Indian actress and film producer Nayanthara works in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. She made her acting debut with Sathyan Anthikad's Malayalam film Manassinakkare in 2003, after the success, she became a popular star in the Malayalam industry. She did two more Malayalam films the following year: Shaji Kailas' Natturajavu, and Fazil's psychological thriller Vismayathumbathu. Nayanthara's first appearance in a non-Malayalam film was Hari's Tamil film Ayya which released in 2005. While shooting for the film, she was cast in another Tamil film Chandramukhi, after its director P. Vasu's wife had seen Manassinakkare and recommended her. The film ran for over 100 days in theatres, eventually turning Nayanthara into one of the most-sought after actresses in Tamil cinema.