Meet the National Award-winning actress who aspired to become a war journalist
Introducing a renowned pan-Indian actress who has worked alongside top stars like Dhanush, Thalapathy Vijay, and Akshay Kumar. This talented performer recently received the esteemed National Film Award for her exceptional acting. Can you guess who it is? We’re talking about Nithya Menen. However, her journey into the film industry was not initially planned, as she once aspired to become a pilot or a war journalist.
Nithya was born on April 8, 1990, to Malayali parents in Bangalore, Karnataka. She completed her schooling at Poorna Prajna School before moving on to Mount Carmel College. Interestingly, Nithya changed her surname from “NS” (her parents’ initials) to “Menen” due to numerological reasons and practical purposes like getting her passport. She is also a polyglot, speaking six languages including Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and English.
Although Nithya didn’t originally intend to enter the entertainment industry, fate had other plans. During her school entrance exam, she met filmmaker B.V. Nandini Reddy, who persuaded her to pursue acting. Nithya made her first appearance as a child actor in 1998 in the French-English film Hanuman, at just eight years old. She also starred in the Hindi soap Choti Maa – Ek Anokha Bandhan and a Kannada film titled 7 O’ Clock as a teenager.
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Her big break came in 2011 with the Telugu romantic comedy Ala Modalaindi, where she starred opposite Nani. Following this, she appeared in numerous films like Urumi, Ishq, Ustad Hotel, and Mersal alongside Thalapathy Vijay. In 2019, she starred in the Hindi film Mission Mangal with Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan. In 2022, she was seen in Bheemla Nayak, a box-office hit featuring Pawan Kalyan and Rana Daggubati.
Nithya’s recent National Award win came for her role in the film Thiruchitrambalam, where she starred alongside Dhanush. In an interview, she expressed her joy in receiving national recognition and emphasized that she chooses roles that bring happiness to both her and the audience. Her notable works also include Awe, Psycho, Skylab, and 19(1)(a).
Currently, Nithya is set to reunite with Dhanush in the upcoming film Idli Kadai, marking another exciting chapter in her illustrious career.
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