25 best south indian actresses
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- Shobana Chandrakumar, an eminent figure in the realm of Indian arts and cinema, is celebrated as a distinguished exponent of Bharatanatyam dance and a leading actress in South Indian motion pictures. Hailing from a Malayalam-speaking family in Kerala, India, Shobana has left an indelible mark on the film industry with her versatile performances.
With a prolific career spanning over four decades, Shobana has graced the silver screen in more than 200 movies across five languages. Her cinematic journey commenced with the Malayalam film "April 18" in 1984, directed by Balachandra Menon, where she took on a leading role. Noteworthy among her early works is her collaboration with Malayalam actor Mammootty in the film "Kanamarayathu" (1984).
Shobana's acting prowess garnered her acclaim, including the prestigious National Film Awards for Best Actress. In 1994, her captivating performance in Fazil's "Manichitrathazhu," alongside Mohanlal, earned her the first National Award. The accolades continued in 2001 with her role in the English language film "Mitr, My Friend," directed by Revathi, a close friend, philosopher, and guide to Shobana.
Beyond her cinematic achievements, Shobana is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer, trained at the Chidambaram academy in Chennai under the tutelage of the legendary Chitra Visweswaran. Renowned for her Abhinaya, she showcased her dance prowess before the King and Queen of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.
Shobana's beauty and skilled execution of dance movements led many to hail her as the most beautiful South Indian actress of the 1980s and 1990s, often likening her to the curvaceous beauty of Indian sculptures. Apart from her contributions to the entertainment industry, she founded the Kalarpana school for classical Bharatanatyam dance in Chennai and initiated annual festivals across India.
Her involvement in Mani Ratnam's stage show, "Netru, Indru, Naalai," and her portrayal in the Telugu movie "Rudra Veena" (1988) alongside Chiranjeevi showcased her versatility as both a dancer and social reformer. Shobana's commitment to the arts earned her the prestigious Padma Shri title in January 2006, a testament to her significant contributions to both cinema and Bharatanatyam.malyalam, tamil, telugu and English - Anushka Shetty is an Indian Film Actress. She was also a Yoga Instructor and has trained under yoga guru Bharat Thakur.
This tall and gorgeous beauty debuted in the 2005 Telugu film Super starring Nagarjuna which was super hit at box office. Later her performance in Vikramarkudu make her noticeable. But in Arundhati in which she had played the role of Jejamma, she got high critical acclaim and become one of the strong actress of Telugu Film Industry.tamil and telugu - Actress
- Producer
Nayantara was born as Diana Mariam Kurien in a Malayali Nasrani (Syrian Christian) family to an Indian Army Officer father, Kurien Kodiyattu, and Omana Kurien, in Bangalore, Karnataka. She has a brother, Leno, who resides in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
After her father's retirement the family settled down in Kerala where she continued with her college studies but she did her schooling in several schools in Chennai, Jamnagar, Delhi, and Gujarat.
During the year 2003, while still in college, she was spotted by director Sathyan Anthikkad who cast her in a Malayalam movie. Two years later, she went on to act in Tamil and Telugu movies. As she became popular she also appeared in Kannada language movies.
She soon acquired the reputation of acting opposite male actors who are almost twice as old. She starred in her first Malyalam film opposite Jayaram, and then in "Chandramukhi" with renowned Indian actor Rajnikanth, then with other aging actors like Sarath Kumar, Mohanlal, and Mammotty.
She has been cast to play the lead role in a much younger Simbu's directorial debut, in which he also has the lead role. Nayanthara and Simbu's intimate life-sized posters created shock waves in Chennai, which were subsequently pulled down by the police. Similar excitement resulted when glamorous life-sized posters were posted all over Chennai- this time with her co-star S.J. Surya.
During September 2010, Prabhu Deva, publicly declared his love for her, even though he was married to Ramalath and had three children. After a bitter and contested court battle, the couple was divorced during July 2011.
On August 7, 2011, Diana, a Jacobite Christian, converted to Hinduism at the Arya Samaj Mandir in Chennai and her screen-named is now her formal official name.
With her attractive looks and talent, it is no wonder that she is one of the most popular and sought after actresses in the South Indian film industry.tamil, telugu and malayalam- Actress
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Urvashi is a prominent South Indian actress known for her versatile performances in the Indian film industry. Born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, Urvashi's full name is Kavitha Ranjini.
Urvashi made her acting debut at a young age and quickly rose to fame with her exceptional acting skills and charming screen presence. She has primarily worked in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada films.
Over the years, Urvashi has garnered numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to the film industry. Her ability to portray a wide range of characters, from comedic roles to intense and dramatic ones, has established her as one of the most respected actresses in the South Indian cinema.
Apart from her acting career, Urvashi is also known for her work as a television host and producer. She has been associated with various successful projects in the entertainment industry, showcasing her multifaceted talents.
