# Dhivyadharshini

Dhivyadharshini "DD" Neelakandan is an Indian television presenter, host and actress. She predominantly works in Tamil television and film industry especially in Tamil entertainment. She has hosted numerous television shows such as Koffee with DD, Anbudan DD.
Initially making her debut as an actress, she featured in supporting roles in films including Kamal Haasan's production Nala Damayanthi (2003), before going on to work in television serials, drawing attention for her performances in the Raadan Media ventures Selvi and Arasi. Since 2007, she has regularly been a host for shows on Vijay TV and in 2014, began hosting Koffee with DD, her own show.

## Early life

Dhivyadharshini was born to K. Neelakandan and N. Srilatha. Her sister Priyadarshini is also a television host, while her younger brother is an airline pilot. She attended Our Lady's Matriculation Higher Secondary School and has since has continued part-time education at Anna Adarsh College, Chennai.

## Career

Dhivyadharshini made her debut as a television anchor in 1999, when she successfully auditioned to be the child anchor for Vijay TV's Ungal Theerpu. She made a breakthrough as an actress, portraying a serious character in K. Balachander's television serial Rekkai Kattiya Manasu, shown on Raj TV, and subsequently, her performance helped her to popularity and gain further acting assignments. After a few more cameo appearances in films, Dhivyadharshini moved back to television, where she played notable roles in the Raadan Media ventures Selvi and Arase. She has also contributed as a dubbing artist in films, notably voicing Vega Tamotia in Saroja (2008) and Piaa Bajpai in Goa (2010).
Since 2007, Dhivyadharshini has become one amongst the leading TV anchors as featured on Tamil television and has notably continued to host several reality TV shows on Vijay TV. She hosted the initial seasons of Jodi Number One alongside Deepak and Aravind Akash, as well being the initial host of Boys Vs. Girls.

## Personal life

She married her longtime friend & assistant director Srikanth Ravichandran. But the couple announced their split in 2017. They filed for divorce in a family court in Chennai subsequently. Dhivyadharshini has rheumatoid arthritis, which prevents her from long-distance walking.

## Filmography

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | Shubhayathra | Raman's Child | Malayalam film; child actor |
| 2003 | Julie Ganapathi | Writer | |
| 2003 | Nala Damayanthi | Bhagyam | |
| 2003 | Whistle | Saravathy (Sara) | |
| 2003 | Five by Four | Namitha | English film |
| 2008 | Saroja | Special appearance in the song "Aaja Meri Soniye" | Guest appearance |
| 2017 | Power Paandi | Poonthendral's daughter | Guest appearance |
| 2019 | Sarvam Thaala Mayam | Anjana | |
| 2022 | Coffee with Kadhal | Varshini Santhosh | |
| 2023 | Kaadhal Conditions Apply | | |
| 2024 | Joshua: Imai Pol Kaakha | Madhavi | |
| 2025 | Dhruva Natchathiram | Madhavi | Reprises her role from Joshua: Imai Pol Kaakha. Unreleased, despite being completed in 2023. |

## Voice artist

| Actress | Film | Notes |
| Vega Tamotia | Saroja | |
| Piaa Bajpai | Goa | |
| Piaa Bajpai | Bale Pandiya | |
| Thulasi | Easan | |
| Preethi | Appa | |
| Anna | Frozen II | Tamil dubbed version |

## Television
### Shows

| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
| 1999 | Ungal Theerpu | Host | Star Vijay |
| 2006–2014 | Jodi Number One | Host (Season 1–3, 5–7) | Star Vijay |
| 2009 | Boys Vs Girls | Host (Season 1,2) | Star Vijay |
| 2012 | Jodi Number One | Contestant (Season 4) | Star Vijay |
| 2012 | Airtel Super Singer T20 | Host | Star Vijay |
| 2013–2017 | Koffee with DD | Host | Star Vijay |
| 2016 | Achcham Thavir | Host | Star Vijay |
| 2017 | Anbudan DD | Host | Star Vijay |
| 2018 | Jodi Fun Unlimited | Judge | Star Vijay |
| 2018 | Bigg Boss Tamil 2 | Guest | Star Vijay |
| 2018–2019 | Enkitta Modhaade | Host | Star Vijay |
| 2019–2020 | Dancing Super Stars | Judge | Star Vijay |
| 2019–2020 | Speed Get Set Go! | Host | Star Vijay |
| 2021 | Bigg Boss Tamil 4 Kondattam | Host | Star Vijay |
| 2021 | 6th annual Vijay Television Awards | Host | Star Vijay |
| 2022 | RRR Special | Host | Star Vijay |
| 2022 | Galatta Nakshatara Awards | Host | Kalaignar TV |
| 2022 | Bigg Boss (Tamil season 6) | Guest | Star Vijay |

### Serial

| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
| 2002 | Irandavathu Kadaimai | Usha | Raj TV |
| 2003–2004 | Rekkai Kattiya Manasu | Vidhya | Raj TV |
| 2003–2005 | Thadayam | Subha | Sun TV |
| 2004–2005 | Ahalya | Gowri | Sun TV |
| 2005–2006 | Selvi | Madhuvanthi | Sun TV |
| 2006–2007 | Kolangal | Anjalidevi | Sun TV |
| 2007 | Arasi | Madhuvanthi | Sun TV |
| 2007 | Kanavugal Aayiram | Bharathi | Jaya TV |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Notes |
| 2023 | Mathagam | Sofia | Disney+ Hotstar | |

## Awards
### Vikatan award

Ananda Vikatan, one of the leading weeklies of Tamil Nadu has been awarding the films, actors and technicians on various criteria.
| Year | Work | Category | Outcome |
| 2011 | Home Sweet Home (Vijay TV) | Best Anchor — Female | Won |

### Vijay television awards

| Year | Award | Category | Result | Notes |
| 2014 | Vijay Television Awards | Best Anchor - Female | Won | |
| 2015 | Vijay Television Awards | Best Anchor - Female | Won | |