Oviya Helen Biography:
Helen Nelson, born on 29 April 1991, is professionally known by her stage name Oviya. She is an Indian actress primarily working in Tamil and Malayalam cinema. Oviya gained recognition with her breakthrough role in Sarkunam’s rural romantic comedy Kalavani (2010). She went on to star in notable films such as Pandiraj’s Marina (2012), Moodar Koodam (2013), and Madha Yaanai Koottam (2013). She also achieved box office success with Sundar C’s Kalakalappu (2012) and the horror-comedy Yaamirukka Bayamey (2014). In 2017, Oviya gained widespread popularity as a contestant on Bigg Boss Tamil 1.
Oviya Helen Family:
Oviya, originally named Helen Nelson, was born into a Syrian Christian family in Thrissur, Kerala. She pursued her education at Vimala College in Thrissur.
Oviya Helen Career:
Debut in Malayalam Cinema (2007–2009)
Oviya, born Helen Nelson, began her acting career by taking supporting roles in Malayalam films, notably in Kangaroo (2007) and Puthiya Mukham (2009), which starred Prithviraj. She also played a lead role in the college drama Apoorva (2008). During this time, she was completing her BA in Functional English at Vimala College in Thrissur. It was around this period that director Sargunam discovered her and offered her the lead role in Kalavani (2010), after seeing her picture online. Despite some reservations from the producer, Sargunam believed Oviya was the perfect fit for the role.
Debut in Tamil Cinema (2010–2016)
Oviya made her Tamil cinema debut in Kalavani (2010), where she starred opposite Vimal. The film received positive reviews and became a sleeper hit. Critics praised Oviya’s performance as a village schoolgirl, with The Hindustan Times noting her “marvellous expressions” and The Hindu highlighting her “cute looks and strong emoting abilities.”
Following the success of Kalavani, Oviya signed several small-budget films like Amara, Vengai, and Muthukku Muthaaga (2011). However, many of these projects did not see a theatrical release. In Muthukku Muthaaga, she played a college basketballer, even continuing to work after fainting on set due to illness. Despite the film receiving negative reviews, Oviya’s work ethic stood out.
During this period, she also appeared in Malayalam films like Puthumukhangal (2010) and Manushyamrugam (2011). She gained more recognition with the Kannada remake of Kalavani, titled Kirataka (2011), where her performance was praised. Oviya also made a cameo appearance in K. S. Ravikumar’s Manmadhan Ambu (2010), though she expressed disappointment that many of her scenes were edited out.
Over the next few years, Oviya balanced performance-oriented and glamorous roles in Tamil films. She was well-received for her performance in Pandiraj’s drama Marina (2012) and continued to impress critics with her roles in Moodar Koodam (2013) and Madha Yaanai Koottam (2013). She took on a glamorous role for the first time in Sundar C’s comedy Kalakalappu (2012), which became her most commercially successful film.
However, not all of her projects fared well. Films like Sillunu Oru Sandhippu (2013) and Pulivaal (2014) failed to impress, but she bounced back with the hit horror comedy Yaamirukka Bayamey (2014), where her performance was highly praised. The Deccan Chronicle lauded her portrayal of a “girl-next-door unafraid of her sexuality,” calling her “perfect” for the role.
Despite her initial success, Oviya’s career began to decline after 2014, as she was primarily offered glamorous roles in low-budget films. Her projects like Sandamarutham (2015), 144 (2015), and Hello Naan Pei Pesuren (2016) did not perform as expected. She also appeared in the Hindi film Yeh Ishq Sarfira (2015) and the Kannada film Mr. Mommaga (2016), but these roles did not revive her career.
Bigg Boss Tamil (2017–2018)
In 2017, Oviya participated in the first season of Bigg Boss Tamil, hosted by Kamal Haasan. Her charm, honesty, and positive attitude won her immense popularity among viewers. She formed close friendships with contestants like Bindu Madhavi and Raiza Wilson, while facing bullying from other housemates, including Gayathri Raghuram and Namitha. Despite the negativity, Oviya’s clever responses and resilience endeared her to the audience, and she garnered a “cult following” on social media, with the hashtag “Oviya Army” trending frequently.
Oviya’s popularity soared, with many celebrities like Priya Anand and Nivetha Pethuraj expressing their support for her. Her fame even inspired a song, “Neenga Shut Up Pannunga,” which was included in the Tamil film Balloon (2017). Despite her immense popularity, Oviya voluntarily exited the show on medical grounds in August 2017, following a week-long emotional confrontation with fellow contestant Arav.
Though there were calls for her return as a wildcard entrant, Oviya decided to focus on film opportunities instead. She later urged her fans to forgive the contestants who had wronged her on the show.
Career Revival and Present (2019–Present)
After Bigg Boss, Oviya’s acting career saw a resurgence. A delayed film, Seeni, was renamed Oviyaava Vitta Yaaru to capitalize on her popularity. She also signed on for major films like Muni 4: Kanchana 3 (2019), though her role did not significantly impact the film. She starred in Kalavani 2 (2019) and the controversial film 90ML (2019), both of which received negative reviews and performed poorly at the box office.
Following a brief hiatus, Oviya is currently working on a comedy film titled Contractor Nesamani with Yogi Babu, marking her return to cinema.
Oviya Helen Physical Stats & More
- Height (approx.):
- In centimeters: 163 cm
- In meters: 1.63 m
- In feet & inches: 5’4″
- Weight (approx.):
- In kilograms: 55 kg
- In pounds: 121 lbs
- Figure Measurements (approx.): 34-26-36
- Eye Colour: Black
- Hair Colour: Black
Oviya Helen Controversy: Leaked MMS
In October 2024, Oviya made headlines after an alleged MMS of hers was leaked online. However, many claimed that the video was morphed and created using AI technology. Despite this, the incident led to widespread trolling by netizens.
Interesting Facts about Oviya:
- Oviya began her acting career with the film Kangaroo in 2007, but her debut as a lead actress came in 2010 with the movie Kalavani. Following the success of Kalavani, she appeared in over a dozen films within 12 months. She has also signed a Bollywood project titled Jaat.
- Oviya gained widespread public attention and support after participating in the first season of Bigg Boss Tamil.