Lakshmi Rai, professionally credited as Raai Laxmi, is an Indian actress and model who predominantly works in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi languages.
Early life Raai Laxmi was born in Bangalore, Karnataka to Ram Rai and Manjula Rai. Her family relocated to Belgaum.
Acting career Early career (2005–2010) In 2005, Laxmi made her film debut in the Tamil-language film Karka Kasadara. 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). Valmiki (2005), opposite Shiva Rajkumar, marked her maiden film in Kannada.
In 2008, she began working in more serious films such as the drama film Velli Thirai, in which she played herself, and the action thriller Dhaam Dhoom, directed by Jeeva. She received positive feedback for her portrayal of a lawyer in the latter. A review from Behindwoods wrote: "The latter (Raai Laxmi) sizzles even as she is supposed to play the court professional who is caught in the web of smuggling drugs". She won her first Filmfare Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category.
She made her debut in Malayalam in 2007, starring in Rock n' Roll, opposite Mohanlal. She followed it up with several successful films such as Annan Thampi (2008), 2 Harihar Nagar (2009), Evidam Swargamanu (2009) opposite Mohanlal, and Chattambinadu (2009) opposite Mammootty. She appeared in three Tamil films in 2009, Muthirai, Vaamanan and Naan Avanillai 2.
In Vaamanan (2009), she played a glamorous supermodel. In 2010, she was seen in three films. She made special appearances during song sequences in two of them, In Ghost House Inn and Pen Singam and portrayed a cowgirl in the Tamil film Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam.
Public recognition and success (2011–2014)
Laxmi's first 2011 release was Christian Brothers. Her next two films were Tamil projects, the comedy horror Kanchana and the Venkat Prabhu-directed action thriller Mankatha, starring Ajith Kumar. She played a negative character in the latter, which was received positively by critics. Following Kanchana success, she was signed on to reprise the role in its Kannada remake, Kalpana (2012). Her 2014 films were Irumbu Kuthirai, Aranmanai in Tamil and RajadhiRaja in Malayalam.
Recent work (2016–present)
In 2016, she signed two Tamil films, Bangalore Naatkal and Sowkarpettai. After a brief gap, she performed her second item number opposite Pawan Kalyan in his Telugu film Sardaar Gabbar Singh (2016). She debuted in Hindi with the movie Akira directed by AR Murugadoss.
She signed to perform her fourth item number with Chiranjeevi in his 150th film Khaidi No. 150 (2017), and later in Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva (2017) in Tamil with Raghava Lawrence. Raai Laxmi portrayed the lead role in her second Hindi film Julie 2 (2017).
In 2018, she made her comeback to Malayalam cinema with the Mammootty starrer Oru Kuttanadan Blog.
In 2019, she starred in horror movies Where Is the Venkatalakshmi in Telugu and Neeya 2 in Tamil; both were box office failures. She also starred in the Bollywood film, Officer Arjun Singh IPS Batch 2000.
In 2021, she starred in the Tamil horror movie Cinderella.
Filmography Film
Note: She was credited as Lakshmi Rai until 2014. + List of Raai Laxmi film credits Year Title Role(s) Language Notes 2005 Karka Kasadara Anjali Tamil Tamil debut Kanchanamala Cable TV Sireesha / Kanchanamala Telugu Telugu debut Kundakka Mandakka Roopa Tamil Valmiki Lakshmi Deshpande Kannada Kannada debut 2006 Neeku Naaku Saranya Telugu Dharmapuri Valarmathy Tamil 2007 Nenjai Thodu Aishwarya Rock n' Roll Daya Sreenivas Malayalam Malayalam debut Snehana Preethina Lakshmi Kannada 2008 Velli Thirai Herself Tamil Cameo Annan Thampi Thenmozhi Malayalam Minchina Ota Lakshmi Kannada Parunthu Rakhi Malayalam Ragasiya Snehithane Jennifer Tamil Dhaam Dhoom Aarthi Chinappa 2009 2 Harihar Nagar Maya / Christina Honai / Serina Malayalam Muthirai Kavyanjali "Kavya" Tamil Vaamanan Pooja Naan Avanillai 2 Deepa Oru Kadhalan Oru Kadhali Charanya Chattambinadu Gouri Malayalam Ividam Swargamanu Adv. Sunitha 2010 In Ghost House Inn Serina Special appearance in the song "Ole Ole" Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam Pakki Tamil Pen Singam Herself Special appearance in the song "Adi Aadi Asaiyum Edupu" 2011 Christian Brothers Sofia Malayalam Kanchana Priya Tamil Mankatha Sona Oru Marubhoomikkadha Meenakshy Thampuran,Manasi Thampuran Malayalam Double role Review: Watch Oru Marubhoomikkatha only for Mohanlal – Rediff.com Movies. Rediff.com (19 December 2011). 2012 Casanovva Hana Mayamohini Maya / Katrina Adhinayakudu Deepthi Telugu Kalpana Priya Kannada Thaandavam Geetha Tamil 2013 Attahasa Vijetha Vasisht Kannada Guest appearance Onbadhule Guru Sanjana Tamil Aaru Sundarimaarude Katha Fouzia Hassan IPS Malayalam Balupu Herself Telugu Special appearance in the song "Lucky Lucky Rai" 2014 Irumbu Kuthirai Christina Tamil RajadhiRaja Radha Malayalam Aranmanai Maya Tamil 2016 Bangalore Naatkal Lakshmi Sowkarpettai Maya Sardaar Gabbar Singh Herself Telugu Special appearance in the song "Tauba Tauba" Akira Maya Amin Hindi Hindi debut 2017 Khaidi No. 150 Herself Telugu Special appearance in the song "Ratthaalu" Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva Herself Tamil Special appearance in the song "Hara Hara Mahadevaki" Julie 2 Julie / Sumitra Devi Hindi 2018 Oru Kuttanadan Blog Sreejaya Malayalam 2019 Where Is the Venkatalakshmi Venkatalakshmi Telugu Neeya 2 Malar / Nagarani Tamil Officer Arjun Singh IPS Batch 2000 Durga Dayal Singh Hindi 2021 Mirugaa Lakshmi Tamil Jhansi I.P.S Jhansi I.P.S Kannada Cinderella Thulasi / Akira Tamil Dual role 2022 The LegendHerselfSpecial appearance in the song "Vaadi Vaasal" 2023 Bholaa Herself Hindi Special appearance in the song "Paan Dukaniya" 2024 DNA Rachel Punnoose IPS Malayalam 2025 Janata Bar Lucky Rai Telugu Tamil
Television + List of Raai Laxmi television credits Year Title Role Language Channel Notes2009 Anu Alavum Baiyamillai 2 Host Tamil Vijay TV Reality show2015 Star Challenge Contestant Malayalam Flowers TV2020 Poison 2 Sara Hindi ZEE5 Web seriesBigg Boss (Telugu season 4) Guest Telugu Star Maa Reality show2021 Comedy Stars Season 3 Celebrity Judge Malayalam Asianet
Awards and nominations + List of Raai Laxmi awards and nominations Year Award Category Film Result 2009 Asianet Film Awards Most Popular Actress Evidam Swargamanu 2009 Filmfare Awards South Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam 2011 Best Supporting Actress – Tamil Mankatha 2012 South Indian International Movie Awards Stylish Star of South Indian Cinema Various films
References
External links