Raai Laxmi

Lakshmi Rai
File:Lakshmi-rai-1.jpg Rai in January 2012
Born	(1989-05-05) 5 May 1989 Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Occupation(s)	Actress, model, stage performer
Years active	2005–present

Lakshmi Rai is an Indian film actress from Bangalore, Karnataka, appearing in South Indian cinema. Since her debut in the Tamil film, Karka Kasadara (2005), Rai has appeared in many successful Tamil productions, most popular being Kanchana and Mankatha (both 2011). Rai's most notable works in Malayalam-language films have been in Annan Thambi (2008), 2 Harihar Nagar (2009), Chattambinadu (2009), Evidam Swargamanu (2009), Oru Marubhoomikkadha (2011) and Mayamohini (2012), thus establishing herself as a successful actress in the industry. She also enjoys popularity in Kannada and Telugu films, after appearing in Kalpana and Adhinayakudu (both 2012).

Early life and career

Lakshmi Rai was born on 5 May, 1989, in Bangalore and was brought up at Belgaum. She initially worked as a model before entering the film industry. She appeared in television ads such as Sylcon Footwears, Josco Jewellers, Saravana Stores, Emmanuel Silks Bru Coffee. Her mother tongue is Sourashtra.

She made her acting debut in 2005 in the Tamil film Karka Kasadara. Subsequently she appeared in a number of Tamil films, including the comedy film Kundakka Mandakka (2005) opposite R. Parthiban, Perarasu's action-masala flick Dharmapuri (2006), and the romance film Nenjai Thodu (2007). In 2008, she began working in more serious films such as the drama film Velli Thirai, in which she played herself, and the action thriller Dhaam Dhoom directed by Jeeva. She received positive feedbacks forher portrayal of a lawyer in the latter. A review from Behindwoods wrote: "The latter (Lakshmi Rai) sizzles even as she is supposed to play the curt professional who is caught in the web of smuggling drugs". She won her first Filmfare Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category.

She made her debut in Malayalam in 2007, starring in Rock & Roll opposite Mohanlal. She was noticed by the film field although film was a commercial failure. She followed it up with several successful films such as Annan Thambi, 2 Harihar Nagar (2009), Evidam Swargamanu (2009) opposite Mohanlal, and Chattambinadu (2009) opposite Mammootty. She appeared in three Tamil films in 2009, Muthirai, Vaamanan and Naan Avanillai 2. In Vaamanan, she played a glamourous supermodel. In 2010, she was seen in three films. She made special appearances during song sequences in two of them, In Ghost House Inn and Pen Singam and portrayed a cowgirl in the Tamil western adventure film Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam.

Lakshmi Rai's first 2011 release was Christian Brothers opposite Mohanlal, which was a high commercial success. Her next two films were Tamil projects, the comedy horror Kanchana and the Venkat Prabhu-directed action thriller Mankatha, starring Ajith Kumar. She essayed a negative character in the latter, which was received positively by critics. Both films emerged high financial success. Following Kanchana's success, she was signed on to reprise the role in its Kannada remake too. Her latest release Arabiyum, Ottakavum, P. Madhavan Nairum opposite Mohanlal is declared superhit by trade.

Her first 2012 release was Casanovva is a romantic action thriller opposite Mohanlal and the movie is directed by Rosshan Andrrews. The film was released on 26 January 2012 in India and gained a large opening, collecting INR 2.50 crore, thanks to the 1,000 first-day shows, the highest ever for a Malayalam movie. Mayamohini is a Malayalam comedy oppost Dileep and the movie is directed by Jose Thomas it became the highest grossing Malayalam film of 2012 and ran for more than 100 days in major release centers. Adhinayakudu starring Balakrishna is a Telugu film written and directed by Parachuri Murali The movie was later dubbed in Hindi under the title "The Action Man Adhinayakudu". Kalpana is a Kannada Comedy horror film oppost Upendra. The film is a remake of the 2011 Tamil film Kanchana. The film did well at the box office and was a 'Super Hit'. Thaandavam is a Tamil suspense thriller film directed by A. L. Vijay. Thaandavam was released worldwide on 28 September 2012 to highly positive critical reception. Its dubbed Telugu version, Siva Thaandavam, was released on 5 October 2012. he film opened extremely well 90% - 98% occupancy on first day collected INR132 million (US$2.1 million) at the box office. On its opening weekend, Thaandavam grossed INR458 million (US$7.3 million) worldwide.The film grossed INR59 million (US$940,000) in Chennai, £40,520 in the UK and $90,969 in the USA respectively. The film grossed INR560 million (US$9.0 million) in five days worldwide. The film remained at No.1 in the Chennai box office for four consecutive weeks. The film final worldwide gross INR1002 million (US$16 million) at the box office.Box office declared hit grosser at the box office.

