Aishwarya Rajesh

Aishwarya Rajesh (born 10 January 1990) is an Indian actress who works predominantly in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. Aishwarya is a recipient of several awards including two Filmfare Award South, one Tamil Nadu State Film Award and four SIIMA Awards.

Aishwarya started her career as television presenter in a comedy show called '' Asatha Povathu Yaaru?''. After winning the reality show ''Maanada Mayilada,'' she was cast in the film '' Avargalum Ivargalum'' (2011) and came into prominence after starring in '' Attakathi'' (2012). She has received Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress for the 2014 film '' Kaaka Muttai''. Aishwarya had her career breakthrough roles in the film, '' Vada Chennai'' (2018) and her solo film '' Kanaa'' (2018). For the latter, she won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Tamil. She made her Malayalam debut with '' Jomonte Suvisheshangal'' (2017), Hindi film debut in 2017 with '' Daddy'', and Telugu debut with ''Kousalya Krishnamurthy'' (2019), which was a remake of ''Kanaa''.

Aishwarya received praises for her portrayal of a struggling married woman in '' World Famous Lover'' (2020), a woman who strives to bring her deceased husband's body back in '' Ka Pae Ranasingam'' (2020), an NRI in ''Republic'' (2021) and a cop in '' Thittam Irandu'' (2021).

Early life and education

Aishwarya Rajesh was born on 10 January 1990 in a Telugu family in Chennai (then Madras). Her father Rajesh was a Telugu film actor who died when she was still young. Her mother Nagamani was a dancer. Her grandfather Amarnath was also a Telugu film actor, while her aunt Sri Lakshmi, is a Telugu comedian with over 500 films to her credit. She is the youngest of four siblings, whose two elder brothers died during her teenage years.

Aishwarya grew up in Chennai, and she described her background as "lower middle class." She studied in Shrine Vailankanni, Chennai, Sree Vidyanikethan International School, Tirupati, and Holy Angels Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai. In 1995, she performed as a child actress in the Telugu film ''Rambantu''.

She studied at Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai and graduated with a B.Com degree. She started to learn dancing since she needed to choreograph a stage show for a student cultural festival. This opened an opportunity for her to enter the reality show ''Maanada Mayilada'' on Kalaignar TV. She won the show's third season and got offered roles in films after this TV appearance.

Career

Debut and early work (2010–2015)

In the early stages of her career, Aishwarya also worked as an anchor on the sets of the TV show ''Asathapovathu Yaaru''. In 2010, she was cast in '' Avargalum Ivargalum'' (2011) although the low-key film ''Indrasena'' (2010) was released first. Her first big hit was the critically acclaimed '' Attakathi'' in 2012, where she was cast as Amudha, a simple village girl, by Pa. Ranjith in his debut as a director. In 2014, she was seen alongside Vijay Sethupathi in two films, ''Rummy'', and '' Pannaiyarum Padminiyum'', released within two weeks. While the first film was a village drama set in the 1980s, the latter was based on a short film of the same name, and revolved around an old man and his vintage car Premier Padmini. Critics praised her performances, especially in ''Rummy''. ''Hindustan Times'' wrote that she was "extremely promising" while film critic Baradwaj Rangan noted that she was "expressive", calling her "a tonic for nerves frayed by the alabaster automatons we usually get as heroines". Later that year, she appeared in a song sequence in R. Parthiepan's '' Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam'' and as the female lead in '' Thirudan Police''. In April 2014, she began filming for Seenu Ramasamy's ''Idam Porul Yaeval'', but the film remains unreleased as of May 2020.

Aishwarya's career marked a turning point with her first release of 2015, '' Kaaka Muttai''. Initially, she was very hesitant to play a mother role at such an early stage in her career, but, after seeking advice from her '' Pannaiyarum Padminiyum'' co-star Vijay Sethupathi and after gaining interest in the script herself, she decided to be part of the film. Her portrayal of a slum dweller and mother of two children was lauded unanimously by critics: Baradwaj Rangan wrote, "it features stunning performances from everyone...especially Aishwarya Rajesh, who plays the kids' mother with a world-weariness that belies her years". Other reviewers stated that she played her role "with extraordinary ease" and that she "leaves you awe-struck". Her performance earned her several accolades including Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress and her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil nomination. That year, she also made her stage debut, playing Cinderella from the same-titled fairytale that was adapted as a "musical dance drama".

Critical acclaim, success and recognition (2016–2022)

Following the success of ''Kaaka Muttai'', Aishwarya had eight film releases in 2016, of which ''Aarathu Sinam'', '' Hello Naan Pei Pesuren'', '' Manithan'' and '' Dharma Durai'' were commercially successful. While, ''Kuttrame Thandanai'', '' Kadalai'', '' Parandhu Sella Vaa'' and '' Mo'' were box office averages. S. Saraswath took note of her "remarkable performance" as a farm labourer in ''Dharma Durai'' opposite Vijay Sethupathi. In ''Kuttrame Thandanai'', she played a modern woman opposite Vidharth. A critic from ''The New Indian Express'' stated, "Aishwarya yet again proves that the length of the role doesn’t matter. As Shweta with gray shades to her character, she may have got less screen space but leaves her impact."

In 2017, Aishwarya expanded to Malayalam films with '' Jomonte Suvisheshangal'' opposite Dulquer Salmaan and '' Sakhhavu'' opposite Nivin Pauly, both of which were box office successes. '' Kattappava Kaanom'' and '' Gemini Ganeshanum Suruli Raajanum'' were her other release that year. In her last film of the year, Aishwarya made her debut in Hindi films opposite Arjun Rampal in '' Daddy''. She played gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli's wife in the film. In ''Jomonte Suvisheshangal'', she played an accountant and critic Srivatsan from ''India Today'' was appreciative of her "convincing performance". The film earned her nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam, while both her Malayalam films won her the Asiavision Award for Outstanding Performer.