Urvashi's dedication to her craft and her ability to connect with the audience have made her a beloved figure in South Indian cinema. Her filmography includes a mix of commercial hits and critically acclaimed movies, making her one of the enduring figures in the industry.kannada, tamil, telugu and malayalam- Actress
Simran is an Indian actress, producer, dancer and singer who has appeared in Tamil, Hindu, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films. She is considered to be one of the most versatile actresses of her time and is recognized for her dancing skills. She is the recipient of numerous accolades including three Filmfare Awards South.tamil, telugu, malayalam and hindi- Actress
Trisha Krishnan is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Tamil and Telugu films. She speaks Tamil, English, Hindi, and French. She studied at Church Park, India and Ethiraj College, India. She is an only child and she lives with her parents and her grandmother. She was introduced into the film industry through director Ameer Sultan's film, Mounam Pesiyadhe (2002) where she acted in opposite Suriya. After that, she acted in Priyadarshan's Tamil project entitled Laysa Laysa (2003). In 1999, she won the "Miss Salem" beauty pageant, and later the same year, the Miss Chennai contest. She had also won the Miss India 2001 pageant's "Beautiful Smile" award. Among her hobbies are listening to music, reading and swimming.tamil, telugu and hindi- Actress
- Music Department
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Manju Warrier is an Indian actress, producer, classical dancer, and playback singer who appears in Malayalam cinema.
Warrier completed her primary education in Nagercoil at CSI Matriculation Higher Secondary School. After her father's transfer to Kannur, she continued her education there at Chinmaya Vidyalaya. She later attended Chovva Higher Secondary School.
Warrier started her career in the film industry with the movie Sakshyam (1995), directed by Mohan. The year after, she was the lead in the Malayalam movie Sallapam (1996), co-starring Dileep. Warrier and Dileep were married from 1998 until their divorce in 2015. The couple has a daughter named Meenakshi.
Between 1996 and 1999, Warrier acted in several films and portrayed a wide range of characters. She played a pivotal role in the romantic drama Thooval Kottaram (1996) alongside co-stars Jayaram and Sukanya. The film ran for about 300 days in theatres.
As a lead actor, her next two big screen ventures were Dilliwala Rajakumaran (1996) and Kaliveedu (1996), both of which starred Jayaram.
She was paired opposite Dileep in the romantic-thriller drama Ee Puzhayum Kadannu (1996). For this film, Warrier won the Best Actress Award at the Kerala State Film Awards in 1996. Warrier went on to act in films like Kudamattom (1997), Irattakuttikalude Achan (1997), Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (1997), The Play of God (1997), Sammanam (1997), and Aaram Thamburan (1997). She also received the Filmfare Awards South for Best Actress (Malayalam) in 1998 for her performance in The Play of God (1997).
Soon after, she appeared in Pranayavarnangal (1998), followed by other films like Daya (1998), Kanmadam (1998), Summer in Bethlehem (1998), and Pathram (1999).
Her impressive performance in Kanmadam (1998) won her the Best Actress Award at the Filmfare Awards South (Malayalam) in 1999. She received her fourth consecutive Best Actress Award in 2000 at the Filmfare Awards South (Malayalam) for her performance in Pathram (1999).
Her last film to release in 1999 was Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu (1999). After that, Warrier took a long break from the silver screen.
Warrier ended her hiatus in 2014 and returned to cinema with the comedy-drama film How Old Are You? (2014). She won the Best Actress (Malayalam) Award for this film at the South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) 2015.
During the second phase of her career in the film industry, she continued her work in films like Ennum Eppozhum (2015), Rani Padmini (2015), Jo and the Boy (2015), Vettah (2016), Karingunnam 6's (2016), C/O Saira Banu (2017), and Udaharanam Sujatha (2017).
Her portrayal of a single parent in Udaharanam Sujatha (2017) won her the Best Actress Award at the Kerala Film Critics Association Awards 2017. She was also the recipient of the North American Film Awards (NAFA) 2017 in the Best Actress category for her movies Karinkunnam 6's and Vettah. She went on to win the North American Film Awards (NAFA) 2018 in the Best Actress (popular) category for her movies Udaharanam Sujatha and C/O Saira Banu.
Warrier starred in the title role of the biographical film Aami (2018), based on the life of author and poet Kamala Das. She won the Best Actress Award at both the Filmfare Awards South (Malayalam) in 2019 and the Asia Vision Awards 2018 for her performance in the film. Her next film was Mohanlal (2018), a comedy-drama directed by Sajid Yahiya.
Warrier's next release, Odiyan (2018), was a fantasy drama film featuring Mohanlal as the male lead released across 42 countries through QubeWire.
Warrier played a pivotal role in Lucifer (2019), co-starring Mohanlal and Vivek Oberoi. This political action thriller film grossed Rs. 100 crores worldwide. She won the Best Actress Award at the 9th South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) held in 2021 for her role in Lucifer.
In Asuran (2019), an action-drama film, Warrier paired up with Dhanush to play the lead role. It was well-received by the audience and critics alike. The film went on to collect over Rs. 100 crores, making it an enormous success.
Over the next couple of years, Warrier went on to do movies like Prathi Poovankozhi (2019), The Priest (2021), Chathur Mukham (2021), Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (2021), Lalitham Sundharam (2022), Meri Awas Suno (2022), Jack N Jill (2022). In 2023, Warrier starred in the action heist movie Thunivu (2023), co-starring Ajith Kumar.malayalam and tamil- Actress
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Shraddha Rama Srinath, better known as Shraddha Srinath, is an Indian actress working in Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil cinema.
Srinath grew up across India, living in cities including Bhopal, Belagavi, and Dharchula. Her family often moved because of her father's position in the Indian Army. She graduated from the Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies with a law degree. Before becoming an actress, Srinath worked as a real estate lawyer and legal advisor.
Srinath got her first acting role in the Malayalam film Kohinoor (2015). However, her debut in the Kannada film industry with the movie U Turn (2016) earned her widespread recognition. She played the lead role in this supernatural thriller for which she earned the Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Kannada. She also won the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA).
