Raai Laxmi
Lakshmi Rai (born on 5 May 1989), professionally credited as Raai Laxmi[2][3] is an Indian film actress and model born in Belgaum who predominantly appears in Tamil and Malayalam as well as Telugu and Kannada films. She made her Bollywood debut with the film Julie 2 (2017).[4][5]
Raai Laxmi | |
---|---|
Born | Lakshmi Rai 5 May 1989[note 1][1] |
Nationality | Indian |
Occupation |
|
Years active | 2005– present |
Raai has completed over 14 years in the film industry, acting in over 50 films in several languages.[6]
Early life
Raai Lakshmi was born on 5 May 1989 in Belgaum, Karnataka to Ram Raibagi and Manjula Raibagi.[7][8]
Career
In 2005, at the age of 15,[9] Laxmi made her film debut in the Tamil-language Karka Kasadara after director R. V. Udayakumar saw her performance in the Kannada short film Valmiki.[10] Subsequently, she appeared in a number of Tamil films, including the comedy film Kundakka Mandakka (2005) opposite R. Parthiban, Perarasu's action-masala flick Dharmapuri (2006) and the romance film Nenjai Thodu (2007). In 2008, she began working in more serious films such as the drama film Velli Thirai, in which she played herself, and the action thriller Dhaam Dhoom, directed by Jeeva. She received positive feedback for her portrayal of a lawyer in the latter. A review from Behindwoods wrote: "The latter (Raai Lakshmi) sizzles even as she is supposed to play the court professional who is caught in the web of smuggling drugs".[11] She won her first Filmfare Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category.
She made her debut in Malayalam in 2007, starring in Rock & Roll, opposite Mohanlal. She followed it up with several successful films such as Annan Thambi, 2 Harihar Nagar (2009),[12] Evidam Swargamanu (2009) opposite Mohanlal, and Chattambinadu (2009) opposite Mammootty. She appeared in three Tamil films in 2009, Muthirai, Vaamanan and Naan Avanillai 2.
In Vaamanan, she played a glamorous supermodel.[13] In 2010, she was seen in three films. She made special appearances during song sequences in two of them, In Ghost House Inn and Pen Singam and portrayed a cowgirl in the Tamil film Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam.[13]
Public recognition and success (2011–2014)
Raai Lakshmi's first 2011 release was Christian Brothers, which was a huge commercial success. Her next two films were Tamil projects, the comedy horror Kanchana and the Venkat Prabhu-directed action thriller Mankatha, starring Ajith Kumar. She played a negative character in the latter, which was received positively by critics.[14][15] Both films emerged as high financial successes.[14] Following Kanchana's success, she was signed on to reprise the role in its Kannada remake.[16]
She performed an item number in the movie Pen Singam which went unnoticed. However, she performed her first successful item number opposite Ravi Teja in his Telugu film Balupu (2013) following which she signed to perform various item numbers with small cameo roles in films like "Money Money" in Vaamanan.
Her latest release Arabiyum, Ottakavum, P. Madhavan Nairum opposite Mohanlal was met with mixed reviews but turned out to a commercial success. Her 2014 films were Aranmanai[17] and Irumbu Kuthirai in Tamil,[18] Rajadhi Raja in Malayalam[19] and Shrungara in Kannada.[20]
Debut in Bollywood (2015–present)
In 2015, she signed three Malayalam films, Arabian Safari Preview and Santhoshayi Gopiyetta and three Tamil films, Oru Ticketla Rendu Cinema,[21] Sowkarpettai and Arjun, Divya Matrum Karthik.[22] After a brief gap of two years, she performed her second item number opposite Pawan Kalyan in his Telugu film Sardaar Gabbar Singh (2016).[23]
Later she signed two Hindi films Akira[24] and Julie 2.[25][26] Julie 2 is her first Hindi film as the main lead.[27]
In May 2016 she signed to perform her third item number in Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva.[28] In October 2016 she signed to perform her fourth item number with Chiranjeevi in his 150th film Khaidi No. 150.[29][30]
In 2018 she made her comeback to Malayalam cinema with the Mammootty starrer Oru Kuttanadan Blog
Filmography
Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role(s) | Language | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Karka Kasadara | Anjali | Tamil | ||
Kanchanamala Cable TV | Kanchana | Telugu | |||
Kundakka Mandakka | Roopa | Tamil | |||
Valmiki | Lakshmi Deshpande | Kannada | |||
2006 | Neeku Naaku | Saranya | Telugu | ||
Dharmapuri | Valarmathy | Tamil | |||
2007 | Nenjai Thodu | Asihwarya | |||
Rock N' Roll | Daya Sreenivas | Malayalam | |||
Snehana Preethina | Lakshmi | Kannada | |||
2008 | Velli Thirai | Herself | Tamil | Cameo appearance | |
Annan Thambi | Thenmozhi | Malayalam | |||
Minchina Ota | Lakshmi | Kannada | |||
Parunthu | Rakhi | Malayalam | |||
Ragasiya Snehithane | Jennifer | Tamil | |||
Dhaam Dhoom | Aarthi Chinappa | ||||
2009 | 2 Harihar Nagar | Maya/Christina Honai/Serina | Malayalam | ||
Muthirai | Kavya | Tamil | |||
Vaamanan | Pooja | ||||
Naan Avanillai 2 | Deepa | ||||
Oru Kadhalan Oru Kadhali | Charanya | ||||
Chattambinadu | Gouri | Malayalam | |||
Evidam Swargamanu | Advocate Sunitha | ||||
2010 | In Ghost House Inn | Maya/Christina Honai/Serina | Guest appearance | ||
Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam | Pakki | Tamil | |||
