# Pragya Jaiswal

Pragya Jaiswal (born 12 January 1991) is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Telugu films. She has won a Filmfare Award and a South Indian International Movie Award.
Jaiswal made her acting debut in 2014 with the Tamil-language film Virattu. She had her breakthrough with the Telugu period drama Kanche (2015), for which she was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South. Jaiswal made her Hindi film debut with Titoo MBA. She went on to appear in films such as Nakshatram (2017), Achari America Yatra (2018) and Akhanda (2021), which is her highest-grossing release.

## Early life

Jaiswal was born on 12 January 1991 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. Pragya Jaiswal completed her education from Symbiosis Law School at Pune. 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.

## Career

Jaiswal made her acting debut with the Tamil film Virattu, in 2014. In the same year, she made her Hindi film debut with Titoo MBA opposite Nishant Dahiya.
In 2015, Jaiswal ventured into Telugu films with Mirchi Lanti Kurradu opposite Abijeet. Her career marked a turning point with Kanche, where she played a princess opposite Varun Tej. The film emerged a commercial success. Suresh Kavirayani of Deccan Chronicle noted, "Pragya looks beautiful and perfectly fits her role of a princess."
Following Kanche's success, she had four releases in 2017. She first appeared in Om Namo Venkatesaya, a box office failure. Her next film, Gunturodu opposite Manchu Manoj also failed at the box office. Jaiswal next played an IPS officer in Nakshatram. Sridhar Adivi of The Times of India stated that her role is packed with both "glamour and substance". She had an extended cameo in Jaya Janaki Nayaka, her final film of the year. In 2018, she appeared in Achari America Yatra opposite Vishnu Manchu, which was an average grosser.
Post a three year hiatus, Jaiswal played an IAS officer in Akhanda opposite Nandamuri Balakrishna. The film was a commercial success and became the third highest grossing Telugu film of 2021. Firstpost noted, "Saranya is relatively well-written and Pragya carries her well." In 2022, she played a NIA officer in the box office failure, Son of India.
Jaiswal returned to Hindi films with the 2024 ensemble comedy Khel Khel Mein, playing a boutique owner opposite Aditya Seal. Anuj Kumar of The 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.". Her latest movie is Daaku Maharaj, starring opposite Nandamuri Bala Krishna.

## Filmography
### Films

Key :
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Language | Notes |
| 2014 | Virattu | Mavi | Tamil | |
| 2015 | Mirchi Lanti Kurradu | Vasundara | Telugu | |
| 2015 | Kanche | Sita Devi | Telugu | |
| 2017 | Om Namo Venkatesaya | Bhavani | Telugu | Cameo |
| 2017 | Gunturodu | Amrutha | Telugu | |
| 2017 | Nakshatram | Kiran Reddy IPS | Telugu | |
| 2017 | Jaya Janaki Nayaka | Falguni | Telugu | Extended cameo |
| 2018 | Achari America Yatra | Renuka | Telugu | |
| 2021 | Akhanda | Saranya Bachupally IAS | Telugu | |
| 2022 | Son of India | Iravathi "Ira" | Telugu | Cameo |
| 2024 | Khel Khel Mein | Naina Tanwar | Hindi | |
| 2025 | Daaku Maharaaj | Kaveri | Telugu | |
| 2025 | Akhanda 2† | Saranya Bachupally IAS | Telugu | Filming |
| 2025 | Tyson Naidu† | TBA | Telugu | Filming |

### Music video

| Year | Title | Singer(s) | Language | Ref. |
| 2022 | "Main Chala" | Guru Randhawa, Iulia Vantur | Hindi | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
| 2016 | Kanche | 63rd Filmfare Awards South | Best Female Debut | Won |
| 2016 | Kanche | 5th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Female Debut – Telugu | Won |
| 2016 | Kanche | CineMAA Awards | Best Female Debut | Won |
| 2016 | Kanche | Zee Telugu Apsara Awards | Best Find of the Year | Won |
| 2016 | Kanche | TV9 National Film Awards | Best Debut Actress | Won |
| 2021 | Akhanda | 10th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actress – Telugu | Nominated |