Biography

Name:Diana Mariam Kurian

Born On:18 November 1984

Born In: Thiruvalla, Kerala, India

Nationality: Indian

Career:Actress,Filim Producer,Model

Diana Mariam Kuriyan , known professionally as Nayanthara, is an Indian film actress who primarily appears in Tamil cinema and Telugu film industry. She is one of the most successful leading actresses and is referred to as the Lady Superstar of the Cinema of South India.

Nayanthara made her acting debut in the 2003 Malayalam film Manassinakkare with Jayaram. She made her debut in Tamil cinema with Ayya (2005) and Telugu with Lakshmi (2006). Both were successful. After this she had numerous commercially successful Tamil and Telugu films like Chandramukhi (2005), Dubai Seenu (2007), Tulasi(2007), Billa (2007), Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008), Aadhavan (2009), Adhurs (2010), Simha (2010), Boss Engira Bhaskaran (2010), Sri Rama Rajyam (2011), Raja Rani (2013), Arrambam (2013), Thani Oruvan (2015), Maya (2015), Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015), Babu Bangaram (2016) and Iru Mugan (2016).

Childhood

Nayantara was born as Diana Mariam Kurien in a Malayali Nasrani (Syrian Christian) family to an Indian Army Officer father, Kurien Kodiyattu, and Omana Kurien, in Bangalore, Karnataka. She has a brother, Leno, who resides in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Early Life

her father was an Indian Air Force official, Nayanthara studied in various parts of India, mainly in North India. She did her schooling in Jamnagar, Gujarat and Delhi. In Tiruvalla, she studied at Balikamadom Girls Higher Secondary School and then attended Marthoma College, Thiruvalla for her bachelor’s degree in English Literature.

As An Actress

While studying at college, Nayanthara worked part-time as a model. She was spotted by director Sathyan Anthikkad, who had seen some of her modelling assignments and approached her to play a pivotal role in his film Manassinakkare (2003).Although she turned down the offer initially, as she was not interested in films, she gave in eventually and agreed to do “just that one film”.Manassinakkare went on to become a high financial success and she continued to receive acting offers. Both her releases in 2004, Natturajavu by Shaji Kailas, and Fazil’s psychological thriller Vismayathumbathu, saw her co-starring alongside Mohanlal; while she played the protagonist’s adopted sister in the former, she portrayed a ghost in the latter. Her performance in Vismayathumbathu, in particular, was lauded, with critics claiming that she had “stolen the thunder with her author-backed role”, and was “the revelation of the film”.She also acted in Thaskara Veeran and Rappakal.

Nayanthara subsequently started appearing in Tamil and Telugu films. In 2005, she was cast in Hari’s Ayya, debuting in the Tamil film industry. Behindwoods.com stated that she had made a “sensational debut in Tamil”, while a reviewer from Nowrunning.com said that her “presence with her beautiful smile is crowd winning”. While still shooting for Ayya, she was selected for the comedy horror film Chandramukhi, after its director P. Vasu’s wife had seen Manassinakkare and recommended her. The film ran for over 800 days in theatres, eventually turning Nayanthara into one of the most-sought after actresses in Tamil. Later that year she appeared in A R Murugadoss’ Ghajini, in which she played a secondary female character. Nayanthara then accepted to appear in an item number as herself in the Perarasu-directed masala film Sivakasi.

Along with strong character roles, Nayanthara continued to appear in action and comedy films, including the successful Bhaskar the Rascal (2015) and Thani Oruvan (2015), during the same period. She then went on to win her second Filmfare Award for her role of a deaf and mute girl seeking revenge in Vignesh Shivan’s black comedy Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015). About her performance, Sify.com’s reviewer noted “Nayanthara’s Kadambarai is a well-etched out role, the actress is effortlessly charming and she does full justice”, and “infuses the part with the right portions of vulnerability, restraint, and quiet strength, delivering a performance that is nothing short of perfect”. Following the success of the film, Nayanthara was referred to in the media as the “Best Actresses”.

In her first release of 2016, Nayanthara portrayed a rape victim in Puthiya Niyamam (2016) opposite Mammooty, with a critic from the IBTimes stating “Nayantara’s role as Vasuki Iyer is one of her career’s best until now and her decision to dub in her own voice for her character is worthy of appreciation”. She continued to play diverse roles, appearing as a village-based school teacher in Thirunaal (2016), a spy in the commercially successful Vikram-starrer Iru Mugan (2016) and the queen of a fantasy kingdom in Kaashmora (2016). In 2017, she will appear in a series of female-centric films, where she plays the main lead. Her first release is likely to be the horror film Dora, which will be followed by the social drama Aramm , where she portrays a district collector. She also plays the main character in Chakri Toleti’s Kolaiyuthir Kaalam, the thriller Imaikkaa Nodigal and Bharath Krishnamachari’s Untitled film, amongst her other upcoming releases.

Personal Life

Nayanthara was born and brought up as a Syrian Christian. On 7 August 2011, she embraced Hinduism at the Arya Samaj Temple in Chennai. She has gone through Shuddhi Karma, a procedure involving a Vedic purification and a Homam where she chanted the hymns from the Veda and the Gayatri Mantra under the guidance of the priest. After the purification ceremony, a Certificate of Conversion to Hinduism was issued to her, and her stage name, Nayanthara, became her official name.