Her subsequent releases include Urvi (2017), a comedy-drama film featuring a female lead cast, and Operation Alamelamma (2017), a crime comedy thriller. She later debuted in the Tamil industry, playing a minor role in Kaatru Veliyidai (2017). Her role in R. Kannan Ivan Thanthiran (2017) marked her first official lead role in a Tamil movie.
Srinath also appeared in the award-winning Tamil movie Vikram Vedha (2017), whose Hindi remake of the same name Vikram Vedha (2022) was released in 2022. Her role as Priya, Vikram's wife, earned her a nomination for Best Debut Actress at South Indian International Movie Awards. She starred in the crime action movie Richie (2017) the same year.
Srinath debuted in Bollywood with Tigmanshu Dhulia's Milan Talkies (2019), a romantic drama film in which she co-starred with Ali Fazal. Her journey as an actress continued with her Telugu debut in the critically acclaimed sports drama Jersey (2019). Srinath won the Best Find of the Year - Female award from the 3rd Zee Cine Awards Telugu for her role in Jersey.
In the same year, she acted in K-13 (2019), Rustum (2019), and Nerkonda Paarvai (2019), which is the Tamil remake of the hit Hindi movie Pink Pink (2016).
She also featured in the films Jodi (2019), Maara (2021), and Chakra (2021). In 2022, she starred in the action drama films Aaraattu (2022) and Dear Vikram (2022). In the same year, she acted in Witness (2022), released on Sony LIV, and received positive reviews from critics for the powerful storyline.kannada, tamil, telugu and malayalam- Actress
Sai Pallavi is an actress and dancer who has established her presence in Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam films. Pallavi was born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, to Senthamarai Kannan and Radha Kannan. She has a younger sister named Pooja Kannan, who is also an actor.
Pallavi grew up in Coimbatore and did her schooling at Avila Convent School. She completed her medical studies at the Tbilisi State Medical University in Georgia in 2016. Later, in 2020, she sat for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) in Trichy.
Pallavi's first brush with acting on the big screen took place in 2005 in an uncredited role in Kasthuri Maan (2005), in which she played the role of a college girl. She appeared in another uncredited blink-and-miss role in Dhaam Dhoom (2008), an action thriller starring Kangana Ranaut.
Pallavi made her official acting debut as the lead in Premam (2015), a romantic comedy directed by, Alphonse Puthren, in which she essayed the role of a teacher. She was approached for the movie while she was still studying medicine, and she shot for the film during her vacation. The film was released without any teasers, trailers, or pre-release interviews. It went on to become a huge hit at the box office, garnering appreciation from critics and audiences alike, and shot her to instant fame.
Pallavi bagged several awards for her performance in the film, including the Filmfare Awards South 2015 for the Best Female Debut - Malayalam, South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) 2015 for the Best Female Debut - Malayalam, and the Vanitha Film Awards 2016 for the Best Newcomer - Actress. She also won the Asianet Film Honour Special Jury Award in 2015.
With her second film Kali (2016), Pallavi once again proved her mettle as an actress. She played the role of a newly married girl dealing with the extreme anger issues of her husband. The action thriller directed by Sameer Thahir had Dulquer Salmaan playing the lead opposite her. The film was one of the biggest box office successes of 2016. It earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Awards South 2016 for Best Actress - Malayalam.
Her next project was Sekhar Kammula's romantic comedy Fidaa (2017), which marked her debut in Telugu cinema. Starring opposite Varun Tej, Pallavi stood out as a feisty village girl named Bhanumathi. Her performance in the film has been listed among the 100 Greatest Performances of the Decade, compiled by Film Companion. The film went on to become a huge commercial success. She won the Filmfare Award South 2018 for Best Actress - Telugu for her performance.
In MCA Middle Class Abbayi (2017), an action comedy directed by Venu Sriram, Pallavi appears onscreen with Nani. While the film received mixed reviews from critics, it turned out to be a successful venture at the box office.
Then, Pallavi explored the supernatural genre for the first time with Diya (2018), which was directed by A.L. Vijay and had Naga Shaurya as the lead opposite her. It was her debut in Tamil cinema in a lead role. Her next film was Padi Padi Leche Manasu (2018)(2018).
Her following silver screen appearance was in Maari 2 (2018), in which she starred opposite Dhanush. In this action comedy directed by Balaji Mohan, she portrays the role of an auto driver. While the film earned mixed reviews from critics, the song, 'Rowdy Baby', became one of the most-watched music videos from South India on YouTube.
In 2019, Pallavi appeared in Vivek's psychological thriller Anukoni Athidhi (2019) opposite Fahadh Faasil. To prepare for her role as an autistic girl, she met several people with autism and worked profoundly on her body language.
She followed it up with movies like NGK (2019) and the anthology drama Paava Kadhaigal (2020), which was released on Netflix.
In 2021, she had two releases, Love Story (2021) and Shyam Singha Roy (2021), both of which received a positive response at the box office. She won the Filmfare Award South 2022 for Best Actress - Telugu for her acting in Love Story and the Filmfare Critics Award 2022 for Best Actress - Telugu for her role in Shyam Singha Roy. She also won the SIIMA Award 2022 for the Entertainer of the Year (Female) - Telugu for her performance in both movies.
Pallavi was last seen in Gargi (2022), a legal drama directed by Gautham Ramachandran. She earned critical appreciation for her performance in the movie.tamil, telugu and malayalam- Actress
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Keerthy Suresh is an actress from the Indian film industry who is mainly seen in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam movies.
