Today, November 18, Nayanthara, one of India’s highest-paid actresses, turned one year older. The only actress from the South to appear on Forbes India’s “Celebrity 100” list in 2018 has had a major impact on Indian cinema. On her 41st birthday, we took a look back at her career, which has only lasted 20 years, and the memorable roles she has played thus far.
She has appeared in over 75 films since making her acting debut in the Malayalam film Manassinakkare in 2003, and she has no intention of quitting. The winner of seven SIIMA Awards, five Filmfare Awards South, a Tamil Nadu State Film Award, a Nandi Award, and a Nandi Award was most recently seen in the sports psychological thriller Test, which also starred R. Madhavan and Siddharth.
Here’s a look at the actress’s career, memorable performances, and influence on Indian cinema on her 41st birthday.
Beyond the Fairy Tale: Nayanthara
The diva’s career started while she was a college student and a part-time model. Director Sathyan Anthikkad saw her at this point and persuaded her to play a key part in his movie Manassinakkare.
She finally agreed to make “just that one film,” despite first declining the offer. However, she continued to receive several acting opportunities from the Tamil and Telugu cinema industry in addition to Malayalam due to her outstanding performances.
She also won other prizes for her performances. Her roles in the romantic comedy Raja Rani (2013), the action comedy Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015), and the political drama Aramm (2017) have earned her both the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress and the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil.
She then continued working in several commercially and critically successful films, including Chandramukhi (2005), Ghajini (2005), Billa (2007), Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008), Bodyguard (2010), Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (2012), Thani Oruvan (2015), Kaashmora (2016), Viswasam (2019), Bigil (2019), Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019) and more.
Her Hindi film debut in 2023 with the Shah Rukh Khan starrer movie Jawan became her highest-grossing film.
Chandramukhi (2005), Ghajini (2005), Billa (2007), Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008), Bodyguard (2010), Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (2012), Thani Oruvan (2015), Kaashmora (2016), Viswasam (2019), Bigil (2019), Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019) are just a number of commercially and critically successful movies.
In 2023, she made her Hindi cinema debut with the Shah Rukh Khan flick Jawan, which went on to become her highest-grossing picture.
In the 2024 documentary Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale, Netflix Indian evaluated her career path thus far. In addition to her career, this highlighted her marriage to filmmaker Vignesh Shivan.
The Iconic Roles of Nayanthara
- Aramm: Nayanthara played the role of a district collector in the socially impactful film, released in 2017, which helped her win a Filmfare Award.
- Imaikkaa Nodigal: She appeared as Anjali Vikramadityan, a determined CBI officer, in this action thriller, which received immense critical acclaim.
- Raja Rani: She starred as Regina John, a newlywed dealing with a painful past. Her role in the romantic comedy drama earned her the Tamil Nadu State Government’s Best Actress award.
- Naanum Rowdy Dhaan: Nayanthara played the role of Kadambari, a hearing-impaired woman in the pursuit of a dreaded gangster. Her performances won multiple awards and etched a special place in the hearts of many.
- Sri Rama Rajyam: Her portrayal of Goddess Sita in the mythological film earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu and the Nandi Award for Best Actress
In addition to these, she has played a number of other roles in her career that have simply raised the bar for aspiring actors, such as the lead role in the criminal comedy Kolamavu Kokila and the character of a single mother in the horror movie Maya.
The Influence of Nayanthara on Indian Film
Nayanthara, one of the top actresses in South cinema, has made a big contribution to shattering stereotypes in Indian cinema and opening doors for aspiring actresses.
Her ability to command screen time was proved by her critically acclaimed and commercially successful female-centric films. In addition, many people have found inspiration in the bankable star’s diverse acting abilities.
Happy birthday to Nayanthara!
