Prachi Desai (born 12 September 1988[1]), is an Indian actress who primarily works inHindi films and television. Desai is a recipient of several accolades including anIIFA Award and fourIndian Telly Awards, as well as twoFilmfare Awards nominations.
Desai returned to films in 2021 with the thrillerSilence... Can You Hear It? and then expanded to web with the Telugu seriesDhootha (2023). Alongside her acting career, Desai is a celebrity endorser for brands and products.
Desai was born on 12 September 1988[1] inValsad,Gujarat, to Niranjan Desai and Ameeta Desai in aHindu family.[2] She has one sister named Esha Desai. She studied inSt. Joseph Convent School,[3]Panchgani and completed her schooling until ninth grade in Surat. She completed her higher studies from Sinhagad College in Pune.[citation needed]
In 2007, Desai enteredJhalak Dikhhla Jaa, the Indian version of BBCStrictly Come Dancing with choreographer Deepak Singh. Desai was eliminated on 10 November 2007, but entered the contest again via a wildcard entry and ultimately won the competition.[6] Desai also appeared in two episodes of the Star Plus television seriesKasauti Zindagi Ki in a cameo. She portrayed a student at Prerna's school.[7]
Desai then made the transition to the film industry in 2008. She made her film debut withRock On!! (2008), directed byAbhishek Kapoor, where she played Sakshi, a band singer wife oppositeFarhan Akhtar.[2] Desai had to leaveKasamh Se to star inRock On. The film earned her a nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Female Debut. In his review,Rajeev Masand stated, "Desai, saddled with what I think is the film's trickiest role, comes off unscathed because she's an actor who oozes warmth."[8][9] Next year, she played Prachi oppositeTusshar Kapoor inLife Partner, a box office average.[10]
Desai had two releases in 2013. She first played a stylist Gauri, inI, Me Aur Main, oppositeJohn Abraham.[19] Nishi Tiwar ofRediff.com said that Desai went "overboard" in her portrayal of a girl-next-door.[20] She next appeared oppositeSanjay Dutt, inPolicegiri. The film received negative reviews and Sarit Ray ofHindustan Times found her role to be "irrelevant".[21] In 2014, Desai appeared in a special number forEk Villain, in a song named "Awari".[22]
Post a small hiatus, Desai played former cricket captainMohammad Azharuddin's wife, Naureen in his biopic film,Azhar opposite Emraan Hashmi.[23][24] The film emerged a commercial failure, butAnna MM Vetticad ofFirstpost found her Naureen to be "controlled" and her heartbreak "believable".[25] In the same year, Desai reprised Sakshi, opposite Farhan Akhtar inRock On 2, a sequel toRock On!!.[26][27] In 2017, Desai played a robot in the short filmCarbon: The Story of Tomorrow oppositeJackky Bhagnani.[28]
Hiatus, return and streaming projects (2017-present)
In 2021, Desai returned to films after a break of four years withSilence... Can You Hear It?, where she played a police inspector Sanjana alongsideManoj Bajpai.[29] That year, she appeared in a music video, Rihaee withRohit Khandelwal. The song was well appreciated by the audience.[30]
Desai then played, Dr.Ranjana, a psychiatrist in the 2022 film,Forensic.[31] Pragati Awasthi ofWION was appreciative of Desai's decent portrayal of a psychiatrist.[32] In 2023, Desai appeared alongsideNaga Chaitanya, inDhootha, playing his PA, Amrutha. The series released in Telugu, marked her web debut.[33] Neeshita Nyayapati ofHindustan Times noted, "Prachi get a character that is anything but run-of-the-mill, even then she sink her teeth into it and does a good job."[34]
In 2024, Desai reprised Inspector Sanjana inSilence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout, sequel to the 2021 film.[35]Saibal Chatterjee opined, "Prachi Desai manages to make the most of the limited bandwidth accorded to her."[36] Desai is committed to star as a lead actress in the dark fantasy movie - Kosha, which is directed by Amman Advaita and produced by Abhay Raj Kanwar.[37]
Post her debut withKasamh Se,Rediff.com placed her fourth in its "Top TV stars of 2006" list.[38] Desai was placed 32nd inThe Times of India's Most Desirable Woman list.[39] Desai is an endorser, spokesperson and brand ambassador ofGoa Tourism andNeutrogena products in India.[40] Desai is also a celebrity endorser for brands such asLux Lyra,Relaxo, andGillette.[41] In 2016, Desai refused to be a part of an advertisement inPakistan.[42] Desai shared about hercasting couch experience in an interview in 2021.[43]
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