Posted Thu, May 1, 2014 10:00am IST

There are quite a few Southern actors who are trying to make place in B-town but there are these divas who have a strong foothold in their own industry and we’re sure their fans will be disappointed big time if they every decide to quit films

Shruti Haasan, Nayantara , Shriya Saran, Anushka Shetty and Priyamani among others are some of the most popular names in the Southern film industry. These actors have carved a niche for themselves in the filmdom. Though Shruti already had filmi connections, born to parents from the industry itself, the Yevadu actor has made a place for herself in the industry. So, let’s take a look at these hotties and their career in the Southern film industry.

Shruti Haasan: She is a multi-talented actor. Shruti not only acts but is also a singer, model, music composer and a dancer. As a child artist, she sang and acted in films and made her acting debut as an adult in the film Luck. She acted in several Tamil and Telugu films after that but her first major commercial success as an actor was in the film Gabbar Singh, the Telugu remake of Dabangg. As far as Shruti’s sex appeal is concerned, it’d be wrong if we didn’t talk about Kamal Haasan and Sarika. It’s like they have passed on the glam and beauty to Shruti. The lovely actor’s style is quite distinct and she doesn’t shy away from experimenting. What more, she carries off the weirdest outfits with utmost grace.

Nayantara: Nayantara has acted in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films but has stayed away from Bollywood as much as she could. Time and again, she has maintained that she won’t do a Bollywood film just coz it was offered to her. She will wait for a meaty role and that’s what we like about her. Nayan made her acting debut in the 2003 Malayalam film Manassinakkare and followed with the successful Vismayathumbathu. She rose to popularity with films like Chandramukhi (2005), Billa (2007), Yaaradi Nee Mohini (2008), Boss Engira Bhaskaran (2010). Her role as Sita in Sri Rama Rajyam (2011) earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actor (Female) and Nandi Award for Best Actor (Female). The super hot Nayantara has several films lined up and why not, right? She is super hot and has been seen in hot clothes onscreen. However, off the screen, Nayan dresses quite safely. She is generally dressed classy and elegant and each time she steps out for an event, she looks drop-dead gorgeous!

Shriya Saran: Shriya has acted in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and even English films. Shriya Saran made her film debut in 2001 with the Telugu film Ishtam. In 2007, she starred in Sivaji, the highest-grossing Tamil film at that time. The actor received international critical acclaim for her role in the British-Canadian film Midnight’s Children directed by Deepa Mehta, based on Salman Rushdie’s Booker Prize winning novel of the same name. Despite working in several film industries, Shriya says, “I don’t consider Kollywood or Bollywood as separate entities. For me, there’s only a single category, the Indian film industry, which is extremely rich owing to its diverse genres and languages.” She is one of the most stylish actors from the Southern film industry and doesn’t miss a chance to flaunt her curves. Though she has been spotted in sarees on numerous occasions, Shriya has been seen in gowns, short dresses and even crop tops. And she certainly looks hot no matter what she wears!

Anushka Shetty: Before entering the film industry, Anushka was a yoga teacher. Here made her acting debut with the Telugu film Super. Since then, she has acted in several Tamil and Telugu films. For her role in Arundhati, Anushka won many awards including the Nandi Award. For Vedham, Anushka Shetty won the Filmfare awards. The Singam actor has given some sizzling performances onscreen. But off the screen, she generally dons a simple avatar. She is one of those actors who can makes heads turn in the most sophisticated looking outfits. Don’t you agree?

Priyamani: Southern hottie Priyamani is not just a pretty face. The actor has won a National Award for her role in Paruthiveeran. Priyamani received further critical acclaim for her role as Malavika in the Malayalam film Thirakkatha. She made her Kannada film debut with the film Raam, which was a critical and commercial success. She was also seen in the Hindi film Raavan. Priyamani won the Filmfare Award for Best actor – Kannada for her role in Chaarulatha, a film in which she played the role of conjoined twins. The actor has not only done versatile roles but is quite versatile even with her appearances. Priyamani looks sensational most of the times she attends events. Be it in a saree or a long gown…

Well, these were some of the Southern divas who have impressed us with their films and appearances. While wethinks that these are the top five actors from the South, who is your favourite?