Suresh is the daughter of actress Menaka and producer G. Suresh Kumar. Producer Revathy Sureshkumar is her elder sister.
Suresh did her schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram. She earned her degree in fashion design from Pearl Academy in Chennai.
Suresh made her debut as a child artiste and went on to act in a few movies produced under her father's banner, Revathy Kalamandhir, and a few television serials. Her first film was Pilots (2000), followed by Achaneyanenikkishtam (2001). She next appeared in Kuberan (2002) before taking a break from movies.
She returned to the world of cinema a decade later. In 2013, she debuted in a lead role in Priyadarshan's psychological thriller Geethanjali (2013). As she was yet to complete her studies, she used her semester break to shoot for the movie. Suresh essayed a dual role in this film. She won the South Indian International Movie Award 2014 for Best Female Debut - Malayalam and the Asianet Film Award 2014 for Best New Face of the Year for her performance.
In 2015, she marked her entry into Tamil cinema with the romantic comedy Idhu Enna Maayam (2015), helmed by A.L. Vijay. The film failed to create magic at the box office, but Suresh won the South Indian International Movie Award 2016 for Best Female Debut - Tamil and the Edison Award Tamil 2015 for Best Female Rising Star for her acting in the movie.
She went on to appear in Tamil cinema with films like Rajini Murugan (2015), Thodari (2016), Remo (2016), Bairavaa (2017), and Paambhu Sattai (2017).
Suresh made her debut in Telugu movies with a romantic comedy, Nenu Sailaja (2016), co-starring Ram Pothineni. The film was a critical and commercial success. Her performance won her the Zee Cine Award Telugu 2017 for the Most Popular Actress.
Her next Telugu venture was Nenu Local (2017). She played the female lead opposite Nani in this romantic comedy action film, which became a huge hit.
In 2018, she played the titular character in Mahanati (2018), a biographical movie on the iconic actress Savitri, directed by Nag Ashwin. She received wide acclaim for her performance and won several awards, including the National Film Award 2018 for Best Actress and the Filmfare Awards South 2018 for Best Actress - Telugu.
Her performance in Mahanati (2018) was included in Film Companion's list of 100 Greatest Performances of the Decade. (Mahanati appears at No. 85 on the list).
In the same year, she appeared in A.R. Murugadoss' political action movie Sarkar (2018), which was a blockbuster. She also starred in several other commercial ventures in 2018, such as Sandakozhi 2 (2018), Thaanaa Serndha Koottam (2018), and Saamy Square (2018).
She essayed the lead role in the mystery thriller Penguin (2020), which was released on Amazon Prime. She also portrayed the role of a lawyer in Vaashi (2022), a courtroom drama film directed by Vishnu Raghav.tamil, telugu and malayalam- Actress
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Jyothika Saravanan, an acclaimed Indian actress and film producer, has left an indelible mark on the world of cinema, predominantly gracing Tamil films while making notable appearances in Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi cinema. Widely recognized for her versatile talent, she has earned numerous accolades, including a National Film Award, four Filmfare Awards South, three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, and the prestigious Kalaimamani Award.
Her journey in the film industry commenced in 1998 with her role as Pallavi Sinha in the Bollywood film "Doli Saja Ke Rakhna." Jyothika's cinematic prowess transcended language barriers as she showcased her skills in Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam films.
Apart from her film endeavors, Jyothika made a mark in the advertising world, featuring in commercials for renowned brands like Comfort (fabric softener) and Santoor Soap. She also served as the brand ambassador for RmKV silk sarees and Wardrobe Hub in Chennai.
In 2001, she played the role of Vani in the trilingual film "Little John," released in Tamil, Hindi, and English. Jyothika's debut in films was marked by the Hindi film "Doli Saja Ke Rakhna" (1997), directed by Priyadarshan. Her career soared with films like "Vaali" (1999), "Kushi" (2000), "Kaakha Kaakha" (2004), and "Chandramukhi" (2005), earning her critical acclaim and awards, including the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress.
Despite achieving great success, Jyothika took a hiatus at the pinnacle of her career, marrying Tamil actor Suriya in September 2006, with whom she was paired in seven films. However, she made a remarkable comeback in 2015 with "36 Vayadhinile," earning the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress - South. Subsequently, she starred in a series of women-centric films, including "Magalir Mattum" (2017), "Naachiyaar" (2018), "Kaatrin Mozhi" (2018), "Raatchasi" (2019), and "Ponmagal Vandhal" (2020). Additionally, she played a pivotal role in Mani Ratnam's multi-starrer "Chekka Chivantha Vaanam" (2018).
Beyond her cinematic contributions, Jyothika, along with her husband Suriya, founded the Agaram foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting children who drop out of school early in Tamil Nadu.
In a candid interview, Jyothika shared insights into her married life, recounting how she and Suriya met on a film set and fell in love while collaborating on various projects. She emphasized Suriya's respect for women as a key factor that drew her towards him. Jyothika revealed that they married a month after Suriya proposed, as she felt satisfied with her career success and desired to devote time to her personal life. Her journey remains a testament to her artistic brilliance and commitment to both her craft and social causes.tamil, telugu,malayalam and hindi- Aishwarya Rajesh is an Indian film actress, who has appeared in leading roles primarily in Tamil cinema. She started her career as Anchor in a famous comedy show called Asathapovadhu Yaru on Sun TV. After winning the reality show Maanada Mayilada, she made her debut in Avargalum Ivargalum (2011) and became known after starring in Attakathi (2012) portraying the role of Amudha. She is best known for movies Rummy, and Pannaiyarum Padminiyum. She appeared in a song sequence in R. Parthiepan's Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam and as the female lead in Thirudan Police. In 2015, she was seen in the movie "Kaaka Muttai". She debuted in Hindi movie "Daddy" opposite to Arjun Rampal. She received Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress for 2014 Movie Kaaka Muttai at Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.tamil, malayalam, telugu and hindi
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Ramya Krishnan is a versatile Indian actress who has appeared in over 260 Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi films. She is the niece of the Late Cho Ramaswamy, a Tamil film actor and former member of the Rajya Sabha.
