Nadiya Moidu
Nadiya Moidu is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Nadiya Moidu began their career in 2013 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 13 years. With 30 credits to their name and an average audience rating of 7.2, Nadiya Moidu remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. An emerging voice in Tamil cinema, Nadiya Moidu is already attracting significant attention for their distinctive work.
- Born
- Age
- 59
Biography
Nadiya Moidu (born Zareena Moidu) is a Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu film actress best known for her roles as a mother or aunt figure in commercially successful South Indian films. She won the Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2013 for her role as the stubborn aunt Sunanda in Atharintiki Daaredi, directed by Trivikram Srinivas, and also appeared as Prabhas's mother in Mirchi (2013). After her debut in the 1984 Malayalam hit Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu opposite Mohanlal — for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress in Malayalam — she took a long break, working as a news reader for ABC in the United States and later for BBC in London before returning to Indian cinema. Her comeback in 2004 with the Tamil film M. Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi preceded a sustained second career playing strong familial roles in Telugu and Tamil productions.
Career Milestones
Film debut in Malayalam cinema
Won Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for debut film
Comeback to cinema after hiatus
Breakthrough in Telugu cinema with critically acclaimed supporting role as stubborn aunt
View film →Won Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress
View film →Nadiya Moidu by the Numbers
If you watched every Nadiya Moidu film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 2 hours. Most-paired with Pranitha — 2 films together.
Filmography
See all 30 credits →Collaboration Network
Career Analytics
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
See all →Nadiya Moidu has worked most frequently with Pranitha (2 films).

Did You Know?
Nadiya Moidu is a Malayalam film actress who also worked in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema.
She made her acting debut as a child artist in the 1980 Malayalam film 'Olangal'.
She is the sister of actress Suhasini and is part of the prominent film family, the Mani Ratnam family.
She won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the 1986 film 'Nakhakshathangal'.
She took a long hiatus from acting after her marriage in the early 1990s and made a comeback in the 2000s.
Legacy & Influence
Nadiya Moidu is a respected actress whose career in Indian cinema, primarily in Malayalam and Tamil films, is marked by versatility and a graceful transition across decades. Debuting as a child artist in the 1980 Malayalam film 'Olangal,' she rose to prominence in the mid-80s as a leading lady, often portraying strong, relatable characters. Her performances in Malayalam classics like 'Nokketha Dhoorathu Kannum Nattu' (1984) and 'Ponmutta Idunna Tharavu' (1998) showcased her natural acting prowess and ability to connect with family audiences. A significant phase of her career was in Tamil cinema during the late 80s and early 90s, where she starred opposite major stars in successful films such as 'Vetri Vizha' (1989) and 'Michael Madana Kama Rajan' (1990), the latter being a landmark multi-starrer comedy. After a hiatus following her marriage, Moidu made a notable comeback in the 2000s, skillfully reinventing herself in character and supporting roles. This second act demonstrated her enduring dedication to the craft, as she delivered memorable performances in films like the Malayalam drama 'Achuvinte Amma' (2005) and the Telugu blockbuster 'Atharintiki Daaredi' (2013). Her ability to adapt from lead roles to impactful supporting parts, maintaining dignity and screen presence, has made her a revered figure. While not necessarily a trendsetter, her sustained career trajectory—spanning from the vibrant 80s to contemporary cinema—serves as an inspiration for longevity and professionalism. She is regarded as a talented artist who contributed significantly to the golden era of Malayalam cinema and successfully navigated multiple regional film industries with consistent credibility.
