Shivani Narayanan

Shivani Narayanan (born 5 May 2001) is an Indian actress who works in Tamil television and cinema. She became a familiar face to Tamil viewers as Sneha in the Star Vijay serial Pagal Nilavu, which ran from 2016 to 2019, and went on to play twin sisters in the Zee Tamil serial Rettai Roja.

She reached her widest audience as a contestant on Bigg Boss Tamil 4 in 2020, where she was the youngest housemate of the season and stayed in the house until the week before the finale. Her film career began in 2022 with Lokesh Kanagaraj's Vikram, in which she appeared opposite Vijay Sethupathi, followed by Veetla Vishesham, DSP, Naai Sekar Returns and her first lead role in Bumper (2023).

As of November 2026, her most recent television appearance is as a contestant on the second season of the Sun TV cooking show Top Cooku Dupe Cooku, which aired from August to December 2025.

Quick facts

Career

Pagal Nilavu and early television (2016 to 2019)

Shivani worked as a model before she entered television. Her first serial was Pagal Nilavu on Star Vijay, which premiered on 9 May 2016 as a next-generation sequel to the channel's Andal Azhagar. The serial was produced by K. J. Ganesh and directed first by Francis Kathiravan and later by Ravi Priyan, with Syed Anwar Ahmed and Sameera Sherief as the leads. Shivani played Sneha, a cousin of the two heroines. The part was written as a supporting role, but the response from viewers led the makers to expand it, and Sneha became one of the serial's leads. Her on-screen pairing with Mohammed Azeem, who played Arjun, was recognised with a Vijay Television Award in 2018. Pagal Nilavu ran for 800 episodes and ended on 9 March 2019.

While Pagal Nilavu was on air she made a special appearance as Gayatri, a friend of the hero, in Saravanan Meenatchi season 3, also on Star Vijay. In 2018 and 2019 she and Mohammed Azeem took part as a pair in Jodi Number One (Jodi Fun Unlimited) on Star Vijay and reached the final. In 2019 she played Meenakshi in the early episodes of the Star Vijay serial Kadaikutty Singam, which premiered in March that year, before leaving the role. She also made a special appearance as Sneha in the Star Vijay serial Raja Rani in 2019.

Rettai Roja (2019 to 2020)

Her next lead role came on Zee Tamil in Rettai Roja, which premiered on 12 August 2019 and was produced by Shruthi Narayanan's Shruthi Studios. Shivani played identical twins with opposite personalities: Anu, who becomes a lawyer, and Abi, a tailor who falls in love with Sanjeev, played by Akshay Kamal. She left the serial in 2020 before entering Bigg Boss, and Chandini Tamilarasan took over the double role in August 2020. Rettai Roja went on to run for 1,013 episodes until March 2023.

Bigg Boss Tamil 4 (2020 to 2021)

Shivani entered the fourth season of Bigg Boss Tamil, hosted by Kamal Haasan on Star Vijay, on its opening day, 4 October 2020. She was the youngest contestant of the season. She spent 98 days in the house and was evicted in the week before the finale, the twelfth housemate to be evicted. Aari Arjunan won the season on 17 January 2021, with Balaji Murugadoss as runner-up.

Films (2022 to 2023)

She made her film debut in Vikram, written and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and produced by Kamal Haasan's Raaj Kamal Films International, which was released on 3 June 2022. Shivani played Sumitra, one of the three wives of Sandhanam, played by Vijay Sethupathi, in a cast headed by Kamal Haasan and Fahadh Faasil. Vikram was one of the biggest commercial successes in Tamil cinema that year.

Three more releases followed within the same year. In Veetla Vishesham (17 June 2022), the Tamil remake of Badhaai Ho directed by RJ Balaji and N. J. Saravanan, she played Shalini, the hero's cousin, in an extended cameo built around the song Kalyaana Paattu. In Ponram's DSP (2 December 2022), with Vijay Sethupathi in the title role, she played the police officer SI Marikozhundhu. In Naai Sekar Returns (9 December 2022), directed by Suraj and starring Vadivelu, she played Bobby, the sister of Meganathan, played by Rao Ramesh.

Her first film as the female lead was Bumper, released on 7 July 2023. Written and directed by debutant M. Selvakumar and produced under the Vetha Pictures banner, it starred Vetri as a small-time offender who wins a ten-crore lottery prize and then loses the ticket. Shivani played the female lead. Reviews were mixed, with The Times of India rating it 3 out of 5 and Cinema Express 2 out of 5.

Top Cooku Dupe Cooku (2025)

In 2025 Shivani returned to television as one of the nine celebrity contestants on the second season of Top Cooku Dupe Cooku on Sun TV. Hosted by VJ Rakesh and Sivaangi Krishnakumar and judged by chef Venkatesh Bhat and chef Rammohan, the season premiered on 17 August 2025 and concluded on 14 December 2025, with the stunt master turned actor Besant Ravi as the winner.

Television

Filmography

Awards

Shivani Narayanan and Mohammed Azeem won the award for Best Budding Pair for Pagal Nilavu at the 4th Vijay Television Awards in 2018.

FAQ

Who is Shivani Narayanan?

Shivani Narayanan is a Tamil television and film actress, born on 5 May 2001, who is best known for the serials Pagal Nilavu and Rettai Roja and for Bigg Boss Tamil 4.

Which serial made Shivani Narayanan famous?

Pagal Nilavu on Star Vijay, in which she played Sneha from 2016 to 2019. Her pairing with Mohammed Azeem won the Best Budding Pair award at the 2018 Vijay Television Awards.

Did Shivani Narayanan win Bigg Boss Tamil 4?

No. She was evicted on Day 98, in the week before the finale. Aari Arjunan won the season.

What was Shivani Narayanan's first film?

Vikram (2022), directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, in which she played Sumitra, one of the wives of Vijay Sethupathi's character Sandhanam.

Which film was Shivani Narayanan's first as heroine?

Bumper (2023), directed by M. Selvakumar, in which she starred opposite Vetri.

What is Shivani Narayanan doing now?

As of November 2026, her most recent television appearance was as a contestant on Top Cooku Dupe Cooku season 2 on Sun TV, which aired from August to December 2025.