Trisha Remains the Reigning Queen of Tamil Cinema

Trisha is Tamil cinema’s longest reigning Tamil lead actress. This year, she completes 26 years in the film industry and 23 years as a lead actress. This is a remarkable feat as the lifespan of an actress in the lead role seldom crosses a decade. Although blessed with good looks, charm and poise, Trisha’s climb to the top was a difficult one filled with many challenges and disappointments.

Trisha has thus far starred in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada films, with her 70^th film scheduled to release on 5 June 2025.

She is a former Miss Salem and Miss Chennai, with both titles leading her to modelling assignments. She was then offered a minor role as Simran’s friend in the 199 film, Jodi. This attracted the attention of filmmaker Priyadharshan who offered her a lead role in his film Lesa Lesa. The film’s publicity posters brought her a quick second role in Enakku 20 Unakku 18 but both films suffered extensive delays.

Her third signing, Manasellaam opposite Suriya becamse her first released film. Despite the average performance of the film at the box-office, Trisha was appreciated for her performance and screen presence.

Her first major hit was Hari’s 2003 directorial, Saamy, which saw her play the female lead opposite Vikram. The film was a huge hit and turned Trisha into a star with a huge following.

By the time Lesa Lesa was released, Trisha already had a major fan base. Lesa Lesa was by no means a hit film, but Trisha’s fan base ensured that the film did receive some recognition.

In 2004, Trisha made her foray into Telugu films and began a hugely successful innings in that industry. In the same year, she acted in that year’s most successful film, Ghilli where she starred opposite Vijay. 2004 also saw her play a small role in Maniratnam’s Ayutha Ezhuthu as part of an ensemble cast that included R. Madhavan, Suriya, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine and Esha Deol.

Trisha found further fame in the Telugu film world with the maiden directorial of Prabhu Deva titled Nuvvostunante Nenodantana ooposite Suddharth. The phenomenal response to the film and to her performance saw her being retained in the female lead when the film was remade into Tamil a year later in 2025 opposite Ravi Mohan (formerly known as Jayam Ravi)

In the Telugu industry, Trisha was rapidly gaining fame and critical praise for her films with directors like Selvaraghavan, AR Murugadoss and Puri Jagganath.

After the success of Kuruvi, Trisha once again earned praise for her role in Prakash Raj’s Abhiyum Naanum.

Trisha’s film for Vishnu Varadhan, Sarvam, unexplainably failed at the box-office but she returned to superb form in Gautham Vasudev Menon’s romantic drama Vinaithaandi Varuvaaya where she starred opposite Simbhu.

After sharing the screen with Kamalhaasan and R Madhavan in Manmadhan Ambu, Trisha starred in Ajith Kumar’s iconic 50^th film, Mankatha.

The following year, Trisha had two memorable roles in Vishal’s Samar and in Jiiva’s Endrendrum Punnagai.

Trisha followed this with varied roles in films like Gautham Vasudev Menon’s Yennai Arindhaal where she starred opposite Ajith Kumar, Bhooloham opposite Ravi Mohan, Thoongavanam opposite Kamalhaasan and her strong character in Dhanush’s Kodi.

In 2018 Trisha had another iconic role as Jaanu in 96 opposite Vijay Sethupathy. It was another role that won her multiple awards.

She had a small role in Rajinikanth’s Petta and the 2020 lockdown saw the release of a short film titled Karthik Dial Seytha Yenn, a sequel to Vinaithaandi Varuvaaya. This then saw the release of her 60^th film, Paramapadham Villaiyaatu which released directly on OTT to a very poor audience response.

Trisha then returned to glorious form in Maniratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan 1 & 2, in her landmark role as the Chola Princess Kundavai.

In August last year, she played the lead role in the web series, Brinda and followed this with a powerful performance opposite Vijay in Leo.

This year she had back-to-back releases opposite Ajith Kumar with Vidaa Muyarchi and Good Bad Ugly.

She will next be seen in Maniratnam’s Kamalhaasan starrer, Thug Life which also stars Silambarasan. She will also play the female lead opposite Suriya in his 45^th film.

Watch our selection of the Top 50 Tamil songs of Trisha.