Nadiya Moidu

Some Lesser Known Facts About Nadiya Moidu

• Nadiya Moidu is a South Indian actress known for her work in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films.

• She was born in Mumbai to Malayali parents. Her father is a Muslim, and her mother is a Hindu.

• The actress was born as Zareena Moidu, but after joining the film industry, she changed her name to Nadiya Moidu as there was another actress named Zarina Wahab in the industry. She talked about it in an interview and said,
  

  I got the name Nadiya, when I acted in the film ‘Nokketha Doorath Kannum Natt’. I have heard that it was Fazil uncle’s (director) sister-in-law who suggested this name. At that times, Zarina Wahab was in the industry, so they decided to change my name to avoid confusion. Even now, those outside the film industry identify me as Zareena.”

• Her Tamil debut film “Poove Poochudava,” (1985) was the remake of her Malayalam debut film “Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu” (1984).

• After making her acting debut with the film “Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu” (1984), Nadiya was featured in numerous popular films including “Nilave Malare” (1986), “Anbulla Appa” (1987), “Attarintiki Daredi” (2013), “Drushyam” (2014), “Naa Peru Surya, Naa Illu India” (2018), and “The Warriorr” (2022).

  

• Nadiya Moidu shifted to the US after her marriage in 1989; however, she continued working in South Indian films on the condition that the shooting of the film must be completed during her stay in India and worked in the Tamil films “Chinna Madam” (1994) and “Rajakumaran” (1994) on the same condition.

• Nadiya was offered to play the lead role in the Bollywood film “Maine Pyar Kiya” (1989), starring Salman Khan but she rejected the film as she was engaged in shooting South Indian films.

• While living in the United States, she worked as a News Reader for American Broadcasting Corporation, and in 2000, she moved to London after her promotion and worked there as a New Reader for London BBC.

• After appearing in the film “Vadhu Doctoranu” in 1994, she took a break from the film industry for almost a decade. She made her comeback with the Tamil film “M. Kumaran Son of Mahalakshmi” in 2004.

• In 2007, Nadiya came back to India and started living with her family in Mumbai.

• In 2008, she became the brand ambassador for Arokya Milk and Thangamayil Jewellery.

• After making her debut as a host with the TV show “Jackpot” (2013), she appeared as a judge on the Malayalam TV show “Veruthe Alla Bharya” (2015) on Mazhavil Manorama, and “Comedy Stars Season 2” (2019) on Asianet. She also appeared in some episodes of the Tamil TV show “Roja” in a cameo role.

• Nadiya Moidu enjoys decorating her home in her leisure time. While talking about this in an interview, she said,
  

  After my kids grew up, I spent some time decorating my flat and even tried my hands at interior designing. Even now, I like to deck up my home.”

• In an interview, Nadiya revealed her desire to work in Marathi films and said,
  

  As I was born and brought up in Mumbai, so I wish to give them a Marathi movie in return.”

• Nadiya Moidu modelled in a photo shoot for the Naam Foundation to recreate one of the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma.