Early life
Roja was born to Kumaraswamy Reddy, a native of Chittor district. Later the family moved to Hyderabad. She did her Masters degree in Political Science from Nagarjuna University. She learnt Kuchipudi, a dance form, for a few years. Her voice as a child was rough, so many[who?] discouraged her from hoping to act in films.

Film career
She entered the cinema industry from Telugu films. She was first introduced in the Tamil film by director R.K. Selvamani in his film Chembaruthi paired with actor Prashanth. The movie was a blockbuster and paved the way for her in the Tamil cinema industry. She became popular with her songs such as Veloor Maman in the film Engal Aiyyah with Mamooty and Mastana Mastana in Rasaiyya with Prabhu Deva.

She became popular acting in films with actors such as Rajnikanth in Veera, and Arjun Sarja in Ayudha Poojai. Roja's career breakthrough was in the film Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen, directed by Vikraman. Roja's 100th movie was Pottu Amman. Roja appeared in supporting roles in Arasu (2001) and in Parijaatham (2006).

Personal life
She is married to the director R.K. Selvamani and has moved into Andhra politics. Her hobbies are costume designing and hairstyling. Roja Selvamani and Meena are friends. Roja and Meena resembled each other when younger, and Meena acted as Roja's younger sister in several movies.

Roja had a penchant for hairdressing and it was evidently seen as whenever she is in the sets, she's seen hairdressing her co-heroines like Devayani, Kushboo, Ranjitha, Mumtaz to name a few. According to Ramya Krishnan, her friend and co-star, Roja is one of the few artists who can do they make-up themselves. Actress Mumtaz in an interview has praised Roja's willingness and egoless attitude when Roja did her hair andmake-up during a Singapore Film show in 2003. 

FILMOGRAPHY

 
2010 - Kaavalkaaran  ( Tamil )
2010 - Shambo Shiva Shambo  ( Telugu )
2010 - Golimaar  ( Telugu )
2008 - Ellam Avan Seyal  ( Tamil )
2007 - Nali Naliyutha  ( Kannada )
2006 - Parijatham  ( Tamil )
2006 - Pasa Kiligal  ( Tamil )
2006 - Kurukshetram  ( Tamil )
2005 - Maayavi  ( Tamil )
2004 - Maurya  ( Kannada )
2003 - Arasu  ( Tamil )
2002 - Gounder Vettu Mappillai  ( Tamil )
2002 - Malayalee Mamanu Vanakkam  ( Malayalam )
2001 - Super Kudumbam  ( Tamil )
2001 - Mitta Miraasu  ( Tamil )
2001 - Family Circus  ( Telugu )
2000 - Thirunelveli  ( Tamil )
2000 - Sanditha Velai  ( Tamil )
2000 - Kandha Kadamba Kadhirvela  ( Tamil )
1999 - Chinnadurai  ( Tamil )
1999 - Sultan  ( Telugu )
1999 - Chinna Raja  ( Tamil )
1999 - Nenjinile  ( Tamil )
1999 - Suyamvaram  ( Tamil )
1999 - Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa  ( Tamil )
1998 - En Aasai Rasave  ( Tamil )
1998 - Kadhal Kavithai  ( Tamil )
1998 - Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen  ( Tamil )
1997 - Annamayya  ( Telugu )
1997 - Pedda Annayya  ( Telugu )
1996 - Parambarai  ( Tamil )
1996 - Vajram  ( Telugu )
1996 - Thamizh Selvan  ( Tamil )
1995 - Pokiri Raja  ( Telugu )
1995 - Raasaiyya  ( Tamil )
1995 - Big Boss  ( Telugu )
1995 - Ghatothkachudu  ( Telugu )
1994 - Bhairava Dweepam  ( Telugu )
1994 - Gandeevam  ( Telugu )
1994 - Subhalagnam  ( Telugu )
1994 - Veera  ( Tamil )
1994 - Bobbili Simham  ( Telugu )
1994 - Mugguru Monagallu  ( Telugu )
1993 - Rakshana  ( Telugu )
1993 - Muta Mesthri  ( Telugu )
1993 - Uzhaippali  ( Tamil )
1992 - Suriyan  ( Tamil )
1992 - Chembaruthi  ( Tamil )
1991 - Sarpa Yagam  ( Telugu )