South Indian Actress Nayantara

Diana Mariam Kurien born in 1984 in Kerala, India), popularly known as Nayanthara,meaning "Eyes like Stars", is a south Indian actress and has acted in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam movies.

She was born on 8th November 1984 as an Orthodox Syrian Christian in Tiruvalla, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala. She did her schooling at various parts of India (Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Punjab and Karnataka) as her father was an Air Force Official.

Nayantara has completed her BA Literature. She got an offer to act in a Malayalam film "Manasinakkare" directed by Sathyan Anthikkad in which she paired opposite to Jayaram. The film was a great hit in Kerala. This paved the way for her entry into Tamil Cinema.

She played opposite Sarath Kumar in Ayya. She acted with Rajnikanth in Chandramukhi. Her later films are Natturaajavu (Malayalam), Thaskaraveeran (Malayalam), Vallavan (Tamil), Gajini (Tamil), Yogi (Telugu) etc. She is now busy in the Tamil & Telugu film industry. She was admired by many for her bold acting in the latest Tamil flick Billa.

Relationships

Nayantara's first relationship created headlines when publicity posters sprung up around Chennai of her Vallavan co-star, Silambarasan and her kissing. However, despite maintaining a high-profile relationship, involving the press, the pair broke up soon after the film was released citing differences. Nonetheless, after the break-up, pictures were released anonymously of the pair kissing each other at Nayantara's apartment.

Further controversy was created when rumours leaked out that the plot of Silambarasan's forthcoming film, Kettavan, was based on the couple's true love story.