‘It started more by chance than choice'

Winner: Most of the award presentation ceremonies have Roja walking away with the honour. – Photo: NAGARA GOPAL

Loss of teaching profession turned out to be a gain for Telugu television. In a short span of time, she left her nearest contender miles behind when it comes to carving a niche for self.
The name happens to be Roja, the news anchor for INews, who built an enviable fan following and force judges to choose her as best news reader on Telugu television channels when they sit for selection. And most of the award presentation ceremonies have Roja walking away with the honour.
Hailing from Khammam, the youngster gave up teaching profession when television beckoned her. “In a way it started more by chance than choice. I was visiting my sister at TV5 during a vacation when they spotted and the offer came through,” she recalls. She lapped it up and after a brief stint there, moved on to INews when the channel was preparing to launch.

Picking up the threads of the profession hard way, Roja proved her mettle to outscore competition. “I am self-trained and spent long hours and days to pick up the nuances of news presentation hone skills in spontaneity, questioning and going in for live reportage,” she says. Not allowing the monotony of just sitting in front of camera and reading out news to set in, she picked up stories and started for the field to return with spot coverage and stories.
Roja is candid in admitting that she never dreamt of such success on the small screen. “Yet I strive to improve and am the harshest critic of my own self. I go through the tapes later and take a closer look at my costume, my presentation and my mannerism,” she avers.
Given her looks, Roja is never short of offers from the silver screen. “Some of the biggest names of the film industry including Ram Gopal Verma offered me roles. But I feel comfortable and contended with the small screen,” she adds.