Kaniha

Biography:  Divya Venkatasubramaniam , known by her stage name Kaniha, is a versatile Indian actress who primarily works in Malayalam cinema, as well as in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada movies. She made her acting debut in the 2002 Tamil film "Five Star." Kaniha, who hails from a Tamilian background, displayed her talent and passion for performing arts from a young age. She excelled in academics and even won the Tamil Nadu State Award for Educational Excellence in 1999. Alongside her studies, Kaniha nurtured her singing skills and participated in pop music and light music shows. In 2001, Kaniha was scheduled to perform as a pop singer at the Miss Chennai beauty pageant. However, when a model dropped out at the last minute, she was selected to participate and emerged as the winner. This unexpected victory paved the way for her entry into the film industry. Director Susi Ganesan noticed Kaniha on a magazine cover and cast her in the lead female role in his second feature film. Accepting the offer, she entered the film industry and adopted the name Kaniha. Her debut film was "Five Star" (2002), produced by Mani Ratnam, where she portrayed a traditional village girl alongside Prasanna, who also made his acting debut. Following her debut, Kaniha turned down subsequent film offers, including projects by acclaimed directors S. Shankar and P. C. Sreeram, to focus on completing her graduation. However, before graduating, she appeared in her Telugu debut film "Ottesi Cheputunna" during her winter break, using the stage name Sravanthi. Her performance in the film received positive reviews, with critics praising her homely looks and dancing skills. After completing her studies, Kaniha ventured into different film industries. She starred in the Kannada film "Annavaru" (2004), a remake of Mani Ratnam's "Thalapathi" (1991). She also had a cameo role in Cheran's "Autograph." In the Tamil film "Aethiree," directed by K. S. Ravikumar, Kaniha showcased her talent in a comedy-oriented role as a mischievous Brahmin girl. In addition to her acting career, Kaniha has explored other facets of the entertainment industry. She has worked as a dubbing artist, lending her voice to actresses such as Genelia D'Souza in "Sachein," Sadha in "Anniyan," and Shriya Saran in "Sivaji: The Boss." She has also displayed her singing skills as a playback singer and has worked as a TV host. In her personal life, Kaniha married Shyam Radhakrishnan, a US-based software engineer and the brother of Jayashree. They tied the knot on June 15, 2008, and have a son named Sai Rishi, born in November 2010. Initially, Kaniha had planned to retire from the film industry and settle in the US but announced her unexpected comeback in January 2009 with the Malayalam film "Bhagyadevatha," directed by Sathyan Anthikkad.