In her early years, Krishnan received formal training in western, Bharathanatyam, and Kuchipudi dance forms and appeared in several stage performances.
She got her first acting break in 1983 in the Malayalam film Neram Pularumbol (1986) when she was only 13. However, the film's release was delayed. This made Vellai Manasu (1985), a Tamil film starring Y.G. Mahendran her first official movie appearance in 1985.
Krishnan continued working in Tamil cinema and was featured in supporting roles in films like Padikkathavan (1985) with Rajinikanth in the lead role and Per Sollum Pillai (1987) with Kamal Haasan as the lead.
Some of her notable Telugu performances include films like Madana Gopaludu (1987), Aasthulu Anthasthulu (1988), BhamaKalapam (2022), and Bava Marudula Sawal (1988).
Krishnan appeared in various Malayalam movies, like Orkkappurathu (1988), Aryan (1988), and Anuragi (1988), in 1988. That year, she also featured in some successful Kannada movies, like Krishna Rukmini (1988). She made her debut in Hindi movies by playing a small role in the film Dayavan (1988), featuring actors Feroze Khan and Vinod Khanna.
Krishnan enjoyed her first blockbuster in 1990, with K. Viswanath's Sutradhaarulu (1990), which fetched the movie a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu. After the film's success, she was offered lead roles in the Telugu film industry.
Krishnan's subsequent hit performances and box-office successes included Alludugaru (1990), Allari Mogudu (1992), Major Chandrakanth (1993), and Allari Priyudu (1993).
Her next major blockbuster was with Nagarjuna in the movie Annamayya (1997). She also gave another stellar performance as the lead in Kante Koothurne Kanu (1998), for which she was awarded the Nandi Award for Best Actress.
During this time, Krishnan essayed some supporting role performances in famous Hindi movies like Parampara (1993), Khalnayak (1993), Chaahat (1996), Banarasi Babu (1997), and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998).
She took a break from Tamil cinema for four years, after which she returned in 1999, playing an antagonist in Padaiyappa (1999), starring Rajinikanth. She has also been applauded for her performances in devotional films like Ammoru (1995) and Annai Kaligambal (2003).
Krishnan married Telugu film director Krishna Vamsi in 2003. They have a son together.
Besides movies, Krishnan has appeared in TV serials like Thangam (2009), Rajakumari (2013), and Vamsam (2013) on Sun TV. She served as the host of Big Boss Telugu Season 3 after Nagarjuna Akkineni, the main host, had to fly to Spain. In November 2021, when host Kamal Haasan was diagnosed with COVID, Krishnan took over Bigg Boss Tamil Season 5, becoming the first woman to host the show.
One of Krishnan's biggest box-office successes, highest-grossing movies, and most critically acclaimed performances came from her role as Rajamata Sivagami Devi in S.S. Rajamouli's movies, Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017). After Bahubali, she went on to give solid performances in Mama Manchu Alludu Kanchu (2015) and Soggade Chinni Nayana (2016).
Krishnan was felicitated with a special award by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu at the 30th Ugadi Celebrations & Puraskar Presentation in 2018.
She ventured into the realm of web series in 2019 with Queen (2019), playing Jayalalithaa, the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. She also made her OTT debut in 2022 as a judge for the show Dance Ikon, streaming on AHA.kannada, tamil, telugu, malayalam and hindi- Actress
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Asin was born in Cochin, Kerala, India in the Malayalam-speaking Thottumkal family which consists of her businessman dad, Joseph, and mom, Dr. Seline, who practices in Ernakulam. She attended Naval Public School in Cochin, and after obtaining her Matriculation, was enrolled in St. Theresa's Higher Secondary School. After successfully obtaining her Higher Secondary School Certificate, she enrolled in St. Theresa's College to continue studying in the Arts Faculty. After obtaining a Degree in B.A. English Literature, she assisted her dad in his business (which includes software, export of furniture and antiques) and also took up modeling on the side. Her modeling assignments included Colgate Toothpaste, and Fairever Cream.
This exposure got her noticed and she made her debut on the tinsel screen through director Sathyan Anthikad's "Narendaran Makan" with Malayalyee actor Kunjachacko Boban.
After her initial success, she was offered Telugu movies, and warmly welcomed in the Telugu film industry. It was a smooth transition from Telugu to Tamil with the film "M Kumaran s/o Mahalakshmi". Asin starred in the original Telugu version, so she was the obvious choice for the Tamil remake, opposite Jeyam Ravi. The movie was a super hit. What makes Asin hot in the Tamil film industry, apart from her looks, is that she has teamed up with all the top heroes -- Vijay, Ajith, Surya and now Vikram, in "Maja".
She speaks a wide range of languages such as Malyalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Sanskrit, English, French, and may well be the only Indian actress with a Blogspot in French. She is very active in various functions throughout Southern India, and credits her good upbringing to her parents, who she considers her role models. She was the winner of an entrepreneurial award as a teenager. She is fond of reading and has a huge collection of books.
