Born on November 7, 1972, in Hyderabad, India, Roja began her acting career in the late 1980s. She made her debut with the Telugu film "Sankeertana" in 1987, which was a critical and commercial success. Her performance earned her recognition, and she went on to appear in several films throughout the 1990s. Roja's breakthrough role came with the 1992 film "Aadivaram," which cemented her status as a leading lady in Telugu cinema.