Aishwarya Rajesh

 ( 1990 Births ) 

Aishwarya grew up in Chennai, and she described her background as "lower middle class." She studied in Shrine Vailankanni, Chennai, Sree Vidyanikethan International School, Tirupati, and Holy Angels Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, Chennai. In 1995, she performed as a child actress in the Telugu film Rambantu.

She studied at Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai and graduated with a B.Com degree. Attakathi actress Aishwarya Rajesh joins us in an exclusive chat! – Lifeandtrendz . Lifeandtrendz.com. Retrieved 1 February 2016. She started to learn dancing since she needed to choreograph a stage show for a student cultural festival. This opened an opportunity for her to enter the reality show Maanada Mayilada on Kalaignar TV. She won the show's third season and got offered roles in films after this TV appearance.

Aishwarya's career marked a turning point with her first release of 2015, Kaaka Muttai. Initially, she was very hesitant to play a mother role at such an early stage in her career, but, after seeking advice from her Pannaiyarum Padminiyum co-star Vijay Sethupathi and after gaining interest in the script herself, she decided to be part of the film. Her portrayal of a slum dweller and mother of two children was lauded unanimously by critics: Baradwaj Rangan wrote, "it features stunning performances from everyone...especially Aishwarya Rajesh, who plays the kids' mother with a world-weariness that belies her years". Kaaka Muttai: An outstanding debut . The Hindu (5 June 2015). Retrieved 1 February 2016. Other reviewers stated that she played her role "with extraordinary ease" Kaaka Muttai review: A small film with a big heart | movie reviews. Hindustan Times (4 June 2015). Retrieved 1 February 2016. and that she "leaves you awe-struck". Kaakka Muttai: This National Award-winning, charming film about 2 slum kids is a must-watch . Firstpost (5 June 2015). Retrieved 1 February 2016. Her performance earned her several accolades including Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress and her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil nomination. That year, she also made her stage debut, playing Cinderella from the same-titled fairytale that was adapted as a "musical dance drama". All set for stage debut – Chennai . The Hindu (4 February 2015). Retrieved 1 February 2016. Ganesh Venkatram makes a successful [sic] theatre debut – The Times of India. The Times of India. (8 February 2015). Retrieved 1 February 2016.

In 2017, Aishwarya expanded to Malayalam films with Jomonte Suvisheshangal opposite Dulquer Salmaan and Sakhhavu opposite Nivin Pauly, both of which were box office successes. Kattappava Kaanom and Gemini Ganeshanum Suruli Raajanum were her other release that year. In her last film of the year, Aishwarya made her debut in Hindi films opposite Arjun Rampal in Daddy. She played gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli's wife in the film. In Jomonte Suvisheshangal, she played an accountant and critic Srivatsan from India Today was appreciative of her "convincing performance". The film earned her nomination for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam, while both her Malayalam films won her the Asiavision Award for Outstanding Performer.

Aishwarya's first two films of 2018, Lakshmi and Saamy Square had poor box office returns. Her next three releases Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, Vada Chennai and Kanaa were critical and commercial success, being among the year's highest grossing films. In Vada Chennai, she played a carrom player's wife opposite Dhanush. Sowmya Rajendran found her to be "delightful" and praised her chemistry with Dhanush. Her career breakthrough came with Kanaa, where she played an aspiring cricketer. She trained for several days before shooting the film. M Suganth noted, "Aishwarya who appears sans makeup in most of the scenes, makes us buy Kausi and breathes life into the role." Her performance earned her second Filmfare Best Actress – Tamil nomination and won her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Tamil. In 2019, she first appeared in Vilambaram. She then reprised her role as a cricketer in the Telugu remake Kousalya Krishnamurthy, which marked her debut in Telugu films. Suresh Kavirayani stated that she is terrific and fits the role. Her other releases that year were Namma Veettu Pillai, Mei and Mismatch, all of which met with mixed to negative reviews.

In her first film of 2020, she played a supporting character in Vaanam Kottattum. In World Famous Lover, she played a village girl opposite Vijay Deverakonda. It was a box office failure but Janani K of India Today noted, "Aishwarya single-handedly stole the show with her realistic performance as a naive Suvarna." The film won her the SIIMA Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu. She then played a woman who lost her husband in Dubai in Ka Pae Ranasingam opposite Vijay Sethupathi. Regarding her performance, critic Manoj Kumar R noted, "Aishwarya is a revelation. She displays hopelessness, powerlessness, vulnerability, grit and determination with ease and impressive conviction". The film earned her another Filmfare Best Actress – Tamil nomination and won her the SIIMA Award for Best Actress – Tamil. In 2021, she played a police officer in Thittam Irandu, a NRI rape victim in Republic opposite Sai Dharam Tej and then appeared in Boomika and Tuck Jagadish, none of which emerged a box office success. For Thittam Irandu, she won the SIIMA Critics Award for Best Actress – Tamil and Saibal Chatterjee noted, "Her unwaveringly focused lead performance .. ensures that the film's rough edges are smoothened out to a certain extent." Her only release in 2022 was Driver Jamuna, where she played the titular character.

In her first film of 2025, Aishwarya played an ex-police officer's wife opposite Venkatesh, in Sankranthiki Vasthunam. The film emerged as a blockbuster. T. Maruthi Acharya noted, "Aishwarya steals the spotlight with her natural, impactful performance."