Raai Laxmi
Lakshmi Rai, professionally credited as Raai Laxmi,[1][2] is an Indian actress and model who predominantly works in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi languages.[3]
Raai Laxmi | |
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![]() Laxmi in 2017 | |
Born | Lakshmi Raibagi |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2005–present |
Early life
Raai Laxmi was born in Bangalore, Karnataka to Ram Rai and Manjula Rai and her family relocated to Belgaum.[4][5][6] She belongs to the Saurashtrian Kutchi community.[6]
Acting career
Early career (2005–2010)
In 2005,[7] Laxmi made her film debut in the Tamil-language film Karka Kasadara.[8] 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). Valmiki (2005), opposite Shiva Rajkumar, marked her maiden film in Kannada.[9]
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 feedback for her portrayal of a lawyer in the latter. A review from Behindwoods wrote: "The latter (Raai Laxmi) sizzles even as she is supposed to play the court professional who is caught in the web of smuggling drugs".[10] She won her first Filmfare Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category.
She made her debut in Malayalam in 2007, starring in Rock n' Roll, opposite Mohanlal. She followed it up with several successful films such as Annan Thampi (2008), 2 Harihar Nagar (2009),[11] 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 (2009), she played a glamorous supermodel.[12] 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.[12]
Public recognition and success (2011–2014)
![](../I/Laxmi_Rai_at_CCL_match.jpg.webp)
Raai Lakshmi's first 2011 release was Christian Brothers. 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.[13] Following Kanchana's success, she was signed on to reprise the role in its Kannada remake, Kalpana (2012).[14] Her 2014 films were Irumbu Kuthirai, Aranmanai in Tamil and RajadhiRaja in Malayalam.
Recent work (2016–present)
![](../I/Laksmi_Rai_at_'Welcome_Back'_premiere.jpg.webp)
In 2016, she signed two Tamil films, Bangalore Naatkal and Sowkarpettai.[15][16] After a brief gap, she performed her second item number opposite Pawan Kalyan in his Telugu film Sardaar Gabbar Singh (2016).[17] She debuted in the Hindi film Akira.[18]
She signed to perform her fourth item number with Chiranjeevi in his 150th film Khaidi No. 150 (2017),[19][20] and later in Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva (2017) in Tamil with Raghava Lawrence.[21] Raai Laxmi portrayed the lead role in her second Hindi film Julie 2 (2017).
In 2018, she made her comeback to Malayalam cinema with the Mammootty starrer Oru Kuttanadan Blog.[22]
In 2019, she starred in horror movies Where Is the Venkatalakshmi in Telugu then Neeya 2 in Tamil that were failures.[23][24] She also starred in the Bollywood film, Officer Arjun Singh IPS Batch 2000.[25]
In 2021, she starred in the Tamil horror flick Cinderella.[26]
Filmography
Film
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role(s) | Language | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Karka Kasadara | Anjali | Tamil | Tamil debut | [27] |
Kanchanamala Cable TV | Sireesha / Kanchanamala | Telugu | Telugu debut | [28] | |
Kundakka Mandakka | Roopa | Tamil | [29] | ||
Valmiki | Lakshmi Deshpande | Kannada | Kannada debut | [8] | |
2006 | Neeku Naaku | Saranya | Telugu | [30] | |
Dharmapuri | Valarmathy | Tamil | [31] | ||
2007 | Nenjai Thodu | Aishwarya | Tamil | [27] | |
Rock n' Roll | Daya Sreenivas | Malayalam | Malayalam debut | [32] | |
Snehana Preethina | Lakshmi | Kannada | [33] | ||
2008 | Velli Thirai | Herself | Tamil | Cameo appearance | [34] |
Annan Thampi | Thenmozhi | Malayalam | [35] | ||
Minchina Ota | Lakshmi | Kannada | [36] | ||
Parunthu | Rakhi | Malayalam | [37] | ||
Ragasiya Snehithane | Jennifer | Tamil | [38] | ||
Dhaam Dhoom | Aarthi Chinappa | Tamil | [39] | ||
