Nayanthara | |
|---|---|
 Nayanthara at the 2013 Filmfare Awards | |
| Born | Diana Mariam Kurian (1984-11-18)18 November 1984 (age 41) |
| Alma mater | Mar Thoma College (BA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Signature | |
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Nayanthara (bornDiana Mariam Kurian; 18 November 1984)[1] is an Indian actress and producer known for her work inTamil,Telugu andMalayalam films. One of the highest-paid actresses inIndia, she was the only South Indian actress to be featured inForbes India "Celebrity 100" list in 2018.[2][3] With a career spanning over two decades, she has appeared in more than 75 films and has receivednumerous awards, including fiveFilmfare Awards South, twoTamil Nadu State Film Awards, aNandi Award and sevenSIIMA Awards.[4][5]
Nayanthara made her acting debut with theMalayalam filmManassinakkare in 2003. She debuted inTamil cinema withAyya in 2005, in Telugu withLakshmi in 2006 and Kannada withSuper in 2010.[6]
Her portrayal ofGoddess Sita in the mythological filmSri Rama Rajyam (2011) earned her theFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu and theNandi Award for Best Actress. She won theFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil andTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress for her performances in the romantic comedyRaja Rani (2013), the action comedyNaanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015) and the political dramaAramm (2017),for which she wonTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress. She was awarded theFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for her performance in the crime dramaPuthiya Niyamam (2016).[7]
Nayanthara established herself as one of the leading actresses of South Indian cinema, particularly through female-led films such asAnaamika (2014),Maya (2015),Dora (2017),Aramm (2017),Imaikkaa Nodigal (2018),Airaa (2019),Mookuthi Amman (2020),Netrikann (2021) andAnnapoorani: The Goddess of Food (2023).
Beyond these roles, she has starred in several commercially and critically successful films, includingChandramukhi (2005),Ghajini (2005),Billa (2007),Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008),Body Guard (2010),Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (2012),Thani Oruvan (2015),Kaashmora (2016),Viswasam (2019),Bigil (2019),Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019). She also made her Hindi film debut withJawan in 2023, which succeeded commercially and became her highest-grossing film .[8]
In addition to acting, Nayanthara is involved in philanthropy and owns the production house called "Rowdy Pictures". She is married to filmmakerVignesh Shivan, and the couple has two children.[9]
Nayanthara was born as Diana Mariam Kurian[10][11] on 18 November 1984[12][13] inBangalore, Karnataka.[14] Nayanthara belongs to a Malayali Syrian Christian family hails fromThiruvalla,Kerala,[15] and was born to Kurian Kodiyattu and Omana Kurian.[16] Her elder brother, Leno, lives inDubai,United Arab Emirates.[17] As her father was anIndian Air Force official, Nayanthara studied in various parts of India.[17]
Nayanthara did her schooling inJamnagar,Gujarat andDelhi.[18] She studied at O.E.M Public School in Eraviperoor, Balikamadom Girls Higher Secondary School, Thirumoolapuram inThiruvalla[19] and then attendedMar Thoma College, Tiruvalla for herbachelor's degree inEnglish Literature.[20][21]
She began her acting career in 2003 with the Malayalam filmManassinakkare. While studying at college, Nayanthara worked part-time as a model.[22][23] She was spotted by directorSathyan Anthikkad, who had seen some of her modelling assignments and approached her to play a pivotal role in his filmManassinakkare (2003).[22] Although she turned down the offer initially, as she was not interested in films, she gave in eventually and agreed to do "just that one film".[22]Manassinakkare went on to become a big financial success and she continued to receive acting offers. Both her releases in 2004,Natturajavu byShaji Kailas, andFazil's psychological thrillerVismayathumbathu, saw her co-starring alongsideMohanlal; while she played the protagonist's adopted sister in the former, she portrayed a ghost in the latter.[24] Her performance inVismayathumbathu, in particular, was lauded, with critics claiming that she had "stolen the thunder with her author-backed role",[25] and was "the revelation of the film".[26]
Nayanthara subsequently started appearing in Tamil and Telugu films. In 2005, she was cast inHari'sAyya, debuting in theTamil film industry as lead heroine of the movie.Behindwoods.com stated that she had made a "sensational debut in Tamil",[27] while a reviewer from Nowrunning.com said that her "presence with her beautiful smile is crowd winning".[28] While still shooting forAyya, she was selected for thecomedy horror filmChandramukhi,[29] after its directorP. Vasu's wife had seenManassinakkare and recommended her.[30] The film ran for over 800 days in theatres,[31] eventually turning Nayanthara into one of the most-sought after actresses in Tamil.[32] She also acted in Malayalam,Thaskara Veeran andRappakal both co-starring withMammootty. Later that year she appeared inAR Murugadoss'Ghajini, in which she played a secondary female character.She was also portrayed in an item song in the film.[32] Nayanthara then accepted to appear in anitem number as herself in thePerarasu-directedmasala filmSivakasi.[33]
