Nazriya was born on 20 December 1994,[8] in a MalayaliMuslim family to Nazimuddeen and Beegum Beena. She has a brother, Naveen Nazim, who is an actor.[9][10][11] Nazriya's family lived inAl Ain,UAE, before moving toThiruvananthapuram, where she was born.[12]
Nazriya started her career as an anchor in a Muslim-oriented television quiz show namedPunyamaasathiloode in 2005 onKairali TV, following up with various other anchoring roles in singing, quiz and reality shows.[17] She also hostedAsianet's popular music reality showStar Singer.[12]
Nazriya started her acting career in 2006 as a child artist in the Malayalam filmPalunku, directed byBlessy, playing Geethu, daughter ofMammootty's character.[18] A critic ofDeccan Herald felt she gave a "stellar performance" alongside the lead cast.[19] She later reunited with Mammootty in the 2010 filmPramani.[12][20] TheMohanlal-starrerOru Naal Varum was her next venture that year, in which she played Dhanya, the daughter ofSreenivasan's character.[21] In 2012, she was cast in an album titledYuvvh bySony Music Entertainment, alongsideNivin Pauly which became very popular among the youth.[12][22]
Established actress, acclaim and hiatus (2013–2017)
Nazriya made her lead screen debut in the 2013 Malayalam filmMaad Dad, playing Mariya alongsideLal andLalu Alex.[23] ATimes of India critic said, "Nazriya appears burdened by a badly conceived role that appears too heavy for her."[24] Nazriya next appeared as Jeena / Veni in the Malayalam-Tamil bilingualNeram, marking her Tamil debut, and reuniting with Nivin Pauly afterYuvvh.[25] A major commercial success, the scene where Nivin proposes to Nazriya's character acquiredcult status among the audience.[26][27] Paresh C Palicha stated that she has a "striking screen presence". The film earned her theFilmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South andTamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize.[28][29]
Later in 2013, Nazriya played an IT professional Keerthana, in the Tamil filmRaja Rani, oppositeArya.[30] Gautaman Bhaskaran fromHindustan Times noted, "The one person who caught my attention was Nazriya Nazim, who as Arya's lover, is absolutely gorgeous with a face that is so expressive that we do not need her to speak".[31] It was another box-office success and earned her nomination forFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil.[32][33] Her final release that year was the Tamil filmNaiyaandi, in which she played a dentist Vanaroja, oppositeDhanush. The film received negative reviews and was her only failure that year.[34][35] S Saraswathi noted, "Nazriya looks extremely pretty and does full justice to her bubbly energetic character."[36]
Nazriya had five releases in 2014, her most successful year. She first played Shahana in the Malayalam filmSalalah Mobiles, oppositeDulquer Salmaan, a box office failure.[37][38] Mythily Ramachandran felt Nazriya doesn't have much to offer beside "looking beautiful".[39] In her next Malayalam filmOhm Shanthi Oshaana, opposite Nivin Pauly, Nazriya played a medical student Pooja. The film became a blockbuster and one of thehighest-grossing film of the year.[40][41] Her performance was praised by critics withThe New Indian Express stating, "The performance by Nazriya is the highlight of the movie. Her acting leaves some bright spots but she lacks some efforts in the emotional scenes."[42] She then appeared in the Malayalam-Tamil bilingual,Vaayai Moodi Pesavum, opposite Dulquer Salmaan, playing a doctor Anjana.[43] Subha J. Rao ofThe Hindu appreciated Nazriya and added that her "eyes speak volumes". It became a box office success.[44]
Nazriya made her comeback to films after a four-year break, with the 2018 Malayalam filmKoode, alongsidePrithviraj. She played Jenny, Prithviraj's sister and a congenital disease patient.[56] The film was a commercial success and earned her another Filmfare Best Actress – Malayalam nomination.[57][58]Anna M. M. Vetticad opined: "The writing and Nazriya's acting often cutesify Jenny. Though this sort of hyper-bubbly girl is too familiar a sight in commercial Indian cinema, Nazriya's charm is hard to resist."[59] That year, she also ventured into production withVarathan, a commercial success.[60]
