Nayanthara

Nayanthara, born Diana Mariam Kurian, is an Indian actress and film producer recognized for her work in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam cinema. Regarded as one of the highest-paid actresses in India, she was the sole South Indian female actor listed in the Forbes India "Celebrity 100" in 2018. With a career spanning more than two decades and over 75 film appearances, she has earned numerous accolades, including five Filmfare Awards South, three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, seven SIIMA Awards, and a Nandi Award.

Born on 18 November 1984 in Bangalore, Karnataka, she belongs to a Malayali Syrian Christian family from Thiruvalla, Kerala, born to Kurian Kodiyattu and Omana Kurian. Due to her father's career as an Indian Air Force official, she attended various schools across India, including institutions in Jamnagar, Delhi, and Kerala. She completed her schooling at O.E.M Public School and Balikamadom Girls Higher Secondary School before earning a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Mar Thoma College in Tiruvalla.

While working as a part-time model during her college years, she was spotted by director Sathyan Anthikkad, who cast her in the 2003 Malayalam feature Manassinakkare. Following her successful debut, she appeared in further Malayalam projects alongside actors such as Mohanlal and Mammootty. She made her Tamil cinema debut in 2005 with Ayya, followed by prominent roles in Chandramukhi and Ghajini. She subsequently entered Telugu cinema with Lakshmi in 2006 and later debuted in Kannada cinema with the 2010 film Super.

Nayanthara expanded her prominence with critically acclaimed performances in projects like the 2007 action drama Billa and the family film Yaaradi Nee Mohini. In 2010, she starred in several hit films across multiple regional industries, including Adhurs, Simha, Boss Engira Bhaskaran, and Body Guard, winning an Asianet Award for the latter. Her portrayal of Goddess Sita in the 2011 mythological drama Sri Rama Rajyam earned her both a Filmfare Award and a Nandi Award.

Following an eleven-month hiatus, she returned to screen acting in the 2012 feature Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum. She sustained critical and commercial success with leading performances in the romantic comedy Raja Rani (2013), the black comedy Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015), and the political drama Aramm (2017). She also secured a Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for the 2016 crime film Puthiya Niyamam. During this era, she established herself in female-led cinema through titles such as Anaamika, Maya, Dora, Imaikkaa Nodigal, Airaa, Mookuthi Amman, Netrikann, and Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food.

Alongside female-centric roles, Nayanthara featured in major commercial successes including Thani Oruvan, Viswasam, Bigil, and Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy. She made her debut in Hindi cinema with the 2023 release Jawan, which became her highest-earning feature film. Outside of performing, she is active in philanthropy and owns the production company Rowdy Pictures. She is married to filmmaker Vignesh Shivan, with whom she has two children.