Tara's illustrious career in the Indian film industry began with a Tamil film, Ingeyum Oru Gangai, in 1984, directed by the renowned actor Manivannan, alongside Murali in the lead. This was followed by her debut in a Kannada film, Thulasidala, in 1985. However, it was her role in the 1986 Rajkumar starrer Guri that marked a significant turning point in her career, leading to her subsequent appearances in numerous films as a leading lady and supporting actress.
Tara's performance in Girish Karnad's Kanooru Heggadithi earned her widespread recognition, and she went on to receive her first ever award as best actress for the Kannada movie Krama, directed by debutant director Asrar Abid, in 1991. In the late 1980s, she featured in Mani Ratnam's two blockbuster Tamil films, Nayagan and Agni Natchathiram, as a supporting actress.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Tara paired with many leading male co-stars, including Rajkumar, Shankar Nag, Vishnuvardhan, Ambarish, Ananth Nag, Ravichandran, Shashikumar, Tiger Prabhakar, Shivarajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar, Murali, Karthik, Sunil, and Devaraj, among others. She received her second "best actress" state award for the movie Kanooru Heggadithi and also "best supporting actress" award for the movie Munjaneya Manju.
In 2005, Tara was cast by Girish Kasaravalli in his film Hasina, for which she won a National Award from the Indian Government. Her subsequent roles in the movies Deadly Soma and Cyanide were well-received, and she went on to receive her third Best Actress award. Apart from acting, Tara has also ventured into film production, producing Hasina, directed by Girish Kasaravalli, and has announced her intention to direct films as well.
