Top 5 Actress in South India: Stars Lighting Up the Silver Screen
Welcome to our spotlight on the top 5 actresses in South India, where talent, beauty, and charisma converge to light up the silver screen. From iconic performances to mesmerizing looks, these leading ladies have captured the hearts of audiences across the globe. Join us as we delve into the lives and careers of these remarkable women who continue to redefine the boundaries of cinema in South India.
Nayanthara
Nayanthara (born Diana Mariam Kurian; 18 November 1984) is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. One of the highest-paid actresses in India, she was the only South Indian actress to be featured in the Forbes India “Celebrity 100” list of 2018. She has acted in more than 75 films in a career spanning over two decades and has won numerous awards, including five Filmfare Awards South, one Tamil Nadu State Film Award and a Andra Pradesh State Nandi Film Award.
Nayanthara made her acting debut with the Malayalam film Manassinakkare (2003). She made her debut in Tamil cinema with Ayya (2005) and in Telugu cinema with Lakshmi (2006). Her portrayal of Goddess Sita in the mythological film Sri ama Rajyam (2011) earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu and the Nandi Award for Best Actress. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress, for her performances in the romantic comedy Raja Rani (2013), the action comedy Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015) and the political drama Aramm (2017). She was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for her performance in the crime drama Puthiya Niyamam (2016)
Nayanthara went on to establish herself as one of the leading actresses of South Indian cinema with such female-led films as Anaamika (2014), Maya (2015), Kolamavu Kokila (2018), Airaa (2019) and Netrikann (2022). Her other notable films include Chandramukhi, Ghajini (both 2005), Billa (2007), Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008), Bodyguard (2010), Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum (2012), Thani Oruvan (2015), Kaashmora (2016), Viswasam, Bigil, Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (all 2019), Darbar (2020), Annaatthe (2021) and Godfather (2022). She expanded into Hindi cinema with Jawan (2023
Anushka Shetty
Sweety Shetty (born 7 November 1981), known by her stage name Anushka Shetty, is an Indian actress known for her work majorly in Telugu and Tamil cinema. She is the recipient of three Filmare Awards South, two Nandi Awards, two SIIMA Awards and one Tamil Nadu State Film Award. Having appeared in 48 films in a variety of roles, she is one of the highest-paid South Indian actresses.
She made her acting debut with the 2005 Telugu film Super, which garnered her a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress – Telugu nomination. The following year, she starred in S. S. Rajamouli’s blockbuster hit Vikramarkudu. Her further releases Lakshyam (2007), Souryam (2008), and Chintakayala Ravi (2008) were also box office successes. In 2009, Shetty played dual roles in the Telugu dark fantasy film Arundhati, which led her to her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu, and Nandi Award. The following year, Shetty’s portrayal of a prostitute in the acclaimed drama Vedam won her a second consecutive Best Actress Award from Filmfare.
In the 2010s, Shetty also starred in Tamil cinema in the action films such as Vettaikaaran (2009), Singam (2010), Singam II (2013), and Yennai Arindhaal (2015), all of which were major commercial successes. She continued to draw praise from critics with her leading performances in the dramas Vaanam (2011), Deiva Thirumagal (2011) and Size Zero (2015). She portrayed the titular queen in the 2015 epic historical fiction Rudhramadevi, which won her the third Filmfare Award for Best Actress- Telugu. Shetty’s portrayal of Princess Devasena in the Baahubali series (2015–17) received widespread acclaim
Rashmika Mandanna
Rashmika Mandanna (born 5 April 1996) is an Indian actress who works in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films.She is a recipient of four SIIMA Awards and a Filmfare Award South. She was featured by Forbes India in their 30 Under 30 list of 2024.
Rashmika made her acting debut with the Kannada film Kirik Party(2016), and had her first Telugu film release in the romantic comedy Chalo (2018). A turning point in her career came with the romance Geetha Govindam (2018), which earned her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – South. She played the leading lady in the action comedies Devadas (2018) and Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020), and the romance Bheeshma (2020), with her performance in the latter earning critical acclaim. Her first Tamil release came in the action drama film Sulthan (2021).
She gained wider success for playing the leading lady in the action film Pushpa: The Rise (2022). Following a supporting role in the period drama Sita Ramam (2022), she expanded to Hindi cinema and had her highest-grossing release with the action thriller Animal (2023).
Samantha Ruth Prabhu
Samantha Ruth Prabhu (formerly Akkineni; born 28 April 1987) is an Indian actress who works primarily in Telugu and Tamil films.She is the recipient of several accolades, including four Filmfare Awards South.
After a brief stint as a model while pursuing a degree in commerce, Samantha made her acting debut in the Telugu romance film Ye Maaya Chesave (2010), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South. She became the second actress to win both the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil and Best Actress – Telugu in the same year, for her performances in the 2012 films Neethaane En Ponvasantham and Eega, respectively. Over the next few years, she played the leading lady in top-grossing androcentric films such as Dookudu (2011), Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (2012), Attarintiki Daredi (2013), Kaththi (2014), Theri (2016), 24 (2016), Mersal(2017), and Rangasthalam (2018). Her performance in A Aa (2016) won Samantha her fourth Filmfare Award, and she gained further praise for her performances in Mahanati (2018), Super Deluxe (2019), and Majili (2019), and the Amazon Prime Video thriller series The Family Man (2021). The last of these earned her a Filmfare OTT Award. In 2023, she had two critical and commercial failures in Shaakuntalam and Kushi.
Samantha is the founder of a charitable trust Pratyusha Support
Kajal Aggarwal
Kajal A Kitchlu ( Aggarwal;born 19 June 1985) is an Indian actress who works predominantly in Telugu and Tamil language films alongside Hindi language films. She has worked in more than 50 films and has received two South Indian International Movie Awards.
Aggarwal made her acting debut with a small role in the 2004 Hindi film Kyun! Ho Gaya Na… and had her first Telugu film release in Lakshmi Kalyanam (2007). In the same year, she gained wider recognition for starring in Chandamama. The 2009 fantasy film Magadheera, one of the highest-grossing Telugu films of all time, marked a turning point in her career, earning her critical acclaim.
Her other notable Telugu films include Darling (2010), Brindavanam (2010), Mr. Perfect (2011), Businessman (2012), Naayak (2013), Baadhah (2013), Govindudu Andarivadele (2014), Temper (2015), Khaidi No. 150 (2017), Nene Raju Nene Mantri (2017), Awe (2018) and Bhagavanth Kesari (2023).She has also played the female lead in the high-profile Tamil projects Naan Mahaan Alla (2010), Maattrraan (2012), Thuppakki (2012), Jilla (2014), Vivegam (2017), Mersal (2017) and Comali (2019). Her most successful Hindi films were the action film Singham (2011) and the thriller Special 26 (2013).
In 2020, a wax figure of Aggarwal was put on display at Madame Tussauds Singapore, making it the first of an actress from South Indian cinema.