Diana Mariam Kurian, professionally known as Nayanthara, is a Tamil actress and film producer who also appears in Telugu and Malayalam films. She is one of India's highest-paid actresses; she was the only South Indian actress to appear on the Forbes India "Celebrity 100" 2018 list, with a total annual earning of Rs. 15.17 crore. Nayanthara has appeared in over 80 films over the course of two decades, winning numerous awards along the way, and is widely regarded as the "Superstar" of Tamil cinema.
In the 2003 Malayalam film Manassinakkare, she made her acting debut. She made her Tamil film debut with Ayya (2005) and her Telugu debut with Lakshmi (2006). She also made her Kannada film debut with Super (2010). Her performance as Goddess Sita in the mythological film Sri Rama Rajyam (2011) earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actress and the Nandi Award for Best Actress. Her performances in the romantic comedy-drama Raja Rani (2013), the action comedy Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015), and the political drama Aramm earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil (2017). For her performance in the crime drama Puthiya Niyamam, she received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam (2016).
Nayanthara was born Diana Mariam Kurian to parents Kurian Kodiyattu and Omana Kurian in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Thiruvalla, Kerala is her birthplace. Leno, her older brother, lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Nayanthara studied in various parts of India because her father was an Indian Air Force official. She went to school in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and Delhi. She attended Balikamadom Girls Higher Secondary School in Thirumoolapuram before attending Marthoma College in Thiruvalla for her bachelor's degree in English Literature.
Beginnings in Malayalam cinema (2003–2004)
Nayanthara's filmography is the main article.
Nayanthara worked as a model part-time while attending college. Sathyan Anthikkad, who had seen some of her modelling assignments, approached her to play a pivotal role in his film Manassinakkare (2003). 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". Manassinakkare went on to become a financial success and received numerous acting offers. In both of her 2004 releases, Natturajavu by Shaji Kailas and Fazil's psychological thriller Vismayathumbathu, she co-starred with Mohanlal; in the former, she played the protagonist's adopted sister, while in the latter, she played a ghost. Her performance in Vismayathumbathu, in particular, was lauded, with critics claiming that she had "stolen the thunder with her author-backed role", and was "the revelation of the film".
Nayanthara's early work in Tamil and Telugu cinema (2005-2007) Nayanthara later began appearing in Tamil and Telugu films. In 2005, she was cast as the lead heroine in Hari's Ayya, making her debut in the Tamil film industry. She made a "sensational debut in Tamil," according to Behindwoods.com, and her "presence with her beautiful smile is crowd winning," according to a reviewer from Nowrunning.com. She was cast in the comedy horror film Chandramukhi while still filming Ayya, after its director P. Vasu's wife saw Manassinakkare and recommended her. The film was released in theatres for over 800 days, making Nayanthara one of the most sought-after actresses in Tamil. She has also appeared in Malayalam films such as Thaskara Veeran and Rappakal. Later that year, she appeared as a secondary female character in AR Murugadoss' Ghajini. Nayanthara then agreed to appear in an item number as herself in the masala film Sivakasi, directed by Perarasu.
Kalvanin Kadhali was Nayanthara's first release in 2006. Indiaglitz.com stated her performance was the "strength of the film". She then made her Telugu debut in the film Lakshmi, after which she appeared in the film Boss, I Love You. Vallavan, Thalaimagan, and E, three Tamil films in which she played the lead female characters, were released at the same time during Deepavali 2006. All three films received mixed reviews upon their initial release. She played a lecturer who falls in love with a student who is younger than her in Vallavan. Sify stated: "Nayanthara practically steals the show and has never looked better. She is stunning, especially during songs, and she does justice to her well-defined role ". Nayanthara played a bar dancer in the science fiction thriller E. Rediff reviewers said she made an impression on them. Indiaglitz said she was "very adequate and impressive in a slightly complicated role", and that she had "come up with a good performance". She played a news reporter in Thalaimagan, and critics agreed that she didn't have much to do in the film.
Nayanthara regained her star status in Kollywood by starring in the Vishnuvardhan-directed gangster film Billa (2007-2011). (2007). It was a remake of the 1980 Tamil film of the same name, and it was a box office success, with Nayanthara receiving critical and popular acclaim for her performance as Sasha in her new glamorous look. Sify heaped praise on her, describing her as a "show-stopper". The reviewer went on to say: "Nayanthara has gone all out to look her sexiest. She has a beautiful body that she flaunts daringly, and she is also capable of bringing out her character's cold aloofness and bitterness. Similarly, she looked "great in mini-skirts, jacket, dark glasses, and tall boots," according to a critic from Nowrunning.com. Her performance in Billa earned her her first Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress - Tamil, as well as the Vijay Award for Favorite Heroine. The same year, she co-starred in the Telugu action drama Tulasi with Venkatesh, which was a commercial success and earned her her first Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress - Telugu.