In 2010, Prabhu Deva wife Latha filed a petition at the family court, seeking directions against Deva from living in a relationship with Nayanthara and requesting a reunion with him. Furthermore, she threatened to go on hunger strike if Prabhu Deva married Nayanthara, while several women’s organisations conducted protests against Nayanthara for bringing disrepute to the Tamil culture, burning an effigy of her. In 2012, Nayanthara confirmed that she had ended her relationship with Deva.

Awards

    •   International Indian Film Academy Awards|IIFA Utsavam Awards: (2015) Maya Best Actress,
    •   Kalaimamani Awards:(2010) Contribution of Tamil   Cinema Kalaimamani
    •   Vikatan Awards:(2015)Naanum Rowdy Dhaan Best Actress,(2017) Aramm Best Actress
    •   Tamil Nadu State Film Awards:(2013)Raja Rani Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress
    •   Edison Awards:(2013)Raja Rani,Best Actress,(2015)Thani Oruvan,The Gorgeous Belle,(2017)Aramm Best Actress,(2018)Imaikkaa Nodigal Best      Actress
    •   Filmfare Awards South:(2013)Raja Rani Best Actress,(2015)Naanum Rowdy Dhaan Best Actress,(2017)Aramm Best Actress,
    •   South Indian International Movie Awards:(2016)Naanum Rowdy Dhaan Best Actress,(2017)Iru Mugan Best Actress,(2018)Aramm Best Actress
    •   Vijay Awards:(2007)Billa  Favourite Heroine,(2008)Yaaradi Nee Mohini Favourite Heroine,(2013)Raja Rani Favourite Heroine,Best Actress,            (2017) Aramm Best Actress,Favourite Heroine
    •   Sunfeast Tamil Music Awards:(2007)Billa Best Actress,
    •   Behindwoods Gold Medal:(2013)Raja Rani,Best Acting Performance,
    •   Behindwoods-Gold-Medal-2018:(2018)The Golden Lady of South Indian Box Office
    •   South Scope Style Awards:(2009) Nayanthara Youth Icon(Female)
    •   The Hindu World Of Women Awards:(2018)Nayanthara Excellance In The Field Entertainment
    •   Chennai most desirable women -2015 (1st place)
    •   Chennai most desirable women -2016 (1st place)
    •   Chennai most desirable women -2017 (2nd place).
    • Filmography
    • Tamil
    • 2005:Ayya,Chandramukhi, Ghajini,Sivakasi   Special appearance in the song “Kodambakkam Area”
    •  2006:Kalvanin Kadhali,Vallavan,Thalaimagan,E
    • 2007:Sivaji   Special appearance in the song “Balleilakka”,Billa
    • 2008:Yaaradi Nee Mohini,Kuselan   Guest appearance,Satyam,Aegan
    • 2009:Villu,Aadhavan
    • 2010:Goa  Cameo appearance,Boss Engira Bhaskaran
    • 2013:Ethir Neechal   Special appearance in the song “Local Boys”,Raja Rani,Arrambam
    • 2014:Idhu Kath 

Malayalam

Awards

  • Filmfare Awards South:(2016)Puthiya Niyamam Best Actress

  • Kerala Film Critics Association Awards:(2017)Puthiya Niyamam Best Actress
  • Asianet Film Awards:(2003)Manassinakkare Best New Face Of the Year,(2010)BodyGuard Best Actress,
  • South Indian International Movie Awards:(2016)Bhaskar The Rascal Best Actress,(2017)Puthiya Niyamam Best Actress
  • Kochi most desirable women -2014 (2nd place)
  • Kochi most desirable women -2015. (2nd place)
  • Kochi most desirable women -2016 (2nd place)
  • Kochi most desirable women -2017 (2nd place).

Flimography

  • 2003:Manassinakkare
  • 2004:Vismayathumbathu,Natturajavu
  • 2005:Thaskara Veeran,Rappakal
  • 2008:Twenty:20   Special appearance in the song “Hey Dil Deewana”
  • 2010:Bodyguard,Elektra
  • 2015:Bhaskar the Rascal,Life of Josutty   Cameo appearance
  • 2016:Puthiya Niyamam
  • 2019:Love Action Drama   

Telugu

Awards

  • Filmfare Awards South:(2011)Sri Rama Rajyam Best Actress 
  • Nandi Awards:(2011)Sri Rama Rajyam Best Actress,
  • CineMAA Awards:(2011)Sri Rama Rajyam CineMAA Award For Best Actress(Jury),
  • Bharatamuni Film Awards:(2011)Sri Rama Rajyam Best Actress,
  • Ugadi Puraskar Awards:(2011)Sri Rama Rajyam Best Actress,
  • TSR-TV9 Film Awards:(2011)Sri Rama Rajyam Best Actress,
  • Santosham Film Awards:(2011)Sri Rama Rajyam Best Actress,
  • South Indian International Movie Awards:(2012)Sri Rama Rajyam Best Actress,(2013)Krishnan Vande Jagadgurum Best Actress(Critics)

Flimography

  •  2006:Lakshmi,Boss
  • 2007:Yogi,Dubai Seenu,Tulasi
  • 2008:Kathanayakudu   Guest appearance,Salute
  • 2009:Anjaneyulu
  • 2010:Adhurs,Simha
  • 2011:Sri Rama Rajyam
  • 2012:Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum
  • 2013:Greeku Veerudu
  • 2014:Anaamika
  • 2016:Babu Bangaram
  • 2018:Jai Simha
  • 2019:Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy

Kannada

Flimography

  • 2010:Super