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Actor
Nayanthara
Active Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam cinema
- FromBangalore, Karnataka, India
- Based inChennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Age36–45
- Active2003 – Present
- Updated
Nayanthara Biography
Nayanthara – Full Information
- Full Name: Diana Mariam Kurian
- Stage Name: Nayanthara
- Date of Birth: 18 November 1984
- Age: 41 years (as of 2026)
- Birthplace: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
- Nationality: Indian
- Profession: Actress, Producer
- Years Active: 2003 – Present
- Industry: Primarily Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam cinema
Education
- Schooling: St. Joseph’s Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School, Bangalore
- College: Marthoma College, Thiruvalla, Kerala
- Degree: B.A. in English Literature
Physical Appearance
- Height: Approx. 5 feet 6 inches
- Hair Color: Black
- Eye Color: Brown
Family Background
- Mother: Rajeswari (Homemaker)
- Siblings: Two younger brothers
- Family Origin: Syrian Christian family from Kerala
- Upbringing: Grew up in Bangalore with a focus on education and discipline
Career Highlight
| Year | Movie Name | Career Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Manassinakkare | Acting debut in Malayalam cinema; commercial success |
| 2004 | Natturajavu | Co-starred with Mohanlal in Malayalam film |
| 2004 | Vismayathumbathu | Praised for her performance as a ghost; critical acclaim |
| 2005 | Ayya | Tamil debut as lead heroine; received widespread recognition |
| 2005 | Chandramukhi | Breakthrough Tamil film; ran over 800 days in theatres |
| 2005 | Thaskara Veeran | Malayalam film with Mammootty |
| 2005 | Rappakal | Malayalam film co-starring Mammootty |
| 2005 | Ghajini | Featured in secondary female role and item number; Tamil |
| 2006 | Kalvanin Kadhali | First release of 2006; performance praised |
| 2006 | Vallavan | Tamil film; lead role as a lecturer; critical praise |
| 2006 | E | Tamil sci-fi thriller; praised for her role as a bar dancer |
| 2006 | Thalaimagan | Tamil film; lead female character |
| 2006 | Lakshmi | Telugu debut as lead actress |
| 2006 | Boss, I Love You | Telugu film |
| 2007 | Billa | Tamil gangster film; major commercial success; first Filmfare Best Actress – Tamil nomination |
| 2007 | Tulasi | Telugu action drama; commercial success; Filmfare Best Actress – Telugu nomination |
| 2008 | Yaaradi Nee Mohini | Tamil family entertainer; critical acclaim |
| 2008 | Kuselan | Tamil film release |
| 2008 | Satyam | Tamil film release |
| 2008 | Aegan | Tamil film release |
| 2009 | Villu | Tamil film |
| 2009 | Aadhavan | Tamil film |
| 2010 | Adhurs | Telugu hit film |
| 2010 | Body Guard | Malayalam hit; Asianet Award for Best Actress |
| 2010 | Simha | Telugu blockbuster |
| 2010 | Boss Engira Bhaskaran | Tamil hit; commercial success |
| 2010 | Super | Kannada debut; positive reviews |
| 2010 | Elektra | Malayalam film; screened at International Film Festival of India |
| 2011 | Sri Rama Rajyam | Played Sita; won Filmfare Award – Telugu & Nandi Award |
| 2012 | Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum | Telugu film; comeback after sabbatical; critical acclaim |
| 2013 | Raja Rani | Tamil romantic comedy-drama; won Filmfare Award – Tamil |
| 2013 | Arrambam | Tamil action film; critical acclaim |
| 2014 | Anaamika | Tamil film; average success |
| 2015 | Maya | Horror film; praised for unconventional role |
| 2015 | Bhaskar the Rascal | Tamil film; commercial success |
| 2015 | Thani Oruvan | Tamil hit film |
| 2015 | Naanum Rowdy Dhaan | Tamil black comedy; won Filmfare Award – Tamil |
| 2016 | Puthiya Niyamam | Malayalam film; played a rape victim; won Filmfare Award – Malayalam |
| 2016 | Thirunaal | Tamil film; village school teacher role |
| 2016 | Iru Mugan | Tamil action thriller; commercially successful |
| 2016 | Kaashmora | Tamil fantasy epic; lead role as queen |
| 2017 | Dora | Horror thriller |
| 2017 | Aramm | Tamil social drama; won Filmfare Award – Tamil |
| 2017 | Velaikkaran | Tamil action thriller |
| 2018 | Jai Simha | Telugu film; lead role |
| 2018 | Kolamaavu Kokila | Tamil black comedy; huge success; Filmfare nomination |
| 2018 | Imaikkaa Nodigal | Tamil thriller; highest opening weekend for female-led film in Tamil |
| 2019 | Viswasam | Tamil film; lead role |
| 2019 | Airaa | Tamil film; lead role |
| 2019 | Kolaiyuthir Kaalam | Tamil thriller; lead role |
| 2019 | Bigil | Tamil sports action; third collaboration with Vijay |
| 2019 | Love Action Drama | Malayalam film; equal pay as male lead |
| 2019 | Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy | Telugu biopic; starred alongside Chiranjeevi |
| 2020 | Darbar | Supporting role with Rajinikanth |
| 2020 | Mookuthi Amman | Tamil devotional film; second entry into Hindu mythological genre |
| 2021 | Annaatthe | Tamil film with Rajinikanth |
| 2021 | Netrikann | Tamil remake of South Korean film Blind; critical acclaim |
| 2021 | Nizhal | Malayalam film |
| 2021 | Aaradugula Bullet | Telugu film; delayed release |
| 2022 | Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal | Tamil romantic comedy; lead role |
| 2022 | O2 | Tamil survival-thriller; played single mother |
| 2022 | Gold | Malayalam film with Prithviraj Sukumaran |
| 2022 | Godfather | Telugu film |
| 2022 | Connect | Tamil horror film |
| 2023 | Jawan | Hindi debut; NSG officer; critically acclaimed |
| 2023 | Iraivan | Tamil film; highest-paid South actress for this project |
| 2023 | Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food | Tamil film; mixed reviews |
| 2025 | Test | Tamil film; played a school teacher |
| 2025 | Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups | Upcoming |
| 2025 | Mookuthi Amman 2 | Upcoming |
| 2025 | Mannangatti Since 1960 | Upcoming |
| 2025 | Dear Students | Upcoming; alongside Nivin Pauly |
Recent Activity
- Toxic – Upcoming film starring alongside Yash; playing a powerful lead role.
