Nayanthara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nayanthara
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Nayanthara at the 2013 Filmfare Awards
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| Born |
Diana Mariam Kurian
18 November 1984 |
| Alma mater | Mar Thoma College (BA) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Nayanthara (born Diana Mariam Kurian; 18 November 1984) is a famous Indian actress. She mostly works in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films. She is one of the highest-paid actresses in India.
Nayanthara was the only South Indian actress to be on the Forbes India "Celebrity 100" list in 2018. She has acted in over 75 films in more than two decades. She has won many awards, including five Filmfare Awards South. She also has one Tamil Nadu State Film Award, a Nandi Award, and seven SIIMA Awards.
Nayanthara started acting in the Malayalam film Manassinakkare (2003). She made her Tamil film debut with Ayya (2005). Her first Telugu film was Lakshmi (2006). She also acted in a Kannada film called Super (2010).
She played Goddess Sita in the film Sri Rama Rajyam (2011). This role won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu. She also won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for her roles in Raja Rani (2013), Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015), and Aramm (2017). She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for Puthiya Niyamam (2016).
Nayanthara became one of the top actresses in South Indian cinema. She starred in many films where she played the main character. These include Maya (2015), Aramm (2017), and Imaikkaa Nodigal (2018). She also expanded into Hindi cinema with the film Jawan (2023).
Besides acting, Nayanthara helps people and owns a film production company called "Rowdy Pictures". She is married to filmmaker Vignesh Shivan. They have two children.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Nayanthara was born Diana Mariam Kurian on 18 November 1984. She was born in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Her family is Malayali Syrian Christian from Thiruvalla, Kerala. Her parents are Kurian Kodiyattu and Omana Kurian. Her older brother, Leno, lives in Dubai.
Because her father was an Indian Air Force officer, Nayanthara lived and studied in different parts of India. She went to school in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and Delhi. She also studied at Balikamadom Girls Higher Secondary School in Thiruvalla. Later, she earned a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Marthoma College in Thiruvalla.
Acting Career Highlights
Starting in Malayalam Films (2003–2004)
While in college, Nayanthara worked as a model. Director Sathyan Anthikkad saw her modeling work. He asked her to act in his film Manassinakkare (2003). At first, she said no because she wasn't interested in films. But she later agreed to do just that one movie.
Manassinakkare was a big success. After this, she kept getting more acting offers. In 2004, she appeared in Natturajavu and Vismayathumbathu. In Vismayathumbathu, she played a ghost. Critics praised her acting in this film.
First Steps in Tamil and Telugu Cinema (2005–2007)
Nayanthara then started acting in Tamil and Telugu films. In 2005, she made her Tamil debut in Ayya. Critics said she made a "sensational debut." While filming Ayya, she was chosen for the horror-comedy Chandramukhi. This film was a huge hit, playing for over 800 days. It made Nayanthara a very popular actress in Tamil cinema.
She also acted in Malayalam films like Thaskara Veeran and Rappakal. Later in 2005, she appeared in Ghajini. She also made a special dance appearance in the film Sivakasi.
In 2006, her first film was Kalvanin Kadhali. Her performance was called the "strength of the film." She then debuted in Telugu with Lakshmi. She also starred in Boss, I Love You. Three of her Tamil films, Vallavan, Thalaimagan, and E, were released at the same time. In Vallavan, she played a lecturer. In E, she played a bar dancer.
Becoming a Star (2007–2013)
Nayanthara became very popular in Tamil cinema with the film Billa (2007). This film was a remake of an older movie and was very successful. Nayanthara received much praise for her role as Sasha. She looked very stylish in the film. Her role in Billa earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil. She also won the Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine. That same year, she starred in the Telugu film Tulasi, which was also a success.
In 2008, she had five film releases. Her film Yaaradi Nee Mohini was a family entertainer. Critics praised her acting skills in this movie. She won the Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine again. She also appeared in Kuselan, Satyam, and Aegan in 2008. In 2009, she was in Villu and Aadhavan.
In 2010, all her films were successful. She had five hits: Adhurs (Telugu), Bodyguard (Malayalam), Simha (Telugu), Boss Engira Bhaskaran (Tamil), and Super (Kannada). She won the Asianet Award for Best Actress for Bodyguard. Simha was one of the highest-grossing Telugu films that year. Boss Engira Bhaskaran was also a financial success. Super was her first film in the Kannada film industry. She also starred in the Malayalam film Elektra.
