Nayanthara is a popular Indian actress who is probably best known for her appearances in such movies as ‘Raja Rani’, ‘Maya’, ‘Naanum Rowdy Dhaan’, ‘Sri Rama Rajyam’, ‘Manassinakkare’ and ‘Araam’, among others. She is one of the top-earning and most sought-after actresses in the South Indian film industry, especially in Tamil cinema. She has received several accolades including 4 Filmfare Awards South, Kalaimamani Awards, Tamil Nadu State Award, and many others. In 2018, Forbes magazine included her in their “India Celebrity 100” list, making her the only female actress from South India to feature in the list with earnings of INR 15.17 crores. Some of her notable films include Ghajini (2005), Billa (2007), Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008), Anaamika (2014), Kolamavu Kokila (2018), Airaa (2019), Darbar (2020), Annaatthe (2021) and Godfather (2022), and Jawan (2023). She is married to director Vignesh Shivan and has two sons.
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Nayanthara Biography
Nayanthara was born on the 18th of November 1984, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. According to her birthday, she is 38 years old as of 2024.
| Birth Name | Diana Mariam Kuriyan |
| Nickname | Nayan, Lady Superstar, Nayantara |
| Date of Birth | November 18, 1984 |
| Place of Birth | Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Age | 38 years old |
| Sun Sign | Scorpio |
| Profession | Actress |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Ethnicity | Indian (Malayali) |
| Religion | Hinduism (Converted in 2011 ) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Vignesh Shivan |
| Residence | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
Family and Education
Nayanthara is the daughter of Malayali parents, Kurian Kodiyattu and Omana Kurian, an aristocratic Kodiyatt family from Tiruvalla, Kerala. Her father worked for the Indian Air Force. She has one older brother named Leno who lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Since her father was an Indian Air Force official, she had to move along with her family to different regions of the country, where she took her education.
The unmatched beauty attended different Army schools located in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and Delhi. She then attended Balikamadom Girls Higher Secondary School in Tiruvalla and earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Marthoma College, Thiruvalla.
Nayan had a strict Syrian Christian upbringing. She fell in love with Hinduism and subsequently converted to the religion on August 7, 2011, undergoing a traditional Vedic purification ceremony conducted at the Arya Samaj Temple in Chennai. She later changed her name to Nayanthara.
Nayanthara Personal Life
Nayanthara’s first known relationship was with fellow actor Silambarasan. They started dating in the year 2006 while working together on a Tamil movie called Vallavan, however, it didn’t last any longer. The couple mutually ended their relationship in 2008. That same year, Nayanthara and dance choreographer Prabhu Deva began dating and eventually entered into a live-in relationship. In 2010, Prabhu Deva’s wife Latha, who is a classical dancer, moved to the family court, seeking directions against him and requesting a reunion with him.
She also threatened to go on a hunger strike if Prabhu Deva married Nayanthara. Even several women’s organizations went on to protest against Nayanthara for bringing disrepute to the Tamil culture and also burned her effigy. Finally, Nayanthara and Prabhu Deva called it quits in 2012.
The lady superstar is currently in a live-in relationship with filmmaker Vignesh Shivan. She was booked to play a female lead in the movie Naanum Rowdy Dhaan opposite Vijay Sethupathi in 2014, which was directed by Vignesh. During the filming of the film, they developed a feeling for each other and made their relationship public through red carpet appearances. She even gifted him an expensive car as a token of love. Owing to his birthday, the couple went to New York and had a great time exchanging their love. After years of dating, Nayan and Vignesh tied the knot on 9 June 2022 in Mahabalipuram. Together, they have two children, Ulagam and Uyir, born via surrogacy.
Physical Statistics
| Height | Feet – 5 feet 2 inches Centimeters -158 cm Meters – 1.58 m |
| Weight | Kilograms – 55 kg Pounds – 121 lbs |
| Body Build | Slim |
| Body Measurements | 35-26-36 |
| Body Shape | Hourglass |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Shoe Size | 7 (US) |
| Dress Size | 6 (US) |
| Distinctive Features | Her Striking Eyes Jawline |
Professional Statistics
Film Debut
Nayanthara made her on-screen debut with the 2003 Malayalam film, ‘Manassinakkare’, in which she played the role of Gouri. The film was directed by Sathyan Anthikad. The commercial success of the film fetched her several offers from different languages boosting her acting career.
She became the heart-throb of Tamil audiences ever since she starred in the 2005 Tamil film ‘Chandramukhi’, opposite Superstar Rajinikanth, which was directed by P. Vasu.
Television Debut
Although Nayanthara hasn’t appeared in any serials, she has appeared as a guest in a number of special television shows.
Brand Endorsements
The lady superstar has been the face of a number of brands like Tata Sky and GRT Jewelers. She has appeared in several television commercials and print ads.
Nayanthara Net Worth
As of 2024, Nayanthara is reportedly worth over $25 million dollars. She takes a hefty paycheck as remuneration for each film she stars in and is considered to be one of the highest-paid actresses in South Indian cinema. Tata Sky paid her a whopping INR 8 crore to star in a 50-second TVC in 2017. She is also one of the bankable actresses in the industry, who also makes a large amount of money from lucrative endorsement deals. Since her inception into showbiz, Nayanthara has earned a place for herself in the industry, winning over the hearts of millions of audiences.
Nayanthara owns several luxurious cars including a BMW 7 series and an Audi Q7. She lives with her husband and children in a lavish BHK flat worth more than Rs 100 crore. She also owns multiple properties in Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.
Nayanthara Favourite Things
- Food – North Indian Cuisine
- Actor – Rajinikanth, Vijay
- Actress – Simran
- Colour – Black
- Holiday Destination – London, Paris
- Perfume – Dolce, Polo sports
- Movies – A Walk To Remember, Dil Wale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge
- Hobbies – Reading, Long Driving and Listening Music
Nayanthara Facts
Nayanthara took up modeling as a passion during her college days and became the first runner-up as the Best Model in Kerala in 2003.
She was discovered by director Sathyan Anthikkad, who introduced her in his film, ‘Manassinakkare’ in 2003, which marked a stepping stone in her acting career. Since then, the fame, popularity, and wealth of the budding actress have only enhanced.
Nayanthara was just 19 years old when she made her acting debut.
She would have been a Chartered Accountant if not an actress.
Nayanthara tattooed Prabhu Deva’s name on her wrist during her brief relationship with him.
Nayanthara was voted the “Most Desirable Woman of Chennai” in a poll conducted by a leading publisher in South India.
She has won over 36 awards in various categories to this date.
Nayanthara was ranked #2 in the Kochi Times‘ “List of 15 Most Desirable Women in 2014” for 3 consecutive years on the list after 2014.
She got a huge breakthrough with the Tamil film Chandramukhi, which was her longest-ever running film in the theatres with 800 days.
As an actress, Nayanthara has acted in more than 80 movies in all mainstream South Indian languages like Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada.
Her personal life was always subject to widespread media attention because she is one of the few actresses to be romantically linked with high-profile celebrities.
Her portrayal of Sita in Sri Rama Rajyam (2011) earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actress and the Nandi Award for Best Actress.
She hates social media.
Nayanthara is one of the few actresses in the business to have acted with all of the leading actors in the entertainment industry.
Nayanthara was included in Forbes India‘s “2018 Celebrity 100” list at #69 with estimated earnings of INR 15.17 crore that year.
In 2023, she made her Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the thriller film, Jawan.
She gets a remuneration of more than Rs 10 crore per film, making her the highest-paid actress in the South Indian film industry.