Shriya Saran, also spelled as Shreya Saran is a successful actress in South India and now well known in bollywood after her movie Awarapan with 'Serial Kisser' Emran Hashmi.

Shriya was born in Haridwar and most of her life in a small colony at the foothills of the Shivalik range.

Her father, Pushpendra Saran worked for the state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited while her mother, Neeraja Sarn was a chemistry teacher at the Delhi Public School, Shriya had attended. She began her career acting in music videos, while also attending an acting studio to follow her dream to act.

After her debut in 2001 with Ishtam, she gained Telugu cinema's attention in 2002 by playing the role of Bhanu in Santhosham, her first major hit. Following the film she appeared in several Telugu films with prominent actors, whilst, also making in-roads in Bollywood as well as the Tamil film industry.

Shreya's first and second tamil movies did nothing good in box office. She was then concentrating in tollywood (i.e) telugu films. In 2007, Shriya became a national figure after her performance alongside Rajinikanth in Sivaji: The Boss, after which she has signed several Bollywood, Kollywood and also a Hollywood film.

This is an interesting news about her roaming around internet and other medias recently:

South Indian actress Shreya Saran was allegedly molested by an employee of a monastery during a visit to the famed Tirupati temple. It seems he had grabbed her breasts or may be buttocks. Nobody noticed what he did until the actress slapped the man and handed him over to her security guards.

The actress, who co-starred with Tamil superstar Rajnikant in last year's blockbuster 'Shivaji - The Boss', was allegedly molested in full public view when she was returning after offering prayers at the temple, some 180 km north of here, early Monday. Shreya did not file a police complaint.

The incident was repeatedly beamed on television channels. Some critics feel that Celebs often create such dramas for their publicity. Who knows the fact..?!

Shreya speaks on the issue...

'The man misbehaved with me just as I was coming out of the temple. I slapped him and my security personnel did the rest. I firmly believe that every molestation victim should do what I did,' the actress was quoted as saying.

According to police sources who talked on phone from Tirupati, the transgressor was identified as Hari.

Hari, who is working in a monastery located near the temple, was handed over to the local police by the Shreya's assistants.

The man has since been released, as there is no case because of the absence of a complaint, sources added.

In 2005, Shriya was rumoured to be set to get married to her long term boyfriend, Rajiv Madhavan, which she later denied claiming the pair were "only close friends". However, in late December 2007, it became clear that Saran's relationship with her co-star Jesse Metcalfe has become more romantic. Neither of the pair have reported to the media about the link.

Controversy

In January 2008, a Hindu organisation based in Chennai lodged a police complaint against Saran, objecting to the outfit worn by her during the 175th day celebration of her film, Sivaji. In a complaint, the Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK) alleged that Shriya's outfit had 'offended Hindu culture,'. The complaint was officially taken in by the police and is currently under investigation. Shriya is the fourth actor, after Kushboo, Shilpa Shetty and Reema Sen to face the fire of political parties and organisations in recent times. Shriya then tendered an unconditional apology for "wearing inappropriate skimpy attire".