In 2011, her only film was Sri Rama Rajyam. In this mythological film, she played the role of Sita. She received great praise for her performance. Critics said she gave a "fine understated performance." She won her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu and a Nandi Award for Best Actress for this role.
After a break, Nayanthara returned to acting in 2012 with Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum. She played a journalist in this film. Her performance was well-received. In 2013, she starred in the romantic comedy-drama Raja Rani. This film won her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil. Critics called it her "career best performance." Her next film, Arrambam (2013), was also very popular.
Continued Success and New Roles (2014–2022)
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In 2015, her horror film Maya was a commercial success. She played a single mother with a mysterious past. Critics praised her for taking on such a unique role.
Nayanthara also continued to act in action and comedy films. These include Bhaskar the Rascal (2015) and Thani Oruvan (2015). She won her second Filmfare Award for her role in Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015). In this film, she played a deaf girl seeking revenge.
She continued to play many different roles. In 2016, she was a police officer in Puthiya Niyamam. She won her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for this role. She also played a school teacher in Thirunaal (2016) and a spy in Iru Mugan (2016). She was also a queen in the fantasy film Kaashmora (2016).
In 2017, she starred in the horror thriller Dora. She also played a district collector in the social drama Aramm. Her role in Aramm won her a third Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil. She also played the main female role in Velaikkaran. In 2018, she was in the Telugu film Jai Simha. She also starred in Kolamaavu Kokila and Imaikkaa Nodigal. Both films were very successful.
In 2019, she had lead roles in Viswasam, Airaa, Kolaiyuthir Kaalam, and Bigil. Bigil was her third film with actor Vijay. She also appeared in the Malayalam film Love Action Drama. For this film, she received the same pay as the male lead, which was a first in Malayalam cinema. She was also in the Telugu film Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy. In 2020, she had a supporting role in Darbar with Rajinikanth. Her film Mookuthi Amman was her second time playing a Hindu mythological role.
In 2021, she worked with Rajinikanth again in Annaatthe. She played a lawyer in this film. She also starred in Netrikann, a remake of a South Korean film. She received praise for playing a blind CBI officer in Netrikann. She also appeared in the Malayalam film Nizhal.
Her first film in 2022 was Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal. She also starred in the thriller O2. In this film, she played a mother protecting her son. She was also seen in the Malayalam film Gold, the Telugu film Godfather, and the Tamil horror film Connect.
Venturing into Hindi Films (2023–Present)
Nayanthara made her Hindi film debut in 2023 with the action thriller Jawan. She starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan. She played an NSG officer named Narmada Rai. Her performance was widely praised.
Her second film in 2023 was the Tamil film Iraivan. She then played a chef in Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food. This film received mixed reviews. Annapoorani caused some discussion after its release. Nayanthara later apologized for unintentionally upsetting some people with the film.
Nayanthara will appear in upcoming films like Test, Mannangatti Since 1960, Dear Students, and Good Bad Ugly.
Personal Life
Nayanthara and director Vignesh Shivan started a relationship after working together on Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in 2015. They got married on 9 June 2022. It was a private ceremony in Mahabalipuram.
In October 2022, the couple announced they had twin children. Their sons are named Uyir and Ulagam. Their full names are Uyir RudroNeel N Shivan and Ulag Daiwik N Shivan. The 'N' stands for their mother, Nayanthara.
Off-Screen Activities
Nayanthara is a kind person who supports many social causes. She donated money to help during the 2012 cyclonic storm Thane in Tamil Nadu. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she donated money to help daily wage workers in the film industry. She is also involved in other charity work. She supported the 2017 pro-jallikattu protests in Chennai. For her film Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food, she and her co-star Jai served biriyani to college students.
In 2021, Nayanthara launched The Lip Balm Company. This company sells lip care products for everyone. She also started a skincare brand called 9Skin. She launched a female hygiene brand called Femi9. She has also promoted other brands like Tanishq and GRT Jewellers. She has been featured in magazines like Vogue and Elle.
Rowdy Pictures
In 2021, Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan started their own film production company called Rowdy Pictures. This company has produced films like Koozhangal (2021), Netrikann (2021), and Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal (2022). Koozhangal received many awards.
Filmography
Actress Nayanthara has acted for two decades. She has appeared in over 75 films. These films are in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi languages.
Accolades
Nayanthara has won five Filmfare Awards South. She won Best Actress Telugu for Sri Rama Rajyam (2011). She won Best Actress Tamil three times for Raja Rani (2013), Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015), and Aramm (2018). She also won Best Actress Malayalam for Puthiya Niyamam (2016).
Images for kids
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Nayanthara's signature
