About Raai Laxmi (Lakshmi Rai)

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 andAdhinayakudu (both 2012).

Early life and career

Raai Lakshmi was born in Bangalore, Karnataka, and brought up atBelgaum. 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 Dhoomdirected 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".^[4] She won her first Filmfare Awardnomination in the Best Supporting Actress category.

She made her debut in Malayalam in 2007, starring in Rock & Roll oppositeMohanlal. She followed it up with several successful films such as Annan Thambi, 2 Harihar Nagar (2009),^[5] Evidam Swargamanu (2009) oppositeMohanlal, and Chattambinadu (2009) opposite Mammootty. She appeared in three Tamil films in 2009, Muthirai, Vaamanan and Naan Avanillai 2. InVaamanan, she played a glamorous supermodel.^[6] 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 Singamand portrayed a cowgirl in the Tamil film Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam.^[6]

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.^[7][8] Both films emerged high financial success.^[7] Following Kanchana's success, she was signed on to reprise the role in its Kannada remake too.^[9] Her latest release Arabiyum, Ottakavum, P. Madhavan Nairum opposite Mohanlal is declared superhit by trade.^{[citation needed]}

2014 will see the release of her films Aranmanai ^[10] and Irumbu Kuthirai in Tamil,^[11] Rajadhi Raja in Malayalam ^[12] andShrungara in Kannada.^[13]

In June 2014 she changed her name from Lakshmi Rai to Raai Laxmi.^[14]

Awards[edit]

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. In 2012, Raai Laxmi won the Stylish Star of South Indian Cinema - Female at South Indian International Movie Awards SIIMA Awards 2012.

Filmography[edit]

Year	Film	Role	Language	Notes
2005	Karka Kasadara	Anjali	Tamil
2005	Kanchanamala Cable TV	Kanchana	Telugu
2005	Kundakka Mandakka	Roopa	Tamil
2005	Valmiki		Kannada
2006	Neeku Naaku		Telugu
2006	Dharmapuri	Valarmathy	Tamil
2007	Nenjai Thodu	Aishwarya	Tamil
2007	Rock N' Roll	Daya Sreenivas	Malayalam	Asianet Award for Best Female New Face of the Year
2007	Snehana Preethina	Lakshmi	Kannada
2008	Velli Thirai	Herself	Tamil	Cameo appearance
2008	Annan Thambi	Thenmozhi	Malayalam
2008	Minchina Ota	Lakshmi	Kannada
2008	Parunthu	Rakhi	Malayalam
2008	Ragasiya Snehithane	Jenny	Tamil
2008	Dhaam Dhoom	Aarthi Chinappa	Tamil	Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil
2009	2 Harihar Nagar	Maya aka Christina Honai	Malayalam
2009	Muthirai	Kavya	Tamil
2009	Vaamanan	Pooja	Tamil
2009	Naan Avanillai 2	Deepa	Tamil
2009	Chattambinadu	Gouri	Malayalam
2009	Evidam Swargamanu	Advocate Sunitha	Malayalam	Asianet Most Popular Actress Award JaiHind TV Film Award for Most Popular Actress Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam
2010	In Ghost House Inn	Maya aka Christina Honai	Malayalam	Special appearance
2010	Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam	Pakki	Tamil
2010	Pen Singam	Herself	Tamil	Special appearance
2011	Christian Brothers	Sofia	Malayalam
2011	Kanchana	Priya	Tamil
2011	Mankatha	Sona	Tamil	Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil
2011	Oru Marubhoomikkadha	Meenakshy Thampuran, Manasi Thampuran	Malayalam	Double role
2012	Casanovva	Hana	Malayalam
2012	Mayamohini	Maya / Katrina	Malayalam
2012	Adhinayakudu	Deepti	Telugu
2012	Kalpana	Priya	Kannada
2012	Thaandavam	Geetha	Tamil
2013	Vana Yuddham	Vijayata Vashisht	Tamil
2013	Attahasa		Kannada
2013	Onbadhule Guru	Sanjana	Tamil
2013	Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha	Fouzia Hassan IPS	Malayalam
2013	Balupu	Herself	Telugu	Special appearance
2014	Irumbu Kuthirai	Christina	Tamil
2014	Rajadhi Raja	Radha	Malayalam
2014	Aranmanai	Maya	Tamil
2014	Shrungara		Kannada	Filming
2014	Preview		Malayalam	Filming[17]
2014	Arabian Safari		Malayalam	Filming[18]
2015	Oru Ticketla Rendu Cinema		Tamil	Filming