Madras Day: Three actors share their favourite Chennai food memories
Veteran actor Nalini Nair shares her cherished food memories from Chennai for Madras Day, recalling childhood visits to Impala Hotel for falooda and chole bhatura, and an Udupi hotel for idlis. She also discusses her current preference for home-cooked meals and names her favorite local spots for South Indian and non-vegetarian dishes.
Why it matters
This feature offers a nostalgic and personal glimpse into Chennai's culinary heritage and cultural life through the eyes of a local celebrity, celebrating the city's unique food landscape.
Veteran actor Nalini Nair, a familiar face for television audiences, was born and raised in Chennai. She entered the Tamil film industry with Raanuva Veeran (1981) and went on to make a mark in Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films as well. After a hiatus from acting since 1988, Nalini ventured into television with Krishna Daasi in 2000. There has been no looking back since.
The 62-year-old actor, who is busy shooting for television serials from 7 am until late evening, never leaves home without her trusty tiffin carrier, packed with home-cooked meals. “I generally avoid outside food these days, especially when I am at the shooting location. I normally prefer to eat idlis for dinner, and that too by 7 pm,” says Nalini.
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