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Nayanthara

Nayanthara

Actor, also producer · Born November 18, 1984 (41) · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Nayanthara (born Diana Mariam Kurian; 18 November 1984), is an Indian actress and film producer who works primarily in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam cinema. She began her acting career with Sathyan Anthikad's Malayalam family drama *Manassinakkare* (2003), followed by her Tamil debut in *Ayya* (2005) and her Telugu debut in *Lakshmi* (2006). Nayanthara has appeared in more than 80 feature films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Hindi cinema. Her filmography includes *Ghajini* (2005), *Billa* (2007), *Yaaradi Nee Mohini* (2008), *Bodyguard* (2010), *Simha* (2010), *Sri Rama Rajyam* (2011), *Raja Rani* (2013), *Arrambam* (2013), *Thani Oruvan* (2015), *Naanum Rowdy Dhaan* (2015), *Puthiya Niyamam* (2016), *Velaikkaran* (2017), *Viswasam* (2019), *Bigil* (2019), *Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy* (2019), and *God Father* (2022). She has also played leading roles in the neo-noir horror film *Maya* (2015), the social drama *Aramm* (2017), the dark comedy *Kolamaavu Kokila* (2018), the crime thriller *Imaikkaa Nodigal* (2018), the fantasy comedy *Mookuthi Amman* (2020), *Netrikann* (2021), and *Connect* (2022). In 2023, she made her Hindi cinema debut in Atlee's action thriller *Jawan*, opposite Shah Rukh Khan. She subsequently appeared in *Annapoorani* (2023) and the sports drama *Test* (2025). Her announced and reported projects include *Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu* (2026), the Malayalam spy thriller *Patriot* (2026), the period action film *Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups* (2026), *Mookuthi Amman 2* (2026), and *Thani Oruvan 2* (2026). She has received five Filmfare Awards South, the Nandi Award for Best Actress for *Sri Rama Rajyam*, the Tamil Nadu State Film Award, and multiple SIIMA Awards. She also co-founded the production company Rowdy Pictures, which produced films including *Koozhangal* (*Pebbles*).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 18, 1984 (41)
From
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 101 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Up 8% in 30 days

What are Nayanthara's films like?

Across their 34 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
31%
Bonds
28%
Self
14%
Survival
8%
Power
8%
Society
7%
Ideas
4%
Justice13 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 10 · Serious 9 · Dark 15

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 19 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 7

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 8 · Intense 21

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 10 · Shifting 19 · Whiplash 5

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 5

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 10 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 7

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 8 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 11

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

20 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 6 of 20 analyzed roles.

Ally
6 of 20
Hero
5 of 20
Herald
4 of 20
Shapeshifter
2 of 20
Shadow
2 of 20
Threshold guardian
1 of 20
Show the 20 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
23
Melancholic
12
Thrilling
11
Romantic
7
Joyful
7
Other
32

How their films linger

Feel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous8

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Nayanthara's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Nayanthara's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

101 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Dharman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Actor

  • Monster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Actor

  • Mookuthi Amman 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Mookuthi Amman

  • Hi(2026)

    Producer · as Devayani

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Toxic(2026)

    as Ganga

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Patriot(2026)

    as Adv. Lathika

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • LIK: Love Insurance Kompany(2026)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Mana ShankaraVaraPrasad Garu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Sasirekha

  • Test(2025)

    as Kumudha

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Annapoorani (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Annapoorani

  • Iraivan(2023)

    as Priya

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Jawan(2023)

    as Narmada

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Shubh Yatra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Producer

  • Connect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Susan Joseph

  • Gold(2022)

    as Sumangali Unnikrishnan

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Godfather(2022)

    as Sathyapriya Jaidev

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • O2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Parvathy

  • Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Kanmani

  • Rocky(2021)

    Presenter

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Annaatthe(2021)

    as Pattamal

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Aaradugula Bullet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Nayana

  • Netrikann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Durga / Nancy

  • Nizhal(2021)

    as Sharmila

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Pebbles(2021)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Mookuthi Amman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Mookuthi Amman

