Star Portrait-Nayanatara

Diana Mariam Kurien is popularly known by her stage name Nayanthara is a South Indian actress,who has acted in many Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu movies. After several commercial successes such as “Chandramukhi”, “Ghajini”, “Billa” and “Sri Rama Rajayam”, Nayanthara has established herself as one of the most promising, sought-after actresses of South India. She was born to Kurian Kodiyattu & Omana Kurian in the year 18th November 1984 at Bangalore, Karnataka. She has bother Leno.

Actually Nayantara belongs to a Orthodox Syrian Christian Malayali family. Since her father was working in Indian air force, she had the luck to study in different parts of north India. After her father retired from the service, they settled in Kerala. Nayantara completed her educations at institutions like Kendriya Vidhyala, Balikamadam Girls Higher Secondary School & Marthoma College, Thiruvalla for her Bachelor's degree in English Literature. She was chosen 1st runner up in Best model Kerala 2003 which was conducted by Thrissur Advertising Club. This gave her few opportunities in modelling for advertisements. While at college, she was spotted by director Satyan Anthikkad and cast opposite Jayaram in “Mansinakkare”.

Film Career.

Nayantara entered the film industry by acting in Malayalam film “Manassinakkare” directed by Sathyan Anthikkad which was released in the year 2003. After that she acted in the film “Vismayathumbathu” a Malayalam film directed by Fazil which was released in the year 2004 & here she played the role of a wandering soul, who got associated with Mohanlal. Her next film was “Natturajavu” directed by Shaji Kailas & released in the year 2004. She subsequently started  appearing in Tamil and Telugu films. In 2005, she was cast opposite Sarath Kumar in Hari's “Ayya” debuting in the Tamil film industry.

While still shooting for “Ayya” she was selected to portray the love interest of Rajinikanth in the comedy horror film “Chandramukhi” after its director P. Vasu's wife had seen “Manassinakkare” and recommended her. The film became one of the most successful Tamil films in history, running for over 800 days in theatres, eventually turning Nayantara  into one of the most-sought after actresses in Tamil. Later that year her third Tamil film, A. R. Murugadoss' “Ghajini”” in which she played a secondary female character, again was a commercially highly successful venture.

However, she later told that appearing in “Ghajini” was a big mistake and the "worst decision" she ever took. Nayantara then accepted to appear in an item number as herself in the Perarasu-directed masala film “Sivakasi” starring Vijay. Her first release in 2006 was “Kalvanin Kadhali”. She next made her debut in Telugu, starring in the film “Lakshmi”, following which she performed in “Boss” alongside Venkatesh and Nagarjuna respectively. Three Tamil films in which she enacted the lead female characters “Vallavan”,  “Thalaimagan” and “E” were released simultaneously in 2006. All three films opened to mixed reviews.  She regained her star billing in  Kollywood acting opposite Ajith Kumar in Vishnuvardhan direction gangster film “Billa” in 2007.

A remake of the same-titled 1980 Tamil film, it went on to become a blockbuster success at the box office. In 2008 she had five releases, four of which were in Tamil. Her first release, the family entertainer “Yaaradi Nee Mohini” was critically acclaimed and one of the highest grossing Tamil films of the year. Her subsequent releases, however “Kuselan” opposite Rajnikanth, “Sathyam” opposite Vishal and “Villu” opposite Vijay, were all unsuccessful, while “Aegan” became an average grosser. Her only successful release in 2009 was “Aadhavan” with Surya which released in October of that year. In 2010, all her releases, which featured her as the female lead, turned out to be commercial successes.

She delivered five super hit films in the four Southern languages  Malayalam film “Bodyguard”, “Adurs” and “Simha” in Telugu, “Boss Engira Bhaskaran” in Tamil and “Super” in Kannada. The latter three, in particular, were exceptionally successful, with “Simha” becoming one of the highest-grossing Telugu films of the year. Her performances in Simha, Boss Engira Bhaskaran and Super eventually fetched her nominations for the Film Fare Best Actress Award in the respective languages. She also starred in Shyamaprasad's critically acclaimed Malayalam film “Elektra”.

Her performance was well appreciated by critics when it was screened at the International Film Festival of India.The film was also screened at the Dubai International Film Festival. Her only release in 2011 as Telugu mythological film “Sri Rama Rajyam” by Bapu, in which she played the role of Sita. She received critical acclaim for her performance in the film. Subsequently, she was awarded with the most Prestigious Nandi Award for Best Actress and Film fare Award for Best Telugu Actress.

However, after her break-up with Prabhu Deva, she made a comeback she began shooting for Krish's
“Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum” with Rana Daggubati in 2012, after an 11-months vacation. Her first release in 2013 was Greeku Veerudu alongside “Akkineni Nagarjuna”. She is also acting in Tamil films “Valai” opposite Ajith Kumar under direction of Vishnuvardhan, “Raja Rani” opposite Arya and “Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal” opposite Udhayanidhi Stalin which is directed by S. R. Prabhakaran.

Awards and Honours

Awards Won

In 2003 Asianet Award for Best Female New Face of the Year for “Manassinakkare”.

In 2007 Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine      

In 2007 Sunfeast Isaiaruvi Tamil Music Award for Best Actress

In 2008 Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine for Tamil film “Yaaradi Nee Mohini”.

In 2010 Asianet Award for Best Actress for “Bodyguard”.

In 2011 Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actress for the film “Sri Rama Rajyam”.

In 2011 Nandi Award for Best Actress for the film “Sri Rama Rajyam”.

In 2011 CineMAA Award for Best Actress Jury for the film “Sri Rama Rajyam”.

In 2011 SIIMA Award for Best Telugu Actress for the film “Sri Rama Rajyam”.

In 2011 Bharatamuni Film Award for Best Actress for the film “Sri Rama Rajyam”.

In 2011 Ugadi Puraskar Award for Best Actress for the film “Sri Rama Rajyam”.

In 2011 Santhosham South Film Award for Best Actress for the film “Sri Rama Rajyam”.

Awards Nominations

In 2007 Film Fare Award for Best Telugu Actress for “Tulasi”

In 2007 Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress for “Billa”

In 2008 Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress for “Yaaradi Nee Mohini”

In 2009 Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine for “Aadhavan”.

In 2009 Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine for “Boss Engira Bhaskaran”.

In 2010 Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress “Boss Engira Bhaskaran”.

In 2011 Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actress for “Simha”

In 2011 Filmfare Award for Best Kannada Actress “Super”