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Nayanthara Biography

Diana Mariam Kurien was born on November 18, 1984, in Bangalore, Karnataka. Diana, more popularly known as Nayanthara, was born to Kurien Kodiyattu, an officer in the Indian Air Force and Omana Kurien, the father and mother, respectively. The 40-year-old has become one of the most celebrated actresses in Indian cinema. In her career spanning over 21 years, she was able to make significant contributions to Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films. She was also referred to as ‘Lady Superstar’ and was able to become a badge of strength for women all across the movie industry.

Early Life

Nayanthara was born into a Syrian Christian family and has one elder brother. Due to her father’s profession, the family frequently relocated across India. As she frequently relocated, she had a diverse upbringing, allowing her to experience different cultures and educational systems.

Education

Throughout her schooling years, she was admitted to several schools and completed her schooling in different cities. Nayanthara completed her schooling in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and Delhi. Thereafter, she did her schooling in Thiruvalla, where she studied at Balikamadom Girls Higher Secondary School. She went on to her BA Honors degree in English literature from Marthoma College.

While she was studying at her college, she was also working as a part-time model, which eventually got her an entry into the movie industry.

Journey into the movie industry

While Nayanthara was in college, she was spotted by director Sathyan Anthikkad, who approached her to play an important role in one of his upcoming movie assignments. Initially hesitant towards the project and its prospects, she agreed to the film and was under the impression that this would be her only film. However, this was not the case. The film became a huge success and everyone appreciated the actress in the movie. This movie was ‘Manassinakkare’, which was a Malayalam film. Manassinakkare became a lucky charm for the actress and she went on to bag more roles amidst her growing popularity.

Entry into Tamil and Telugu Cinema

As Nayanthara became popular in the Southern region, different industries here became eager to star her in their movies. So, she entered the Tamil cinema through the film ‘Ayya’ (2005), establishing her role as a leading actress.

In the same year, she was chosen for a role alongside a legend of the movie industry, none other than Rajnikanth. The role that she played in the movie ‘Chandramukhi’ made her a prominent figure in the Tamil industry. From here, she went on to explore the Telugu movie industry with her role in the movie ‘Lakshmi’ in 2006. These endeavours were a testament to her dedication and versatility towards the profession.

Stardom

During the years of 2007-2013, her career took a flight. The majority of the projects that she starred in were loved by the audience and these successes meant a lot to her. She was able to portray diverse roles and her acting adeptness.

Some notable films that she worked on during this period are:

  • Yaaradi nee Mohini (2008): This romantic movie featuring Dhanush alongside Nayanthara became an instant hit due to the story being warm-hearted and the chemistry that was seen between the actors.
  • Sri Rama Rajyam (2011): Nayanthara portrayed Goddess Sita in this mythological movie and she earned several accolades for her role. This role also won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress—Telugu.
  • Raja Rani (2013): This rom-com movie became a huge hit in the region and notably was also the directorial debut of renowned director Atlee.

The industry took note of her immense talent and the audience gave her the recognition that she needed for successfully making her career in the industry.

Awards and Accolades

As her career has been nothing short of remarkable, she has received several awards that serve as reciprocations to her talent and dedication shown in the industry. Some of her notable achievements are:

  • Filmfare Award for Best Actress: Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam
  • Nandi Award for Best Actress
  • IIFA Utsavam Award for Best Performance in a Leading Role
  • Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine
  • Vijay Award for Best Actress
  • Asianet Film Award for Best Actress

In addition to this, in 2018, she was the only South Indian actress to be featured in the prestigious Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 List, and this was because of her success in the industry and her popularity.

Personal Life

Being a public personality, her life has always been on the radar of the media. She has opened up regarding her past relationships and believes that these relationships allowed her to have a different perspective on love and life. Although Nayanthara kept her personal life private, but she opened up regarding her life and career in a documentary made on her titled ‘Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale’, currently streaming on Netflix.

Marriage and Family

The actress dated the filmmaker Vignesh Shivan for a few years before getting married in 2022. The marriage was a star-studded ceremony that was attended by several celebrities, such as Rajnikanth and Shah Rukh Khan. In the same year, the couple began their family as well, as they welcomed twins through surrogacy. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in the life of the actress.

Recent Projects and Future Prospects

Nayanthara’s first Bollywood project was Jawan, in which she featured alongside Shah Rukh Khan. This movie gained praise from all around and it turned into another milestone for the actress. While there is not much discussion about her working on the Bollywood project soon, she continues to work and dedicate her life to different film industries such as Telugu, Malayalam, and Tamil.

Recently, the actress released the title teaser of her upcoming film ‘Raakkayi’, in which she was seen fiercely battling an army of monsters with chilli powder and homemade weapons. In addition to this movie, more projects are in the pipeline and are promising watchworthy content, with the movies being on diverse topics. Some of her upcoming movies include:

  • The Test
  • Mannangatti Since 1960
  • Aramm 2
  • Dear Students

Nayanthara Facts and Information

Born November 18, 1984
Religion Hinduism  (Accepted in 2011)
Father Kurian Kodiyattu (Indian Air Force Officer)
Mother Omana Kurian
Partner Vignesh Shivan (Film Director)
Children Twins: Uyir and Ulag (Born in October 2022)
Residence Tamil Nadu
Education Schooling completed in different areas of the country; B.A Honours degree from Marthoma College, Thiruvalla
Film Debut Manassinakkare (2003, Malyalam)
Movies that gave fame Chandramukhi (2005), Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008), and Raja Rani (2013)
Awards Filmfare Awards, Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
Social responsibility Advocating for women’s rights and representation in cinema along with involvement in various philanthropic activities.
Notable Movies Aramm (2017), Netrikann (2021), Jawan (2023)
Lifestyle Strict Vegetarian; believes in the benefits of Meditation and hence practices the same.

 

 


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