Nayanthara, counted as one of the highest-paid actresses in India, turned a year older today, November 18. The only South actress to be featured on Forbes India’s ‘Celebrity 100’ list in 2018 has made
a significant contribution to Indian cinema. On her 41st birthday, we have looked back at her journey and iconic roles so far in her career spanning just two decades.
After making her acting debut with the Malayalam film Manassinakkare in 2003, she has worked in more than 75 films and shows no signs of stopping. The recipient of five Filmfare Awards South, a Tamil Nadu State Film Award, a Nandi Award and seven SIIMA Awards, last appeared in Test, a sports psychological thriller film co-starring R. Madhavan and Siddharth.
View this post on Instagram
On her 41st birthday, here’s a look at actress journey, iconic roles, and impact on Indian cinema.
Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale
The diva’s journey began when she was studying at college and worked part-time as a model. This is when she was spotted by director Sathyan Anthikkad, who convinced her to play a pivotal role in his film Manassinakkare.
Although she initially denied the offer, she eventually agreed to do “just that one film”. But her incredible performances led her to continue receiving multiple acting offers, not only in Malayalam movies but also in Tamil and Telugu film industries.
Her performances also bagged her numerous awards. She has won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress for her performances in the romantic comedy Raja Rani (2013), the action comedy Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015) and the political drama Aramm (2017), among others.
View this post on Instagram
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.
In 2024, Netflix Indian reflected on her journey so far in the industry in the documentary Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale. Besides her work, this also focused on her relationship and marriage with filmmaker Vignesh Shivan.
Nayanthara’s Iconic Roles
Here are some of the iconic performances in Nayanthara’s career so far —
- 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
Besides these, many other roles in her career, including her performance as a single mother in the horror film Maya, the lead role in the crime comedy Kolamavu Kokila, and more, have simply set new standards for the budding actresses.
Nayanthara’s Impact On Indian Cinema
One of the leading actresses of South cinema, Nayanthara, has had a significant impact in breaking stereotypes in Indian cinema and paving the way for budding actresses.
Her critically acclaimed, commercially successful female-centric films demonstrated her ability to command screen time. Additionally, the bankable star with her versatile acting talents has been an inspiration to many.
We wish Nayanthara a happy birthday!