2009 | 2 Harihar Nagar | Maya / Christina Honai / Serina | Malayalam | [40] | |
Muthirai | Kavya | Tamil | [41] | ||
Vaamanan | Pooja | Tamil | [42] | ||
Naan Avanillai 2 | Deepa | Tamil | [43] | ||
Oru Kadhalan Oru Kadhali | Charanya | Tamil | [44] | ||
Chattambinadu | Gouri | Malayalam | [45] | ||
Ividam Swargamanu | Adv. Sunitha | Malayalam | [46] | ||
2010 | In Ghost House Inn | Serina | Malayalam | Special appearance in the song "Ole Ole" | [47] |
Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam | Pakki | Tamil | [48] | ||
Pen Singam | Herself | Tamil | Special appearance in the song "Adi Aadi Asaiyum Edupu" | ||
2011 | Christian Brothers | Sofia | Malayalam | [49] | |
Kanchana | Priya | Tamil | [50] | ||
Mankatha | Sona | Tamil | [51] | ||
Oru Marubhoomikkadha | Meenakshy Thampuran, Manasi Thampuran | Malayalam | Double Role | [52] | |
2012 | Casanovva | Hana | Malayalam | [53] | |
Mayamohini | Maya / Katrina | Malayalam | [54] | ||
Adhinayakudu | Deepthi | Telugu | [55] | ||
Kalpana | Priya | Kannada | [56] | ||
Thaandavam | Geetha | Tamil | [57] | ||
2013 | Attahasa | Vijetha Vasisht | Kannada | Guest appearance | [58] |
Onbadhule Guru | Sanjana | Tamil | [59] | ||
Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha | Fouzia Hassan IPS | Malayalam | [60] | ||
Balupu | Herself | Telugu | Special appearance in the song "Lucky Lucky Rai" | [61] | |
2014 | Irumbu Kuthirai | Christina | Tamil | [62] | |
RajadhiRaja | Radha | Malayalam | [63] | ||
Aranmanai | Maya | Tamil | [64] | ||
2016 | Bangalore Naatkal | Lakshmi | Tamil | [65] | |
Sowkarpettai | Maya | Tamil | |||
Sardaar Gabbar Singh | Herself | Telugu | Special appearance in the song "Tauba Tauba" | [66] | |
Akira | Maya | Hindi | Hindi debut | [67] | |
2017 | Khaidi No. 150 | Herself | Telugu | Special appearance in the song "Ratthaalu" | [68] |
Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva | Herself | Tamil | Special appearance in the song "Hara Hara Mahadevaki" | [69] | |
Julie 2 | Julie | Hindi | [70] | ||
2018 | Oru Kuttanadan Blog | Sreejaya | Malayalam | [71] | |
2019 | Where Is the Venkatalakshmi | Venkatalakshmi | Telugu | [72] | |
Neeya 2 | Malar / Nagaraani | Tamil | [73] | ||
Officer Arjun Singh IPS Batch 2000 | Durga Dayal Singh | Hindi | [74] | ||
2021 | Mirugaa | Lakshmi | Tamil | [75][76] | |
Jhansi I.P.S | Jhansi I.P.S | Kannada | [77] | ||
Cinderella | Thulasi / Akira | Tamil | Dual role | [78][79] | |
2022 | The Legend | Herself | Tamil | Special appearance in the song "Vaadi Vaasal" | [80] |
2023 | Bholaa | Herself | Hindi | Special appearance in the song "Paan Dukaniya" | |
DNA | Rachel Punnoose IPS | Malayalam | Filming | ||
Television
![](../I/Raai_Laxmi_at_the_Society_Achievers_Awards_2018_(35).jpg.webp)
Year | Title | Role | Language | Channel | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Anu Alavum Baiyamillai 2 | Host | Tamil | Vijay TV | Reality show |
2015 | Star Challenge | Contestant | Malayalam | Flowers TV | |
2020 | Poison 2 | Sara | Hindi | ZEE5 | Web series |
Bigg Boss (Telugu season 4) | Guest | Telugu | Star Maa | Reality show | |
2021 | Comedy Stars Season 3 | Celebrity Judge | Malayalam | Asianet |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Film | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Asianet Film Awards | Most Popular Actress | Evidam Swargamanu | Won | [81] |
2009 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam | Nominated | [82] | |
2011 | Best Supporting Actress – Tamil | Mankatha | Nominated | [82] | |
2012 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Stylish Star of South Indian Cinema | – | Won | [83] |
References
- "It's Raai Laxmi from now!". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- "Lakshmi Rai is now Raai Laxmi". The Times of India.
- "An interview with actress Raai Laxmi by Kaushik L M". www.behindwoods.com.