Asin, along with her mom and dad, have left their Harrington Road apartment at Chetpet, Chennai, and have re-located to an apartment in Lokhandwala Complex, in Andheri (West), Mumbai, in order to enable her to debut in Bollywood movies.
She has had a taste of success at a very young age in Indian regional movies, it remains to be seen if her success will continue in Bollywood also.tamil, telugu, malayalam and hindi- Actress
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Aparna Balamurali is an Indian actress who primarily works in the Malayalam film industry. She completed her schooling at the Devamatha CMI Public School in Thrissur. She then went on to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from the Global Institute of Architecture located in Palakkad, Kerala.
Balamurali made her acting debut with the film Yathra Thudarunnu in 2013. Another Malayalam film Oru Second Class Yathra (2015), was released in 2015, where she played the lead role of Latha. She gained immense recognition for her performance as Jimsy in the Malayalam film Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016), directed by Dileesh Pothan. Her next film was Oru Muthassi Gadha (2016), directed by Jude Anthany Joseph. In 2017, she appeared in the film Sunday Holiday (2017), directed by Jis Joy. And her next film was Thrissivaperoor Kliptham (2017), where she played the role of Girija, who runs a bar in the small town of Thrissivaperoor- her performance was well-received by the audience and critics alike. In the following year, she was cast by Rajiv Menon in Sarvam Thaala Mayam (2018).
She was also cast by B. Unnikrishnan in Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakeel (2019). And in 2020, Balamurali played the lead role in the Tamil film Soorarai Pottru (2020), directed by Sudha Kongara. She played the role of Bommi, a strong-willed and supportive wife who helps her husband, played by Suriya, to realize his dream of starting a low-cost airline.malayalam and tamil- Actress
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Nithya Menen, born on 8th April, 1988 is a pan India film actor who appears in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi films and shows. Having established herself as an actor par excellence, Nithya was born and raised in Bengaluru, Karnataka and still resides there. Her parents ,who were also both born and raised in Bengaluru, are government employees. She is also a polyglot who speaks six languages fluently. Her first film was offered to her when she was 8 years old and it was an English movie titled 'Hanuman' directed by the French director and wildlife filmmaker Frédéric Fougea. Nithya is an Alma mater of Mount Caramel College, Bengaluru. For her junior college, Nithya Menen went on to pursue Journalism and Communication studies from Manipal University, during the course of which she realized her inclination declining towards being a journalist. As fate had it, Ms. Menen had almost applied to study cinematography further, when Nandini Reddy spotted her and asked her to be a part of her very first Telugu film in 2011 'Ala Modalaindhi' which went on to become a blockbuster hit and got the audience rooting for this fresh face. As of 2020, she has starred in over 50 films and continues to work across the various industries Indian cinema has to offer. A multi-talented personality, Nithya has also lent her voice as a playback singer for numerous films and has also dubbed for Elsa's character in Telugu for 'Frozen 2' in 2019. She is also a singer and has sung playback for several films. Currently, she is working towards releasing her first music single.kannada, tamil, telugu, malayalam and hindi- Priyamani is an established actress in the South Indian film industry. She grew up in Bangalore, completed her schooling at Sri Aurobindo Memorial School and later went to Bishop Cotton Woman's College.
Right from student life, Priyamani was enthusiastic about extracurricular activities. As a student, she took part in a lot of competitions. She began working as a model for Kanchipuram silks after completing her studies.
During her college years, she began modelling and appeared in several advertisements, which eventually led to her foray into the film industry.
She was soon spotted by Bharathiraja in 2003, who offered her a role in the Tamil film Kangalal Kaidhu Sei (2004). However, it is the Telugu film Evare Athagadu (2003) that is considered her debut film as it came out first.
After her debut, she appeared in several other South Indian films and made a name for herself with her performances in films like Sathyam (2004), Athu Oru Kanaa Kaalam (2005), and Pellaina Kothalo (2006).
Priyamani's breakthrough performance came with the Tamil film Paruthiveeran (2007), directed by Ameer Sultan. She played the role of a village girl, and her portrayal of the character won her several awards, including a National Film Award and a Tamil Filmfare award for Best Actress.
After winning the National Award, the actress went on to give a noteworthy performance in the commercially successful Telugu film, Thief of Yama (2007), directed by S.S. Rajamouli.
In 2008, Priyamani received praise for her performance in the Malayalam film Thirakkatha (2008). This movie's plot revolves around twists and turns of the real-life lived by the late film actress Srividya. She also starred in the critically acclaimed and successful Tamil film Thotta (2008).
In 2009, Priyamani appeared in the successful remake of Ninaithale Inikkum (2009) and made her Kannada film debut with the successful Raam (2009).
In 2010, Priyamani starred in the super hit Pranchiyettan and the Saint (2010) with Mammootty. She played a Mumbai interior designer, and the film grossed over four crores in a little over two weeks.
Priyamani then worked with director Mani Ratnam on Raavanan (2010) and Raavan (2010), which was a hit in Tamil but a box-office disaster in Hindi.
She later acted in Ram Gopal Varma's Rakta Charitra (2010) with Vivek Oberoi, Suriya, and Shatrughan Sinha. The movie was critically acclaimed, and a box-office hit.
In 2012, Priyamani received critical acclaim for her roles in Anna Bond (2012) and Grandmaster (2012). She also starred in the superhit Kannada film Chaarulatha (2012) and won multiple awards, including Kannada Filmfare, for her portrayal of conjoined twins.
