Many actors and actresses in Bollywood and the South Indian film industry nowadays have changed their names in pursuit of stardom. William Shakespeare may have asked “what’s in a name?” but it turns out a lot is riding on the title when it comes to the film business.
Changing one’s name before adopting a profession has been practised from the very beginning. Name changes are nothing new in the entertainment industry, and many actors choose to ditch their birth names in favour of stage names.
Some South Indian actresses who choose to go by a different moniker for the sake of showbiz success are listed below:
1- Nayanthara
As Diana Mariam Kurian, she is an Indian actress and film producer better known by her stage name, Nayanthara. She has a strong presence in South Indian cinema, particularly in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. She earns a significant amount of money for her acting work in India. In 2018, Nayanthara was one of just a handful of South Indian actresses to make Forbes India’s “Celebrity 100” list.
2- Meera Jasmine
Actress Meera Jasmine is a household name in the South Indian cinema industries of Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. Originally named Jasmine Mary Joseph, she decided to rename it to Meera Jasmine. In 2004, Meera received the National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Paadam Onnu: Oru Vilapam.
3-Nagma
Nagma, now a well-known politician, began her career in the entertainment industry. She is especially well-known for her leading parts in films released in the 1990s. She goes as Nandita Arvind Morarji by birth. She had her first appearance in a film in 1990’s Baaghi, costarring with Salman Khan. She has appeared in films in a wide range of languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Bhojpuri, and even Bengali.
4-Anjali
Anjali is a popular Indian actress and model who mostly appears in Tamil and Telugu movies. She is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Jiiva in the film Kattradhu Thamizh. Her birth name is Balatripurasundari. She was named Tamila n cinema’s best actress twice in 2010 and 2011.
5-Tabu
Tabu is a well-known Indian actress who has appeared in films in a variety of languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and English. She goes by her full name, Tabassum Fatima Hashmi, and is a talented actress with several roles under her belt. She has established herself as a multifaceted actor by portraying roles ranging from damaged women to strong female leads in both major studio films and web series.