Pen Singam | Herself | Special appearance in the song "Adi Aadi Asaiyum Edupu" | |||
2011 | Christian Brothers | Sofia | Malayalam | ||
Kanchana | Priya | Tamil | |||
Mankatha | Sona | ||||
Oru Marubhoomikkadha | Meenakshy Thampuran, Manasi Thampuran | Malayalam | |||
2012 | Casanovva | Hana | |||
Mayamohini | Maya, Katrina | ||||
Adhinayakudu | Deepthi | Telugu | |||
Kalpana | Priya | Kannada | |||
Thaandavam | Geetha | Tamil | |||
2013 | Vana Yuddham | Vijetha Vasisht | |||
Attahasa | Kannada | ||||
Onbadhule Guru | Sanjana | Tamil | |||
Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha | Fouzia Hassan IPS | Malayalam | |||
Balupu | Herself | Telugu | Special appearance in the song "Lucky Lucky Rai" | ||
2014 | Irumbu Kuthirai | Christina | Tamil | ||
Rajadhi Raja | Radha | Malayalam | |||
Aranmanai | Maya | Tamil | |||
2016 | Bangalore Naatkal | Lakshmi | |||
Sowkarpettai | Maya | ||||
Sardaar Gabbar Singh | Herself | Telugu | Special appearance in the song "Tauba Tauba" | ||
Akira | Maya | Hindi | |||
2017 | Khaidi No. 150 | Herself | Telugu | Special appearance in the song "Ratthaalu" | |
Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva | Herself | Tamil | Special appearance in the song "Hara Hara Mahadevaki" | ||
Julie 2 | Julie | Hindi | |||
2018 | Oru Kuttanadan Blog | Sreejaya | Malayalam | ||
2019 | Where Is the Venkatalakshmi | Venkatalakshmi | Telugu | ||
Neeya 2 | Malar / Naharani | Tamil | |||
Officer Arjun Singh IPS Batch 2000 | Herself | Hindi | Special appearance in the song "Haya Re Jawani" | ||
2020 | Jhansi | Jhansi | Kannada | Post Production | |
Cinderella | Tamil | Filming | |||
Anandha Bhairavi | Telugu | Filming | |||
Television
Year | Show | Role | Language | Channel | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | Star Challenge | Contestant | Malayalam | Flowers TV | Reality show |
Awards and nominations
Asianet Film Awards
- 2008 : Asianet Award for Best Female New Face of the Year - Rock N' Roll
- 2010 : Asianet Most Popular Actress Award - Evidam Swargamanu
South Indian International Movie Awards
- 2012 : 1st South Indian International Movie Awards for Stylish Star of South Indian Cinema - Female.[31]
Surya TV awards
- 2010: Nominated - Best Actress - 2 Harihar Nagar
Filmfare Awards South
- 2008 : Nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil - Dhaam Dhoom
- 2010 : - Nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam Evidam Swargamanu
- 2011 - Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil - Mankatha
- Other awards
Based on an online poll conducted by The Times of India, Raai Lakshmi won the "Best Actor Award in a Negative Role - Female" for Mankatha.[32]
Notes
- Birth date validated at OTRS ticket # 2016051310004058
References
- https://m.timesofindia.com/topic/Raai-Laxmi?val=3728
- "It's Raai Laxmi from now!". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- "Lakshmi Rai is now Raai Laxmi"
- "'Julie 2' teaser: Southern siren Raai Laxmi's bold, beautiful and blessed Bollywood debut".
- "Julie 2 teaser: Raai Laxmi is 'bold, beautiful and blessed' in her first Bollywood film. Watch video".
- "50 FILMS IN JUST 10 YEARS".
- "I was brought up like a boy: Raai Laxmi"
- "Lakshmi Rai flooded with messages on birthday"
- "Why Raai Laxmi doesn't share space with Sonakshi Sinha"
- https://www.indiaglitz.com/another-rai-another-beauty-queen-tamil-news-12209
- "DHAAM DHOOM – MOVIE REVIEW CAST Jayam Ravi Kangana Ranaut Lakshmi Rai". Behindwoods.com. 5 December 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- "Lakshmi Rai's hat trick with Mammootty!". Sify. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- "Lakshmi is happy with life". The Times Of India. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- Prakash KL (6 September 2011). "Lakshmi Rai Ravishing | Ajith Kumar Mankatha". Oneindia.in. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- "I'm on cloud nine, says Lakshmi Rai". ppSify. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- "Lakshmi in Kanchana Kannada remake". The Times Of India. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- "Lakshmi signs her next film with Sundar C - The Times of India". The Times Of India.
- "Lakshmi's a biker in her next with Atharvaa - The Times of India". The Times Of India.
- "Lakshmi Rai teams up with Mammootty again - The Times of India". The Times Of India.
- "Lakshmi Rai signs a new Kannada film - The Times of India". The Times Of India.
- "Sexy Laxmi to Go 'Hungry' for Lawrence!"
- "Raai Laxmi Recovering from Injury: Leggy Lass Thanks Fans for their Prayers"
- "Excited to work with Pawan Kalyan: Raai Laxmi"
- "Raai Laxmi lands a special role in ‘Akira’"
- "Raai Laxmi will sport a bikini in Julie 2"
- "Bold and beautiful 'Julie 2' poster: Raai Laxmi sets temperature soaring!"
- "'SANKSAARI' PAHLAJ NIHALANI TURNS DISTRIBUTOR FOR JULIE 2".
- "Raai Laxmi to shake a leg with Lawrence"
- "Laxmi Raai starts shooting for Khaidi No 150"
- "Raai Laxmi to shake a leg with Chiru"
- "SIIMA Awards 2012: Winners List". The Times Of India. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- "The Chennai Times Film Awards 2011". The Times Of India. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
External links
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