Aishwarya's first two films of 2018, ''Lakshmi'' and ''Saamy Square'' had poor box office returns. Her next three releases '' Chekka Chivantha Vaanam'', '' Vada Chennai'' and '' Kanaa'' were critical and commercial success, being among the year's highest grossing films. In ''Vada Chennai'', she played a carrom player's wife opposite Dhanush. Sowmya Rajendran found her to be "delightful" and praised her chemistry with Dhanush. Her career breakthrough came with ''Kanaa'', where she played an aspiring cricketer. She trained for several days before shooting the film. M Suganth noted, "Aishwarya who appears sans makeup in most of the scenes, makes us buy Kausi and breathes life into the role." Her performance earned her second Filmfare Best Actress – Tamil nomination and won her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Tamil. In 2019, she first appeared in '' Vilambaram''. She then reprised her role as a cricketer in the Telugu remake ''Kousalya Krishnamurthy'', which marked her debut in Telugu films. Suresh Kavirayani stated that she is terrific and fits the role. Her other releases that year were '' Namma Veettu Pillai'', '' Mei'' and '' Mismatch'', all of which met with mixed to negative reviews.

In her first film of 2020, she played a supporting character in ''Vaanam Kottattum''. In '' World Famous Lover'', she played a village girl opposite Vijay Deverakonda. It was a box office failure but Janani K of ''India Today'' noted, "Aishwarya single-handedly stole the show with her realistic performance as a naive Suvarna." The film won her the SIIMA Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu. She then played a woman who lost her husband in Dubai in '' Ka Pae Ranasingam'' opposite Vijay Sethupathi. Regarding her performance, critic Manoj Kumar R noted, "Aishwarya is a revelation. She displays hopelessness, powerlessness, vulnerability, grit and determination with ease and impressive conviction". The film earned her another Filmfare Best Actress – Tamil nomination and won her the SIIMA Award for Best Actress – Tamil. In 2021, she played a police officer in '' Thittam Irandu'', a NRI rape victim in ''Republic'' opposite Sai Dharam Tej and then appeared in '' Boomika'' and '' Tuck Jagadish'', none of which emerged a box office success. For ''Thittam Irandu'', she won the SIIMA Critics Award for Best Actress – Tamil and Saibal Chatterjee noted, "Her unwaveringly focused lead performance .ensures that the film's rough edges are smoothened out to a certain extent." Her only release in 2022 was '' Driver Jamuna'', where she played the titular character.

Career progression (2023–present)

Aishwarya had six releases in 2023: '' The Great Indian Kitchen'', '' Run Baby Run'', '' Soppana Sundari'', '' Farhana'', '' Theera Kaadhal'' and '' Pulimada''. In ''The Great Indian Kitchen'', she played a wife opposite Rahul Ravindran. Several critics were appreciative of her performance and credited her for saving the Tamil version. In ''Farhana'', she played the titular Muslim woman working at a call centre. Gopinath Rajendran noted, "Aishwarya is film's biggest pillar. In one of her best roles in recent times, she shows her resilience in her actions rather than words." The film earned her another nomination for Filmfare Best Actress – Tamil and won her second Filmfare Best Actress Critics – Tamil. In 2024, Aishwarya appeared as the lead in ''DeAr'' opposite G. V. Prakash Kumar and in ''Her'', both of which received mixed reviews. Then in ''ARM'', Aishwarya played a warrior's lover opposite Tovino Thomas. Anandu Suresh of ''The Indian Express'' stated that she "leaves a mark" despite her character lacking depth. The film was a commercial success at the box office.

In her first film of 2025, Aishwarya played an ex-police officer's wife opposite Venkatesh, in '' Sankranthiki Vasthunam''. The film emerged a commercial success. T. Maruthi Acharya noted, "Aishwarya steals the spotlight with her natural, impactful performance."

Media image

S. Subhakeerthana of ''The Indian Express'' noted, "Aishwarya Rajesh's carefully thought-out and prudent choices reflect on her filmography." For the actress performance in '' Kaaka Muttai'', S Saraswathi of ''Rediff.com'' said that she was the film's "biggest surprise". ''News18 India'' noted, "Be it nailing exceptional roles or mesmerising the audience with her dialogue delivery, acting comes naturally to her." Aishwarya is known for her strong women portrayals in films such as ''Kaaka Muttai'', '' Kanaa'', '' World Famous Lover'', '' Ka Pae Ranasingam'' and '' The Great Indian Kitchen''.

Aishwarya has frequently featured in Chennai Times' 30 Most Desirable Woman list. She became the Chennai Times' Most Desirable Woman in 2018. She ranked 13th in 2017, 2nd in 2019 and 6th in 2020. Aishwarya ranked 3rd in Rediff.coms "Top Tamil Actresses" list of 2015. Her performance in ''Kakka Muttai'' is regarded as one of the "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade" by ''Film Companion.'' She received the Kalaimamani award in 2020, for her contributions to the Tamil cinema. She has also spoken about her childhood, sexual harassment and more on TedX talk in 2020 at IIM Trichy.

Filmography

Films

Television

Music videos

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajesh, Aishwarya
1990 births
Living people
Actresses from Chennai
Indian film actresses
Indian web series actresses
Actresses in Telugu cinema
Actresses in Tamil cinema
Actresses in Malayalam cinema
Actresses in Hindi cinema
Telugu actresses
South Indian International Movie Awards winners
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners
Filmfare Awards South winners
21st-century Indian actresses