October 14, 2025) Neeraja Kona is a well-known Indian costume designer, stylist, and now a filmmaker who has created her own path in the South Indian film industry. Over the years, she has become one of the most respected names in Tollywood and Kollywood. Her new movie *Telusu Kada* is ready to release on October 17, 2025, marking her debut as a director. This article tells the story of her early life, career journey, and achievements in a simple way.
Early Life And Education
Neeraja Kona was born on April 29, 1983, in Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh . She belongs to a respected family with film and political connections. Her father, Kona Raghupathi, and mother, Kona Ramadevi, have always supported her dreams. She has an elder brother named Kona Venkat, a famous writer and filmmaker in the Telugu film industry.
Neeraja grew up with a strong interest in fashion and art. She loved colors, creativity, and styling from a young age. After completing her schooling in Andhra Pradesh, she went abroad for higher studies. She completed her graduation and post-graduation in the United States in fashion design and marketing. She also studied at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, which shaped her creative mind.
Before joining the Indian film industry, Neeraja worked in marketing and fashion in the U.S. for almost 15 years. But her heart always wanted to do something in cinema and styling. So she decided to return to India and start a new chapter in her career.
Neeraja Kona Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Husband, Children, Family
Career
Neeraja’s journey in films started in 2013. She first worked as an assistant stylist in the movie *Baadshah*, starring Jr. NTR and Kajal Aggarwal and directed by Srinu Vaitla. This project helped her learn the craft of film styling. Her next big break came with Nithiin’s movie *Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde*, which brought her huge recognition.
Nithiin liked her work a lot and continued working with her on many films such as *Courier Boy Kalyan* and *Heart. These movies gave Neeraja the confidence to find her own style and creativity.
The Turning Point
Neeraja’s life changed when she met actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Samantha appreciated Neeraja’s fresh ideas and friendly nature. She soon became Samantha’s personal stylist and designed her looks for movies, functions, and public events .
Their partnership became popular in the film industry. Neeraja’s costumes in films like *Attarintiki Daredi* and *Ramayya Vasthavayya* received wide praise. Many people admired her ability to blend tradition with modern fashion. Her designs always made actors look elegant and comfortable.
Growth
After her success with Nithiin and Samantha, Neeraja received opportunities to work with many leading stars and directors. She collaborated with filmmakers such as Trivikram Srinivas, Harish Shankar, Vamsi Paidipally, and V. V. Vinayak.
She designed costumes for famous movies like *Govindudu Andarivadele*, *Power*, *Alludu Seenu*, and *Pandaga Chesko* . She also worked in Tamil films like *Mersal*, *Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru*, *Velaikkaran*, and *Thaanaa Serndha Koottam*. Her designs were noted for their vibrant colors, modern cuts, and Indian touch.
Neeraja’s creative designs made her one of the most in-demand stylists. She styled top actors including Allu Arjun, Kajal Aggarwal, Raashii Khanna, Nithiin, and Sudheer Babu. She even wrote lyrics for a few songs in films like *Thikka*, *Chal Mohan Ranga*, and *Miss India* which were composed by S. Thaman.
Personal Life
Neeraja married her childhood friend Ajay on June 18, 2014. The couple has a son named Ansh who was born in 2015. Neeraja has often said that her family is her strength and biggest support. Even with her busy career, she spends a lot of time with her loved ones.
She lives in Hyderabad, Telangana, with her family. Her success has inspired many young women to follow their dreams in creative fields.
Directorial Debut
In October 2025, Neeraja Kona is making headlines for her new role as a filmmaker. After working in costume design for more than 12 years and over 100 films, she is turning director with *Telusu Kada*. This film stars Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Raashii Khanna, and Srinidhi Shetty in lead roles. It is set to release on October 17, 2025. In an interview on October 7, 2025, Neeraja said that writing stories and poetry had been her passion since school. She shared that she always wanted to tell emotional stories. The movie *Telusu Kada* is a love story with strong, realistic characters. She described it as a film about emotions, relationships, and life.
Actor Nani encouraged her early writing, and Nithiin helped her connect with Siddhu Jonnalagadda for the lead role. Siddhu immediately liked the script and agreed to do the film. For Neeraja, it was a dream come true moment when her story came to life.
Achievements
Neeraja has worked in both Telugu and Tamil films and has become a pioneer in her field. Her work often stands out because of her deep understanding of character and costume connection. She believes clothes tell part of a story.
Her designs are known for simplicity, freshness, and elegance. She prefers using Indian fabrics and blending them with modern fashion. Many actors trust her to match their look to their role. She once said that every outfit should speak about the emotion of the scene.
Legacy And Influence
Neeraja Kona is more than a stylist. She is a storyteller who expresses emotions through fabric and now also through film scripts. Her journey from a fashion student to a film director shows her courage and creativity. Thousands of aspiring designers follow her work on social media for inspiration. With more than 650,000 followers on Instagram, she continues to motivate young women to believe in themselves and chase their dreams.
Her story proves that passion and patience can open many doors. From fashion design classes in Los Angeles to film sets in Hyderabad, Neeraja’s journey is a shining example of hard work and success. Her upcoming directorial debut promises to add another golden chapter to her journey in Indian cinema.