She had five releases in 2008, four of which were in Tamil. Yaaradi Nee Mohini, a family entertainer, was her first release. According to Behindwoods.com: "Nayanthara sheds her bombshell persona and demonstrates that she is capable of much more. She bursts into tears when necessary, shows vicious contempt when irritated in the name of love, and appears endearing in songs ". Nowrunning.com stated that she "exhibits her acting skills in full measure gives a moving performance in emotional scenes", 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". She won the Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine for the second year in a row, and she was nominated for Best Actress - Tamil for the second time.
Her subsequent appearances in 2008 were in Kuselan, Satyam, and Aegan. She made her film debut in 2009 with Villu and Aadhavan.
All of her films with her as the female lead were commercial successes in 2010: she had five box office hits in the four Southern languages - Adhurs (Telugu), Bodyguard (Malayalam), Simha (Telugu), Boss Engira Bhaskaran (Tamil), and Super (Kannada). For her performance in Bodyguard, she received the Asianet Award for Best Actress. The latter three, in particular, were notable for Nayanthara, with Simha becoming one of the year's highest-grossing Telugu films and Boss Engira Bhaskaran receiving positive reviews and financial success. Upendra's Super, her debut in the Kannada film industry, received positive reviews, and her performance was praised by critics. Her performances in Simha, Boss Engira Bhaskaran, and Super earned her Filmfare Award nominations for Best Actress in their respective languages. In addition, she appeared in Shyamaprasad's critically acclaimed Malayalam film Elektra. When the film was shown at the International Film Festival of India, critics praised her performance. The documentary was also shown at the Dubai International Film Festival.
Her only release in 2011 was Bapu's mythological film Sri Rama Rajyam (2011), in which she played Sita. She received widespread praise for her performance in the film, with Rediff.com stating, "Nayanthara is the film's surprise package. She, too, has played the role of a lifetime as Sita. She delivered an excellent understated performance that conveyed a kaleidoscope of emotions." "Nayanthara gave a fitting answer to all, unleashing grace and accomplishing the assignment with absolute perfection," Sify said. As a result of her performance, she received her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu and the Nandi Award for Best Actress. The film was dubbed her "swan song" by the media and was thought to be her final release before her marriage, as she was reported to quit acting afterward.
Stardom and a comeback (2012–present)
After an eleven-month hiatus, Nayanthara decided to make a comeback and began filming for Krish's Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (2012). 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". For her performance in the film, she received her fourth nomination for a Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu. She won her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil and the Vijay Award for Best Actress the following year for her performance in Atlee's romantic comedy-drama Raja Rani (2013). "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," a critic from Sify.com said of her performance as a wife in an unhappy marriage. Sify.com also said her role was "unquestionably the film's biggest strength". 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".
Her next film, Vishnuvardhan's Arrambam (2013), starring Ajith Kumar, also received positive reviews, with a Rediff reviewer stating that "Nayanthara looks gorgeous and does full justice to her character," and a Behindwoods critic stating 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." ".
Nayanthara's rising star as an actress led to her being cast in female-centric films, a rarity in South Indian cinema. Nayanthara played an IT professional who moves to Hyderabad to look for her missing husband in Sekhar Kammula's bilingual Anaamika (2014), a remake of the Hindi film Kahaani (2012). Sify.com labelled her performance in the film "a one-woman show by her in a difficult role... she nails the character perfectly whether it in the initial scenes showing her anguish or in the stunning climax, where she takes a brave decision". Her "performance is lacklustre in the first half," according to Rediff.com.
While Anaamika did mediocre business, her next female-centric project, the horror film Maya (2015), was a commercial success. 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 in Maya... it's a treat to watch Nayanthara re-inventing herself by performing in an author backed role".
During the same time period, Nayanthara continued to appear in action and comedy films, including the successful Bhaskar the Rascal (2015) and Thani Oruvan (2015). She later won her second Filmfare Award for her performance as a deaf girl seeking vengeance in Vignesh Shivan's black comedy Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015). The actress "infuses the part with the right portions of vulnerability, restraint, and quiet strength, delivering a performance that is nothing short of perfect," according to Sify.com's reviewer of Nayanthara's performance. Nayanthara was seen buying liquor from a shop in a video clip from the film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan that went viral on social media. The Hindu Makkal Katchi demanded that the scene be removed, and even after she stated that it was a film scene, the Hindu Munnani burned her effigy in protest. Despite the controversy, her performance in the film earned her her second Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil.