  • Darbar(2020)

    as Lilly

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Bigil(2019)

    as Angel Aasirvatham

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy(2019)

    as Siddhamma

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Love Action Drama(2019)

    as Shobha

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Kolaiyuthir Kaalam(2019)

    as Shruthi Lawson

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Mr. Local (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Keerthana Vasudevan

  • Airaa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Bhavani / Yamuna

  • Viswasam(2019)

    as Niranjana

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Imaikkaa Nodigal(2018)

    as Anjali Vikramadithyan IPS

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Kolamavu Kokila (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Kokila

  • Jai Simha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Gauri

  • Velaikkaran(2017)

    as Mirunalini

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Aramm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Madhivadhani IAS

  • Dora (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Pavalakkodi

  • Kaashmora (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Rathna Mahadevi

  • Iru Mugan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Halena

  • Babu Bangaram (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Sailaja

  • Thirunaal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Vithya

  • Idhu Namma Aalu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Mylaa

  • Puthiya Niyamam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Vasuki Iyer

  • Naanum Rowdydhaan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Kadambari

  • Life of Josutty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Swapna (Cameo)

  • Maya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Maya Mathews / Apsara

  • Thani Oruvan(2015)

    as Mahima

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Masss(2015)

    as Malini

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Bhaskar The Rascal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Hima

  • Nannbenda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Ramya

  • Anaamika(2014)

    as Anaamika

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Idhu Kathirvelan Kadhal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Pavithra Mahalingam

  • Arrambam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Maya

  • Raja Rani(2013)

    as Regina

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Greeku Veerudu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Sandhya

  • Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Devika

  • Sri Rama Rajyam(2011)

    as Sita

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Super (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Indira

  • Elektra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Elektra

  • Boss Engira Baskaran(2010)

    as Chandrika Shanmugasundaram

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Simha(2010)

    as Bhavani

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Goa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Actor

  • Bodyguard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Ammu

  • Adhurs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Chandrakala

  • Aadhavan(2009)

    as Tara

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Anjaneyulu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Anjali

  • Villu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Janavi

  • Aegan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Mallika

  • Satyam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Deivanayaki

  • Kuselan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Nayanthara

  • Twenty 20 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Special appearance in the song "He Dil Deewana"

  • Yaaradi Nee Mohini(2008)

    as Keerthi

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Billa(2007)

    as Sasha

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Thulasi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Vasundhara

  • Sivaji(2007)

    as Special Appearance for Ballelaka Song

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Dubai Seenu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Madhumati

  • Yogi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Nandini

  • E (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Jothy

  • Vallavan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Swapna

  • Boss(2006)

    as Anuradha

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Thalaimagan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Mekala

  • Kalvanin Kadhali (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Haritha

  • Lakshmi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Nandhinee

  • Ghajini (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Chitra

  • Rappakal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Gauri

  • Thaskara Veeran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Thankamani

  • Chandramukhi(2005)

    as Durga

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Ayya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Selvi

  • Natturajavu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Katrina

  • Vismayathumbathu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Reetha Mathews

  • Manassinakkare(2003)

    as Gauri

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Dear Students (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Vidya Rudhran

  • Kanchana 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Maharani (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • NT-81 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · Actor

  • Oorkuruvi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

  • Rakkayie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Thani Oruvan 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Mahima

  • Walking Talking Strawberry Icecream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 101 titles, 90 of them dated from 2003 to 2026; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

Chandramukhi (2005)

$750M worldwide

Highest rated

Thani Oruvan (2015)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Toxic (2026)

Film career

20032026

Peak 2018 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 14 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting95 of 101: 93 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thProducing7 of 101: 5 only producing, 2 with another roleOther crew1 of 101: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

2000s27 · acting2010s40 · acting2020s23 · 19 acting · 5 crew

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 16% of 32 roles
051020

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Nayanthara's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 70th percentile, the median of all 35; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 35 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic6
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Annaatthe (2021)

99th percentile spread · 50% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Thani Oruvan (2015)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 31 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Nayanthara's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles70–85 · median 74 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles11–53 · median 23 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles31–68 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles38–80 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles55–83 · median 69 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Nayanthara work with?

People who share at least 2 of Nayanthara's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Yuvan Shankar Raja shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles