Nazriya was born on 20 December 1994,[7] in a Malayali family to Nazimuddeen and Beegum Beena. She has a brother, Naveen Nazim, who is an actor.[8][9][10] Nazriya's family lived in Al Ain, UAE, before moving to Thiruvananthapuram, where she was born.[11]
Nazriya started her career as an anchor in a Muslim oriented television quiz show named Punyamaasathiloode in 2005 on Kairali TV, following up with various other anchoring roles in singing, quiz and reality shows.[15] She also hosted Asianet's popular music reality show Star Singer.[11]
Nazriya started her acting career in 2006 as a child artist in the Malayalam film Palunku (2006), directed by Blessy, playing Geethu, daughter of Mammootty's character. She later reunited with Mammootty in Pramani (2010).[11][16] The Mohanlal-starrer Oru Naal Varum (2010) was her next venture, in which she played Dhanya, the daughter of Sreenivasan's character.[17] In 2012, she was cast in an album titled Yuvvh by Sony Music Entertainment, alongside Nivin Pauly which became very popular among the youth.[11][18]
Nazriya made her lead screen debut in the 2013 Malayalam film Maad Dad, playing Mariya alongside Lal and Lalu Alex.[19] A Times of India critic said, "Nazriya appears burdened by a badly conceived role that appears too heavy for her."[20] She next appeared in the Malayalam-Tamil bilingual Neram, marking her Tamil debut. She was associated with the team of Yuvvh—director Alphonse Putharen and actor Nivin Pauly again for the film.[21] A major commercial success, the scene where Nivin proposes to Nazriya acquired cult status among the audience.[22][23] Paresh C Palicha stated that she has a "striking screen presence". The film won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South.[24]
Later, Nazriya played an IT professional Keerthana, in the Tamil film Raja Rani, opposite Arya.[25] Gautaman Bhaskaran from Hindustan Times noted, "The one person who caught my attention was Nazriya Nazim, who as Arya's lover, is absolutely gorgeous with a face that is so expressive that we do not need her to speak".[26] It was another box-office success.[27] Her final release that year was the Tamil film Naiyaandi, in which she played a dentist Vanaroja, opposite Dhanush. The film received negative reviews and was her only failure that year.[28][29]
Nazriya had five releases in 2014, her most successful year. She first played Shahana in the Malayalam film Salalah Mobiles, opposite Dulquer Salmaan, a box office failure.[30] In her next Malayalam film Ohm Shanthi Oshaana, opposite Nivin Pauly, Nazriya played a medical student Pooja. The film became a blockbuster and one of the highest-grossing film of the year.[31][32] Her performance was praised by critics with The New Indian Express stating, "The performance by Nazriya is the highlight of the movie. Her acting leaves some bright spots but she lacks some efforts in the emotional scenes."[33] Post this, she appeared in the Malayalam-Tamil bilingual, Vaayai Moodi Pesavum, opposite Dulquer Salmaan, playing a doctor Anjana.[34] Subha J. Rao of The Hindu appreciated Nazriya and added that her "eyes speak volumes". It became a box office success.[35]
Following these film, Nazriya played Divya, a MBA aspirant forced in an arrange marriage, opposite Fahadh Faasil in the Malayalam film Bangalore Days, her career's most notable film.[36] The film became a box-office success and one of the highest grossing Malayalam films of all time, following which it gained a cult status.[37][38] Aswin J Kumar of The Times of India opined that Nazriya assures she is "one for the future", while Sify termed her act to be "full of life".[39][40] Her final release that year was the Tamil film, Thirumanam Enum Nikkah, opposite Jai, where she played an Vishnu Priya, who assume fake identity of a Muslim girl.[41][42] Anupama Subramanian of Deccan Chronicle found her to be "adorable".[43] Both Ohm Shanthi Oshaana and Bangalore Days won her the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress, while the former earned her Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam nomination.[44] This success was followed by her marriage to Fahadh Faasil, after which she took a break from acting.[45]
Career progression and expansion (2018–present)
Nazriya made her comeback to films after a four-year break, with the Malayalam film Koode, alongside Prithviraj. She played Jenny, Prithviraj's sister in the film.[46] The film was a commercial success and earned her another Filmfare Best Actress – Malayalam nomination.[47]Anna MM Vetticad opined: "The writing and Nazriya’s acting often cutesify Jenny. Though this sort of hyper-bubbly girl is too familiar a sight in commercial Indian cinema, Nazriya’s charm is hard to resist."[48]
In 2020, she reunited with Fahadh Faasil, in Trance, playing a model and sex worker Esther.[49] The film became a box-office failure due to COVID-19, but Cris from The News Minute found her character to be "charming" and added that she has matured as an actor.[50] That year, she also played a cameo in Maniyarayile Ashokan, as Jacob Gregory's wife.[51] Haricharan Pudipeddi was appreciative of her appearance in the film.[52]
Nazriya expanded to Telugu films in 2022. She played a professional photographer Leela, opposite Nani in Ante Sundaraniki.[53][54] The film was a major commercial success overseas.[55] Janani K of India Today noted, "Nazriya has once again impressed everyone with her ultimate cuteness. You could see Leela in her and she has done total justice to her character."[56] The film earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu nomination.[57]
In her only release of 2024, Nazriya marked her comeback to Malayalam films after four years, with Sookshmadarshini.[58] She played Priyadarshini, a homemaker unravelling her neighbour's secret alongside Basil Joseph.[59] Anandu Suresh found her to be "inconsistent" initially, adding that she eventually delivers a "more compelling performance".[60] The film emerged a box office success and one of the highest grossing Malayalam films of all time.[61][62]
Nazriya will next make her web debut with the Tamil series Madras Mystery.[63]
Personal life
Nazriya met actor Fahadh Faasil on the sets of their film Bangalore Days, in 2013 and they eventually began dating.[64][65] Following a year courtship, the couple got engaged on 20 January 2014.[66] Nazriya married Fahadh on 21 August 2014, in Thiruvananthapuram.[67][68]
Off-screen work
In addition to acting, Nazriya supports various causes and charitable organisations. In 2014, she supported Kerala Government's online campaign against drugs.[69] In 2024, she and her husband, Fahadh contributed ₹25 lakhs for the relief work of Wayanad landslides.[70]
Nazriya is a celebrity endorser for brands such as Camerry and Merricrem Icecreams.[71][72] She has been cover model for several magazines including Vanitha.[73]
Artistry and public image
Nazriya at an event in 2019
Shilpa Nair Anand of The Hindu termed her as "Kerala’s sweetheart".[74] Nikhil Skaria Korah of Onmanorama noted, "Nazriya Nazim's cute expressions and the roles of chirpy and happy young women in many movies had earned her the "girl-next-door" status."[75]
Her characters from Ohm Shanthi Oshaana and Bangalore Days, are considered among the strongest female roles in Malayalam films. On Ohm Shanthi Oshaana, ScoopWhoop noted, "Nazriya's Pooja is quite new and refreshing in Malayalam cinema".[3] The film was narrated from a woman’s perspective, which The Hindu found to be a "rarity" in Malayalam films.[2] Parvati Mohan of Film Companion, spoke about Divya from Bangalore Days: "Kunju's is a very realistic empowerment. Despite operating within the bounds of patriarchy, she gets what she wants out of it, in the best way that she can."[76] For these performance, Ranjana K of Mathrubhumi opined that there is no actress in Malayalam cinema to replace Nazriya.[77]
^K., Ranjana (30 December 2019). "ഈ ദശാബ്ദത്തിലെ മികച്ച സിനിമകള് ഏതൊക്കെ?" [Which are the Best Films of This Decade?]. Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
