# Nimisha Sajayan

Nimisha Sajayan is an Indian actress who predominately works in Malayalam films apart from Tamil and Hindi films. Nimisha made her acting debut with the film Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum directed by Dileesh Pothan. She won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress in 2018 for her performance in Oru Kuprasidha Payyan and Chola. She is also a recipient of three Filmfare Award South and three SIIMA Awards.

## Early and personal life

Nimisha was born in Mumbai, India to Late Sajayan Nair, an engineer and Bindhu Sajayan. Her mother's ancestral home is in Punalur, Kerala.
Nimisha attended Carmel Convent School, Mumbai and graduated from KJ Somaiya College, Mumbai.

## Acting career

Nimisha started her acting career with the film Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, directed by Dileesh Pothan. She then played the lead role in editor B. Ajithk and Rajeev Ravi's 'Eeda'. She won the 49th Kerala State Film Award for Best actress in 2019 for the movies Oru Kuprasidha Payyan directed by Madhupal and Chola directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan. Chola premiered at several International Film Festival.
In 2021, she acted in The Great Indian Kitchen. The film as well as her performance were well received. The same year, she played lead roles in Nayattu and Malik. In 2022 she was a part of Oru Thekkan Thallu Case, Innale Vare and Heaven. Her upcoming films are Thuramukham and Chera. She made her Tamil debut through A.L Vijay's Mission: Chapter 1 - Achcham Enbathu Illaiyae film but her first release in Tamil was Chithha in 2023.

## Filmography
### Films

Key :
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
List of Nimisha Sajayan film credits and roles :
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Sreeja | Malayalam | |
| 2018 | Eeda | Aishwarya | Malayalam | |
| 2018 | Mangalyam Thanthunanena | Clara | Malayalam | |
| 2018 | Oru Kuprasidha Payyan | Hanna Elizabeth | Malayalam | |
| 2019 | Nalpathiyonnu (41) | Bhagyasooyam | Malayalam | |
| 2019 | Chola | Janu | Malayalam | |
| 2019 | Stand Up | Keerthi | Malayalam | |
| 2021 | The Great Indian Kitchen | Sreedevi Hareesh | Malayalam | |
| 2021 | One | Lathika | Malayalam | |
| 2021 | Nayattu | Sunitha | Malayalam | |
| 2021 | Malik | Rosline | Malayalam | |
| 2022 | Innale Vare | Anjali | Malayalam | |
| 2022 | Heaven | Defense councilor | Malayalam | Cameo |
| 2022 | Hawa Hawai | Jyoti | Marathi | |
| 2022 | Oru Thekkan Thallu Case | Vasanthi | Malayalam | |
| 2023 | Thuramukham | Umani | Malayalam | |
| 2023 | Footprints on Water | Meera | Indian English | |
| 2023 | Chithha | Shakthi | Tamil | |
| 2023 | Jigarthanda DoubleX | Malaiyarasi | Tamil | |
| 2023 | Adrishya Jalakangal | Miranda | Malayalam | |
| 2024 | Mission: Chapter 1 | Nancy Kurian | Tamil | |
| 2024 | Lantrani | Manasi Gangopandhey | Hindi | |
| 2025 | Crazxy | Bobby | Hindi | |

### Short films

List of Nimisha Sajayan short film credits and roles :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2017 | Nethram | Rape victim | |
| 2020 | Ghar Se | Wife | Hindi short film |
| 2020 | Draupadi | Mother | Photo Story |

### Television

Key :
| † | Denotes series that have not yet been released |
List of Nimisha Sajayan television credits and roles :
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes | Ref. |
| 2024 | Poacher | Mala Yogi | Malayalam | TV series on Prime Video | |
| 2025 | Dabba Cartel | Mala | Hindi | TV series on Netflix | |

## Awards and nominations

List of Nimisha Sajayan's awards and nominations :
| Award | Year | Category | Work | Result |
| Kerala State Film Awards | 2019 | Best Actress | Oru Kuprasidha Payyan Chola | Won |
| Kerala Film Critics Association Awards | 2019 | Best Actress | Oru Kuprasidha Payyan | Won |
| Filmfare Awards South | 2018 | Best Actress (Malayalam) | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Nominated |
| South Indian International Movie Awards | 2018 | Best Female Debut – Malayalam | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Won |
| South Indian International Movie Awards | 2018 | Best Actress – Malayalam | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Nominated |
| Asianet Film Awards | 2018 | Best Actress | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Nominated |
| Asianet Film Awards | 2019 | Best Star Couple (shared with Shane Nigam) | Eeda | Won |
| Asianet Film Awards | 2019 | Best Character Actress | Oru Kuprasidha Payyan | Nominated |
| Filmfare Awards South | 2019 | Best Actress | Eeda | Nominated |
| Filmfare Awards South | 2019 | Best Actress (Critics) | Eeda | Won |
| Vanitha Film Awards | 2018 | Best Newcomer Actress | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Won |
| IFFM Awards | 2021 | Best Performance Female (Feature) | The Great Indian Kitchen | Nominated |
| IFFM Awards | 2021 | Honourable Mention for Best Actress (Feature) | The Great Indian Kitchen | Won |
| Movie Street Film Excellence Awards | 2018 | Best Debutant Actor – Female | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Won |
| Movie Street Film Excellence Awards | 2019 | Best Actor (Female) | Oru Kuprasidha Payyan | Won |
| Toronto International South Asian Film Awards | 2019 | Best Debut Actress | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Won |
| South Indian International Movie Awards | 2021 | Best Actress | Chola | Nominated |
| South Indian International Movie Awards | 2021 | Best Actress – (Critics) | Chola | Won |
| Filmfare Awards South | 2022 | Best Actress (Malayalam) | The Great Indian Kitchen | Won |
| South Indian International Movie Awards | 2022 | Critics Choice Awards | The Great Indian Kitchen | Won |
| Filmfare Awards South | 2024 | Best Actress | Chithha | Won |
| Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards | 2024 | Best Actress | Chithha | Won |