Nayanthara's first release in 2006 wasKalvanin Kadhali.Indiaglitz.com stated her performance was the "strength of the film".[34] She next made her debut inTelugu, starring in the filmLakshmi, following which she performed inBoss, I Love You. Three Tamil films in which she enacted the lead female characters –Vallavan,Thalaimagan andE – were released simultaneously during Deepavali 2006.[35] All three films opened to mixed reviews.[36][37] InVallavan, she portrayed a lecturer who falls in love with a student younger than her. Sify wrote: "Nayanthara virtually walks away with the film and has never looked so beautiful. She looks gorgeous especially in songs and does justice to her well-etched out role".[38] The science fiction thrillerE featured Nayanthara in the role of a bar dancer. Reviewers from Rediff stated that she made an impact.[39] Indiaglitz said she was "very adequate and impressive in a slightly complicated role",[40] and that she had "come up with a good performance".[37] InThalaimagan, she played a news reporter, with critics agreeing that she did not have much to do in the film.[41]
Nayanthara regained her status in Tamil cinema by starring in theVishnuvardhan-directedgangster filmBilla (2007). A remake of the1980 Tamil film of the same name, it went on to become a success at the box office,[vague][42] with Nayanthara receiving critical and popular acclaim for her performance as Sasha in her new glamorous look.[43]Sify heaped praise on her, describing her as a "show-stopper". The reviewer further wrote: "Nayanthara has gone full throttle to look her sexiest best [...] She has a beautiful body which she flaunts daringly [...] and is also able to bring out the cold aloofness and bitterness of her character.[44] Similarly a critic from Nowrunning.com noted that she looked "great in mini-skirts, jacket, dark glasses and tall boots".[45] Her performance inBilla earned her first nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil, in addition to winning theVijay Award for Favourite Heroine. The same year, she also starred in the Telugu action dramaTulasi alongsideVenkatesh, which proved to be a commercial success and her performance earned her first nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu.
In 2008, she had five releases, four of which were in Tamil. Her first release was the family entertainerYaaradi Nee Mohini.Behindwoods.com wrote: "Nayanthara dispels her bombshell act and proves that she can more than just that. She breaks into tears when needed, shows vicious contempt when rubbed the wrong way in the name of love, and looks endearing in songs".Nowrunning.com stated that she "exhibits her acting skills in full measure [and] gives a moving performance in emotional scenes",[46] while Sify's critic wrote that she looked "sensational and has done a great job in perhaps the meatiest role she has done so far".[47]
Her subsequent appearances were inKuselan,Satyam andAegan in 2008. In 2009 she appeared inVillu andAadhavan.
In 2010, all her releases, which featured her as the female lead, turned out to be commercial successes: she had five box office hits in the four Southern languages –Adhurs (Telugu),Body Guard (Malayalam),Simha (Telugu),Boss Engira Bhaskaran (Tamil) andSuper (Kannada).[48][49] She won theAsianet Award for Best Actress for her performance inBody Guard. The latter three, in particular, were particularly notable for Nayanthara, withSimha becoming one of the highest-grossing Telugu films of the year andBoss Engira Bhaskaran releasing to positive reviews and becoming a financial success.[50]Upendra'sSuper, which marked her debut into theKannada film industry, opened to rave reviews, while her performance was also praised by critics.[51][52] She also starred inShyamaprasad's critically acclaimed Malayalam filmElektra. Her performance was well appreciated by critics when it was screened at theInternational Film Festival of India.[53] The film was also screened at theDubai International Film Festival.[54]
Her only release in 2011 was the mythological filmSri Rama Rajyam (2011) byBapu, in which she played the role of Sita. She received high critical acclaim for her performance in the film, withRediff.com noting, "Nayanthara is the surprise package of the film. As Sita, she too has played the role of her lifetime. She gave a fine understated performance conveying a kaleidoscope of emotions."[55] Sify commented "Nayanthara gave a fitting answer to all, unleashing grace and accomplishing the assignment with absolute perfection."[56] Subsequently, she was awarded her firstFilmfare Award – Telugu andNandi Award for her performance.[57][58] The film was dubbed in the media as herswan song and considered to be her last release before her marriage as she was reported to quit acting thereafter.[59]