Lakshmi Rai's first 2013 release was bilingual Vana Yuddham(Tamil) / Attahasa(Kannada) opposite Arjun and movie was released on 14 February 2013 with positive reviews. Onbadhule Guru opposite Vinay Rai is a Tamil comedy film written and directed by P. T. Selvakumar. The film released on 8 March 2013. The film was success at the box office. Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha is a Malayalam thriller film directed by Rajesh K. Abraham. The film was recognized by the Limca Book of Awards for featuring finger dance for the first time in cinema. The award is granted to the movie as part of 100 years celebration of Indian Cinema. For this film the unique theme was composed and performed by Imitiaz Abubaker an internationally acclaimed finger dancer. Balupu (Telugu: బలుపు,) is a Telugu Action oppost Ravi Teja and the film is directed by Gopichand Malineni. The film released on 28 June 2013 in Telugu and Tamil it received positive reception from critics as well as audience and was declared a 'Super Hit' at both the Indian and Overseas Box Office

The year 2014 will see the release of the film Aranmanai and rumbu Kuthirai in Tamil, Rani Ranamma in Telugu and Arabian Safari in Malayalam.

Awards

Based on an online poll conducted by The Times of India Lakshmi Rai won the "Best Actor Award in a Negative Role - Female" for Mankatha. In 2012, Lakshmi Rai won the Stylish Star of South Indian Cinema - Female at South Indian International Movie Awards SIIMA Awards 2012.

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Language	Notes
2005	Karka Kasadara	Anjali	Tamil
2005	Kanchanamala Cable TV	Kanchana	Telugu
2005	Kundakka Mandakka	Roopa	Tamil
2005	Valmiki		Kannada
2006	Neeku Naaku		Telugu
2006	Dharmapuri	Valarmathy	Tamil
2007	Nenjai Thodu	Aishwarya	Tamil
2007	Rock N' Roll	Daya Sreenivas	Malayalam	Asianet Award for Best Female New Face of the Year
2007	Snehana Preethina	Lakshmi	Kannada
2008	Velli Thirai	Herself	Tamil	Cameo appearance
2008	Annan Thambi	Thenmozhi	Malayalam
2008	Minchina Ota	Lakshmi	Kannada
2008	Parunthu	Rakhi	Malayalam
2008	Ragasiya Snehithane	Jenny	Tamil
2008	Dhaam Dhoom	Aarthi Chinappa	Tamil	Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil
2009	2 Harihar Nagar	Maya	Malayalam
2009	Muthirai	Kavya	Tamil
2009	Vaamanan	Pooja	Tamil
2009	Naan Avanillai 2	Deepa	Tamil
2009	Chattambinadu	Gouri	Malayalam
2009	Evidam Swargamanu	Sunitha	Malayalam	Asianet Most Popular Actress Award JaiHind TV Film Award for Most Popular Actress Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam
2010	In Ghost House Inn	Maya	Malayalam	Special appearance
2010	Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam	Pakki	Tamil
2010	Pen Singam	Herself	Tamil	Special appearance
2011	Christian Brothers	Sofia	Malayalam
2011	Kanchana	Priya	Tamil
2011	Mankatha	Sona	Tamil	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil
2011	Oru Marubhoomikkadha	Meenakshy Thampuran, Manasi Thampuran	Malayalam
2012	Casanovva	Hanan	Malayalam
2012	Mayamohini	Maya/Katrina	Malayalam
2012	Adhinayakudu	Deepti	Telugu
2012	Kalpana	Priya	Kannada
2012	Thaandavam	Geetha	Tamil
2013	Vana Yuddham	Vijayata Vashisht	Tamil
2013	Attahasa		Kannada
2013	Onbadhule Guru	Sanjana	Tamil
2013	Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha	Fouzia Hassan	Malayalam
2013	Balupu	Herself	Telugu	Special appearance
2013	Preview		Malayalam	Filming
2013	Arabian Safari		Malayalam	Filming
2013	Rani Ranamma		Telugu	Filming
2014	Irumbu Kuthirai		Tamil	Filming
2014	Aranmanai		Tamil	Filming

See also

• List of Indian film actresses

External links

Raai Laxmi at IMDb