Sanya Malhotra

Sanya Malhotra (born 25 February 1992) is an Indian actress who has emerged as one of the most versatile talents in contemporary Hindi cinema. Raised in Delhi in a Punjabi family, she cultivated a passion for dance, training in contemporary and ballet before earning a degree from Gargi College. After appearing on the reality show Dance India Dance and assisting on television commercials in Mumbai, she caught the attention of casting director Mukesh Chhabra, which led to her breakthrough role in Nitesh Tiwari’s biographical sports drama Dangal (2016). In that film she portrayed the supportive sister of Aamir Khan’s character, undergoing intensive wrestling training that earned critical praise for adding depth to the narrative. She subsequently choreographed the song “Sexy Baliye” for Secret Superstar (2017), showcasing her multifaceted skill set. Malhotra’s career accelerated with the rural comedy Pataakha (2018), where she and co‑star Radhika Madan lived in a Rajasthani village, learned the dialect and performed demanding physical tasks, earning her the description of a “fearless actress” by critics. The same year she appeared in the commercially successful comedy Badhaai Ho, further cementing her reputation as a reliable supporting talent. Her first leading role came with Ritesh Batra’s Photograph (2019), a nuanced romantic drama that earned her a Filmfare Critics Award nomination and highlighted her ability to convey quiet, introspective emotion. From 2020 onward, Malhotra pivoted toward streaming platforms, delivering memorable performances in Shakuntala Devi, Ludo, Pagglait, Meenakshi Sundareshwar, and the satirical Netflix film Kathal (2023), for which she won a Filmfare OTT Award. She also contributed to high‑profile blockbusters such as Jawan (2023) and the biopic Sam Bahadur (2023). Most recently, she headlined the Hindi remake Mrs. (2024/2025), receiving unanimous acclaim for her portrayal of a newlywed confronting patriarchal norms. With a career marked by diligent preparation, diverse role choices, and consistent critical recognition, Sanya Malhotra continues to shape the landscape of modern Indian cinema.