# Nayanthara (நயன்தாரா)
**Nayanthara** (நயன்தாரா; born Diana Mariam Kurian, 1984) is an Indian actress who works mainly in Tamil, Telugu and [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema) and is known in the industry by the title "Lady Superstar".[1](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth name and birth | Diana Mariam Kurian, 1984, Thiruvalla, Kerala, in an Orthodox Syrian Christian family[1](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886) |
| Debut | Malayalam film *Manasinakkare* (2003), directed by Sathyan Anthikad, in the role of Gauri[2](https://www.dailythanthi.com/news/sirappukatturaigal/nayanthara-path-that-has-been-crossed) |
| Tamil debut | *Ayya* (2005), opposite Sarathkumar[1](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886) |
| Career scale | About 75 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi[1](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886) |
| Major award | Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Award for Best Actress for *Jawan*, at the 2024 ceremony in Mumbai[3](https://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/cinema/actress-nayanthara-won-dadasaheb-phalke-international-film-award) |
| Marriage | Married director Vignesh Shivan on 9 June 2022 at Mahabalipuram; the couple announced twins on 20 October 2022[1](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886) |
| Other honors | Kalaimamani award, Nandi award, Tamil Nadu government film awards and Filmfare awards in South India[4](https://www.dinamani.com/amp/story/cinema/cinema-news/2022/Nov/18/nayanthara-and-the-awards-3951650.html) |
## Early life
Nayanthara was born in Thiruvalla, Kerala. Her father was an officer in the [Indian Air Force](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-air-force), so she completed her schooling in different parts of India, particularly north India.[1](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886) She studied +2 at Balikamadom Higher Secondary School in Thiruvalla and earned a bachelor's degree in [English literature](https://www.edgepedia.org/english-literature) from Marthoma College in Thiruvalla.[1](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886) During her college years she worked part-time as a model, and she adopted Hinduism at an [Arya Samaj](https://www.edgepedia.org/arya-samaj) temple in Chennai.[1](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886) Her original name is Diana Mariam Kurian.[1](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886)
## Career
The Malayalam director Sathyan Anthikad cast her in *Manasinakkare* (2003), where she played the character Gauri; this was her entry into cinema.[2](https://www.dailythanthi.com/news/sirappukatturaigal/nayanthara-path-that-has-been-crossed) After acting in Malayalam films, she made her Tamil debut in *Ayya* (2005) opposite Sarathkumar.[1](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886)
**Chandramukhi and mainstream stardom.** Her next Tamil film was *[Chandramukhi](https://www.edgepedia.org/chandramukhi)*, directed by [P. Vasu](https://www.edgepedia.org/p-vasu), in which she appeared opposite [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth). According to the Daily Thanthi profile, Shanti, the director's wife, recommended her to P. Vasu after seeing *Manasinakkare*; the film brought her wide fame, and Tamil fans reportedly traveled as far as her hometown of Thiruvalla to see her house.[2](https://www.dailythanthi.com/news/sirappukatturaigal/nayanthara-path-that-has-been-crossed) She appeared with Rajinikanth again in *Sivaji*, where her dancing drew particular praise from fans.[2](https://www.dailythanthi.com/news/sirappukatturaigal/nayanthara-path-that-has-been-crossed)
Over the following years she worked with leading actors including Rajinikanth, Ajith Kumar, Vijay, Suriya, Vikram, Dhanush, Arya, Vijay Sethupathi, and Karthi.[2](https://www.dailythanthi.com/news/sirappukatturaigal/nayanthara-path-that-has-been-crossed) • [5](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/nayanthara-birthday-special-article/) A Tamil birthday profile describes a habit of not blaming others for her films' failures, pointing instead at herself.[5](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/nayanthara-birthday-special-article/) Dinamani noted that in 2019 five Tamil films of hers were released: *Viswasam*, *Airaa*, *Mr. Local*, *Kolaiyuthir Kaalam*, and *Bigil*.[6](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/cinema-news/2022/Nov/18/happy-birthday-nayanthara-3951059.html)
