Nayanthara remains one of the most influential stars in Indian cinema and reports now place her net worth at nearly Rs 200 crore. She is also rumoured to be charging around Rs 10 crore for a film and this places her among the highest-paid actresses in the Southern film industries. Diana Mariam Kurian aka Nayanthara’s cinema journey began in 2003 with the Malayalam film ‘Manassinakkare’ which was directed by Sathyan Anthikad with Jayaram and Sheela in the lead. Later she played a significant role in Mammootty’s ‘Rappakal’. At the time when all the Malayalis thought her to be only taking up traditional, simple girl type roles, a major shift happened suddenly when she stepped foot into the Tamil industry.
From Malayalam beginnings to pan-South stardom
Her transition into Tamil cinema began with Ayya in 2005. A year later she entered Telugu cinema with ‘Lakshmi’ which widened her recognition. One of her early turning points came with ‘Billa’ starring Ajith Kumar where she showcased a glamorous yet intense side. Later she grabbed the audiences hearts with her roles in films such as ‘Yaradi Nee Mohini’, ‘Villu’, ‘Aadhavan’ and many more.
A 5-crore ad, 10-crore films
According to a report by Hindustan Times Nayanthara was paid Rs 5 crore for the 50-second commercial years back. It was shot over two days and released in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Her film remuneration has climbed steadily. Reports claim she earns close to Rs 10 crore per film now.Earlier IB Times had reported she received Rs 10.5 crore for a Darbar role, though producer K Rajan clarified in an interview that he “was paid a bomb but did not get ₹10.5 crore.” Her Bollywood debut in Jawan also created buzz as she reportedly received a salary of Rs 10 crore for playing the cop Narmada Rai. Her co-star Jawan actor Vijay Sethupathi earned Rs 21 crore for the same film reportedly.
A private jet and investments that fuel a superstar lifestyle
Among the acquisitions associated with Nayanthara is her rumoured private jet, reportedly worth around Rs 50 crore. While she has not confirmed this, speculations are that it enables her to manage a tight schedule spread across several cities and industries. Her income comes from films, endorsements, brand deals, appearances and investments. This multi-stream revenue model is often cited as one of the reasons for her Rs 200-crore net worth.
A packed lineup
Nayanthara was last seen in the Telugu film ‘Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu’ which had Chiranjeevi in the lead. The movie did a decent box office business and up next, she will appear with Nandamuri Balakrishna in director Gopichand Malineni’s upcoming ‘NBK 111’.Mollywood fans are also excited as the queen is returning to Malayalam for the actioner ‘Patriot’ starring Mohanlal and Mammootty in the lead. She will also pair with Nivin Pauly after a long gap, for the upcoming movie ‘Dear Students’.DISCLAIMER: Figures presented in this article are derived from various public sources and are considered approximate unless explicitly noted. We may include direct input from celebrities or their teams when available. We are open to feedback on toientertainment@timesinternet.in.
