Nayanthara and Kavin are currently gearing up for the release of their highly anticipated upcoming romantic drama film titled Hi. In a recent and candid interview, Nayanthara opened up about the very beginning of her professional journey, sharing details about her first job and the initial salary she earned. The actress, who is now widely recognized as the Lady Superstar of South Indian cinema, revealed that she received a very modest amount for her first professional assignment. According to her, she was paid only between 2000 and 3000 rupees for her first task. Today, Nayanthara has established herself as a powerhouse in the industry, owning her own production house and possessing wealth worth crores of rupees. During this conversation, she spoke extensively about her days of struggle and how she transitioned into the world of entertainment.
The Story of Nayanthara's First Salary
During a detailed conversation with Pearle Maaney, Nayanthara was asked about her first job and the first paycheck she ever received, while reflecting on her early days, she mentioned that she started her career as a model. Recalling the specific assignment, she said that she thinks it was for a cover shoot. She further added that she believes she was called for a fashion program at that time. It was for this particular assignment that she received a payment of approximately 2000 to 3000 rupees. Adding a lighthearted moment to the conversation, Pearle Maaney shared a funny anecdote from her own life, mentioning that she once received 500 rupees just for cutting her father's nails.
The Turning Point with Rajinikanth
Nayanthara's journey in the film industry began in the year 2003 with the film Manassinakkare. Her entry into films was quite accidental as she was discovered by filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad. He had seen a photograph of her in Vanitha magazine while she was working as a model. Initially, Nayanthara had no plans or intentions of entering the acting profession, but she eventually decided to accept the role of Gauri in that film, while the success of her debut film brought her significant recognition, which led to her appearing in other films such as Vismayathumbathu and Natturajavu. Following her success in Malayalam cinema, she made her debut in Tamil cinema in 2005 with the film Ayya. However, the real turning point in her career came with the film Chandramukhi, where she starred alongside the legendary Rajinikanth. This film proved to be a massive milestone, propelling her to stardom. Later, she made her grand Bollywood debut with Shah Rukh Khan in the film Jawan, which became a major hit at the box office and Notably increased her popularity among Hindi-speaking audiences.
Upcoming Projects and Future Releases
Looking ahead, Nayanthara has several exciting projects in the pipeline. She's set to appear in the Tamil romantic drama Hi alongside Kavin. This film is being directed by Vishnu Edavan, who is making his directorial debut with this project. The movie features a stellar supporting cast including Prabhu, Radhika Sarathkumar, K, while bhagyaraj, and Poornima Bhagyaraj. Fans can look forward to seeing this film in theaters as it's scheduled for release on August 28, 2026. In addition to Hi, Nayanthara will also be seen in the film Toxic and is slated to appear in Salman Khan's upcoming project SVC 63. Her journey from earning 2000 rupees to becoming a leading star in multiple film industries continues to inspire many.
