It’s hard to imagine a time before Nayanthara was a well-known name. As one of the only South Indian actresses to be featured in the Forbes India “Celebrity 100” list of 2018, Nayanthara has already been in the industry for over two decades and has appeared in more than 75 films.
Known for her powerful presence and bold image, the actress’ rise to worldwide fame has been an admirable journey. But, were things always this way? Let’s dive into the career achievements that have made her a prominent figure in South Indian cinema.
Initial offerings: How Nayanthara embarked on her journey
Like most actors, Nayanthara’s first encounter with the world of entertainment began with modeling projects while she was just a college student! Her hard work was noticed by director Sathyan Anthikkad, who then approached her to play a leading role in his film Manassinakkare (2003). To the actress’ great surprise, the film turned out to be a commercial success. All of a sudden. she was receiving offers left, right, and center!
The year 2004 ended up being quite productive for the actress as Natturajavu by Shaji Kailas, and Fazil’s psychological thriller Vismayathumbathu, which saw her co-starring alongside Mohanlal, were both appreciated by film critics and earned her newfound acclaim.
Awards, unconventional projects and debuts
Beyond recognition, awards reflect an actor’s commitment to their work. One of Nayanthara’s most important projects included the portrayal of Goddess Sita in the mythological film Sri Rama Rajyam (2011). Her acting earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu and the Nandi Award for Best Actress. In her prestigious career, she continued to add more trophies to her collection.
Solidifying her position in the world of stardom, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress, for her performances in Raja Rani (2013), the action comedy Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015) and Aramm (2017). The list of awards is literally endless as she was also awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for her performance in the crime drama Puthiya Niyamam. These films, though different in terms of genre, were important in paving a set characteristic role for the actress, which helped envision her position in future projects.
Nayanthara made her debut in the Tamil film industry with director Hari’s Ayya in which her performance was dubbed as something sensational. Equally prominent was her Hindi debut alongside Shah Rukh Khan in the film Jawan which became the highest-grossing Indian film of the year 2023.
Always ready to explore a variety of different roles, her unconventional project, the horror film Maya (2015) saw her in the shoes of a single mother. Wrapped in mystery and surprising twists, the film became a profitable venture after a period of unsuccessful attempts. Her portrayal of a rape victim in Puthiya Niyamam (2016) became one of the most talked about films in that year especially as she had chosen to dub her character in her own voice.
Beyond acting
There are a lot of people who have the influence to make things matter. Yet, not many explore their options to use their resources properly. That is definitely not the case with Nayanthara. She did not hold back during the 2012 cyclonic storm Thane in Tamil Nadu and donated a sum of Rs. 5 lakhs to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Involved in charity projects she donated Rs 20 lakh to Film Employees Federation of South India to help daily wagers during the COVID-19 pandemic,.
Not limiting herself to just an acting career, she started to establish a business empire of her own, something not many people attempt after attaining ground breaking success. Her production label with Vignesh Shivan, Rowdy Pictures, helped in the making of Koozhangal which went on to win multiple accolades. Establishing herself as an entrepreneur, Nayanthara, co-launched The Lip Balm Company, a gender-neutral lip care company in 2021. She also went on to launch a skincare brand named 9Skin and a female hygiene brand called Femi9, expanding her reach as a businesswoman.
Nayanthara was recently included on GQ’s list of the 35 most influential young Indians. As an artist, her fame is connected to her presence both on and off stage. Despite facing challenges in a male-dominated industry, she has emerged as a powerful and inspiring figure. For us, she is nothing short of a supernova!
