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Nayanthara, Sai Pallavi to R Madhavan: 5 South Indian celebs who were once TV stars

It's quite common for actors to kickstart their careers in television before making their way to the big screen. However, not all TV stars manage to break into the film industry. The South Indian film world has seen numerous actors who began their journeys on television.

Rishika Baranwal | May 05, 2025, 11:44 AM IST

1.Nayanthara

Nayanthara
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Nayantara began her career as a TV host, making her small screen debut with the show Chamayam. According to reports, it was during this 2003 show that she was selected for her debut film, Manassinakkare, directed by Sathyan Anthikad.

 

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2.R Madhavan

R Madhavan
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R Madhavan is now one of the most in-demand actors in Indian cinema, but he began his career with television serials like Sea Hawks, Banegi Apni Baat, and Ghar Jamai.

 

3.Sai Pallavi

Sai Pallavi
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Sai Pallavi, another South Indian star who transitioned from TV to the big screen, first gained attention as a participant in the reality show Ugail Yaar Adutha Prabhu Deva.

 

4.Yash

Yash
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The KGF actor began his acting journey with the TV serial Nanda Gokula, which aired on ETV Kannada. He also featured in several other television serials, including Malebillu Muktha and Preeti Illada Mele.

 

5.Vijay Sethupathi

Vijay Sethupathi
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Before rising to fame as a film actor, Vijay Sethupathi appeared in the TV serial Penn, which aired on Sun TV in 2006. He was also part of the show Nalaya Iyakunar on Kalaignar TV.

 

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