Ananya

Ayilya Nair, better known by her stage name Ananya, is an Indian film actress, who appears in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu films

Ananya made her acting debut in Malayalam with Positive (2008) and debuted the following year in Tamil with Naadodigal, which emerged a critical and commercial success. She received the Kerala State Television Award for Best Actress in 2012 for the telefilm Doore and the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil for Engaeyum Eppothum in 2011.

Ananya was born as Ayilya to Malayali parents Gopalakrishnan Nair, a noted film producer, and Praseetha in Kothamangalam, Kerala. She has one younger brother Arjun. She appeared as a child artist in one of her father's productions (executive producer), Pai Brothers (1995). Ananya pursued a B.A. degree in Communicative English at St. Xavier's College, Aluva. During her childhood, she was an archer and won the State Championship. While representing her college in a television reality show "Star Wars", she was spotted by various directors and received acting offers. After declining five projects, she decided to give it a try, accepting to act in Positive.

Her screenname changed to Ananya, when she was working in her debut Tamil film Naadodigal. The film was a high commercial success, and Ananya rose to fame, with her performance in the film being appreciated. She went on to reprise the same role in its Malayalam remake Ithu Nammude Katha. The film Shikkar alongside Mohanlal, gave her a big break in Malayalam. She did some thrilling scenes in the climax of the movie Shikkar that impressed Mohanlal, which made him call her the "Vijayashanti" of Malayalam. She also played a supporting role in Kandahar, which saw her sharing screen space with Mohanlal and Amitabh Bachchan. In 2011, Ananya played one of the female lead roles in Engeyum Eppodhum, which received rave reviews and became a sleeper hit.

In 2014, she appeared in Pulivaal, her first Tamil release after three years. As of 2018 she has Sigappu Rojakkal 2'in Tamil, Intintaa Annamayya in Telugu, Ameya in Malayalam delayed for release.

Kerala State Television Awards

• 2012 – Kerala State Television Award for Best Actress : Doore

Filmfare Awards South

• 2011 – Best Supporting Actress – Tamil: Engaeyum Eppothum

Asianet Film Award

• 2010 – Best Supporting Actress : Seniors & Doctor Love

Vijay Awards

• 2009 – Best Debut Actress: Naadodigal
• 2011 – Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Supporting Actress: Engaeyum Eppothum