Zareena Moidu, known by her stage name Nadhiya Moidu (in Malayalam) or simply Nadhiya (in Tamil and Telugu), is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. She made her debut in the 1984 Malayalam film Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu for which she won Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam.Google Books Search "Collections MALAYALAM 1985 Best Actress Nadiya Nokketha" See page 392
She made her comeback in 2004 in Tamil films with M. Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi, and received critical acclaim for her performance. In 2013, she received critical acclaim in Telugu cinema for both the roles she played, as Prabhas's mother in the film Mirchi and for playing a stubborn aunt in Attarintiki Daredi. For the latter, she received the Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.
Early life Nadiya was born to Malayali Muslim parents and spent her childhood in Sion, Mumbai. She had her primary education from The J.B Vachha High School for Parsi Girls, Mumbai, and her pre-university degree from Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art. She couldn't continue her college studies after that as she became busy with movies by then. She earned her associate degree in Media Management and B.A. in Communication Arts - Radio & Television, while living in the United States.
Personal life Nadiya married Shirish Godbole in 1988. The couple has two daughters Sanam and Jana. After their wedding, she lived in the United States with her husband and daughters. In the year 2000, she moved to London, United Kingdom and lived there until 2007. She returned to India in 2008 and currently resides in Mumbai with her family.
Career Nadiya made her debut in the Malayalam film Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu (1984), alongside Mohanlal and Padmini for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam.Google Books Search "Collections MALAYALAM 1984 Best Actress Nadiya Nokketha" See page 392 This movie was remade in Tamil as Poove Poochudava in 1985 with Padmini and marked her debut in Tamil.
Nadiya claims she was considered for the role of Revathi in Mouna Ragam, a 1986 Tamil film, but declined due to prior commitments.
She then ventured into Tamil and Telugu cinema and became a popular actress in both industries during the 1980s and 1990s. She was a trendsetter even at those times working on her own terms and starred alongside all the big stars of the time such as Rajinikanth, Vijayakanth, Sathyaraj, Prabhu, Suresh and Mohan.
In the mid-1990s, she made a brief comeback as an actress, before moving to the United States.
After a successful career in the film industry, Nadhiya took a break from acting and focused on her personal life. However, she made a strong comeback to the big screen in the mid 2000s and continued to impress the audience with her acting prowess. Nadhiya made a successful comeback in the year 2004 with the movie M. Kumaran Son of Mahalakshmi.
Apart from films, Nadhiya has also appeared in some television serials and shows. Note: she is credited in Tamil and Telugu as Nadhiya and in Malayalam as Nadhiya Moidu. Year Title Role Language Notes 1984 Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu Girly Mathews Malayalam Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam1985 Koodum Thedi Judy Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki Manju Onningu Vannengil Meera Kandu Kandarinju Aswathy Poove Poochudava Sundari Tamil Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil 1986 Panchagni Savithri Malayalam Atham Chithira Chothy Radha Shyama Shyama Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal Neetha Pookkalai Parikkatheergal Radha Tamil Manthira Punnagai Geetha / Sheela Uyire Unakkaga Uma alias princess Vijayanirmala Devi Unakkaagave Vaazhgiren Chithra Nilave Malare Janaki / Sheela Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil 1987 Poo Mazhai Pozhiyuthu Asha Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi Kavitha Pavazha Malligai Paadu Nilave Sangeetha Mangai Oru Gangai Nancy Iniya Uravu Poothathu Sumathi Rekha Anbulla Appa Radha Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress – TamilPoove Ilam Poove Radha 1988 Irandil Ondru Valli Bazaar Rowdy Sireesha / Sarika Telugu 1989 Vinta Dongalu Anagha Rajathi Raja Lakshmi Tamil 1990 En Veedu En Kanavar Radha 1994 Rajakumaran Vaidehi O Thandri O Koduku Priya Telugu Chinna Madam Tamilarasi Tamil Vadhu Doctoranu Ammukutty Malayalam 2004 M. Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi Mahalakshmi Tamil Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil 2007 Thaamirabharani Sakunthala Devi 2008 Sandai Thangalakshmi 2009 Pattalam Daisy 2011 Doubles Gauri Malayalam Sevenes Amala 2013 Mirchi Latha Telugu Extended Cameo Appearance Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha Rose Moothedan Malayalam English: An Autumn in London Sarasu Attarintiki Daredi Sunanda Telugu Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress TSR - TV9 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – TeluguNominated - SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu 2014 Drushyam IGP Geetha Prabhakar IPS Nominated -Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – TeluguNominated - SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu 2015 Bruce Lee: The Fighter Vasundhara 2016 A...Aa Mahalakshmi Nominated - SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actress – TeluguGirls / Thiraikku Varadha Kathai Deepika IPS MalayalamTamil Bilingual film2018 Naa Peru Surya Satya Telugu Neerali Mollykutty Malayalam 2020 Miss India Kamala Telugu Netflix film2021 Varudu Kaavalenu Prabhavati Drushyam 2 Geetha Prabhakar Amazon Prime Video release2022Putham Pudhu Kaalai VidiyaadhaaYashodaTamilSegment: "Mouname Paarvayaai" Bheeshma Parvam Fathima Malayalam Ghani Madhuri Telugu Sarkaru Vaari Paata Rajakumari Cameo appearance Ante Sundaraniki Jyothi The Warriorr Satya's mother TeluguTamil Bilingual filmWonder WomenNanditaEnglish 2023 Let's Get Married Leela Tamil 2026 Bachelor Party D'eux † Malayalam
Short films Year Title Role Language Notes2021 Oru Paathiraa Swapnam Pole Sudha Malayalam
Television Year Title Role Language Network Notes 2010 Jackpot Host Tamil Jaya TV 2015 Veruthe Alla Bharya JudgeMalayalamMazhavil Manorama 2016 Badai BungalowGuestMalayalamAsianet 2019 Comedy Stars Season 2JudgeMalayalamAsianet Roja Herself Tamil Sun TV Cameo appearance (Episodes 278 - 286) 2024Musical WifeJudge MalayalamFlowers TV Manorathangal Balu's sister ZEE5 Anthology seriesSegment: Sherlock
Notes
References
External links
Nadiya Moithu at MSI