Nayanthara @ 40: A look at the lady superstar's unforgettable roles

Born on November 18, 1984, Nayanthara was originally named Diana Mariam Kurien. She was born into a Malayali Syrian Christian family. Her mother, Omana Kurian, was a housewife, and her father, Kurian Kodiyattu, was an Indian Air Force official. Although born in Bangalore, Karnataka, Nayanthara has roots in Kerala, where her family eventually settled after her father’s retirement. She has one brother, Leno, who resides in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Her schooling took her to different parts of India, including Chennai, Jamnagar, Delhi, and Gujarat. When she was a college student in Kerala, director Sathyan Anthikkad discovered her talent  and decided to cast her in a Malayalam movie. By 2005, she had ventured into Tamil and Telugu films and eventually appeared in Kannada cinema as well. On June 9, 2022, she got married to Director Vignesh Shivan and has  twin kids called Uyir and Ulag

Renowned for her beauty and talent, Nayanthara has become one of the most sought-after actresses in South Indian cinema. Here’s a look at some of her best movies based on IMDb ratings:

Thani Oruvan (2015)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Directed by M Raja, this action thriller stars Nayanthara alongside Jayam Ravi and Arvind Swamy. The story follows IPS officer Mithran (Jayam Ravi) as he battles the cunning criminal mastermind Siddharth Abhimanyu (Arvind Swamy) in a tale of idealism versus corruption.

Raja Rani (2013)
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

Directed by Atlee K, this romantic drama was a major hit in 2013. Nayanthara’s portrayal of a newlywed dealing with a painful past earned her the Tamil Nadu State Government’s Best Actress award.

Maya (2015)
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

This horror film, directed by Ashwin Saravanan, received positive reviews for its suspenseful storytelling and eerie atmosphere. Nayanthara, who portrays the role of a single mother, Apsara, was widely praised, and the film set a new standard for horror in Tamil cinema.

Imaikkaa Nodigal (2018)
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

In this psychological thriller directed by R Ajay Gnanamuthu, Nayanthara stars as a determined CBI officer named Anjali, who seeks revenge against a serial killer. The film reinforced her status as a superstar.

Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015)
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

In this action-comedy by Vignesh Shivan, Nayanthara portrays a hearing-impaired woman seeking revenge for her father’s death. Starring opposite Vijay Sethupathi, she won multiple awards for her performance.

In honour of her birthday, Netflix released the documentary Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale which dives into her love story and marriage with director Vignesh Sivan, giving fans a glimpse into her dreamy journey.

(Compiled by Sandwana PK)