Raai Laxmi

Raai Laxmi[1]
Born	Lakshmi Raibagi (1989-05-05) 5 May 1989 Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Nationality	Indian
Citizenship	Indian
Occupation	Actress, model, Stage performer
Years active	2005–present

Laxmi dancing at a CCL2 curtain raiser event

Raai Laxmi (formerly Lakshmi Rai) is an Indian film actress who mainly appears in South Indian films. She has appeared in many successful Tamil productions, the most popular ones being Muni 2: Kanchana and Mankatha (both 2011). Raai made her debut in Malayalam in 2007, starring in Rock N' Roll. She followed up with several successful films such as Annan Thambi (2008), 2 Harihar Nagar (2009), Chattambinadu (2009), Evidam Swargamanu (2009), Oru Marubhoomikkadha (2011) and Mayamohini (2012), thus establishing herself as a successful actress in the industry. She also enjoys popularity in Kannada and Telugu films, after appearing in Kalpana and Adhinayakudu (both 2012).

Early life and career

Raai Lakshmi was born in Bangalore, Karnataka,^[2] and brought up at Belgaum. She initially worked as a model before entering the film industry. She appeared in television ads such as Sylcon Footwears, Josco Jewellers, Saravana Stores, Emmanuel Silks, Bru Coffee and Fair & Lovely.

She made her acting debut in 2005 in the Tamil film Karka Kasadara. 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 feedbacks 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".^[3] 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),^[4] 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.^[5] 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.^[5]

Raai Lakshmi's first 2011 release was Christian Brothers opposite Mohanlal, 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.^[6][7] Both films emerged high financial success.^[6] Following Kanchana's success, she was signed on to reprise the role in its Kannada remake too.^[8] Her latest release Arabiyum, Ottakavum, P. Madhavan Nairum opposite Mohanlal is declared superhit by trade.

2014 will see the release of her films Aranmanai ^[9] and Irumbu Kuthirai in Tamil,^[10] Rajadhi Raja in Malayalam ^[11] and Shrungara in Kannada.^[12]

In June 2014 she changed her name from Lakshmi Rai to Raai Laxmi.^[13]

Awards

Based on an online poll conducted by The Times of India Raai Laxmi won the "Best Actor Award in a Negative Role - Female" for Mankatha.^[14] In 2012, Raai Laxmi won the Stylish Star of South Indian Cinema - Female^[15] at South Indian International Movie Awards SIIMA Awards 2012.

Filmography

Reality Show

• Star Challenge (Flowers TV)

See also

• List of Indian film actresses

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Raai Laxmi.

• Raai Laxmi at the Internet Movie Database