Pragya Jaiswal | |
|---|---|
 Pragya Jaiswal at Filmfare Awards 2025 | |
| Born | (1991-01-12)12 January 1991 (age 35) |
| Alma mater | Symbiosis Law School |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2014–present |
Pragya Jaiswal (born 12 January 1991) is an Indian actress who predominantly works inTelugu films. She has won aFilmfare Award and aSouth Indian International Movie Award.[1]
Jaiswal made her acting debut in 2014 with the Tamil-language filmVirattu. She had her breakthrough with the Telugu period dramaKanche (2015), for which she was awarded theFilmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South.[2][3] Jaiswal made her Hindi film debut withTitoo MBA. She went on to appear in films such asNakshatram (2017),Achari America Yatra (2018) andAkhanda (2021), which is her highest-grossing release.
Jaiswal was born on 12 January 1991[4] in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. Pragya Jaiswal completed her education fromSymbiosis Law School atPune.[5][6] During her initial days at Symbiosis University, she participated in various beauty pageants and became a model. In 2014, she received the Symbiosis Sanskritik Puraskar for her achievement in the field of art and culture.[7]
Jaiswal made her acting debut with the Tamil filmVirattu, in 2014.[8] In the same year, she made her Hindi film debut withTitoo MBA opposite Nishant Dahiya.[9]
In 2015, Jaiswal ventured into Telugu films withMirchi Lanti Kurradu oppositeAbijeet.[citation needed] Her career marked a turning point withKanche, where she played a princess oppositeVarun Tej. The film emerged a commercial success.[10][11][12] Suresh Kavirayani ofDeccan Chronicle noted, "Pragya looks beautiful and perfectly fits her role of a princess."[13]
FollowingKanche's success, she had four releases in 2017. She first appeared inOm Namo Venkatesaya, a box office failure.[14] Her next film,Gunturodu oppositeManchu Manoj also failed at the box office.[15] Jaiswal next played an IPS officer inNakshatram.[16] Sridhar Adivi ofThe Times of India stated that her role is packed with both "glamour and substance".[17] She had an extended cameo inJaya Janaki Nayaka, her final film of the year.[citation needed] In 2018, she appeared inAchari America Yatra oppositeVishnu Manchu, which was an average grosser.[18]
Post a three year hiatus, Jaiswal played an IAS officer inAkhanda oppositeNandamuri Balakrishna.[19] The film was a commercial success and became thethird highest grossing Telugu film of 2021.[20]Firstpost noted, "Saranya is relatively well-written and Pragya carries her well."[21] In 2022, she played a NIA officer in the box office failure,Son of India.[22]
Jaiswal returned to Hindi films with the 2024 ensemble comedyKhel Khel Mein, playing a boutique owner oppositeAditya Seal.[23] Anuj Kumar ofThe Hindu stated, "A confident Pragya turns up in a Hindi film for a change and plays the role of an entitled brat without caricaturising it.".[24] Her latest movie is Daaku Maharaj, starring opposite Nandamuri Bala Krishna.
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Language | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Virattu | Mavi | Tamil | [25] | |
| Titoo MBA | Gulshan | Hindi | [26] | ||
| 2015 | Mirchi Lanti Kurradu | Vasundara | Telugu | [27] | |
| Kanche | Sita Devi | [28] | |||
| 2017 | Om Namo Venkatesaya | Bhavani | [29] | ||
| Gunturodu | Amrutha | [30] | |||
| Nakshatram | Kiran Reddy IPS | [31][32] | |||
| Jaya Janaki Nayaka | Falguni | [33] | |||
| 2018 | Achari America Yatra | Renuka | [34] | ||
| 2021 | Akhanda | Saranya Bachupally IAS | [35] | ||
| 2022 | Son of India | Iravathi "Ira" | [36] | ||
| 2024 | Khel Khel Mein | Naina Tanwar | Hindi | [37] | |
| 2025 | Daaku Maharaaj | Kaveri | Telugu | [38] | |
| Akhanda 2: Thaandavam | Saranya Bachupally IAS | Photo presence | |||
| 2026 | Tyson Naidu† | TBA | Filming | [39] |
| Year | Title | Singer(s) | Language | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | "Main Chala" | Guru Randhawa, Iulia Vantur | Hindi | [40] |
| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Kanche | 63rd Filmfare Awards South | Best Female Debut | Won | [41] |
| 5th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Female Debut – Telugu | Won | [42] | ||
| CineMAA Awards | Best Female Debut | Won | [43] | ||
| Zee Telugu Apsara Awards | Best Find of the Year | Won | [citation needed] | ||
| TV9 National Film Awards | Best Debut Actress | Won | [citation needed] | ||
| 2021 | Akhanda | 10th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress – Telugu | Nominated | [44] |
