Diana Mariam Kuriyan (born 18 November 1984), known professionally as Nayanthara, is an Indian film actress who primarily appears in Tamil cinema. She is one of the most successful leading actresses and is referred to as the Lady Superstar of the Cinema of South India.

 

Nayanthara made her acting debut in the 2003 Malayalam film Manassinakkare with Jayaram. She made her debut in Tamil cinema with Ayya (2005) and Telugu with Lakshmi (2006). Both were successful. After this she had numerous commercially successful Tamil and Telugu films like Chandramukhi (2005), Dubai Seenu (2007), Tulasi (2007), Billa (2007), Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008), Aadhavan (2009), Adhurs (2010), Simha (2010), Boss Engira Bhaskaran (2010), Sri Rama Rajyam (2011), Raja Rani (2013), Arrambam (2013), Thani Oruvan (2015), Maya (2015), Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015), Babu Bangaram (2016) and Iru Mugan (2016).

 

Nayanthara was born in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, to Malayali Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church parents Kurian Kodiyattu and Omana Kurian who hail from the aristocratic Kodiyatt family from Tiruvalla, Kerala.Her elder brother, Leno, who is nine years older, lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. As her father was an Indian Air Force official, Nayanthara studied in various parts of India, mainly in North India. She did her schooling in Jamnagar, Gujarat and Delhi. In Tiruvalla, she studied at Balikamadom Girls Higher Secondary School and then attended Marthoma College, Thiruvalla for her bachelor's degree in English Literature.