- Kumar, Hemanth. "I was brought up like a boy: Raai Laxmi". The Times of India.
- "Lakshmi "Rai flooded with messages on birthday". The Times of India.
- "I'm not a bunt, don't speak to me in Tulu: Raai Laxmi". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
- Guha, Shilpi. "Why Raai Laxmi doesn't share space with Sonakshi Sinha". The Times of India.
- "Another Rai, another beauty queen - Tamil News". IndiaGlitz.com. 23 December 2004.
- "Telugu To Bollywood, Actress Raai Laxmi Is Working In Film Industries Across India". News18. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- "DHAAM DHOOM – MOVIE REVIEW CAST Jayam Ravi Kangana Ranaut Lakshmi Rai". Behindwoods.com. 5 December 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- "Lakshmi Rai's hat trick with Mammootty!". Sify. 20 August 2009. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- "Lakshmi is happy with life". The Times of India. 17 April 2009. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- "I'm on cloud nine, says Lakshmi Rai". ppSify. 8 September 2011. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- "Lakshmi in Kanchana Kannada remake". The Times of India. 6 November 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- Srinivasan, Latha (5 February 2016). "'Bangalore Naatkal' review: This remake doesn't measure up to the original Malayalam superhit". DNA India.
- Menon, Vishal (5 March 2016). "Sowkarpettai: Unintentionally horrifying". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
- Jonnalagedda, Pranita. "Excited to work with Pawan Kalyan: Raai Laxmi". The Times of India.
- "Raai Laxmi lands a special role in "Akira"". 31 March 2015.
- "Laxmi "Raai starts shooting for Khaidi No 150". The Times of India.
- Menon, Thinkal. "Raai Laxmi to shake a leg with Chiru". The Times of India.
- "Raai "Laxmi to shake a leg with Lawrence". The Times of India.
- Soman, Deepa. "Raai Laxmi is a modern girl in "Oru Kuttanadan Blog"". The Times of India.
- "'Where Is The Venkatalakshmi' movie review: What is this Venkatalakshmi?". The New Indian Express.
- "Neeya 2 review. Neeya 2 Tamil movie review, story, rating". IndiaGlitz.com.
- "Officer Arjun Singh IPS Movie Review: An attempt to redefine justice". The Times of India.
- "Raai Laxmi's next is Cinderella". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- "Karka Kasadara Photos - Tamil Movies photos, images, gallery, stills, clips". IndiaGlitz.com.
- "Kanchanamala Cable TV review. Kanchanamala Cable TV Telugu movie review, story, rating". IndiaGlitz.com.
- "Kundakka Mandakka". Sify. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022.
- "Neeku Naaku review. Neeku Naaku Telugu movie review, story, rating". IndiaGlitz.com.
- "Extremely funny review of Dharmapuri: By visitor". www.behindwoods.com.
- "Rock N Roll Malayalam Movie Preview cinema review stills gallery trailer video clips showtimes". IndiaGlitz.com.
- "Movie Review : Snehana Preethina". Sify. Archived from the original on 16 July 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- "VELLITHIRAI - Behindwoods.com - Duet Films Prithviraj Gopika Prakash Raj Lakshmi Rai Viji Prakash Raj G V Prakash Kumar stills picture image gallery IMAGE GALLERY STILLS WALLPAPERS". www.behindwoods.com.
- "Watch Annan Thambi for Mammootty". Rediff.com.
- "Review: Minchina Ota". Rediff.com.
- "Parunthu is lacklustre". Rediff.com.
- "Horror is the genre now". The Hindu. 12 August 2004.
- "DHAAM DHOOM - MOVIE REVIEW CAST Jayam Ravi Kangana Ranaut Lakshmi Rai Nizhalgal Ravi Anu Haasan DIRECTION Jeeva MUSIC Harris Jayaraj PRODUCTION Mediaone Global Entertainment Limited stills picture image gallery". www.behindwoods.com.
- "2 Harihar Nagar". Sify. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017.
- Srinivasan, Pavithra. "Muthirai: Wasted potential". Rediff.com.
- "Vamanan - Behindwoods.com - Tamil Movie Reviews - Vamanan Jai Rahman Priya Lakshmi Rai Santhanam". www.behindwoods.com.
- "Naan Avan Illai-2". Sify. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016.
- "Behindwoods : New film News". www.behindwoods.com.
