# Nyla Usha
**Nyla Usha** (നൈല ഉഷ) is an Indian actress, radio jockey, and television presenter who works in [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema) and in radio in Dubai. Born in 1984 in [Thiruvananthapuram](https://www.edgepedia.org/thiruvananthapuram), Kerala, she entered films in 2013 with *Kunjananthante Kada* and became known through roles in *Punyalan Agarbathis*, *Fireman*, and *Lucifer*.[1](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/nyla-usha.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala[1](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/nyla-usha.html) |
| Professions | Actress, television presenter, radio jockey[1](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/nyla-usha.html) • [2](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/antony-actress-nyla-usha-opens-up-about-her-beauty-secret-and-her-son-103493.html) |
| Radio career | Worked in the Dubai FM radio sector for about a decade before entering cinema[3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmm_JM2oVLc) |
| Film debut | *Kunjananthante Kada* (2013), directed by Salim Ahamed, opposite Mammootty[1](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/nyla-usha.html) • [4](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movieslist.php?a=10157) |
| Breakout role | *Punyalan Agarbathis* (2013), with Jayasurya, directed by Ranjith Shankar[1](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/nyla-usha.html) • [4](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movieslist.php?a=10157) |
| Television | Host of the game show *Minute to Win It* on Mazhavil Manorama, her debut as a TV host, beginning April 2016[5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/nyla-usha-on-minute-to-win-it-mazhavil-manorama-show.html) |
| Later films | *Lucifer* (2019), *Porinju Mariyam Jose* (2019), *Paappan* (2022)[4](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movieslist.php?a=10157) |
## Radio career and move to films
Nyla Usha built her career in radio in the Gulf before acting. She worked in the Dubai FM radio sector for about a decade, and Malayali audiences in the Gulf region knew her primarily as a radio jockey.[3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmm_JM2oVLc) • [5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/nyla-usha-on-minute-to-win-it-mazhavil-manorama-show.html) In a 2018 interview she described herself as a full-time employee at a government-supported radio station in the Middle East, with measured holidays that she spent largely on film shoots.[6](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/entertainment/mollywood/110118/im-a-go-getter-nyla-usha.html)
Her father was a former district president of the Youth Congress in Thiruvananthapuram.[7](https://www.manoramaonline.com/style/glitz-n-glamour/nyla-usha-speaking.html)
## Film career
She made her film debut in 2013 in *Kunjananthante Kada*, a [Mammootty](https://www.edgepedia.org/mammootty) film directed by Salim Ahamed.[1](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/nyla-usha.html) • [4](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movieslist.php?a=10157) The same year she appeared in *Punyalan Agarbathis*, a comedy with [Jayasurya](https://www.edgepedia.org/jayasurya) in the lead, directed by Ranjith Shankar; this role is widely credited with making her known to Malayalam audiences.[1](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/nyla-usha.html) • [3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmm_JM2oVLc)
**Selected films.** Her credits over the following decade include:
- *Gangster* (2014), directed by [Aashiq Abu](https://www.edgepedia.org/aashiq-abu), with Mammootty and Aparna Gopinath[4](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movieslist.php?a=10157)
- *Fireman* (2015), directed by Deepu Karunakaran, with Mammootty[4](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movieslist.php?a=10157)
- *Pathemaari* (2015), directed by Salim Ahamed, with Mammootty and Jewel Mary[4](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movieslist.php?a=10157)
- *Diwanjimoola Grand Prix* (2017), directed by Anil Radhakrishnan Menon, in which she played Effymol[4](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movieslist.php?a=10157) • [6](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/entertainment/mollywood/110118/im-a-go-getter-nyla-usha.html)
- *Lucifer* (2019), directed by Prithviraj, with Mohanlal and [Manju Warrier](https://www.edgepedia.org/manju-warrier)[4](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movieslist.php?a=10157)
- *Porinju Mariyam Jose* (2019), directed by Joshiy, with Chemban Vinod Jose and [Joju George](https://www.edgepedia.org/joju-george)[4](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movieslist.php?a=10157)
- *Paappan* (2022), directed by Joshiy, with Suresh Gopi, Kaniha, and Neeta Pillai[4](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movieslist.php?a=10157)
- *Priyan Ottathilanu* (2022), directed by Antony Sony[4](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movieslist.php?a=10157)
By 2018 she had appeared in eight films, including two cameos and a photo mention, and described herself as selective about roles, saying she would sign on when a director understood that she could act. She also stated that she had received offers from [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) but had not taken any up.[6](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/entertainment/mollywood/110118/im-a-go-getter-nyla-usha.html)
## Television presenting
In April 2016 she began hosting *Minute to Win It*, a game show on [Mazhavil Manorama](https://www.edgepedia.org/mazhavil-manorama), her first role as a television host. She had earlier declined several hosting offers from the channel. In interviews around the launch she said she enjoyed radio and television work more than acting because a presenter can be herself, while in cinema she is only a character, and she hoped the show would make her more acceptable to audiences in Kerala.[5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/nyla-usha-on-minute-to-win-it-mazhavil-manorama-show.html)
## References
1. [നൈല ഉഷ (Nyla): biography and films, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/celebs/nyla-usha.html)
2. [Antony Actress Nyla Usha Opens Up About Her Beauty Secret And Her Son - Malayalam Filmibeat](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/antony-actress-nyla-usha-opens-up-about-her-beauty-secret-and-her-son-103493.html)
3. [നൈല ഉഷ ജീവിതം പറയുമ്പോഴ്..! Cine Life, YouTube (2020)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmm_JM2oVLc)
4. [List of Malayalam Movies acted by Nyla Usha, Malayala Chalachithram](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movieslist.php?a=10157)
5. [Nyla Usha set to win hearts as TV show host, Onmanorama (2016)](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/nyla-usha-on-minute-to-win-it-mazhavil-manorama-show.html)
6. [I'm a go-getter: Nyla Usha, Deccan Chronicle (2018)](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/entertainment/mollywood/110118/im-a-go-getter-nyla-usha.html)
7. [ഒരു മിനിറ്റിൽ നൈല പഠിപ്പിച്ചു, Manorama Online](https://www.manoramaonline.com/style/glitz-n-glamour/nyla-usha-speaking.html)
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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 › Malayalam film actors › Surnames S to W*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license