Introduction
Kausalya (born Kavitha Shivashankar on 30 December 1979), also known as Nandini, is an Indian film actress and model, who has starred mainly in Tamil and Malayalam films.
Career
Kausalya was pursuing a modelling career, before she debuted in the 1996 Malayalam film April 19 by Balachandra Menon. The following year, she appeared in her first Tamil film Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga and went on to star in several successful films in Tamil and Malayalam.
She had starred in over 30 films in Tamil and Malayalam in lead roles, while securing a Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for her performance in Pooveli. By the mid-2000s, she turned character artiste and went on to portray supporting roles in films such as Thirumalai and Santosh Subramaniam and ventured into television with the series Manaivi which aired 436 episodes on Sun TV.
Personal life
Kausalaya is born to Shivasankaran, an officer at Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and a Tamil mother Poornima, a house wife, on 30 December 1979. She has a brother Shanmugha who is a business man. She remains unmarried.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | April 19 | Nandhini | Malayalam | |
| 1997 | Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga | Tamil | ||
| 1997 | Lelam | Gouri Parvathi | Malayalam | |
| 1997 | Nerukku Ner | Akhila | Tamil | |
| 1998 | Jolly/Jolly | Anitha | Tamil/Telugu | |
| 1998 | Priyamudan | Priya | Tamil | |
| 1998 | Sollamale | Swetha | Tamil | |
| 1998 | Pooveli | Maha | Tamil | Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil |
| 1998 | Unnudan | Gowri | Tamil | |
| 1999 | Ayal Kadha Ezhuthukayanu | Priyadarshini | Malayalam | |
| 1999 | Alludugaaru Vachcharu | Mahalakshmi | Telugu | |
| 1999 | Thachiledathu Chundan | Usha | Malayalam | |
| 1999 | Aasaiyil Oru Kaditham | Lakshmi | Tamil | |
| 1999 | Panchadara Chilaka | Telugu | ||
| 2000 | Vaanathaippola | Nandini | Tamil | |
| 2000 | Eazhaiyin Sirippil | Kausalya | Tamil | |
| 2000 | Thai Porandhachu | Geetha | Tamil | |
| 2000 | Raja Kaliamman | Meena | Tamil | |
| 2000 | Sandhitha Velai | Agalya | Tamil | |
| 2000 | James Pandu | Kausalya | Tamil | |
| 2000 | Kuberan | Kavitha | Tamil | |
| 2000 | Ilaiyavan | Janani | Tamil | |
| 2001 | Manadhai Thirudivittai | Indhu | Tamil | |
| 2001 | Kunguma Pottu Gounder | Saraswathi | Tamil | |
| 2001 | Thaali Kaatha Kaliamman | Karpagam | Tamil | |
| 2001 | Kutty | Rohini | Tamil | |
| 2001 | Engalukkum Kaalam Varum | Lakshmi | Tamil | |
| 2001 | Naranathu Thampuran | Hemalatha | Malayalam | |
| 2001 | Karumadikuttan | Nandinikutty | ||
| 2002 | Devan | Alex Devan's sister | Tamil | |
| 2002 | Sundara Purushan | Sridevi | Malayalam | |
| 2003 | Thirumalai | Nagalakshmi | Tamil | |
| 2003 | Shivam | Dr. Gayathri Bhadran | Malayalam | |
| 2003 | Udayam | Anju | Malayalam | |
| 2003 | Ree Swalpa Barteera | Kausalya | Kannada | |
| 2003 | Gandhi Nagara | Kannada | ||
| 2003 | Badri | Kannada | ||
| 2004 | Maanikyan | Nirmala Menon | Malayalam | |
| 2004 | Gowri | Telugu | ||
| 2004 | Vajram | Nanda Devarajan | Malayalam | |
| 2005 | Mahanandi | Telugu | ||
| 2007 | Sooryan | Raji | Malayalam | |
| 2007 | Viyyalavari Kayyalu | Telugu | ||
| 2008 | Santosh Subramaniam | Santosh's sister | Tamil | |
| 2009 | I G Inspector General | Yamini | Malayalam | |
| 2009 | Ghauttham | Kannada | ||
| 2009 | Satrumun Kidaitha Thagaval | Tamil | ||
| 2010 | Rambabu Gadi Pellam | Telugu | ||
| 2014 | Poojai | Susheela | Tamil | |
| 2015 | Elinjikkavu PO | Lekshmi | Malayalam | |
| 2016 | Anuraga Karikkin Vellam | Anuradha | Malayalam | |
| 2017 | Mathangi | Mathangi | Tamil | Filming |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-2006 | Manaivi | Amsaveni/Krishnaveni | Sun TV | Tamil |
| 2004-2004 | Chitta | Surya TV | Malayalam | |
| 2006 | Thaniye | Asianet | Malayalam | |
| 2008 | Kanden Seethaiyai | STAR Vijay | Tamil | |
| 2010 | Dharmayudham | Mega TV | ||
| 2010 | Alaipayuthey | Jaya TV | ||
| 2014–2015 | Akka | Akka | Jaya TV | |
| 2015 | Spandhanam | Annie | Surya TV | Malayalam |
| 2016 | Amma | Amma | Suvarna TV | Kannada |