Diana Mariam Kurian (born on 18 November 1984),[2] best known by her stage name Nayantara (Malayalam: നയന് താര), is an Indian actress, who has acted in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films. After several commercial successes such as Chandramukhi, Ghajini, Billa, Yaaradi Nee Mohini and Aadhavan she has become one of the most wanted leading actresses in Tamil cinema. [3][4]
Early life
She was educated in various parts of India (Bangalore, Mumbai and Kerala)[citation needed], as her father was an Indian Air Force official. She is a Syriac Orthodox Christian (Jacobite) by birth. She attended Balikamadom High School, Thiruvalla for +2,[3] then attended Marthoma College in Thiruvalla for her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. She is a native of Tiruvalla, Pathanamthitta district.[3]
[edit] Career
Diana was spotted when she was still in college by director Satyan Anthikkad, who casted her opposite Jayaram in Manassinakkare. Later, she co-starred alongside Mohanlal in Natturajavu and in Fazil’s Vismayathumbathu. She was also cast with Mammootty in Thaskaraveeran (Dubbed into Tamil as Yuvaraj) and Raapakal. After this she went into Tamil and Kannada. She has also starred in several Tamil, Telugu movies. She was cast opposite Sarath Kumar in Ayya and with Rajnikanth in Chandramukhi. Her later films Vallavan (Tamil) and Yogi (Telugu) flopped except for Tamil film Ghajini, where she played a secondary female character. She regained her star billing in Kollywood acting opposite Ajith Kumar in the remake of Billa. Yaaradi Nee Mohini released in 2008 was a huge hit and received seven nominations at the 56th Filmfare Awards (South). It was one of the highest grossing Tamil films of the year. Her next release Kuselan opposite Rajnikanth, Sathyam opposite Vishal, Aegan opposite Ajith Kumar and Villu opposite Vijay were all unsuccessful. Her latest successful appearance was in Aadhavan with Surya Sivakumar which released on 16 October 2009 and was successful.[5][6][7]
[edit] Filmography
Year Film Role Language Other notes
2003 Manassinakkare Gauri Malayalam Winner, Asianet Award for Best Female New Face of the Year
2004 Vismayathumbathu Reetha Mathews Malayalam
Natturajavu Katrina Malayalam
2005 Ayya Selvi Tamil
Chandramukhi Durga Tamil
Thaskara Veeran Thankamani Malayalam
Rappakal Gauri Malayalam
Ghajini Chitra Tamil
Sivakasi Nayanthara Tamil Special appearance in song Kodambakkam Area
2006 Kalvanin Kadhali Haritha Tamil
Lakshmi Nandhini Telugu
Boss Anuradha Telugu
Vallavan Swapna Tamil
Thalaimagan Meghala Tamil
E Jyothi Tamil
2007 Yogi Nandini Telugu
Dubai Seenu Madhumathi Telugu
Sivaji: The Boss Tamil Special appearance in song Balleilakka
Tulasi Vasundhara Ram Telugu
Billa Sasha Tamil Winner, Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine
2008 Yaaradi Nee Mohini Keerthi Tamil Winner, Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine
Nominated, Filmfare Best Tamil Actress Award
Kuselan Nayanthara Tamil Simultaneously made in Telugu as Kathanayakudu
Sathyam Deivalakshmi Tamil
Aegan Mallika Tamil
Twenty:20 Diana Malayalam Special appearance in song He Dil Deewana
2009 Villu Janavi Tamil
Anjaneyulu Anjali Telugu
Aadhavan Thara Tamil
2010 Adurs Chandrakala Telugu
Bodyguard Ammu Malayalam
Goa Tamil Guest appearance
Boss Engira Bhaskaran Tamil Filming
Simha Telugu Filming
Electra Malayalam Filming [1]
Super (hand symbol) Kannada Filming
[edit] Awards
* 2003 – Asianet Award for Best Female New Face of the Year – Manassinakkare
* 2007 – Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine – Billa
* 2008 – Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine – Yaaradi Nee Mohini
Early life
She was educated in various parts of India (Bangalore, Mumbai and Kerala)[citation needed], as her father was an Indian Air Force official. She is a Syriac Orthodox Christian (Jacobite) by birth. She attended Balikamadom High School, Thiruvalla for +2,[3] then attended Marthoma College in Thiruvalla for her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. She is a native of Tiruvalla, Pathanamthitta district.[3]
[edit] Career
Diana was spotted when she was still in college by director Satyan Anthikkad, who casted her opposite Jayaram in Manassinakkare. Later, she co-starred alongside Mohanlal in Natturajavu and in Fazil’s Vismayathumbathu. She was also cast with Mammootty in Thaskaraveeran (Dubbed into Tamil as Yuvaraj) and Raapakal. After this she went into Tamil and Kannada. She has also starred in several Tamil, Telugu movies. She was cast opposite Sarath Kumar in Ayya and with Rajnikanth in Chandramukhi. Her later films Vallavan (Tamil) and Yogi (Telugu) flopped except for Tamil film Ghajini, where she played a secondary female character. She regained her star billing in Kollywood acting opposite Ajith Kumar in the remake of Billa. Yaaradi Nee Mohini released in 2008 was a huge hit and received seven nominations at the 56th Filmfare Awards (South). It was one of the highest grossing Tamil films of the year. Her next release Kuselan opposite Rajnikanth, Sathyam opposite Vishal, Aegan opposite Ajith Kumar and Villu opposite Vijay were all unsuccessful. Her latest successful appearance was in Aadhavan with Surya Sivakumar which released on 16 October 2009 and was successful.[5][6][7]
[edit] Filmography
Year Film Role Language Other notes
2003 Manassinakkare Gauri Malayalam Winner, Asianet Award for Best Female New Face of the Year
2004 Vismayathumbathu Reetha Mathews Malayalam
Natturajavu Katrina Malayalam
2005 Ayya Selvi Tamil
Chandramukhi Durga Tamil
Thaskara Veeran Thankamani Malayalam
Rappakal Gauri Malayalam
Ghajini Chitra Tamil
Sivakasi Nayanthara Tamil Special appearance in song Kodambakkam Area
2006 Kalvanin Kadhali Haritha Tamil
Lakshmi Nandhini Telugu
Boss Anuradha Telugu
Vallavan Swapna Tamil
Thalaimagan Meghala Tamil
E Jyothi Tamil
2007 Yogi Nandini Telugu
Dubai Seenu Madhumathi Telugu
Sivaji: The Boss Tamil Special appearance in song Balleilakka
Tulasi Vasundhara Ram Telugu
Billa Sasha Tamil Winner, Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine
2008 Yaaradi Nee Mohini Keerthi Tamil Winner, Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine
Nominated, Filmfare Best Tamil Actress Award
Kuselan Nayanthara Tamil Simultaneously made in Telugu as Kathanayakudu
Sathyam Deivalakshmi Tamil
Aegan Mallika Tamil
Twenty:20 Diana Malayalam Special appearance in song He Dil Deewana
2009 Villu Janavi Tamil
Anjaneyulu Anjali Telugu
Aadhavan Thara Tamil
2010 Adurs Chandrakala Telugu
Bodyguard Ammu Malayalam
Goa Tamil Guest appearance
Boss Engira Bhaskaran Tamil Filming
Simha Telugu Filming
Electra Malayalam Filming [1]
Super (hand symbol) Kannada Filming
[edit] Awards
* 2003 – Asianet Award for Best Female New Face of the Year – Manassinakkare
* 2007 – Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine – Billa
* 2008 – Vijay Award for Favourite Heroine – Yaaradi Nee Mohini
