Shriya Saran is the prototypal New Age Indian actress, who is beautiful, ambitious and bold. She is one of the leading ladies of South Indian Cinema, and is a known name in North India, post-'Shivaji The Boss', that thunderous Rajnikanth masala of 2007. On the occasion of Shriya's 27th birthday, we bring to you an assortment of some rare pics of this super siren

Shriya was born in Haridwar, in 1982. Her father, Pushpendra Saran, worked with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited while her mother, Neeraja Saran was a chemistry teacher at the Delhi Public School.

Shriya began her career doing music videos; she also took acting classes in order to pursue a career in movies.

After her debut in 2001 with 'Ishtam', she gained star status with 'Santhosham' (2002), her first major hit.

In 2007, Saran became a national figure after her performance alongside Rajinikanth in Sivaji: The Boss'.