In her first release of 2016, Nayanthara portrayed a rape victim in Puthiya Niyamam (2016) opposite Mammootty, with a critic from the IBTimes 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". For her performance in the film, she received her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam. She continued to play a variety of roles, including a village schoolteacher in Thirunaal (2016), a spy in Vikram's commercially successful Iru Mugan (2016), and the queen of a fantasy kingdom in Kaashmora (2016). Her performance in the former earned her a sixth nomination for Best Actress - Tamil at the Filmfare Awards.
In 2017, she starred in the horror thriller Dora as well as the critically acclaimed social drama Aramm. Her performance in Aramm as a district collector earned her a third Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil. In the action thriller Velaikkaran, she also played the female lead. Jai Simha, a Telugu-language film in which she played the female lead, was her first release in 2018. She went on to co-star with actor Atharvaa in Nelson Dilipkumar's directorial Kolamaavu Kokila and the thriller Imaikkaa Nodigal. Her performance in Kolamaavu Kokila earned her an eighth Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress - Tamil.
In 2019, she starred in Viswasam, Airaa, Kolaiyuthir Kaalam, and Bigil, in which she worked with Vijay for the third time. She also starred alongside Nivin Pauly in the Malayalam film Love Action Drama, and Chiranjeevi and Tamannaah in the Telugu biographical film Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy. In 2020, she appeared in Darbar as a supporting actress alongside Rajinikanth. After portraying Goddess Sita in 2011, she made her second appearance in Hindu mythological and devotional cinema with Mookuthi Amman.
Her fifth collaboration with Rajinikanth came in 2021 with the film Annaatthe, in which she played a lawyer. She went on to star in Netrikann, a remake of the South Korean film Blind from 2011. She also appeared in the Malayalam film Nizhal as well as the long-awaited Telugu film Aaradugula Bullet.
Her first film in 2022 was the romcom-drama Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal, in which she co-starred with Vijay Sethupathi and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. She later appeared in G.S. Viknesh's survival thriller O2, in which she played a single mother attempting to protect her son with cystic fibrosis from the effects of low oxygen.
She later appeared in the Malayalam film Gold, co-starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, as well as the Telugu film Godfather and the Tamil horror film Connect. She will make her Hindi debut in the Tamil film Iraivan and her Tamil debut in the Bollywood film Jawan opposite Shah Rukh Khan. She is also set to appear in two untitled films, Lady Superstar 75 and NT-81.
Her personal life She was raised as a Christian by Malayali parents. She converted to Hinduism on August 7, 2011, at the Arya Samaj Temple in Chennai. After that, she received a certificate of Hindu conversion, and her stage name, Nayanthara, became her legal name. She is a polydactyl with only one finger on her left hand.
Since their collaboration on Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in 2015, Nayanthara and director Vignesh Shivan have been in a relationship. On June 9, 2022, the couple married in Mahabalipuram. The couple announced the birth of their twin children via surrogacy in October 2022.
Work done away from the camera
Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan founded Rowdy Pictures in 2021, which produced the films Koozhangal, Netrikann, and Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal. The Lip Balm Company was founded in the same year by Nayanthara and renowned dermatologist Dr. Renita Rajan.
