Raai Laxmi

Raai Laxmi (born as Lakshmi Rai on 5 May 1982) is an Indian film actress and model who predominantly appears in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films. She is making her debut in Bollywood with the film Julie 2 (2017).
Raai has completed over a decade in the film industry, acting over 50 films in multiple languages.

Early life

Raai Lakshmi was born on 5 May 1982 in Belgaum, Karnataka to Ram Rai and Manjula Rai. She hails from the region of Saurashtra in Gujarat.

Career

Raai Lakshmi made her debut at the age of 15 in the Tamil film Karka Kasadara in 2005. 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 Lakshmi) 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 & Roll opposite Mohanlal. She followed it up with several successful films such as Annan Thambi, 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, 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)

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.Both films emerged as high financial successes. Following Kanchana's success, she was signed on to reprise the role in its Kannada remake.

She performed her first item number opposite Ravi Teja in his Telugu film Balupu (2013).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 Aranmanaiand Irumbu Kuthirai in Tamil, Rajadhi Raja in Malayalamand Shrungara in Kannada.

Debut in Bollywood (2015–present)

In 2015, she signed two Malayalam films, Arabian Safari and Santhoshayi Gopiyetta and three Tamil films Oru Ticketla Rendu Cinema, Sowkarpettai and Arjun, Divya Matrum Karthik. After a brief gap of two years she performed her second item number opposite Pawan Kalyan in his Telugu film Sardaar Gabbar Singh(2016).
Later she signed two Hindi films Akiraand Julie 2.
In May 2016 she signed to perform her third item number in Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva. In October 2016 she signed to perform her fourth item number with Chiranjeevi in his 150th film Khaidi No. 150.