Lakshmi Rai

Raai Laxmi (formerly Lakshmi Rai) is an Indian film actress appearingin South Indian films. She has appeared in many successful Tamilproductions, most popular being Muni 2: Kanchana and Mankatha(both 2011). Raai made her debut in Malayalam in 2007, starring inRock N' Roll, which performed poorly at the box office. But shefollowed it up with several successful films such as Annan Thambi(2008), 2 Harihar Nagar (2009), Chattambinadu (2009),Evidam Swargamanu (2009), Oru Marubhoomikkadha (2011) andMayamohini (2012), thus establishing herself as a successfulactress in the industry. She also enjoys popularity in Kannada andTelugu films, after appearing in Kalpana and Adhinayakudu(both 2012).

Early life and career

Lakshmi Rai was born in Bangalore, Karnataka, andbrought up at Belgaum.She initially worked as a model beforeentering the film industry. She appeared in television ads such asSylcon Footwears, Josco Jewellers, Saravana Stores, Emmanuel Silks,Bru Coffee and Fair & Lovely.

She made her acting debut in 2005 in the Tamil film KarkaKasadara. 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). In 2008, she beganworking in more serious films such as the drama film Velli Thirai,in which she played herself, and the action thriller Dhaam Dhoomdirected by Jeeva. She received positive feedbacks forherportrayal of a lawyer in the latter. A review from Behindwoods wrote:"The latter (Lakshmi Rai) sizzles even as she is supposed to play thecourt professional who is caught in the web of smugglingdrugs". She won her first Filmfare Award nomination in theBest Supporting Actress category.

She made her debut in Malayalam in 2007, starring in Rock & Rollopposite Mohanlal. She was noticed by the film field although filmwas a commercial failure. She followed it up with several successfulfilms such as Annan Thambi, 2 Harihar Nagar (2009),Evidam Swargamanu (2009) opposite Mohanlal, andChattambinadu (2009) opposite Mammootty. She appeared in threeTamil films in 2009, Muthirai, Vaamanan and Naan Avanillai2. In Vaamanan, she played a glamourous supermodel. In 2010,she was seen in three films. She made special appearances during songsequences in two of them, In Ghost House Inn and Pen Singamand portrayed a cowgirl in the Tamil film Irumbukkottai MurattuSingam.

Lakshmi Rai's first 2011 release was Christian Brothers oppositeMohanlal, which was a huge commercial success. Her next two films wereTamil projects, the comedy horror Kanchana and the VenkatPrabhu-directed action thriller Mankatha, starring AjithKumar. She essayed a negative character in the latter, which wasreceived positively by critics. Both films emergedhigh financial success. Following Kanchana's success, she wassigned on to reprise the role in its Kannada remake too. Herlatest release Arabiyum, Ottakavum, P. Madhavan Nairum oppositeMohanlal is declared superhit by trade.^citation needed]

2014 will see the release of her films Aranmanai and IrumbuKuthirai in Tamil, Rajadhi Raja in Malayalam.

In June 2014 she changed her name from Lakshmi Rai to Raai Laxmi.

Galleries of Lakshmi Rai