Renowned for her roles in beloved romantic dramas like O Kadhal Kanmani, 100 Days of Love, and Ala Modalaindi, Nithya Menen has carved a niche for herself as a leading face in love stories. However, the actor’s real-life experiences with love have been far less rosy. In a revealing conversation with SS Music, the Mersal star shared that her romantic past has been riddled with emotional setbacks. She admitted to having endured multiple heartbreaks, each one reshaping her perspective on relationships.
Sharing her take on marriage, Nithya said that there was a practical reason as to why elders urged marriage on youngsters, but there was no reason to attach moral importance to it. She also revealed she had always been a solitary person, and the concept of spending time with herself had never intimidated her.
Opening up about romantic relationships, the actress said that each of her relationships had ended in a heartbreak. Each time, she had discovered her partner was not what they seemed, or they were out to exploit her. This personal setbacks eventually made her realise that she was searching for something which didn't even exist.
Marriage No Longer a Priority
In a separate conversation with News18, Nithya emphasized that she feels no urgency when it comes to getting married. While she admitted that her parents would be pleased to see her find companionship, they did not pressure her into marriage. Reflecting on earlier times, she mentioned that when she was younger—and particularly when her grandmother was alive—there was a stronger push for her to settle down. Her grandmother, unaffected by Nithya’s professional success, would constantly urge her to marry, disregarding her achievements in the film industry. Today, however, Nithya revealed she was liberated from that kind of social expectation. She said that although her parents hold some hopes regarding her personal life, they fully respect her autonomy and understand that being single does not equate to being incomplete.
Embracing a Life Beyond Conventional Love
During her recent appearance on The Ramya Show, Nithya spoke candidly about the way her ideas about love have shifted over the years. She admitted that the concept of romantic love was no longer central to her life. As a younger woman, she believed in the cultural narrative of finding “the one.” Influenced by family and societal norms, she once thought love and marriage were essential milestones. Over time, however, she came to terms with the reality that love does not define everyone’s journey. Pointing to public figures like Ratan Tata, she stressed that a fulfilling life can exist outside romantic relationships. Whether love happens or not, she feels equally content and no longer associates her self-worth with it.
"It’s impossible for everybody to find love and get married. Ratan Tata was not married. If it happens, great. If it doesn’t happen, also great. It doesn’t give me grief,” she explained.
Who Is Nithya Menen?
Born on April 8, 1990, Nalini Sukumaran Nithya—better known by her stage name Nithya Menen—is an accomplished Indian actress and playback singer who has made a significant mark in South Indian cinema. Her primary body of work spans Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu language films, with a handful of performances in Kannada movies as well. Over the course of her career, she has featured in more than 62 films and is widely recognized for portraying characters with emotional depth and strength. She also formed iconic on-screen pairings with popular actors such as Dulquer Salman, Nani etc.
Nithya's artistic journey began early, debuting as a child actor in Hanuman (1998), a French-Indian English-language film, where she portrayed the younger sibling of the character played by Tabu. She transitioned into mainstream cinema with her first on-screen role in the Kannada movie 7 'O'Clock in 2006. However, it was the 2011 romantic comedy Ala Modalaindi that truly established her in the industry. The film’s success not only catapulted her into the limelight but also won her the prestigious Nandi Award for Best Actress.
Her critical and commercial acclaim in Telugu cinema continued with Ishq (2012), followed by Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde (2013), for which she received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu. She earned further praise for her roles in films like Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju (2015), which garnered her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu, and appeared in other hits such as Rudhramadevi (2015), Janatha Garage (2016), Awe (2018), and Bheemla Nayak (2022).
In Tamil cinema, Nithya became a prominent name after her performance in O Kadhal Kanmani (2015), a romantic drama that reinforced her versatility. Her impressive filmography also includes Malayalam hits like Ustad Hotel (2012), Bangalore Days (2014), and 100 Days of Love (2015), along with popular Tamil titles such as Kanchana 2 (2015), 24 (2016), and Mersal (2017). Her portrayal in Mersal won her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil. In 2022, she received the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Tamil and the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in Thiruchitrambalam.
