Who is Ranya Rao? The Kannada actress arrested in Bengaluru airport for smuggling gold bars from Dubai-OxBig News Network

Actor Ranya Rao was detained by customs officers at Kempegowda Airport in Bengaluru for carrying a large amount of gold.
| Photo Credit: Ranya Rao/Facebook

Kannada film actor Ranya Rao (33) was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) while trying to smuggle 14.8 kg of gold, worth over ₹ 12 crore from Dubai, at Kempegowda International Airport on March 2, 2025.

Ranya was produced before the Special Court for Economic Offences by DRI officials on March 3 evening. The judge remanded her in police custody for 14 days till March 18.

Who is Ranya Rao?

• Ranya was born in Chikkamagaluru and did her schooling and college in Kodagu and Bengaluru.

• She is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer from Karnataka, K. Ramachandra Rao. Mr. Rao is serving as Director-General of Police, Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation.

• Ranya was studying to be an engineer at Dayanand Sagar College of Engineering in Bengaluru but dropped out to pursue her passion for acting. She moved to Mumbai and did an acting course in Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting School.

• She catapulted to fame with her debut film, Manikya (2014) where she was cast as the second female lead opposite actor Sudeep. The film enjoyed a successful 100-day run in the theatres.

• She has since acted in two projects — Tamil film Wagah (2016) where she stars as the female lead with Vikram Prabhu and the Kannada film Pataki (2017) oppiste Ganesh. Both her Kannada films were remakes.

• However, apart from her debut vehicle none of her other projects left a lasting impression, impacting her career in the industry. Owing to a lack of good roles, Ranya had been away from the limelight since 2017, until the recent arrest.

After being detained at KIA, Ranya reportedly claimed she was blackmailed and forced to become a mule for the gold consignment. This has raised questions of her potential involvement in a larger smuggling network, according to reports.