Diana Mariam Kurian (born 18 November 1984),[2] best known by her stage name Nayantara (Malayalam: നയന് താര), is an Indian film actress who has appeared in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films. She debuted in the 2003 Malayalam film Manassinakkare, before starring in Tamil and Telugu-language films, alongside popular lead actors. Following several commercial successes such as Chandramukhi (2005), Ghajini (2005) and Billa (2007), she had established herself as one of the leading actresses in Tamil cinemaNayantara was born in Bangalore, Karnataka as the youngest daughter to Malayali parents, Kurian Kodiyattu and Omana Kurian.[5][1] Her brother, Lenu, who is nine years elder to her, lives in Dubai.[6] As her father was an Indian Air Force official, she studied in various parts of India, mainly in North India.[6] A Knanaya Catholic by birth, she did her schooling in Jamnagar, Gujarat and Delhi. Following his retirement, they settled in Kerala, where she continued her college studies, at the Kendriya Vidyalaya schools in Kerala. In Tiruvalla, she studied at Balikamadom Girls Higher Secondary School and then attended Marthoma College for her bachelor's degree in English Literature.
