Nadiya Moidu is an Indian actress, known for her work in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films.
Wiki/Biography
Nadiya Moidu was born as Zareena Moidu on Monday, 24 October 1966 (age 55 years; as of 2022) in Sion, Mumbai. Her zodiac sign is Scorpio. She completed her primary education at The J. B. Vachha High School for Parsi Girls, Mumbai. She did her pre-university degree at Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy School of Art, Mumbai. After her marriage, she moved to the United States, where she received her associate degree in Media Management and B.A. in Communication Arts – Radio & Television. She worked there as a News Reader for American Broadcasting Corporation. In 2000, she got promoted and shifted to London, where she worked as News Reader for London BBC. In 2007, she returned to India and started living in Mumbai with her family.
Nadiya Moidu with her mother in her childhood
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 6″
Weight (approx.): 55 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Figure Measurements (approx.): 32-28-36
Family
She belongs to a Malayali family.
Parents & Siblings
Her father, N. K. Moidu, is a Muslim and belongs to Thalassery, Kerala. Her mother, Lalitha, is a Hindu, and she hails from Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. She has a younger sister.
Nadiya Moidu with her father
Nadiya Moidu with her mother
Husband & Children
Nadiya Moidu got married to Shirish Godbole in 1989. Her husband is a former chief consultant of the Federation of American Banks. The couple has two daughters, Sanam and Jana.
Nadiya Moidu with her husband and daughters
Career
Film
Nadiya Moidu made her acting debut in 1984, with a Malayalam film, “Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu,” alongside Mohanlal and Padmini.
Nadiya Moidu in the poster of the film ‘Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu’
In 1985, she made her Tamil debut with the film “Poove Poochudava,” which was the remake of “Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu.”
Poster of the film ‘Poove Poochudava’
She made her Telugu debut with the film “Bazaar Rowdy” in 1988.
Poster of the film ‘Bazaar Rowdy’
After shifting to the US, she worked in many films on the condition that the shooting of the films must be completed within the time period of her leave. She worked in the Tamil films, “Chinna Madam” (1994) and “Rajakumaran” (1994), on the same condition. Later, she took a break from the cinema for almost a decade, and made her comeback in 2004, with the Tamil film “M. Kumaran Son of Mahalakshmi.”
Nadiya Moidu (right) in the film ‘M. Kumaran Son of Mahalakshmi’
Apart from Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam films, Moidu acted in an Indian English language film “Wonder Women” in 2022, streaming on SonyLIV.
Poster of the film ‘Wonder Women’
Some of her most popular films include the Tamil film “Nilave Malare” (1986), the Tamil film “Anbulla Appa” (1987), the Telugu film “Attarintiki Daredi” (2013), the Telugu film “Ghani” (2022), and the Malayalam film “Bheeshma Parvam” (2022).
Short Film & Anthology Series
In 2021, Nadiya appeared in a Malayalam short film, “Oru Paathiraa Swapnam Pole,” opposite Garggi Ananthan. In 2022, she worked in a five-episodic anthology series “Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa” opposite Joju George, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 14 January 2022.
Nadiya Moidu and Joju George in a still from the film ‘Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa’
Television
In 2010, Nadiya made her television debut by hosting the TV show “Jackpot,” on Jaya TV. She appeared as a judge in the Malayalam TV show, “Veruthe Alla Bharya” (2015), which aired on Mazhavil Manorama, and “Comedy Stars Season 2” (2019), which aired on Asianet. She made a cameo appearance in some episodes of the Tamil TV show, “Roja.”
Awards, Honours, Achievements
Won
- Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam for the film “Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu”
- Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress for the film “Attarintiki Daredi”
- TSR – TV9 National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for the film “Attarintiki Daredi”
- JFW Achievers Award in 2022
Nadiya Moidu after receving the JFW Achievers Award
Nominated
- Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for the film “Poove Poochudava”
- Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for the film “Nilave Malare”
- Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil for the film “Anbulla Appa”
- Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil for the film “M. Kumaran Son of Mahalakshmi”
- Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu for the film “Attarintiki Daredi”
- SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu for the film “Attarintiki Daredi”
- Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu for the film “Drushyam”
- SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu for the film “Drushyam”
- SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu for the film “A…Aa”
Facts/Trivia
- Nadiya Moidu is the brand ambassador for Arokya Milk and Thangamayil Jewellery.
- After entering the film Industry, she changed her name from Zareena to Nadiya, as there was another actress with the same name in the industry at that time. In an interview, she talked about how she got this name and said,
I got the name Nadiya, when I acted in the film ‘Nokketha Doorath Kannum Natt’. I have heard that it was Fazil uncle’s (director) sister-in-law who suggested this name. At that times, Zarina Wahab was in the industry, so they decided to change my name to avoid confusion. Even now, those outside the film industry identify me as Zareena.”
- Nadiya Moidu prefers to watch Hindi films over South Indian films.
- In an interview, she revealed that she was offered the lead role in the Bollywood film “Maine Pyar Kiya,” starring Salman Khan, but she rejected the film as she was busy doing South Indian films.
- Nadiya Moidu wanted to work in Marathi films. Sharing her desire to work in Marathi films during an interview, she said,
As I was born and brought up in Mumbai, so I wish to give them a Marathi movie in return.”
- In a photo shoot for Naam Foundation, Nadiya Moidu posed to recreate one of the paintings of Raja Ravi Verma.
Nadiya Moidu (right) posing for a photo shoot to recreate the painting of Raja Ravi Verma (left)
- Nadiya Moidu was dubbed in Telugu for the first time for the film “Ante Sundaraniki.”