Laila (actress)


Laila is an Indian actress. She has acted in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi language films. She is known for her critically acclaimed and award-winning performances in the Bala-directed films Nandha & Pithamagan, and the commercial Tamil blockbusters Parthen Rasithen, Dheena, Dhill, Alli Thandha Vaanam, Unnai Ninaithu, Ullam Ketkume and Kanda Naal Mudhal.

Career

She made her debut in the Telugu film Egire Paavurama, directed by S. V. Krishna Reddy. Laila began to receive offers from prominent directors to feature in Tamil films and turned down films such as Dharma Chakkaram and Kadhal Palli by K. S. Ravikumar and Pavithran respectively. She subsequently signed on to appear in the lead role in VIP after Pooja Kumar had walked out of the project. However, Laila was left unimpressed when the producer asked her to consider changing her stage name to Pooja, as the invitations for the film had already been printed, and furthermore, she revealed that she was unaware of Rambha also being a heroine in the film. Laila subsequently dropped out of the project, wanting to make her Tamil debut in a film where she played the sole heroine.
The Mumbai-based Laila then worked with Ajith in Dheena and Parthen Rasithen with Prashanth.
Then came Dhill and Pithamagan with Vikram. In between, Laila took a break and went back to Mumbai. However, she returned to Kollywood with a big bang. Her role in the movie Ullam Ketkumae won her accolades from the masses. She was one of the successful Tamil actresses for a brief time.
Laila has made a comeback to the Tamil entertainment industry. She first appeared in a ready-made flavored milk commercial post her sabbatical in 2018. She will be appearing as the judge for the dance show DJD Juniors on Zee Tamil alongside actresses Sudha Chandran and Sneha.

Personal life

She married Mehdi, an Irani businessman, on 6 January 2006. She dated him for eight years before marriage. According to Laila, they were engaged for four years before marriage. The couple has two sons, aged 9 and 12. She is Goan but speaks Tamil, English, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and French at home and she is a Roman Catholic.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleLanguageNotes
1996Dushman Duniya KaLataHindi
1997Egire PaavuramaJyotiTeluguNominated-Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu
1997UgadiLailaTelugu
1997PellichesukundamLailaTelugu
1997KelonaUrdu
1997Itha Oru SnehagathaHemaMalayalam
1998Khaidi GaruRajyamTelugu
1998Pavitra PremaDr. Shakunthala DeviTelugu
1998SubhalekaluTelugu
1998Love Story 1999MeenaTelugu
1999KallazhagarAandaalTamil
1999MudhalvanShubhaTamil
1999Naa Hrudayamlo Nidurinchee CheliMiniTelugu
1999RojavanamRojaTamil
2000Nuvve KavaliTeluguSpecial appearance
2000Parthen RasithenSarikaTamil
2000Devara MagaKannada
2001DheenaChithraTamil
2001DhillAashaTamil
2001Alli Thandha VaanamDivyaTamil
2001NandhaKalyaniTamilFilmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress
2001Moosa KhanUrdu
2002KamarasuVasanthiTamil
2002Unnai NinaithuNirmalaTamil
2002Mounam PesiyadheTamil
2003Three RosesNandhuTamil
2003PithamaganManjuTamilFilmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress
Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress
ITFA Best Actress Award
2003War and LoveSerinaMalayalam
2003SwapnakooduMalayalamGuest appearance
2004GambeeramVijayalakshmiTamil
2004JaisuryaBabyTamil
2004Rama KrishnaLakshmi VishwanathKannada
2004Mr & Mrs Sailaja KrishnamurthySailajaTelugu
2005Ullam KetkumaePoojaTamil
2005Kanda Naal MudhalRamyaTamil
2005InsanInduHindi
2006ParamasivanMalarTamil
2006Thandege Thakka MagaPancharangiKannada
2006ThirupathiTamilSpecial appearance
2006Mahha SamudramDeviMalayalam
2019AliceTamilFilming