- Reunion with Mammootty – Highly anticipated project marking another collaboration with the veteran actor.
- Promotional Appearances – Rare public promotions, including for Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu.
- Family Life – Sharing special moments with husband Vignesh Shivan while balancing her career.
- Media & Legal Matters – Moving past previous legal issues concerning her documentary while maintaining her professional presence.
Awards List
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Asianet Film Awards | Best New Face of the Year | Manassinakkare | Won |
| 2007 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Billa (Tamil) | Nominated |
| 2007 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Tulasi (Telugu) | Nominated |
| 2007 | Vijay Awards | Favourite Heroine | Billa | Won |
| 2008 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Yaaradi Nee Mohini (Tamil) | Nominated |
| 2008 | Vijay Awards | Favourite Heroine | Yaaradi Nee Mohini | Won |
| 2009 | Vijay Awards | Best Actress | Aadhavan | Nominated |
| 2010 | Asianet Film Awards | Best Actress | Body Guard | Won |
| 2010 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Boss Engira Bhaskaran (Tamil) | Nominated |
| 2010 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Simha (Telugu) | Nominated |
| 2010 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Super (Kannada) | Nominated |
| 2011 | CineMAA Awards | Best Actress (Jury) | Sri Rama Rajyam | Won |
| 2011 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Sri Rama Rajyam (Telugu) | Won |
| 2011 | Nandi Awards | Best Actress | Sri Rama Rajyam | Won |
| 2011 | Santosham Film Awards | Best Actress | Sri Rama Rajyam | Won |
| 2012 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress | Sri Rama Rajyam (Telugu) | Won |
| 2012 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (Telugu) | Nominated |
| 2013 | Edison Awards | Best Actress | Raja Rani | Won |
| 2013 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Raja Rani (Tamil) | Won |
| 2013 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress (Critics) | Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum | Won |
| 2013 | Tamil Nadu State Film Awards | Best Actress | Raja Rani | Won |
| 2013 | Vijay Awards | Best Actress | Raja Rani | Won |
| 2014 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress | Raja Rani (Tamil) | Nominated |
| 2014 | Vijay Awards | Favourite Heroine | Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal | Nominated |
| 2015 | International Indian Film Academy Awards | Best Actress | Maya | Won |
| 2015 | Edison Awards | Best Actress | Naanum Rowdy Dhaan | Won |
| 2015 | Edison Awards | The Gorgeous Belle | Thani Oruvan | Nominated |
| 2015 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Naanum Rowdy Dhaan | Won |
| 2015 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress | Anaamika (Telugu) | Nominated |
| 2016 | Edison Awards | Best Actress | Iru Mugan | Nominated |
| 2016 | Edison Awards | Best Actress | Puthiya Niyamam | Won |
| 2016 | Kerala Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actress | Puthiya Niyamam (Malayalam) | Won |
| 2016 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress | Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (Tamil) | Won |
| 2016 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress | Bhaskar the Rascal (Malayalam) | Won |
| 2017 | Edison Awards | Best Actress | Aramm | Won |
| 2017 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Aramm (Tamil) | Won |
| 2017 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress | Puthiya Niyamam (Malayalam) | Won |
| 2017 | Vijay Awards | Best Actress | Aramm | Won |
| 2018 | Edison Awards | Best Actress | Imaikkaa Nodigal | Won |
| 2018 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress | Aramm (Tamil) | Won |
| 2019 | Edison Awards | Best Actress | Kolaiyuthir Kaalam | Nominated |
| 2019 | Edison Awards | Favorite Actress | Bigil & Viswasam | Nominated |
| 2019 | Asianet Film Awards | Best Actress | Airaa | Nominated |
| 2020 | Edison Awards | Best Actress | Mookuthi Amman | Nominated |
| 2020 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress | Viswasam | Won |
| 2021 | Edison Awards | Best Actress | Netrikann | Nominated |
| 2021 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress | Mookuthi Amman | Nominated |
| 2022 | Edison Awards | Best Actress | O2 | Nominated |
| 2022 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Actress | Netrikann | Nominated |
| 2024 | Edison Awards | Best Actress | Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food | Nominated |
| 2024 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress | Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food | Won |
At a Glance
0
Awards
90
Popularity Score
90
Trending
90%
Profile Complete
Social Reach
About Nayanthara
Why is Nayanthara called the Lady Superstar?
For her pan-South popularity, high box-office success, and strong female-centric roles.
What was Nayanthara’s debut film?
Manassinakkare (Malayalam, 2003).
Has she worked in Hindi films?
Yes, her Hindi debut was Jawan (2023) with Shah Rukh Khan.
Which film won her first Filmfare Award?
Sri Rama Rajyam (Telugu, 2011).
Is Nayanthara active in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films today?
Yes, she continues to take selective, high-profile projects across South Indian cinema.
How would you rate this celebrity?
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