Aishwarya Lekshmi


Aishwarya Lekshmi is an Indian actress and producer who works predominantly in Malayalam and Tamil films. She has received one Filmfare Award South, one Kerala Film Critics Association Award and three SIIMA Awards.
Aishwarya Lekshmi made her acting debut with the 2017 Malayalam film Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela, which earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South. She went on receive praises for Mayaanadhi, Varathan, Kaanekkaane, the two-part Tamil epic Ponniyin Selvan: I, which is her highest grossing releases and Ponniyin Selvan: II, Ammu, Kumari, Gatta Kusthi, Hello Mummy and Maaman.
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Early life and career

Lekshmi was born on 6 September 1991 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. She did her schooling at the Holy Angel's Convent Thiruvananthapuram and at Sacred Heart Convent Girls Higher Secondary School, Angamaly. She completed her MBBS degree from Sree Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences, Ernakulam, in 2017. She later completed her internship at the institute.
Lekshmi has been modelling since 2014. She has appeared on the covers of magazines such as Flower World, Salt Studio, Vanitha and FWD Life. She has modelled for brands such as Chemmanur Jewellers, Karikkineth Silks, La Brenda, Ezva Boutique, Akshaya Jewels and Sri Lakshmi Jewellery among others.

Career

Debut and breakthrough (2017-2021)

Lekshmi states that she "never planned on acting", but gave her audition for Althaf Salim's 2017 film Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela starring Nivin Pauly and was cast in a prominent role. She then played an aspiring actress in the romantic thriller Mayaanadhi opposite Tovino Thomas. The film became a major success. Neelima Mohan of The News Minute called her the "heart and soul" of the film and added, "Emotions flit easily across her face—as a lover, the struggling model, the mortified daughter. She is a natural." In 2018, she appeared in Varathan opposite Fahadh Faasil, a box office success. Sajin Shrijith stated, "Aishwarya gets her own mass moment too through her act."
In 2019, Lekshmi had three Malayalam releases: Vijay Superum Pournamiyum opposite Asif Ali, Argentina Fans Kaattoorkadavu opposite Kalidas Jayaram and Brother's Day alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran. She also made her Tamil debut that year, with Action, opposite Vishal. In 2021, she first appeared in the Tamil film Jagame Thandhiram opposite Dhanush, and then had two Malayalam film releases, Laughing Budha and Kaanekkaane opposite Tovino Thomas. Anna MM Vetticad noted, "Tovino and Aishwarya are as immersed in their roles as they usually are, making it hard to unequivocally pass judgement against their characters."

Career expansion and progression (2022-present)

The year 2022 was a turning point in her career with nine film releases. Among these, only Gargi, Ponniyin Selvan: I and Gatta Kusthi emerged as commercial successes. Apart from a cameo in Gargi, which she also co-produced, she appeared in the anthology Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa, in Godse alongside Satyadev, her Telugu debut, in Captain opposite Arya. Ponniyin Selvan: I saw her play Poonguzhali opposite Ashwin Kakumanu. The film emerged as the fifth highest-grossing Tamil film of all time. She received praises for playing the titular role of a teacher in Archana 31 Not Out, a domestic violence victim in Ammu and an orphan in Kumari. For Ammu, Haricharan Pudipeddi of Hindustan Times noted, "As the helpless wife, Aishwarya plays her part so well. This is one of her best performances." Her last release that year was Gatta Kusthi, where she played a wrestler opposite Vishnu Vishal. Navein Darshan of Cinema Express stated, "Aishwarya sells the role effortlessly with both comedy and action."
In 2023, Lekshmi first appeared in Christopher alongside Mammootty. Gayathri Gokul of The Week stated that she does justice to her role. Lekshmi then reprised her character in the sequel Ponniyin Selvan: II. Later, she appeared opposite Dulquer Salmaan in King of Kotha. Lekshmi's first film of 2024 was Pon Ondru Kanden opposite Ashok Selvan, which simultaneously released on OTT and television. In her next film, she played an educated woman opposite Sharaf U Dheen in Hello Mummy. It was a box office success.
Lekshmi's first release of 2025 saw her play a doctor opposite Soori in Maaman, which emerged a commercial success. Avinash Ramachandran of Cinema Express stated, "Aishwarya is terrific in a role that is quite layered, but is never given the breathing space to become something more prolific." She next played Silambarasan's long lost sister in the multi-starrer Thug Life, which underperformed at the box office.

In the media

Lekshmi was named the Kochi Times Most Desirable Women, both in 2018 and 2019, and was placed 4th in the list, in 2020. Her performance in Mayaanadhi, is regarded as one of the "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade" by Film Companion. Lekshmi is also considered as one of the highest paid Malayalam actresses. In 2022, Forbes India included her in its first ever "Showstoppers – India's Top 50 Outperformers" list.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes
2017Njandukalude Nattil OridavelaRachelMalayalam
2017MayaanadhiAparna "Appu" RaviMalayalam
2018VarathanPriya PaulMalayalam
2019Vijay Superum PournamiyumPinky / PournamiMalayalam
2019Argentina Fans KaattoorkadavuMeharunnisa KhaderkuttyMalayalam
2019Brother's DaySanta / PeeliMalayalam
2019ActionMeeraTamil
2021Jagame ThandhiramAttillaTamil
2021Laughing BudhaDr. AngelMalayalam
2021KaanekkaaneSneha GeorgeMalayalam
2022Archana 31 Not OutArchanaMalayalam
2022Putham Pudhu Kaalai VidiyaadhaaShobiTamilSegment: "Nizhal Tharum Idham"
2022GargiAhalyaTamilCameo appearance; also producer
2022CaptainKavyaTamil
2022Ponniyin Selvan: IPoonguzhaliTamil
2022Gatta KusthiKeerthi NairTamil
2022GodseVaishaliTelugu
2022AmmuAmudha "Ammu" RavindranathTelugu
2022KumariKumari DevanMalayalamalso co-producer
2023ChristopherAdvocate Amina IsmailMalayalam
2023King of KothaTaraMalayalam
2023Ponniyin Selvan: IIPoonguzhaliTamil
2024Pon Ondru KandenSundari "Sandy"Tamil
2024Hello MummyStephyMalayalam
2025MaamanDr. RekhaTamil
2025Thug LifeChandra / Dr. AnnaTamil
2026TeluguFilming
2026MalayalamFilming
2026Keerthi NairTamilFilming