Priya Vasudev Mani Iyer, famously known as Priyamani, is a celebrated Indian actress and former model. Her career spans multiple South Indian film industries, including Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and even Hindi cinema.

Wiki/Biography

Priyamani was born on Monday, 4 June 1984, in Bengaluru. As of 2024, she is 40 years old. Her zodiac sign is Gemini. She completed her schooling at Bengaluru’s Sri Aurobindo Memorial School and Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian Law College. A talented student, she excelled in dance and sports, actively participating in extracurricular activities. Her modeling career began during her school years, featuring in print advertisements for brands like Kancheepuram, Erode, and Lakshmi silks. While still in 12th standard, renowned Tamil film director Bharathiraja introduced her to the film industry. She later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology through correspondence.

Physical Appearance

• Height (approx.): 5′ 6”
• Hair Colour: Black
• Eye Colour: Black

Family, Caste & Boyfriend

Priyamani hails from a South Indian Hindu family. Her father, Vasudeva Mani Iyer, is a successful entrepreneur in the plantation business. Her mother, Latha Mani Iyer, is a former national badminton player and a former bank manager at the Union Bank of India. She also has a brother, Vishakh, who is also an entrepreneur. There were rumors linking her to co-star Prithiviraj from the film Raavanan and South star Jagapthi Babu, but these remained unconfirmed. She eventually married Mustafa Raj, an event management company owner, on August 23, 2017, after getting engaged on May 27, 2016.

Career

Priyamani’s acting journey began in 2003 with the Telugu film “Evare Atagaadu.” Her Malayalam debut followed with “Sathyam,” although the film wasn’t successful. Her Tamil debut was in 2004 with “Kangalal Kaidhu Sei.” The Telugu film “Pellaina Kothalo” (2006) was a significant success, leading to further opportunities. Her role as ‘Muthazhagu’ in the Tamil film “Paruthiveeran” brought her widespread recognition.

She then appeared in several notable films including “Yamadonga,” “Malaikottai,” “Thirakkatha,” and “Arumugam.” Her Kannada debut was in 2009 with “Raam,” and her Bollywood debut came the same year with “Raavan.” She also starred in the popular Bollywood film “Chennai Express.” Beyond films, Priyamani has judged numerous dance reality shows like “D 4 Dance,” “D2 – D 4 Dance,” “Dancing Star 2,” “Kings of Dance,” “D3 – D 4 Dance,” and “Dancing Star 3.” In 2019, she appeared in the acclaimed Amazon Prime web series “The Family Man.” She’s also graced the covers of several magazines, including “Wedding Life Magazine,” “Just For Women Magazine,” “FWD Magazine,” and “Grihalakshmi Magazine,” and walked the ramp for designers like Nick Roshan.

Controversies

Priyamani has faced several controversies throughout her career. One involved a fabricated scandal with actor Sachiin Joshi in 2012. Another arose in 2016 when she shared her engagement news and received significant negative feedback. In the same year, comments she made regarding a rape case drew criticism. A separate controversy involved a movie (“Engiruntho Vandaal”) where payment disputes led to legal action. In 2021, allegations surfaced regarding the validity of her marriage to Mustafa Raj due to his previous marriage, although these were later refuted.

Awards

Priyamani’s talent has earned her numerous accolades:

Favourites

• Food: Chicken Biriyani
• Desserts: Ice creams, Chocolates
• Actor: Kamal Haasan
• Actress: Sridevi
• Director: Mani Ratnam
• Sport: Cricket

Facts

Priyamani enjoys dancing and listening to music. She is a non-vegetarian. Growing up, she played cricket and hide-and-seek with boys due to the lack of girls her age in her neighborhood. Her initial foray into modeling was to earn some extra money, with no intention of pursuing acting. She is an ardent animal lover, frequently sharing pictures with her dogs on Instagram. She is fluent in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, English, Telugu, and Kannada. She is the granddaughter of the renowned Carnatic vocalist Kamala Kailas and the second cousin of Bollywood actress Vidya Balan. Her grandmother played a crucial role in supporting her acting career. She met her husband Mustafa Raj at a Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) event.