In 2013, she starred in the commercially and critically successful Telugu film Chandi (2013).
In 2016, she appeared in Kathe Chitrakathe Nirdeshana Puttanna (2016), a comedy horror film that had a successful 50-day run. She then starred in the romantic comedy Dana Kayonu (2016) directed by Yograj Bhat.
In 2017, she starred in the horror film Kalpana 2 (2016), directed by R. Anantharaju.
On August 23, 2017, Priyamani married her long-time boyfriend, Mustafa Raj, a businessman, in a private ceremony in Bangalore. It was rumoured that Priyamani planned to retire from acting after the wedding, but these reports were proven incorrect when she starred in the film Dhwaja (2018).
Having established herself in the South Indian film industry, Priyamani is now making waves with her performances in web shows. Her portrayal of the character "Suchitra Iyer" in her debut web series, The Family Man (2019), fetched her the Filmfare OTT award for Best Actress in a Drama Series (Critics).
Besides The Family man, her on-screen performance of the character Sakshi in ZEE5's His Story (2021) has moved audiences with her acting skills.
Priyamani has also appeared as a judge in many dance reality shows like the Telugu dance shows Dhee (2013) and the Tamil show Dance jodi dance 2.0 (2017).kannada, tamil, telugu, malayalam and hindi - Actress
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Savitri, also known as Savitri Ganesan, was an Indian film actress, director, producer, singer and race car enthusiast who predominantly worked in Telugu and Tamil cinema. She also worked in Malayalam, Hindi, and Kannada movies. Starring in more than 250 films. "Mahanati" (i.e.,) Greatest of all actresses by the Telugu Cinema and famously referred to as the "Nadigaiyar Thilagam" (i.e.,) Doyenne of all actresses by the Tamil Cinema. Her performance in the 1957 Telugu Epic film "Mayabazar" skyrocketed her to stardom.
Savitri was born on 6 December 1934 in a Telugu family in Chirravuru, Guntur district of present-day Andhra Pradesh.Her father died when she was six months old, after which her mother took Savitri and an older sibling, Maruti to live with an aunt and uncle. Her uncle, Kommareddy Venkataramaiah enrolled her in classes when she began to show a talent for dance.
Savitri acted in dance dramas as a child, including some work with a theatre company run by Jaggayya. She made an unsuccessful speculative trip to find film work in Madras at the age of 14 when she was deemed to be too young to play heroine roles, but in 1950 was cast as the female lead in Samsaram. That role did not become actuality because she became too excited, necessitating numerous retakes and eventually her replacement in the part. She was given a minor speaking role in the film and in the next year had two more minor roles, in Roopavati and Patala Bhairavi, before getting her big break as the second heroine in Pelli Chesi Choodu. She, later on, was propelled to stardom with critically acclaimed roles in blockbusters such as Devadasu and Missamma.
Savitri won several awards for her performance. She also received the prestigious Rashtrapathi Award. In 2011, the Government of India issued a postage stamp in commemoration of Savitri.
While Savitri was married to Gemini Ganesan, the couple separated in the meantime. They had two children together. Savitri passed away in 1981 after slipping into a coma for 19 months; she was suffering from diabetes and hypertension.kannada, tamil, telugu, malayalam and hindi- Actress
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Sharada was born on 12 June 1945 in Tenali, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. She is an actress and producer, known for Samaj Ko Badal Dalo (1970), Nimajjanam (1976) and Thulabharam (1968).telugu, malayalam and tamil- Actress
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Saranya Ponvannan born in Kerala, India, is a renowned Indian actress celebrated for her work in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam cinema. Hailing from a Christian family, she is the daughter of A. B. Raj, a prolific director in Malayalam cinema with a remarkable portfolio of over 75 films.
Saranya embarked on her acting journey in 1987 with a notable debut in Mani Ratnam's iconic film, Nayakan, alongside Kamal Haasan. Her versatility was evident as she seamlessly transitioned into Telugu with the 1988 film Neerajanam and Malayalam with Artham in 1989, opposite Mamooty. Notably, she made her Kannada film debut in Appaji in 1996, marking a diverse career.
The pinnacle of Saranya's career as a lead actress spanned from 1987 to 1996, during which she essayed various roles in films. However, she took an eight-year hiatus after her marriage to actor and director Ponvannan in 1995. In 2000, she made a lighthearted return as the lead in the television series Veettukku Veedu Lootty. This marked the beginning of her second innings in the industry, and she gracefully embraced supporting roles, notably in the Sun TV family drama Mugangal in 2006.
Her official comeback occurred in 2003 with the Tamil film Alai, where she portrayed Silambarasan's mother opposite Raghuvaran. The mid-2000s witnessed her rise as the go-to actress for impactful "mother" roles in films like Raam, Thavamai Thavamirundhu, and Em Magan.
Saranya's standout performance in the 2010 film Thenmerku Paruvakaatru, where she portrayed Veerayi, earned her the prestigious National Film Award for Best Actress. This film marked her 100th release and showcased her ability to portray nuanced characters.
