Who is Ranya Rao? Kannada actress arrested at Bangalore Airport for smuggling gold bars from Dubai

Actor Ranya Rao was detained by customs officials to carry a large amount of gold at the Kemp Gowda Airport in Bengaluru. , Photo Credit: Ranya Rao/Facebook

Kannada film actor Ranya Rao (33) was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), while on March 2, 2025, at the Kempe Gowda International Airport, an attempt was made to smuggle 14.8 kg from Dubai, a price of more than ₹ 12 crores from Dubai.

On March 3 evening, Ranya was produced before the Special Court for economic crimes by DRI officials. The judge sent him to police custody for 14 days till 18 March.

Who is Ranya Rao?

• Ranya was born in Chikkamgaluru and did his schooling and college in Kodagu and Bangalore.

• He is Karnataka, K. Ramchandra Rao has a step daughter of senior IPS officer. Shri Rao is serving as Director General of Police Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation.

• Ranya was studying to become an engineer at Bangalore in Bangalore to become an engineer at the College of Engineering, but was out to carry forward her passion for acting. She moved to Mumbai and performed an acting course at Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting School.

• She tickled for fame with her first film, Money (2014) Where he was cast as another female head contrary to actor Sudeep. The film enjoyed a successful 100-day run in theaters.

• He has acted in two projects since then – Tamil film Vagah (2014) Where she acts as a female lead with Vikram Prabhu and Kannada film Tip (2017) oppressed Ganesh. Both his Kannada films were remakes.

• However, apart from his debut vehicle, any other projects of his left a permanent impression, influencing his career in the industry. Due to lack of good roles, Ranya was away from the headlines since 2017 till recent arrest.

After being detained in Kia, Ranya allegedly claimed that he was blackmailed and forced to become a mule for a gold consignment. According to reports, it has raised questions about its possible participation in a large smuggling network.