Choosing to make a comeback, Nayanthara began shooting forKrish'sKrishnam Vande Jagadgurum (2012) after an eleven-monthsabbatical.[60] She portrayed the role of a journalist and her performance was praised, with a reviewer from Sify stating that "Nayanthara does not play the normal commercial glam-doll for a change and she is good" and "her chemistry with Rana is perfect".[61] This is the only Telugu film where Nayanthara has dubbed for her character. She received her fourth nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance in the film. The following year, she won widespread critical acclaim for her performance inAtlee's romantic comedy-dramaRaja Rani (2013), winning her firstFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and theVijay Award for Best Actress. Playing the role of a wife in an unhappy marriage, a critic from Sify.com noted, "Nayanthara gets a well-written role and she couldn't ask for a better character than Regina for her return after a three-year hiatus... she looks good, throws herself into the role, approaches her part with restraint and minimalist fuss, and turns in a sincere performance." Sify.com also said her role was "unquestionably the film's biggest strength".[62] Likewise, another reviewer from Behindwoods.com stated the role was "Nayanthara's career best performance till date" and it was a "great comeback by the actress with a role which gave her ample scope".[63]
Her next release, Vishnuvardhan'sArrambam (2013), featuringAjith Kumar in the lead, also won acclaim with a reviewer fromRediff stating that "Nayanthara looks gorgeous and does full justice to her character", while Behindwoods critic stated that "Nayanthara puts out a fiery face when required and also showcase her oomph and style in many scenes, adding "this superstar continues to shine".[64][65]
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WhileAnaamika did middling business, her next female-centric project, the horror filmMaya (2015), emerged as a profitable venture commercially. Portraying a single mother with a mysterious past, Nayanthara won acclaim for her performance and her decision to portray an unconventional character, with Sify.com saying, "Nayanthara is just fabulous and her classier side has been perfectly unleashed inMaya... it's a treat to watch Nayanthara re-inventing herself by performing in an author backed Role".[66]
Along with strong character roles, Nayanthara continued to appear in action and comedy films, including the successfulBhaskar the Rascal (2015) andThani Oruvan (2015), during the same period. She then went on to win her second Filmfare Award for her role of a deaf girl seeking revenge inVignesh Shivan's black comedyNaanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015). About her performance, Sify.com's reviewer noted "Nayanthara's Kadambari is a well-etched out role, the actress is effortlessly charming and she does full justice", and "infuses the part with the right portions of vulnerability, restraint, and quiet strength, delivering a performance that is nothing short of perfect".[67] A video clip from the filmNaanum Rowdy Dhaan went viral on social media where Nayanthara was seen buying liquor from a shop. The Hindu Makkal Katchi demanded the scene to be removed and garlanded her picture with beer bottles and even after she made a statement that it was a film scene, theHindu Munnani burned her effigy in protest.[68] Despite controversy, she earned her second Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for her performance in the film.
In her first release of 2016, Nayanthara portrayed a rape victim inPuthiya Niyamam (2016) oppositeMammootty, with a critic from theIBTimes stating "Nayantara's portrayal as Vasuki Iyer is one of her career-best roles till date and her decision to dub in her own voice for her character is worthy of appreciation".[69] She earned her firstFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for her performance in the film. She continued to play diverse roles, appearing as a village-based school teacher inThirunaal (2016), a spy in the commercially successfulVikram-starrerIru Mugan (2016) and the queen of a fantasy kingdom inKaashmora (2016). Her performance in the former fetched her a sixth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil.
In 2017, she played the main lead in the horror thrillerDora and the critically acclaimed social dramaAramm. Her portrayal of a district collector inAramm won her a thirdFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and secondTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress. She also played the female lead in the action thrillerVelaikkaran. Her first release in 2018 was a Telugu-language filmJai Simha in which she played the female lead. She went on to portray the main lead inNelson Dilipkumar's directorialKolamaavu Kokila and the thrillerImaikkaa Nodigal alongside actorAtharvaa. Both emerged huge successes and the latter attained highest opening weekend for a female led film in Tamil.[70] Her performance inKolamaavu Kokila fetched her an eighth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil.
