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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NAYANTHARA!  Southern sensation Nayanthara, who is often called Lady Superstar, turns 32 on November 18. We celebrate her birthday by looking back at her career and peeking

into her Instagram pictures! IMAGE: NAYANTHARA IN A SONG IN _KRISHNAM VANDE JAGADGURUM_. Born to Malayali Christian parents Kurian Kodiyattu and Omana Kurian, Nayanthara was named Diana

Mariam Kurian. Since her father was in the Air Force, Nayanthara did her schooling in various parts of the country. She has an older brother, who lives in Dubai.  PHOTOGRAPH: NAYANTHARA/

INSTAGRAM She started working as a model while still at college. She was spotted by noted Malayalam filmmaker Sathyan Anthikkad, who offered her a role in his 2003 family drama

_Manassinakkare_. The success of the film brought Nayanthara instant recognition.  In 2004, she worked in two films with Mohanlal -- Shaji Kailas's _Natturajavu_ and Fazil's

_Vismayathumbathu_, which was a huge success. PHOTOGRAPH: NAYANTHARA/ INSTAGRAM Nayanthara made her Tamil debut in Hari’s hugely successful 2005 family drama _Ayya,_ opposite Sarathkumar.

The same year saw Nayanthara team up with Rajinikanth for P Vasu’s horror comedy _Chandramukhi_. The film broke box office records with a theatrical run of over 800 days.  Nayanthara became

a household name overnight. She also played a significant role in A R Murugadoss' _Ghajini_. IMAGE: NAYANTHARA WITH VENKATESH. PHOTOGRAPH: NAYANTHARA/ INSTAGRAM Nayanthara’s first

Telugu film _Lakshmi, _opposite Venkatesh, opened to mixed reviews but ended up as a success at the box office. Her only Kannada film till date titled _Super _opposite actor-director Upendra

Rao also became a massive hit. PHOTOGRAPH: NAYANTHARA/ INSTAGRAM It was during the shooting of the Tamil film _Vallavan_ in 2006 that Nayanthara was romantically linked to the director and

co-star of the film, Simbu.  Though she denied the rumours initially, Nayanthara later confirmed that she had broken up with the actor. IMAGE: NAYANTHARA CELEBRATES ACTOR KARTHI'S

BIRTHDAY ON THE SETS. PHOTOGRAPH: NAYANTHARA/ INSTAGRAM. Selvaraghavan's _Yaaradi Nee Mohini,_ opposite Dhanush, turned out to be an important film in her career. It was both a critical

and commercial success, becoming one of the highest grossing films of the year. Her stylish avatar in Vishnuvardhan’s gangster film _Billa _also earned her a lot of recognition. IMAGE:

NAYANTHARA WITH VIKRAM. PHOTOGRAPH: NAYANTHARA/ INSTAGRAM. It was after the release of Bapu's 2011's Telugu mythological film _Sri Rama Rajyam_ -- in which she played Sita -- that

there was a sudden lull in her career. PHOTOGRAPH: NAYANTHARA/ INSTAGRAM Rumors were flying thick and fast that this would be her last film before marriage to actor-turned-director Prabhu

Deva, with whom she was in a relationship for a few years. She adopted her stage name Nayanthara as her official name. But the couple faced a lot of problems and things turned nasty when

several women organisations protested against her for having a relationship with a married man. After much controversies, Nayanthara announced that she had ended her relationship with the

actor in 2012. PHOTOGRAPH: NAYANTHARA/ INSTAGRAM Despite the personal upheavals in her life, Nayanthara came back stronger than ever professionally. Her first Tamil film after a gap of three

years -- _Raja Rani_ -- won her a Filmfare. This was followed by a series of hit films like Ajith-starrer _Arrambam, _Venkat Prabhu’s _Masss_, Mohan Raja’s _Thani Oruvan, _the horror film

_Maya _and Malayalam comedy drama_ Bhaskar The Rascal _opposite Mammooty. IMAGE: NAYANTHARA WTH VIGNESH SHIVAN. PHOTOGRAPH: NAYANTHARA/ INSTAGRAM Nayanthara is currently shooting for R Ajay

Gnanamuthu’s romantic thriller _Imaikkaa Nodigal,_ opposite Atharvaa. She is believed to be in a relationship with Vignesh Shivan, who directed her in 2015's superhit comedy _Naanum

Rowdydhaan._