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Diana Mariam Kurian [1]OrissaPost |
| Profession | • Actress • Film producer • Model |
| Famous Role | • Aramm (2017) • Raja Rani (2013) • Sri Rama Rajyam (2011) |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters- 165 cm in meters- 1.65 m in feet & inches- 5' 5" |
| Weight (approx.) | in kilograms- 53 kg in pounds- lbs |
| Figure Measurements (approx.) | 34-26-34 |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Career | |
| Debut | Film: Manassinakkare (2003); as 'Gauri' Producer: Pebbles (2021) |
| Awards, Honours, Achievements | • Filmfare Award South under best actress category, 2011. • Tamil Nadu State Film Awards under best actress category, 2013. • Filmfare Award South under best actress category, 2013. • Edison Awards (Tamil) under best actress category, 2013. • Edison Awards (Tamil) under best actress category, 2015. • International Indian Film Academy Awards under best actress category, 2015. • Filmfare Award South under best actress category consecutively in 2015, 2016 and 2017. [2]IMDb |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 18 November 1984 (Sunday) |
| Age (as of 2022) | 38 Years |
| Birthplace | Thiruvalla, Kerala, India |
| Zodiac sign | Scorpio |
| Signature |  |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Tiruvalla, Kerala, India |
| School | Balikamadom Girls High School, Thiruvalla |
| College/University | Marthoma College, Thiruvalla |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor's in English Literature |
| Religion | Hindu [3]Hindustan Times |
| Food Habit | Vegetarian [4]The Times of India |
| Hobbies | Reading and listening music |
| Tattoo(s) | She tattooed Prabhu Deva's name on her wrist during a relationship with him and later got it revamped. |
| Controversies | • Her kissing pictures with her first boyfriend Simbu went viral on the internet which impacted her professional and social image. [5]Zoom TV: Entertainment News • In 2011, she was in a relationship with a married man Prabhu Deva and his Ex-Wife Ramlath accused her for stealing her husband. [6]Zoom TV: Entertainment News • In 2015, she ran into controversy for her viral clip from the film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan after which a political party protested against her [7]Deccan Chronicle • After Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan announced that they have become parents to twin boys on 9 October 2022, some reports claimed that they concealed that the babies were conceived through surrogacy, and it was also doubted whether the couple followed the procedures stipulated by the Indian surrogacy laws. During a press conference, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian said that an inquiry will be conducted for the same. He said, "The surrogacy itself is subjected to a lot of debates. But, the law allows individuals to involve in surrogacy if they are above 21 years and below 36 years of age, with the approval of the family." [8]The Indian Express |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Marriage Date | 9 June 2022 |
| Marriage Place | A resort in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu |
| Affairs/Boyfriends | • In 2006, She fell in a relationship with actor Simbu and later parted ways with him. • In 2011, she fell in a relationship with Prabhu Deva and wanted to marry him even when he was already married. • In 2015, she began dating director Vignesh Shivan and got engaged to him in 2021. [9]The Times of India |
| Family | |
| Husband | Vignesh Shivan |
| Children | On 9 October 2022, Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan announced that they have become parents to twin boys. [10]The Indian Express |
| Parents | Father- Kurian Kodiyattu (Retired Air India Force Official) Mother- Omana Kurian |
| Siblings | Brother- Lenu Kurian |
| Favourites | |
| Actor | Rajinikanth and Vijay |
| Actress | Simran |
| Film | Bollywood- 3 • Pokiri • Billa • Yaradi Nee Mohin |
| Colour | Black |
| Food | North Indian Cuisine |
| Style Quotient | |
| Car Collection | • Audi Q7 • BMW X5 [11]Zoom TV: Entertainment News |
| Money Factor | |
| Net Worth (approx.) | $10 Million [12]Zoom TV: Entertainment News |
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”.
The second movie was E which was directed by S. P. Jananathan. This was a science fiction film in which Nayanthara played the role of a bar dancer. Her performance was positively reviewed by platforms such as Indiaglitz and Rediff. The third film was Thalaimagan, in which she played the role of a news reporter but didn’t receive positive reviews for her performance.
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.’
Nayan dispels her bombshell act and proves that she can do 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.’
This release was followed by other movies such as Satyam, Kuselan, and Aegan in the same year. For Yaaradi Nee Mohini, she won the Vijay Award for the Favourite Heroine category for the second time and was nominated at the 56th Filmfare Awards South for the Best Actress Prize.
Her performance was not much praised and received mixed reviews by Sify and Rediff. A Rediff reviewer wrote,
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.’
This film was praised in the media as her last film before marriage. It was also reported that she will quit acting after her marriage.
a one-woman show by her in a difficult role… she nails the character perfectly whether it in the initial scenes showing her anguish or in the stunning climax, where she takes a brave decision.’
Nayantara’s role as Vasuki Iyer is one of her career’s best until now and her decision to dub in her own voice for her character is worthy of appreciation.’ [19]International Business Times
This hit was followed by three releases in various genres. One was Thirunaal which was released on 5 August 2016; in this movie, she played the role of a village school teacher. The next one was Iru Mugan which was released on 8 September. In this film, she starred with Vikram and Nithya Menen. The third one was Kaashmora, a horror film that was released on 28 October 2016.
,-Biography,-Wiki,-Age,-Boyfriend-&-More-134.jpg "Surabhi-Samriddhi Mehra (Chinky Minky), Biography, Wiki, Age, Boyfriend & More")
