Nayanthara’s journey in showbiz has come a long way from earning just rs 2,000 rs 3,000 for her first modelling assignment to reportedly commanding several crores for her films today.
The actress recently opened up about her early days while speaking to Pearle Maaney. Nayanthara recalled that she was called for what she believed was a fashion programme and earned around rs 2,000 rs 3,000. At the time, she was only modelling and had no plans of becoming an actress.
That small assignment, however, eventually opened the door to films.
Filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad spotted Nayanthara’s photograph in Vanitha magazine and approached her for Manassinakkare. The 2003 Malayalam film marked her acting debut. From there, she slowly built her career across Malayalam and Tamil cinema, going on to star in films such as Chandramukhi, Billa, Raja Rani, Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, Maya and Kolamaavu Kokila.
As her popularity grew, so did her remuneration. By the early 2020s, reports were putting her film fee in the rs 8 rs 10 crore range, although these figures were industry estimates and were not officially confirmed.
Her Hindi debut Jawan in 2023 brought her even greater national visibility. Reports around the film suggested that she was paid several crores for the Shah Rukh Khan starrer, although different reports quoted different amounts.
Today, the reported figures are much higher. For Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, in which she stars alongside Yash, reports have placed Nayanthara’s remuneration in the rs 12 crore to rs 18 crore range. Some reports, however, have quoted a lower figure of around rs 10 rs 12 crore.
It is worth noting that neither Nayanthara nor the makers of Toxic have officially confirmed her exact fee. The reported amounts should therefore be treated as estimates rather than confirmed figures.
Still, the difference is striking. Her career began with a modelling assignment worth a few thousand rupees. More than two decades later, she is among the most sought after actresses in Indian cinema, with her reported remuneration running into crores.
Nayanthara’s story is not just about money. It is also about how an unexpected opportunity, followed by years of hard work, can completely change the course of a career.
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