Nidhi Subbaiah, born on February 16, 1985, in Kodagu, Karnataka, is an Indian actress and model primarily known for her work in Kannada and Hindi cinema. She has gained recognition for her roles in successful Kannada films and has also ventured into Bollywood.
Early Life and Education
Nidhi was born as the only child to Bollachanda Subhash Subbaiah and Jhansi Subbaiah. She spent most of her childhood in Mysore, where she attended St. Joseph's Central and Mahajanas PU College. Nidhi pursued a degree in Civil Engineering from Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE), Mysore, but left midway to focus on her burgeoning modeling career.
An accomplished sportswoman, she won gold medals in national sailing events and received the Best Cadet Award as a Naval NCC cadet in 2004.
Career
Modeling and Acting Debut
Nidhi Subbaiah began her career in modeling, appearing in several television commercials, including the well-known Fair & Lovely ad. Her modeling success led to her acting debut in the Kannada film Abhimani (2009), though it did not perform well at the box office. She continued her acting career with Chamkaisi Chindi Udaysi and Sweet Heart.
Rise to Prominence
Her breakthrough came with the 2010 Kannada film Pancharangi, where she played Ambika. Her performance was critically acclaimed, and she was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada. Nidhi's role in Krishnan Marriage Story (2011) was another notable success, earning her the SIIMA Special Appreciation Award and a Filmfare nomination.
She made her Bollywood debut with a minor role in Oh My God (2012) and later starred in Ajab Gazabb Love (2012) opposite Jackky Bhagnani.
Continued Work and Television
Nidhi appeared in various films, including Anna Bond (2012), which earned her the SIIMA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Kannada, and Direct Ishq (2016). Her later Kannada films include Nanna Ninna Prema Kathe (2016) and Ayushman Bhava (2019), the latter of which earned her a SIIMA nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Reality Television
In 2021, Nidhi participated in Bigg Boss Kannada Season 8 and was evicted as the first contestant in the second innings.
Upcoming Projects
Nidhi's upcoming films include Chef Chidambara and Edagaiye Apathghatakke Karana, both currently in the filming stages.
Filmography
- 2009: Abhimani – Aparna (Kannada)
- 2009: Chamkaisi Chindi Udaysi – Kamala (Kannada)
- 2009: Sweet Heart – Meenakshi (Telugu)
- 2010: Krishna Nee Late Aagi Baaro – Lakshmi (Kannada)
- 2010: Pancharangi – Ambika (Kannada)
- 2011: Veera Bahu – Devi (Kannada)
- 2011: Krishnan Marriage Story – Khushi (Kannada)
- 2012: Anna Bond – Divya (Kannada)
- 2012: OMG – Oh My God! – Shweta Tiwari (Hindi)
- 2012: Ajab Gazabb Love – Madhuri Singh Chouhan (Hindi)
- 2016: Direct Ishq – Dolly Pandey (Hindi)
- 2016: Love Shagun – Tia (Hindi)
- 2016: Nanna Ninna Prema Kathe – Rekha/Preeti (Kannada)
- 2017: 5G – Rashi (Kannada)
- 2019: Ayushman Bhava – Chukki (Kannada)
- 2024: Chef Chidambara – Mona (Kannada)
- TBA: Edagaiye Apathghatakke Karana – TBA (Filming)
Television
- 2021: Bigg Boss Kannada Season 8
- 2021: Bigg Boss Second Innings
Personal Life
Nidhi Subbaiah married entrepreneur Lavesh Khairajani in 2017 in Coorg, Karnataka, but the couple divorced in 2018.
Nidhi Subbaiah has made a significant impact in Indian cinema through her diverse roles and performances. Her career spans across Kannada and Hindi films, and she remains a prominent figure in the industry.
