Devayani
Devayani atMumbai International Film Festival, 2014
Born	Sushma Jaidev (1974-06-22)22 June 1974 (age 51) Bombay, Maharashtra, India (nowMumbai)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1993–present
Spouse	Rajakumaran ​ (m. 2001)​
Children	2
Relatives	Nakul (brother)
Awards	Kalaimamani

Sushma Jaidev (born 22 June 1974), professionally known asDevayani Rajakumaran, is an Indian actress known for her works primarily inTamil andMalayalam films. She has also appeared in a fewTelugu,Kannada,Hindi andBengali films.

She has received several awards for her performances inKadhal Kottai (1996),Suryavamsam (1997) andBharathi (2000).

She was honoured with aKalaimamani Award in 2000. She won theBest Supporting Actress for the movieAzhagi (2002). She also won the Best Television Actress for her role in the serialKolangal (2003–2009).

Devayani was born on 22 June 1974 inMumbai, Maharashtra to aKonkani father fromMangalore and aMalayali mother.^[1] She has two younger brothersNakkhul and Mayur. The former is working as an actor and singer in the Tamil film industry,^[2] while the latter would also make his acting debut in an upcoming film.^[3] She married directorRajakumaran on 9 April 2001.^[4][5] They have two daughters, Iniya and Priyanka.^[6][7]

Devayani began her career in the Hindi filmKoyal, which was later cancelled during its production stage.^[8] She later appeared in Bengali filmShaat Ponchomi (1993).^[9] She also acted in a Marathi film before debuting in the South with lead roles in Malayalam films asKinnaripuzhayoram (1994).

Devayani made her debut with the filmThotta Chinungi (1995). Flaunting her glamorous avatar, the actress gained popularity in 1996 with the filmKadhal Kottai. She starred oppositeAjith in the film which was directed byAgathiyan. The film received positive acclaim among the audience.^[10] The movie was successful in establishing Devayani as the most successful actress in South Indian Cinema.^[11]Devayani, later, appeared in many films opposite several renowned names in the film industry.^[12]

She was a part of several successful films, includingSurya Vamsam (1997),Marumalarchi (1998),Ninaithen Vandhai (1998),Nee Varuvai Ena (1999),Bharathi (2000),Thenali (2000),Friends (2001),Aanandham (2001) andAzhagi (2002).

The late 90s and early 2000s were the golden years for Devayani as she delivered over 50 films, and most of them were blockbusters.^[13]

Devayani over the years played powerful female characters until 2001 when she fell in love withRajakumaran who directed herVinnukum Mannukum. She has also played small cameos in hit movies likePanchathantiram (2002) alongsideKamal Haasan.

She has become a virtual cult figure in Tamil Nadu after the success of the Mega SerialSun TV's serialKolangal (2003–2009).

She has produced a few films that her husband directs, a notable one beingThirumathi Thamizh (2013) where she played an important role.^[14]

In the late 2010s she was a judge on a reality show onMazhavil Manorama titledUgram Ujwalam. In 2021, she acted inPudhu Pudhu Arthangal, a Tamil serial ofZee Tamil.^[15] Later, she slowly took up the role of mother.^[16]

Devayani has directed a short film namedKaikuttai Rani (2024).^[17] The film won Best Children's Short Film at the 7thJaipur International Film Festival, marking a significant milestone in Devayani's transition from acting to filmmaking.^[18]

• Devayani atIMDb

• Actresses in Malayalam television
• Actresses in Tamil cinema
• Living people
• Konkani people
• University of Mumbai alumni
• Actresses in Telugu cinema
• 1973 births
• Actresses in Malayalam cinema
• Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners
• International Tamil Film Award winners
• Actresses from Mumbai
• Actresses in Tamil television
• Indian television actresses
• 20th-century Indian actresses
• 21st-century Indian actresses
• Actresses in Hindi cinema
• Actresses in Bengali cinema
• Actresses in Kannada cinema
• Malayali people

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