Menen expanded her horizons to Bollywood with the 2019 science-based drama Mission Mangal, a film that not only reached box office success but also became her highest-earning release to date. Her career stands as a testament to her exceptional talent, range, and the impact she continues to make across various film industries in India.
Sharing her take on marriage, Nithya said that there was a practical reason as to why elders urged marriage on youngsters, but there was no reason to attach moral importance to it. She also revealed she had always been a solitary person, and the concept of spending time with herself had never intimidated her.
Opening up about romantic relationships, the actress said that each of her relationships had ended in a heartbreak. Each time, she had discovered her partner was not what they seemed, or they were out to exploit her. This personal setbacks eventually made her realise that she was searching for something which didn't even exist.
Marriage No Longer a Priority
In a separate conversation with News18, Nithya emphasized that she feels no urgency when it comes to getting married. While she admitted that her parents would be pleased to see her find companionship, they did not pressure her into marriage. Reflecting on earlier times, she mentioned that when she was younger—and particularly when her grandmother was alive—there was a stronger push for her to settle down. Her grandmother, unaffected by Nithya’s professional success, would constantly urge her to marry, disregarding her achievements in the film industry. Today, however, Nithya revealed she was liberated from that kind of social expectation. She said that although her parents hold some hopes regarding her personal life, they fully respect her autonomy and understand that being single does not equate to being incomplete.
Embracing a Life Beyond Conventional Love
During her recent appearance on The Ramya Show, Nithya spoke candidly about the way her ideas about love have shifted over the years. She admitted that the concept of romantic love was no longer central to her life. As a younger woman, she believed in the cultural narrative of finding “the one.” Influenced by family and societal norms, she once thought love and marriage were essential milestones. Over time, however, she came to terms with the reality that love does not define everyone’s journey. Pointing to public figures like Ratan Tata, she stressed that a fulfilling life can exist outside romantic relationships. Whether love happens or not, she feels equally content and no longer associates her self-worth with it.
"It’s impossible for everybody to find love and get married. Ratan Tata was not married. If it happens, great. If it doesn’t happen, also great. It doesn’t give me grief,” she explained.
Who Is Nithya Menen?
Born on April 8, 1990, Nalini Sukumaran Nithya—better known by her stage name Nithya Menen—is an accomplished Indian actress and playback singer who has made a significant mark in South Indian cinema. Her primary body of work spans Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu language films, with a handful of performances in Kannada movies as well. Over the course of her career, she has featured in more than 62 films and is widely recognized for portraying characters with emotional depth and strength. She also formed iconic on-screen pairings with popular actors such as Dulquer Salman, Nani etc.
Nithya's artistic journey began early, debuting as a child actor in Hanuman (1998), a French-Indian English-language film, where she portrayed the younger sibling of the character played by Tabu. She transitioned into mainstream cinema with her first on-screen role in the Kannada movie 7 'O'Clock in 2006. However, it was the 2011 romantic comedy Ala Modalaindi that truly established her in the industry. The film’s success not only catapulted her into the limelight but also won her the prestigious Nandi Award for Best Actress.
Her critical and commercial acclaim in Telugu cinema continued with Ishq (2012), followed by Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde (2013), for which she received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu. She earned further praise for her roles in films like Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju (2015), which garnered her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu, and appeared in other hits such as Rudhramadevi (2015), Janatha Garage (2016), Awe (2018), and Bheemla Nayak (2022).
In Tamil cinema, Nithya became a prominent name after her performance in O Kadhal Kanmani (2015), a romantic drama that reinforced her versatility. Her impressive filmography also includes Malayalam hits like Ustad Hotel (2012), Bangalore Days (2014), and 100 Days of Love (2015), along with popular Tamil titles such as Kanchana 2 (2015), 24 (2016), and Mersal (2017). Her portrayal in Mersal won her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil. In 2022, she received the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Tamil and the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in Thiruchitrambalam.
Menen expanded her horizons to Bollywood with the 2019 science-based drama Mission Mangal, a film that not only reached box office success but also became her highest-earning release to date. Her career stands as a testament to her exceptional talent, range, and the impact she continues to make across various film industries in India.
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