Aishwarya Rajesh


Aishwarya Rajesh is an Indian actress who has appeared in leading roles primarily in Tamil cinema as well as Telugu and Malayalam films. Among her awards include two SIIMA Awards and a Filmfare Award South.
Aishwarya started her career as television presenter in a comedy show called Asatha Povathu Yaaru? on Sun TV. After winning the reality show Maanada Mayilada, she made her debut in Neethana Avan and came into prominence after starring in Attakathi portraying the role of Amudha. She received Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress for the 2014 film Kaaka Muttai at Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. She acted in her two career breakthrough roles as Padma in Vetrimaran's Vada Chennai opposite to Dhanush and as a female cricketer in her solo film Kanaa.
Her first Malayalam film was Jomonte Suvisheshangal opposite Dulquer Salmaan and she also acted with Nivin Pauly in her second Malayalam film Sakhavu. She made her Bollywood debut in 2017 with the film Daddy opposite to Arjun Rampal.

Early life

Aishwarya was born on 10 January 1990 in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu to Telugu actor Rajesh. Her grandfather Amarnath was also a popular lead Telugu actor and a producer, while her aunt Srilakshmi, is a Telugu comedian with over 500 films to her credit. She did her schooling in Shrine Vailankanni Senior Secondary School and in Holy Angels Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in T.Nagar, Sree vidyanikethan Tirupati.
She studied at Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai and graduated with a B.Com degree. She started to learn dance since she needed to choreograph a stage show for a student cultural fest and later entered the reality show Maanada Mayilada on Kalaignar TV. She won the show's third season and got offered roles in films thereafter.
She expressed her gratitude to Arjun Rampal for introducing her to Bollywood.

Career

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 made her debut with the Tamil film Neethana Avan, and in 2014, she was seen alongside Vijay Sethupathi in two film, 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.
Her first release in 2015 was Kaaka Muttai. Her portrayal of a slum dweller and mother of two children was lauded 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 was "excellent", played her role "with extraordinary ease" and that she "leaves you awe-struck". That year, she also made her the stage debut, playing Cinderella from the same-titled fairytale that was adapted as a "musical dance drama".

2016–present

Aishwarya had the most releases for a Tamil actress in 2016 with 8 films out of which Aarathu Sinam, Hello Naan Pei Pesuren, Manithan and Dharma Durai were commercially successful. She was critically appreciated for her performance in the films Dharma Durai and Kuttrame Thandanai, where she collaborated with Kaaka Muttai director Manikandan. She became the number one choice for acting in performance oriented roles in the industry. In 2017, Aishwarya made her entry in Malayalam films acting in two commercially and critically successful films Jomonte Suvisheshangal and Sakhhavu. Based on her performance in Kaaka Muttai, Arjun Rampal selected Aishwarya in the challenging role of Asha Gawli for the film Daddy. With this, Aishwarya made her debut in Hindi and was recognized for her performance in her first hindi film.
In 2018, Aishwarya was most successful as she was part of most of the big hits of the year. She collaborated with the most successful directors like Mani Ratnam, A. L. Vijay, Hari and Vetrimaaran as well as starring in her solo film as a cricketer in Kanaa under Siva Karthikeyan's production. She is made her Telugu debut in Kousalya Krishnamurthy after signing three movies in a trot. Her performance was appreciated a lot in all the three movies, but she is looking for her first big hit in Telugu cinema. Her performance in Namma Veettu Pillai was greatly appreciated as well as her endearing performance in the family drama Vaanam Kottatum. Her performance as Suvarna in World Famous Lover was considered one of the best performance by a female actor in recent times in Telugu Cinema.
As of 2020, She is working simultaneously on multiple projects. She has completed filming for Seenu Ramasamy's Idam Porul Yaeval, in which she portrays a orator in patti mandram, as well as Gautham Menon's delayed project Dhruva Natchathiram.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleLanguageNotes
1996RambantuAishwaryaTeluguChild Artist
2010Neethana AvanNandhiniTamil
2011Avargalum IvargalumSwethaTamil
2011Uyarthiru 420CharuTamil
2011Sattapadi KutramSumathiTamil
2012Vilayada VaaAnuTamil
2012AttakathiAmudhaTamil
2012AachariyangalAnuTamil
2013PuthagamTharaTamil
2014RummySornamTamil
2014Pannaiyarum PadminiyumMalarvizhiTamil
2014Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam IyakkamHerselfTamilSpecial appearance
2014Thirudan PolicePoornimaTamil
2015Kaaka MuttaiThe protagonist kids' motherTamilWon, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress
Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil
2016Aarathu SinamMiaTamil
2016Hello Naan Pei PesurenKavithaTamil
2016ManithanJenniferTamil
2016Dharma DuraiAnbuselviTamilWon, SIIMA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil
2016Kuttrame ThandanaiSwethaTamil
2016KadalaiKalaiTamil
2016Parandhu Sella VaaMadhaviTamil
2016MoPriyaTamil
2017Jomonte SuvisheshangalVaidhehiMalayalam
2017MupparimanamHerselfTamilCameo appearance
2017Kattappava KaanomMeenaTamil
2017SakhhavuJanakiMalayalam
2017Gemini Ganeshanum Suruli RaajanumPoojaTamil
2017DaddyAsha GawliHindi
2018LakshmiNandhiniTamil
2018Saamy 2BhuvanaTamil
2018Chekka Chivantha VaanamRenuka ThyagarajanTamil
2018Vada ChennaiPadmaTamil
2018KanaaKousalya MurugesanTamilFilmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Tamil
2019VilambaramAishwaryaTamil
2019Kousalya KrishnamurthyKousalya KrishnamurthyTelugu
2019MeiUthraTamil
2019Namma Veettu PillaiThulasiTamilWon JFW Movie Awards for Best Actress - Critic
2019MismatchMahalakshmiTelugu
2020Vaanam KottatumMangaiTamil
2020World Famous LoverSuvarnaTelugu
2020Ka Pae Ranasingam TamilPost Production
2020Bhoomika TamilPost Production
2020Tuck Jagadish TeluguFilming
2020Thittam IranduTamilFilming
TBADhruva Natchathiram RaginiTamilDelayed
TBAIdhu Vedhalam Sollum Kadhai TamilDelayed
TBAIdam Porul Yaeval TamilDelayed