Nazriya then co-produced the 2019 filmKumbalangi Nights, with her husband. The film emerged a major commercial success and earnedcult status.[61] In 2020, Nazriya reunited with Fahadh Faasil, inTrance, playing a model and sex worker Esther.[62] The film became a box-office failure due toCOVID-19, but Cris fromThe News Minute found her character to be "charming" and added that she has matured as an actor.[63] That year, she also played a cameo inManiyarayile Ashokan, asJacob Gregory's wife.[64] Haricharan Pudipeddi was appreciative of her appearance in the film.[65] In the same year, she co-producedC U Soon, where she also worked as a production designer.[66]
Nazriya expanded to Telugu films in 2022. She played a professional photographer Leela, oppositeNani inAnte Sundaraniki.[67][68] The film was a major commercial success overseas.[69] Janani K fromIndia Today noted, "Nazriya has once again impressed everyone with her ultimate cuteness. You could see Leela in her and she has done total justice to her character."[70] The film earned her theFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu nomination.[71]
With no release in 2023, Nazriya started 2024 with her co-productionAavesham, which emerged as theseventh highest grossing Malayalam film of all time.[72][73] Later that year, Nazriya marked her comeback to Malayalam films after four years, withSookshmadarshini.[74] She played Priyadarshini, a homemaker unravelling her neighbour's secret alongsideBasil Joseph.[75] Anandu Suresh found her to be "inconsistent" initially, adding that she eventually delivers a "more compelling performance".[76] The film emerged a box office success and one of the highest grossing Malayalam films of all time.[77] The film earned her theKerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress.[78]
Nazriya will next make her streaming debut with the Tamil seriesThe Madras Mystery – Fall of a Superstar.[79] She will then mark her return to Tamil films after 12 years withSuriya 47 oppositeSuriya,[80] and will appear in an untitled Malayalam film oppositeTovino Thomas.[81]
Nazriya met actorFahadh Faasil on the sets of their filmBangalore Days, in 2013 and they eventually began dating.[82][83] Following a year courtship, the couple got engaged on 20 January 2014.[84] Nazriya married Fahadh on 21 August 2014, inThiruvananthapuram.[85][86]
In addition to acting, Nazriya supports various causes and charitable organisations. In 2014, she supportedKerala Government's online campaign against drugs.[87] In 2024, she and her husband, Fahadh contributed ₹25 lakhs for the relief work ofWayanad landslides.[88]
Nazriya is a celebrity endorser for brands such as Camerry and Merricrem Icecreams.[89][90] She has beencover model for several magazines includingVanitha.[91]
Nazriya has established herself as one of the highest paid Malayalam actresses.[92][93] Shilpa Nair Anand ofThe Hindu termed her as "Kerala's sweetheart".[94] Nikhil Skaria Korah ofOnmanorama noted, "Nazriya Nazim's cute expressions and the roles of chirpy and happy young women in many movies had earned her the "girl-next-door" status."[95]
Her characters fromOhm Shanthi Oshaana andBangalore Days, are considered among the strongest female roles in Malayalam films. OnOhm Shanthi Oshaana,ScoopWhoop noted, "Nazriya's Pooja is quite new and refreshing in Malayalam cinema".[2] The film was narrated from a woman's perspective, whichThe Hindu found to be a "rarity" in Malayalam films.[1] Parvati Mohan ofFilm Companion, spoke about Divya fromBangalore Days: "Kunju's is a very realistic empowerment. Despite operating within the bounds of patriarchy, she gets what she wants out of it, in the best way that she can."[96] For these performance, Ranjana K ofMathrubhumi opined that there is no actress in Malayalam cinema to replace Nazriya.[97]
^K., Ranjana (30 December 2019)."ഈ ദശാബ്ദത്തിലെ മികച്ച സിനിമകള് ഏതൊക്കെ?" [Which are the Best Films of This Decade?].Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam).Archived from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved1 April 2020.