**Jawan and Hindi cinema.** *Jawan*, produced by [Red Chillies Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/red-chillies-entertainment) and directed by Atlee, was Atlee's first Hindi film; it was released on 7 September 2023 as a pan-India film in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada.[3](https://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/cinema/actress-nayanthara-won-dadasaheb-phalke-international-film-award) At the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Awards ceremony held in Mumbai, Nayanthara received the Best Actress award for *Jawan*; [Shah Rukh Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/shah-rukh-khan) received the Best Actor award and Atlee the Best Director award at the same event.[3](https://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/cinema/actress-nayanthara-won-dadasaheb-phalke-international-film-award)
## Awards
Nayanthara's honors include the [Kalaimamani](https://www.edgepedia.org/kalaimamani) award, a Nandi award, [Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-nadu) government film awards, and Filmfare awards.[4](https://www.dinamani.com/amp/story/cinema/cinema-news/2022/Nov/18/nayanthara-and-the-awards-3951650.html) The Tamil Nadu state film award for best actress was given to her for her performance in *Raja Rani*, a 2013 film.[4](https://www.dinamani.com/amp/story/cinema/cinema-news/2022/Nov/18/nayanthara-and-the-awards-3951650.html) Dinamani also reports [South Indian International Movie Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-indian-international-movie-awards) for her work in *Raja Rani*, *Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum*[4](https://www.dinamani.com/amp/story/cinema/cinema-news/2022/Nov/18/nayanthara-and-the-awards-3951650.html) (the source lists *Naanum Rowdy Dhaan*, *Puthiya Niyamam*, *Aram*, *Kolamaavu Kokila*, among others).[4](https://www.dinamani.com/amp/story/cinema/cinema-news/2022/Nov/18/nayanthara-and-the-awards-3951650.html) In the Tamil Nadu government's film awards covering 2016 through 2022, announced for six years of releases, she was among the selected best actresses alongside Keerthy Suresh and Jyothika.[7](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/govt-film-awards-for-the-years-2016-2022-announced) She later said she was truly blessed to receive three awards from the Tamil Nadu government, thanking the state for the honor associated with *Aram*.[8](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/truly-blessed-nayanthara-flaunts-tn-state-awards-with-pride/articleshow/128458265.cms)
## Personal life
Her personal life drew public attention during her early career. In November 2006 she confirmed that she and actor [Silambarasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/silambarasan) had separated and said she would not work with him again.[1](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886) After *Villu* released in 2008, reports linked her to choreographer and director [Prabhu Deva](https://www.edgepedia.org/prabhu-deva); he acknowledged the relationship publicly in September 2010, but Nayanthara announced in 2012 that she had ended it.[1](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886) She and director [Vignesh Shivan](https://www.edgepedia.org/vignesh-shivan), who had worked together on *Naanum Rowdy Dhaan* (2015), married on 9 June 2022 at Mahabalipuram, and on 20 October 2022 Vignesh Shivan announced that the couple had twins.[1](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886) A documentary about her life, *Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairy Tale*, was released on Netflix.[1](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886)
## References
1. [லேடி சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் நயன்தாரா வாழ்க்கை பயணம், Indian Express Tamil](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/lady-super-star-nayanthara-biography-in-tamil-7589886)
2. [நயன்தாரா கடந்து வந்த பாதை, Daily Thanthi](https://www.dailythanthi.com/news/sirappukatturaigal/nayanthara-path-that-has-been-crossed)
3. [ஜவான் படத்துக்காக தாதா சாகிப் பால்கே சர்வதேச திரைப்பட விருது பெற்ற நயன்தாரா, Puthiyathalaimurai](https://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/cinema/actress-nayanthara-won-dadasaheb-phalke-international-film-award)
4. [நயன்தாரா மற்றும் விருதுகள், Dinamani](https://www.dinamani.com/amp/story/cinema/cinema-news/2022/Nov/18/nayanthara-and-the-awards-3951650.html)
5. [Happy Birthday Nayanthara: Lady Superstar moments, Indian Express Tamil](https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/nayanthara-birthday-special-article/)
6. [Happy birthday Nayanthara, Dinamani](https://www.dinamani.com/cinema/cinema-news/2022/Nov/18/happy-birthday-nayanthara-3951059.html)
7. [2016-2022 ஆண்டுகளுக்கான அரசு திரைப்பட விருதுகள் அறிவிப்பு, Hindu Tamil](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/govt-film-awards-for-the-years-2016-2022-announced)
8. [Truly blessed: Nayanthara flaunts TN state awards with pride, Samayam Tamil](https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/truly-blessed-nayanthara-flaunts-tn-state-awards-with-pride/articleshow/128458265.cms)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Tamil film actors › Surnames K to P*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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