Thavamai Thavamirundhu, released in 2005, proved to be a turning point in Saranya's career, catapulting her into the limelight as one of the leading and highest-paid character actresses in South Indian cinema. Her dedication, versatility, and remarkable talent have left an indelible mark on the industry, making Saranya Ponvannan a revered name in Indian cinema.kannada, tamil, telugu and malayalam- Actress
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Trained as a Bharatnatyam dancer, Parvathy is a south Indian actress. She has worked in Malayalam movies like Take Off, Charlie, Koode, Bangalore Days, Ennu Ninte Moideen, Notebook among others. Parvathy has received accolades for her role as Sameera in the acclaimed movie Take Off including the Special Jury Award for Best Female Actor at the International Film Festival of India making her the first ever Indian actor to receive the award. She also received Kerela State Film Award for Best Actress, Filmfare Award for Best Actress- Malayalam, Special Jury Mention at the National Film Awards. She also starred in Tamil films like Poo, Uttama Villian, Maryan and Kannada films Milana, Prithvi, Andar Bahar among others. She made her Hindi film debut with Irrfan Khan in Qarib Qarib Singlle, a romantic comedy of polar opposites who meet via online dating and embark on an adventurous journey. She has featured in Channel 4's documentary Unreported World investigating the Me Too Campaign in the film industry. She recently starred in two Malyalam films Virus directed by Ashiqu Abu and Uyare directed by Manu Ashokan.malayalam, kannada and tamil- Actress
- Producer
K. S. Sowmya, better known by her screen name Soundarya, was a yesteryear superstar. She worked in more than 100 films over 12 years in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, and Malayalam cinema.
She worked with top directors and the best actors in the industry and is considered one of the most successful actresses in Telugu cinema after Savitri.
Soundarya began pursuing her M.B.B.S. in Bangalore but discontinued her studies in 1992 after the first year to make a career in the South Indian film industry.
Her first movie was the Kannada film Baa Nanna Preethisu (1992), followed by Gandharva (1992). Her first film in Tamil was Ponnumani (1993), in which she played the role of a mentally disabled person. She also did a Telugu movie Raithu Bharatam (1994) in 1994.
Starting with lead roles in Kannada films, she gradually became one of the most popular actresses in the Telugu industry after successful movies such as Hello Brother (1994), in which she starred with Nagarjuna Akkineni and Ramya Krishnan. She appeared in 11 films in 1995 and was appreciated for her role as Bhavani, a devotee of Goddess Ammoru in the movie Ammoru (1995).
In the late 90s, she delivered box-office hits like Arunachalam (1997) with Rajinikanth, which was the highest-grossing movie of the year, and Choodalani Vundi (1998), starring opposite Chiranjeevi, which took her to the peak of her career. Her movie Kaathala Kaathala (1998) in Tamil featuring Kamal Haasan and Prabhu Deva was later dubbed in Telugu as Navvandi Lavvandi.
Her other hits included Pavitra Bandham (1996), Aaro Pranam (1997), and Maa Ayana Bangaram (2014).
Soundarya's movies in different languages garnered love and appreciation from audiences and critics from different regions of the country. Some of her most well-received films include Pelli Peetalu (1998), Ninne Premistha (2000) in Telugu, and Anthahpuram (1998), which was directed by Krishna Vamsi. Anthahpuram won her a State Nandi Award and her second consecutive Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
In 1999, her top releases were Raja (1999), opposite Venkatesh Daggubati, and the Hindi movie Sooryavansham (1999), opposite Amitabh Bachchan. In 2000, she starred in blockbusters like Annayya (2000) and Ninne Premistha (2000).
In 2002, she received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film for Dweepa (2002). Over the years, she won three Nandi Awards, two Karnataka State Film Awards, and six Filmfare Awards South for her work.
Soundarya was interested in making her TV debut, but she had already committed to a two-month contract with the Bharatiya Janata Party to support them during their election campaign. She passed away in a plane crash during one of the campaign visits to Andhra Pradesh.
In 2004, she was signed to star in Nartanasala, which was to be produced/directed by Nandamuri Balakrishna, in which she would essay the role of Draupadi. However, the film could not be made due to her untimely demise.kannada, tamil, telugu, malayalam and hindi- Actress
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Kovai Sarala was born on 7 April 1962 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. She is an actress, known for Kanchana: Muni 2 (2011), Mersal (2017) and Sathi Leelavathi (1995).tamil, telugu, kannada and malayalam- Actress
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Aditi Rao Hydari was born in 1986 in Hyderabad, from two royal lineages, that of Sir Akbar Hydari and J. Rameshwar Rao the erstwhile Raja of Wanaparthy.
A classical Bharatanatyam dancer, she made her acting debut with Sharada Ramanathan's acclaimed film Sringaram and rose to fame after her performance in Sudhir Mishra's Yeh Saali Zindagi. In 2012, she played the female lead in the movie London Paris New York opposite Ali Zafar and later became a part of Mahesh Bhatt's Murder franchise in Vishesh Bhatt's directorial film Murder 3 (2013).
Aditi is best known for her roles in Murder 3 (2013), Rockstar, London Paris New York, and Yeh Saali Zindagi. She will be soon seen in films like Guddu Rangeela directed by Subhash Kapoor; The Legend of Michael Mishra, directed by Manish Jha; Aur Devdas by Sudhir Mishra and Wazir, directed by Bejoy Nambiar along with Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar and Fitoor, directed by Abhisheik Kapoor where she plays a young Begum.tamil, telugu, malayalam, hindi and marathi- Actress
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Padmini was born on 12 June 1932 in Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore, British India. She was an actress and director, known for Kaajal (1965), Thillana Mohanambal (1968) and Poove Poochudava (1985). She was married to Dr. K. T. Ramachandran. She died on 24 September 2006 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.tamil, telugu, malayalam, hindi and russian