Before diving into the specific list, it is essential to understand the trajectory of her career. Making her debut in the 2003 Malayalam film Manassinakkare , Nayanthara quickly became a sought-after name. However, it was her transition into Tamil and Telugu cinema that turned her into a household name. Unlike many of her contemporaries who were often relegated to "glamour doll" roles, Nayanthara fought the tide. In the 2010s, she began choosing scripts that offered her substantial screen time, leading to a shift in industry dynamics where a female lead could open a film just as well as her male counterparts.