- 1George, Meghna. "First Look: Mammootty's Chattambinadu". Rediff.com.
- 1Palicha, Paresh C. "Review: Ividam Swargamanu is worth watching". Rediff.com.
- "Mollywood beauties who sizzled in item numbers". The Times of India.
- "Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam - Tamil Movie Reviews - Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam | Larencce | Lakshmi Rai | Padmapriya | Sandhya - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
- Palicha, Paresh C. "Review: Christian Brothers is entertaining". Rediff.com.
- "KANCHANA REVIEW - KANCHANA MOVIE REVIEW". www.behindwoods.com.
- Vijayakumar, Bharath (7 September 2011). "Mankatha: Close game". The Hindu.
- "Oru Marubhoomikkadha (2011) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos".
- Palicha, Paresh C. "Review: Casanovva disappoints big time". Rediff.com.
- "Mayamohini is a easy watch". Sify. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022.
- "Adhinayakudu". The Times of India.
- Srinivasa, Srikanth. "Review: Kalpana is an enjoyable horror film". Rediff.com.
- "Thaandavam". Sify. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015.
- "Kannada Review: "Attahasa" is technically brilliant". News18. 15 February 2013.
- Saraswathi, S. "Review: Onbadhula Guru is a collection of comic scenes". Rediff.com.
- "Aaru Sundarimarude Katha Movie Review {2/5}: Critic Review of Aaru Sundarimarude Katha by Times of India". The Times of India.
- "Lakshmi Rai to do a cameo in Balupu". The Times of India.
- "Irumbu Kuthirai review. Irumbu Kuthirai Tamil movie review, story, rating". IndiaGlitz.com.
- Palicha, Paresh C. "Review: Rajadhi Raja fails to impress". Rediff.com.
- "Aranmanai review. Aranmanai Tamil movie review, story, rating". IndiaGlitz.com.
- "Bangalore Naatkal (aka) Banglore Natkal review". Behindwoods. 4 February 2016.
- "Lakshmi Rai with Pawan Kalyan in Sardaar Gabbar Singh". Chitramala. 3 October 2015.
- "Lakshmi Rai (aka) Raai Laxmi in a guest role in director A R Murugadoss' Akira". www.behindwoods.com.
- "Chiranjeevi And Laxmi Rai Shoot a Special Song For Khaidi No 150". NDTV.com.
- "IndiaGlitz – Hot actress Raai Lakshmi kuthu song with Raghava Lawrence Motta Siva Ketta Siva – Tamil Movie News". 3 May 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- Ghosh, Samrudhi (1 August 2017). "Julie 2 movie review: Raai Laxmi's Bollywood debut is cringeworthy". India Today.
- "Oru Kuttanadan Blog Review {3/5}: The movie has enough drama and flair to make it an engaging one-time watch". The Times of India.
- Krishna, Murali (15 March 2019). "Where Is The Venkatalakshmi Review: What is this Venkatalakshmi?". Cinema Express.
- "Neeya 2 movie review: A bad spiritual sequel to Neeya that will make you go WTF". The Indian Express. 24 May 2019.
- "Movie Review: Officer Arjun Singh Ips Batch 2000". 22 October 2019.
- "Srikanth and Raai Laxmi team up once again for Miruga". Cinema Express. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- "The trailer of Srikanth and Raai Laxmi's Mirugaa is here". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- Adivi, Sashidhar (15 June 2019). "Meaty roles are a rarity: Raai Laxmi". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- Chakraborthy, Antara (4 November 2018). "Cinderella first look: Raai Laxmi promises to deliver the goods with new adaptation of fairytale". The Indian Express. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- "Raai Laxmi's next titled, Cinderella". Cinema Express. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
- The Legend - Official Trailer | Legend Saravanan | Harris Jayaraj | JD –Jerry. Retrieved 30 May 2022 – via YouTube.
- "Kerala: Ujala-Asianet film awards announced". The New Indian Express. 4 January 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- "Meet Julie 2 actor Raai Laxmi". The Indian Express. 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- "SIIMA Awards 2012: Winners List". The Times of India. 21 June 2012. Archived from the original on 27 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
External links
![](../I/Commons-logo.svg.png.webp)
- Raai Laxmi on Facebook
- Raai Laxmi on Twitter
- Raai Laxmi on Instagram
- Raai Laxmi at IMDb