;As a voice artist
YearFilmRoleOriginal languageNote
2019The Lion KingNalaEnglishTamil version

Music videos

YearTitleCo-actorRef
2018Bodhai KodhaiAtharvaa

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryFilmResult
201563rd Filmfare Awards SouthBest Actress – TamilKaaka Muttai
2015Edison AwardsBest Actress – TamilKaaka Muttai
20165th South Indian International Movie AwardsBest Actress – TamilKaaka Muttai
20163rd Behindwoods Gold Medal CeremonyBest Actress in a Supporting RoleKaaka Muttai
20161st IIFA UtsavamPerformance In A Supporting Role – FemaleKaaka Muttai
2016Norway Tamil Film Festival AwardsBest ActressKaaka Muttai
2016Provoke AwardsBest Actress – JuryKaaka Muttai
2016Radio City AwardsBest Actress for 2016
2017Ananda Vikatan Nambikkai AwardsTop 10 Youngsters of TN Award – Nambikkai Nayagi
201764th Filmfare Awards SouthBest Actress in a Supporting RoleDharmadurai
20176th South Indian International Movie AwardsBest Actress in a Supporting RoleDharmadurai
2017Tamil Nadu State Film AwardsTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best ActressKaaka Muttai
201713th WE AwardsBest Actress
2017Asiavision AwardsBest Actress – Multi Languages
2018Forum Keralam Film Awards 2017Best ActressSakhavu
2018JFW Golden Divas AwardsJFW Golden Diva
2018Pride Of TamilNadu AwardsPride of TamilNadu in Entertainment Emerging Category
201865th Filmfare Awards SouthFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – MalayalamJomonte Suvisheshangal
2018The New Indian Express Devi AwardsBreathing Life into the Silver Screen
2019Ananda Vikatan Cinema AwardsBest actressKanaa
2019Mgr Sivaji Academy AwardsBest ActressVada Chennai, Kanaa
2019JFW Movie AwardsBest Actress in a Lead RoleKanaa
2019JFW Movie AwardsBest Actress – CriticKanaa
2019Edison AwardsYoung Inspirational ActressKanaa
2019Edison AwardsBest Actress – TamilKanaa
2019Techofes AwardsBest ActressVada Chennai, Kanaa
2019India Retail Excellence AwardsUnique Style Icon - Female
20198th South Indian International Movie AwardsBest Actress – TamilKanaa
20198th South Indian International Movie AwardsBest Actress – TamilKanaa
201966th Filmfare Awards SouthBest Actress - TamilKanaa
201966th Filmfare Awards SouthBest Actress - TamilKanaa
2020Zee Cine Awards TamilBest Actor FemaleKanaa
2020Ananda Vikatan Cinema AwardsBest supporting actressNamma Veettu Pillai
2020JFW Movie AwardsBest Actress in a Lead RoleNamma Veettu Pillai
2020JFW Movie AwardsBest Actress - CriticNamma Veettu Pillai
2020Norway Tamil Film Festival AwardsNorway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Supporting ActressNamma Veettu Pillai