# Erica Fernandes

Erica Jennifer Fernandes (born 7 May 1993) is an Indian actress and model, who works in Indian television. She has also featured in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada films. She debut in Tamil film Ainthu Ainthu Ainthu. She got her breakthrough with her television debut, portraying Dr. Sonakshi Bose in Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi. Erica has also acted in Kannada film Ninnindale and many Tamil films including Galipatam. Erica is also known for her portrayal of Prerna Sharma in Kasautii Zindagii Kay.

## Early life

Erica Jennifer Fernandes was born on 7 May 1993 in Mangalore to Ralph Fernandes and Lavina Fernandes, in a Mangalorean Catholic Konkani family and later shifted to Mumbai. She did her schooling from Holy Cross High School, Kurla and completed her Pre-Degree Course from Sies College Of Arts, Science & Commerce, Sion. She had enrolled for a BA degree from St Andrew's College, Bandra. Later she discontinued her studies to pursue a career in modelling.

## Career
### Modelling career

She always aspired to be a model since childhood, which earned her the crown of "Bombay Times Fresh Face", "Pantaloons Femina Miss Fresh Face 2011" and "Pantaloons Femina Miss Maharashtra" in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

### Film debut and success (2013–2015)

Director Sasi had seen pictures of her at Meera Kathiravan's office, with whom she was shooting another film, when he was casting for Ainthu Ainthu Ainthu. Sasi offered her a role of a software engineer in the film alongside Bharath, who plays her love interest. Due to the delay of her other films, Ainthu Ainthu Ainthu became her first release. In 2014, she made her debut in Kannada with the film Ninnindale, featuring alongside Puneeth Rajkumar, which was followed by her debut Hindi film, Babloo Happy Hai, directed by Nila Madhab Panda.
She was selected to play the lead role in the Tamil film Virattu, featuring newcomer Sujiv, son of the director Kumar. In February 2014, Virattu eventually released. Galipatam became her first Telugu release. The film received decent reviews from critics, who also noted that Erica "does a good job" and "shows maturity". In 2015, she appeared in the Kannada film Buguri.

### Television debut, breakthrough and success (2016–2020)

In 2016, Fernandes made her television debut with Sony TV's Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi where she portrayed Dr. Sonakshi Bose, opposite Shaheer Sheikh. The show was a new age show and her onscreen chemistry with Shaheer Sheikh was appreciated.
Her delayed film with Kathiravan, Vizhithiru, released on 6 October 2017 and saw her feature among an ensemble cast including Krishna, Venkat Prabhu and Sara Arjun.
From 2018 to 2020, she portrayed Prerna Sharma in StarPlus's Kasautii Zindagii Kay, opposite Parth Samthaan.

### Recent work

In 2021, Fernandes reprised her role of Dr. Sonakshi Bose opposite Shaheer Sheikh in the third season of Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi: Nayi Kahaani.
She is currently hosting Emirates Draw. a game show in Dubai, which is live streamed across Emirates Draw's digital platforms YouTube, Facebook, and Website.
In 2023, Erica played the role of Moushmi in an Amazon Mini TV horror film The Haunting.

## Media

In 2017, Fernandes was ranked fourth in The Times of India's Most Desirable Women on Indian Television List.
She was also listed third in The Times of India's Most Desirable Women on Indian Television List 2018. In the same year, Times ranked her 8th in the Top 10 Popular Actress in Television.
Fernandes was placed 13th in Eastern Eye's 50 Sexiest Asian Women of 2019 List and fourth in The Times of India's Most Desirable Women On Television List 2019.
Fernandes was ranked first in The Times Most Desirable Women on TV 2020.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
| 2013 | Ainthu Ainthu Ainthu | Manjari | Tamil | Debut Film |
| 2014 | Ninnindale | Pramila | Kannada | |
| 2014 | Babloo Happy Hai | Natasha | Hindi | |
| 2014 | Virattu | Shri | Tamil | |
| 2014 | Galipatam | Swathi | Telugu | |
| 2014 | Dega | Sri | Telugu | |
| 2015 | Buguri | Ishanya | Kannada | |
| 2017 | Vizhithiru | Christina | Tamil | |
| 2023 | The Haunting | Moushmi | Hindi | Short Film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2016–2017 | Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi | Dr. Sonakshi Bose Dixit | Season 1 and 2 |
| 2016–2019 | Box Cricket League | Herself | |
| 2019 | Khatra Khatra Khatra | Herself | |
| 2018–2020 | Kasautii Zindagii Kay | Prerna Sharma | |
| 2021 | Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi:Nayi Kahani | Dr. Sonakshi Bose Dixit | Season 3 |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2022-2023 | Emirates Draw EASY6 | Host | Co-Hosted with Kinan Salameh |
| 2024 | Love Adhura | Nandita | |
| 2024 | Bada Sheher Choti Family | Shruti Khanna | Mini series |

### Music videos

| Year | Title | Singer(s) | Label |
| 2020 | Juda Kar Diya | Stebin Ben | Desi Music Factory |
| 2020 | Maula | Papon | Saregama |
| 2022 | Akhiyan | Shekhar Khanijo | Shekhar Khanijo |
| 2022 | Tumhe Pyaar Karungga | Lakshay Kapoor | VYRL Originals |
| 2023 | Wo Kashish | Javed Ali, Anweshaa | Kashish Music |
| 2023 | Ishq Hua | Javed Ali, Aakritti Mehra | Blue Music Record Label |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2015 | SIIMA Awards | Best Debut Actress - Kannada | Ninnindale | Nominated |
| 2016 | Gold Awards | Best Onscreen Jodi (with Shaheer Sheikh) | Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi | Nominated |
| 2016 | Asian Viewers Television Awards | Female Actor Of The Year | Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi | Won |
| 2017 | Gold Awards | Best Onscreen Jodi (with Shaheer Sheikh) | Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi | Won |
| 2018 | Asian Viewers Television Awards | Female Actor Of The Year | Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi | Nominated |
| 2019 | Indian Telly Awards | Best Jodi Popular (With Parth Samthaan) | Kasautii Zindagii Kay | Won |
| 2019 | Gold Awards | Best Actor Female (Critics) | Kasautii Zindagii Kay | Won |
| 2019 | Gold Awards | Style Diva | — | Won |
| 2019 | Asian Viewers Television Awards | Female Actor Of The Year | Kasautii Zindagii Kay | Won |
| 2019 | Indian Television Academy Awards | Best Actress Popular | Kasautii Zindagii Kay | Nominated |
| 2021 | Iconic Gold Awards | Most Glamorous TV Actress | Herself | Won |
| 2022 | Iconic Gold Awards | Most Glamorous Actress of the year | Herself | Won |