Raai Laxmi

In 2005, at the age of 15,[9] Laxmi made her film debut in the Tamil-language Karka Kasadara after director R. V. Udayakumar saw her performance in the Kannada short film Valmiki.[10] 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).

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".[11] She won her first Filmfare Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category.

She made her debut in Malayalam in 2007, starring in Rock & Roll, opposite Mohanlal. She followed it up with several successful films such as Annan Thambi (2008), 2 Harihar Nagar (2009),[12] 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.[13] 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.[13]

Raai Lakshmi's first 2011 release was Christian Brothers, which was a huge commercial success. 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.[14][15] Both films emerged as high financial successes.[14] Following Kanchana's success, she was signed on to reprise the role in its Kannada remake.[16]

She performed an item number in the movie Pen Singam which went unnoticed. However, she performed her first successful item number opposite Ravi Teja in his Telugu film Balupu (2013) following which she signed to perform various item numbers with small cameo roles in films like "Money Money" in Vaamanan.

Her latest release Arabiyum, Ottakavum, P. Madhavan Nairum opposite Mohanlal was met with mixed reviews but turned out to a commercial success. Her 2014 films were Aranmanai[17] and Irumbu Kuthirai in Tamil,[18] Rajadhi Raja in Malayalam[19] and Shrungara in Kannada.[20]

Laxmi at 'Welcome Back' premiere

In 2015, she signed three Malayalam films, Arabian Safari Preview and Santhoshayi Gopiyetta and three Tamil films, Oru Ticketla Rendu Cinema,[21] Sowkarpettai and Arjun, Divya Matrum Karthik.[22] After a brief gap of two years, she performed her second item number opposite Pawan Kalyan in his Telugu film Sardaar Gabbar Singh (2016).[23]

Later she signed two Hindi films Akira[24] and Julie 2.[25][26] Julie 2 is her first Hindi film as the main lead.[27]

In May 2016 she signed to perform her third item number in Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva.[28] In October 2016 she signed to perform her fourth item number with Chiranjeevi in his 150th film Khaidi No. 150.[29][30]

In 2018, she made her comeback to Malayalam cinema with the Mammootty starrer Oru Kuttanadan Blog.

• 2008 : Asianet Award for Best Female New Face of the Year - Rock N' Roll
• 2010 : Asianet Most Popular Actress Award - Evidam Swargamanu

• 2012 : 1st South Indian International Movie Awards for Stylish Star of South Indian Cinema - Female.[31]

• 2010: Nominated - Best Actress - 2 Harihar Nagar

• 2008 : Nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil - Dhaam Dhoom
• 2010 : - Nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam Evidam Swargamanu
• 2011 - Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Tamil - Mankatha

Other awards

Based on an online poll conducted by The Times of India, Raai Lakshmi won the "Best Actor Award in a Negative Role - Female" for Mankatha.[32]