles and settled in Bengaluru, acting in more than 150 Kannada films.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) Her negative characters became her trademark: she was noted for villainous parts in *Vijayavani*, *Shubhashaya*, *Deepa*, *Gaali Maathu*, and *Nee Bareda Kadambari*, and a Times of India feature on [Sandalwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/sandalwood) actresses who aced negative roles lists her among them.[4](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/amp/sandalwood/senior-actress-hema-chaudhary-admitted-to-hospital-due-to-brain-hemorrhage-gow-s5y92i) • [8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/sandalwood-actresses-who-aced-negative-roles/amp_etphotostory/68833689.cms) In *Gaali Maathu* her dancing to the song "Nammura Jaatreli Peteya Beedili" remained memorable for audiences.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html)
Her Kannada hits include *Gurushishyaru*, *Yaarivanu*, *Jimmigallu*, *Masanada Hoovu*, *Kindari Jogi*, *Kurubana Rani*, *Veerappa Nayaka*, *Suryavamsha*, *Jamindaru*, *Kanasugara*, *Thavarige Baa Thangi*, *Anna Thangi*, *Mallikarjuna*, *Shakti*, and *Dasharatha*.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) • [9](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/news/veteran-actress-hema-chaudhary-in-critical-condition-after-brain-hemorrhage-076869.html) She shared the screen with leading actors of the 1970s and 1980s, including N. T. Rama Rao, Dr. Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, Chiranjeevi, Shankar Nag, and [Tiger Prabhakar](https://www.edgepedia.org/tiger-prabhakar), and with actresses including [B. Saroja Devi](https://www.edgepedia.org/b-saroja-devi), Jayanthi, Kalpana, Jayapradha, and Sridevi.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) • [3](https://vijaykarnataka.com/tv/news/amruthavarshini-serial-actress-hema-chaudharyis-hospitalized/articleshow/106143931.cms) Database listings credit her with roughly 74 to 84 screen credits, with later Kannada films including *Godfather* (2012), *Dasavala* (2013), *Super Ranga* (2014), and *Ganga* (2015).[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2458934/) • [10](https://chiloka.com/celebrity/hema-choudhary)
## Television and dance
On Kannada television she became a household name as the strict mother-in-law Shankutala Devi in the Suvarna channel serial *Amruthavarshini*, a negative-shade role that won her a new generation of viewers; she also acted in the serial *Nayaki*. [1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2458934/)
As a Kuchipudi dancer she has performed on more than 700 stages worldwide with Padma Bhushan Vempati Chinnasatyam, and Vijaya Karnataka puts her show count at about 700 as well.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) • [3](https://vijaykarnataka.com/tv/news/amruthavarshini-serial-actress-hema-chaudharyis-hospitalized/articleshow/106143931.cms) She has also served on film-industry bodies and, by one account, served as a judge for the [National Film Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-film-awards) for a period of three years.[1](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html) • [3](https://vijaykarnataka.com/tv/news/amruthavarshini-serial-actress-hema-chaudharyis-hospitalized/articleshow/106143931.cms)
## Health and later years
In December 2023 Hema Chaudhary suffered a brain hemorrhage and was admitted to a private hospital in Bengaluru, where she was treated in the intensive care unit; reports named the Apollo and Baptist hospitals in the city. Her son was in Ireland at the time, and fellow actresses including Tara, Sudharani, and [Malavika Avinash](https://www.edgepedia.org/malavika-avinash) visited and gave public updates on her condition.[9](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/news/veteran-actress-hema-chaudhary-in-critical-condition-after-brain-hemorrhage-076869.html) • [11](https://kannada.oneindia.com/entertainment/kannada-actress-hema-chaudhary-in-critical-condition-after-brain-hemorrhage-333803.html) • [12](https://tv9kannada.com/videos/actress-tara-share-update-of-hema-chaudhary-health-mcr-745122.html) Surgery was performed on 20 December 2023 and reported as successful.[12](https://tv9kannada.com/videos/actress-tara-share-update-of-hema-chaudhary-health-mcr-745122.html)
By October 2024 she had recovered and offered a special puja at the Srinivasa temple in Bengaluru's JP Nagar, joined by senior Kannada film artists.[13](https://tv9kannada.com/photo-gallery/senior-actress-hema-chaudhary-offer-special-puja-in-bengaluru-entertainment-news-in-kannada-mdn-919060.html) A personal practice noted in her profiles is offering a silk sari to Hindu goddess temples after each film she completes.[9](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/news/veteran-actress-hema-chaudhary-in-critical-condition-after-brain-hemorrhage-076869.html)
## References
1. [ಹೇಮಾ ಚೌಧರಿ biography, Filmibeat Kannada](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/celebs/hema-chaudhary.html)
2. [Actress Hema Chaudhary profile, Asianet Suvarna News](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/sandalwood/actress-hema-chaudhary-suffering-from-brain-hamrage-and-son-comes-from-ireland-srb-s80jk2)
3. [Amruthavarshini serial actress Hema Chaudhary hospitalized, Vijaya Karnataka](https://vijaykarnataka.com/tv/news/amruthavarshini-serial-actress-hema-chaudharyis-hospitalized/articleshow/106143931.cms)
4. [Senior Actress Hema Chaudhary admitted to hospital, Asianet Suvarna News](https://kannada.asianetnews.com/amp/sandalwood/senior-actress-hema-chaudhary-admitted-to-hospital-due-to-brain-hemorrhage-gow-s5y92i)
5. [Flashback: Rajini's classmate Hema Chaudhary, Dinamalar](https://lr-cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/120170/cinema/Kollywood/Flashback-%3A-Rajinis-classmate-Hema-Chaudhary.htm)
6. [Iconic female villains of Sandalwood, Filmibeat Kannada](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/top-listing/from-marimuthu-to-hema-choudharytop-iconic-female-villains-of-sandalwood--3-5489.html)
7. [Hema Chaudhari, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2458934/)
8. [Sandalwood actresses who aced negative roles, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/sandalwood-actresses-who-aced-negative-roles/amp_etphotostory/68833689.cms)
9. [Veteran actress Hema Chaudhary in critical condition after brain hemorrhage, Filmibeat Kannada](https://kannada.filmibeat.com/news/veteran-actress-hema-chaudhary-in-critical-condition-after-brain-hemorrhage-076869.html)
10. [Hema Chaudhary, Chiloka](https://chiloka.com/celebrity/hema-choudhary)
11. [Kannada actress Hema Chaudhary in critical condition after brain hemorrhage, Oneindia Kannada](https://kannada.oneindia.com/entertainment/kannada-actress-hema-chaudhary-in-critical-condition-after-brain-hemorrhage-333803.html)
12. [Actress Tara shares update of Hema Chaudhary health, TV9 Kannada](https://tv9kannada.com/videos/actress-tara-share-update-of-hema-chaudhary-health-mcr-745122.html)
13. [Senior actress Hema Chaudhary offers special puja in Bengaluru, TV9 Kannada](https://tv9kannada.com/photo-gallery/senior-actress-hema-chaudhary-offer-special-puja-in-bengaluru-entertainment-news-in-kannada-mdn-919060.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 1970s to 1990s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license