Kausalya

Biography:

Nandini, better known by her stage name Kausalya, is an Indian actress and model predominantly recognized for her work in South Indian cinema. She began her career with leading roles but eventually transitioned into portraying supporting characters. Kausalya entered the entertainment industry after initially pursuing a modeling career. In 1996, she made her debut in the Malayalam film “April 19” directed by Balachandra Menon. She soon ventured into Tamil cinema with her role in “Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga” (1997) alongside Murali, subsequently appearing in several successful Tamil films such as “Nerukku Ner,” “Priyamudan,” “Sollamale,” “Pooveli,” “Vaanathaippola,” and “Kutty.”

Kausalya’s acting repertoire extended to Malayalam cinema with roles in films like “Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu,” “Karumadikkuttan,” “Sundara Purushan,” “Shivam,” “Udayam,” “Vajram,” “Maanikyan,” and “Sooryan.” Her notable work in Tamil earned her recognition, including a Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for her performance in “Pooveli.” In the mid-2000s, she transitioned to character roles, taking on supporting parts in films like “Thirumalai” and “Santosh Subramaniam.” Kausalya also made her mark in television with the series “Manaivi,” which aired 436 episodes on Sun TV. Although she attempted a comeback as a lead actress in 2004 with projects like “Police” and “Manadhil,” many of these ventures faced delays. However, she returned to Tamil cinema in 2014 with the action film “Poojai.”

Born in Bangalore, Karnataka, Kausalya’s family background includes her father, Shivashankar Siddalingappa, who worked as a depot manager at Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, and her mother, who has a mixed Marathi and Kannada heritage and was raised in Sri Lanka. Kausalya’s grandmother hailed from Sri Lanka as well.