Nayanthara: The Superstar of South Indian Cinema, Biography, Education, Husband And Much More

Born as Diana Mariam Kurian on November 18, 1984, in Bangalore, Karnataka, Nayanthara is an Indian actress and film producer who predominantly appears in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films. Her father, Kurian Kodiyattu, was an Indian Air Force official, and she studied in various parts of India during her childhood. Nayanthara did her schooling in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and Delhi, and later attended Balikamadom Girls Higher Secondary School in Thiruvalla, Kerala, and Marthoma College in Thiruvalla for her bachelor’s degree in English Literature.

Career

While studying at college, Nayanthara worked part-time as a model and was spotted by director Sathyan Anthikkad, who offered her a pivotal role in his film Manassinakkare in 2003. Her performance in the film received critical acclaim, and she continued to receive acting offers. Nayanthara subsequently appeared in Tamil and Telugu films, making her debut in Tamil cinema with Ayya (2005) and in Telugu cinema with Lakshmi (2006).

Over the years, Nayanthara has starred in more than 80 films spanning two decades and has won numerous awards. She is popularly addressed as the Superstar of Tamil cinema and is one of the highest-paid actresses in India. She was the only South Indian actress to be featured in the Forbes India “Celebrity 100” 2018 list, with her total annual earning credited at ₹15.17 crore. Nayanthara has also appeared in Hindi and Kannada films.

Nayanthara’s portrayal of Goddess Sita in the mythological film Sri Rama Rajyam (2011) earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu and the Nandi Award for Best Actress. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in the romantic comedy-drama Raja Rani (2013), the action comedy Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015), and the political drama Aramm (2017). She was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for her performance in the crime drama Puthiya Niyamam (2016).

Personal Life

Nayanthara was in a relationship with actor Silambarasan for a few years before they broke up in 2006. She then dated director-actor Prabhu Deva for several years before they parted ways in 2012. In 2018, Nayanthara made headlines when she confirmed her relationship with director Vignesh Shivan. The couple has been together for several years and often shares pictures and posts about each other on social media.

Philanthropy

Apart from her successful acting career, Nayanthara is also known for her philanthropic efforts. She has been actively involved in various charitable organizations and has donated to several causes, including education, healthcare, and relief efforts during natural disasters. In 2019, she pledged to sponsor the education of 30 girl children from financially weaker families.

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