Ranya Rao, a Kannada actress, was recently arrested at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kg of gold worth ₹12 crore from Dubai. While her arrest has made headlines, many are curious about who she is.
Born in Chikkamagaluru, Ranya pursued her education in Kodagu and Bengaluru. She initially studied engineering at Dayanand Sagar College of Engineering but later dropped out to follow her passion for acting. She moved to Mumbai and trained at the Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting School.
A Promising Start in Films
Ranya made her acting debut in Manikya (2014), a Kannada film starring Sudeep. The movie was a commercial success, running for 100 days in theatres. She later starred in the Tamil film Wagah (2016) and the Kannada film Pataki (2017) alongside Ganesh. However, after her debut, she struggled to find major roles, and her career faded from the spotlight.
Family Ties and Controversy
Ranya is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer K. Ramachandra Rao, who currently serves as the Director-General of Police, Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation. Her arrest has raised eyebrows, given her family background in law enforcement.
Claims of Blackmail
After being detained, Ranya reportedly told officials that she was blackmailed into smuggling the gold. Investigations are ongoing to determine if she was part of a larger smuggling network.