In 2019, she played lead roles inViswasam,Airaa,Kolaiyuthir Kaalam andBigil, the latter in which she collaborated withVijay for the third time. She also appeared in the Malayalam filmLove Action Drama, alongsideNivin Pauly where she attained an equal pay as that of male lead; for the first ever time in Malayalam cinema. She was also seen in Telugu biographical film,Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy, alongsideChiranjeevi andTamannaah. In 2020, she was seen in a supporting role inDarbar along withRajinikanth. Her filmMookuthi Amman marked her second entry into Hindu mythological and devotional cinema after her portrayal of Goddess Sita in 2011.
2021 saw her fifth collaboration withRajinikanth with the filmAnnaatthe where she was seen as a lawyer. She starred inNetrikann, a remake of the 2011 South Korean filmBlind. She received critical acclaim for her portrayal of blind Durga CBI in the film. She also starred in the Malayalam filmNizhal and the much delayed Telugu filmAaradugula Bullet.
Her first release of 2022 was the romantic comedy dramaKaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal, where she was seen alongsideVijay Sethupathi andSamantha Ruth Prabhu. She later starred in G.S. Viknesh's survival-thrillerO2, where she played a single mother trying to shield her son suffering fromcystic fibrosis from the effects of low oxygen. She was later seen in the Malayalam filmGold, alongsidePrithviraj Sukumaran, in the Telugu filmGodfather, the Tamil horror filmConnect.
Nayanthara marked her Hindi film debut with the action thriller filmJawan oppositeShah Rukh Khan, playing a NSG officer.[71][72] Her performance received acclaim but her chemistry with Khan was criticised. Monika Rawal Kukreja noted, "Nayanthara brings freshness and is greeted with a slo-mo shot each time she comes on screen."[73]Taran Adarsh stated "Nayanthara looks stunning and delivers a first-rate performance. The chemistry between her and Khan, however, is not as electrifying as intended."[74] The film became one of thehighest-grossing Indian film.[75]
Her second film in 2023 was the Tamil filmIraivan; for which she got a remuneration of Rs 10 Crore, making her the only South Indian actress to get a double-digit crore remuneration.[76] She then played a chef inAnnapoorani: The Goddess of Food, alongsideJai for the second time afterRaja Rani. The film received mixed reviews, but Akchayaa Rajkumar ofThe News Minute called her the "soul of the film".[77]Annapoorani generated controversy upon its release onNetflix. The accusations included claims of incitinglove jihad and offending the sentiments of the Hindu community, specifically the inclusion ofnon-vegetarian food in anorthodoxBrahmin community, who are strictlyvegetarians. ActivistRamesh Solanki and the Hindutva groupVishva Hindu Parishad filed a police complaint. Subsequently, the movie was removed from Netflix and Nayanthara issued an apology on Instagram for unintentionally causing hurt to Hindu sentiments in her film.[78][79]
Nayanthara started 2025 withTest, playing a school teacher desperate for a child oppositeR. Madhavan and Siddharth.[80] The film achieved high viewership onNetflix.[81] Nayanthara will next appear inToxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups alongsideYash,[82]Mookuthi Amman 2,[83]Mannangatti Since 1960,[84] and inDear Students alongsideNivin Pauly.[85]
In 2006, she was in a relationship withSilambarasan. They broke up by the timeVallavan released.
In 2010,Prabhu Deva's wife, Ramlath, filed a petition in family court to prevent him from being in alive-in relationship with Nayanthara and requested reconciliation. The situation led to protests from women's organizations. In 2012, Nayanthara confirmed that she had ended her relationship with Prabhu Deva.[86][87][88][89]
Nayanthara and directorVignesh Shivan have been in a relationship ever since they worked together onNaanum Rowdy Dhaan in 2015.[90][91] The couple married on 9 June 2022 inMahabalipuram in a private ceremony attended by family members, friends and co-stars that the couple worked with.[92]
In October 2022, the couple announced the birth of their twin children viasurrogacy.[93][94]
On 16 November 2024, actress Nayanthara penned a letter and published a crypticInstagram post addressingDhanush, where Nayanthara accused Dhanush of intentionally holding onto personal grudges and vengeance over the romantic relationship that unfolded between her andVignesh Shivan during the shooting ofNaanum Rowdy Dhaan, a film which was produced by Dhanush himself.[95][96] Nayanthara insisted that Dhanush had sent her a legal notice asking for a compensation of 10 crores for a 3-second video that was used in the Netflix documentary filmNayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale which were deemed as the behind-the-scenes recordings from the movie sets ofNaanum Rowdy Dhaan.[97] Nayanthara in her letter revealed that she apparently waited for nearly two years to claim the copyrighted material under the policy of ano objection certificate from her producer Dhanush in order to freely use it for her documentary.[98] She revealed that the filmmakers had apparently re-edited and trimmed the documentary while removing the 3-second video sequence which had been shot from the shooting spots ofNaanum Rowdy Dhaan as Dhanush did not grant permission for the usage of songs or visual cuts which featured inNaanum Rowdy Dhaan.[99]
Nayanthara is a humanitarian and lends support to several social causes. She donated a sum of Rs. 5 lakhs to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund during the 2012 cyclonic storm Thane, inTamil Nadu.[100] During theCOVID-19 pandemic, she donated Rs 20 lakh toFilm Employees Federation of South India to help daily wagers.[101] Apart from these she has been involved in various charitable activities. She is also a pro-Indian culture enthusiast and had participated in the2017 pro-jallikattu protests inChennai along with her husband Vignesh Shivan.[102][103]
In 2021, Nayanthara, along with renowned dermatologist Dr Renita Rajan, launchedThe Lip Balm Company, a gender-neutral lip care company.[104] She has ventured into the skincare range with her brand named9Skin and launched afemale hygiene brand calledFemi9. In addition to this, she has endorsed brands and products includingTanishq, Seafood brand Fipola[105][106] and GRT Jewellers.[107] She has also done photoshoots and interviews withVogue andElle.
In 2021, Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan launched their film production venture Rowdy Pictures, which has produced the filmsKoozhangal (2021),[108] which received numerous accolades,Netrikann (2021) andKaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal (2022).[109][110]
Nayanthara is considered among the most popular actor ofTamil,[111]Telugu andMalayalam cinema.[112] She is considered as one of the highest paid actresses in South Indian cinema, according to various media reports.[113][114] In March 2022, according to a report byThe Times of India, Nayanthara is the highest-paid South Indian actress.[115]
Nayanthara became the only South Indian actress to be featured in theForbes India "Celebrity 100" list of 2018, with her total annual earning credited at₹15.17 crore.[2] InRediff.com's "Top 5 Tamil Actresses" list, she ranked 5th in 2013[116] and 1st in 2016.[117] In "Top Telugu Actresses" list of 2007, she was placed 2nd.[118] In the "Top 5 Malayalam Actresses" list of 2016, she ranked 4th.[119] Nayanthara ranked 2nd in "Hottest Tamil Actresses" list.[120]Femina included Nayanthara in its "Femina Fab 40" list of 2021 and said that she is "hands-down the Lady Superstar".[121] Nayanthara becameChennai Times most desirable woman in 2015 and 2016.[122][123] In 2023, Nayanthara opened herInstagram account, and brokeKatrina Kaif's record to become the fastest female actor to reach a million followers.[124][125] In 2024, she was placed in the "35 most influential young Indians" list byGQ.[126]
Nayanthara is credited for a change in Tamil industry, for her performances in women-centric films such asMaya,Aramm,Kolamavu Kokila andNetrikann. She is also praised for her performances in films likeSri Rama Rajyam,Raja Rani,Puthiya Niyamam,Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy,Bigil.[127][128] She is among the few South Indian actresses who have taken over the male dominated film industry with her strong films.[citation needed]
Divya J Shekar ofForbes India noted, "What sets Nayanthara apart from most male stars is her presence and popularity across all the five South Indian states."[129] Saradha U ofThe News Minute credit her "unique filmography" – a blend of commercial and content-driven films, as a reason of her success.[130] Kayalvizhi Arivalan ofFemina said that Nayanthara made women-centric films "the new norm".[131]India Today's Janani K finds her to be "capable of pulling in the crowd even without a male star in the film".[132] Nandini Ramnath ofVogue stated that Nayanthara is "southern cinema's brightest stars".[133] She received theKalaimamani award, for her "Contribution in Tamil Cinema", in 2010.[134]The Hindu referred her as one of the Superstar women in Indian Cinema.[135]
The actress Nayanthara has had an acting career spanning two decades, appearing in more than 75 films acrossTamil,Telugu,Malayalam,Kannada andHindi languages.
Nayanthara has won fiveFilmfare Awards South. She won one Best Actress Telugu forSri Rama Rajyam (2011), three Best Actress Tamil for –Raja Rani (2013),Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015), andAramm (2018) and one Best Actress Malayalam forPuthiya Niyamam (2016).[139][140]
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