Nikki Galrani
Nikita Galrani Pinisetty (née Galrani; born 3 January 1992) is an Indian actress known for her works in Tamil and Malayalam films.[2][3] Her commercially successful films include 1983 (2014), Vellimoonga (2014), Darling (2015) and Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran (2016) .[4]
Early life and education
Born as Nikita Galrani on 3 January 1992 in Bangalore, she is the younger daughter of Manohar and Reshma Galrani and is of Sindhi ancestry.[5][6][7] She has an elder sister Sanjjanaa, who is also an actress.[8]
Galrani was educated at Bishop Cotton Girls' School, Bangalore. Thereafter she did her PUC from Bishop Cotton Women's Christian College, Bangalore and later took up a course in fashion designing. She said that she did science in PUC because her parents and sister wanted her to become a doctor but they later let her pursue designing.[9] She then did modelling and appeared in many advertisements. She resides in Chennai.[10][6]
Career
Debut and breakthrough in Malayalam cinema (2014)
Galrani started her film career with the Malayalam-language sports drama film 1983 (2014), written and directed by Abrid Shine, starring Nivin Pauly. Galrani played the character Manjula Sasidharan, a village girl and teenage lover of Rameshan (Pauly), who loves cricket more than anything. The film was critical and commercial success. She won awards from Filmfare, SIIMA and Vanitha as the best debut actress that year.[11] She signed her first film to play the lead role in Ajith, the Kannada remake of the Tamil film Paiyaa, after an audition.[12] Within three days, she had signed her next project,[13] her first Tamil film, Yagavarayinum Naa Kaakka[14] and few weeks later, her first Malayalam film as well: 1983.[15] In spite of being the last film she signed in 2013, 1983 released first in early 2014 and became her debut film and was her first major box office hit.[16] She portrayed the role of Manjula Sasidharan, a rural village school girl[17] and said that the character was exactly the opposite of what she was in real life and that she had to sunbathe to get dark for the role.[18] The film received critical acclaim and became a box office success,[19] while Galrani went on to win the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South for her performance.[20]
A week later, Galrani had her second release, Nivin Pauly and Nazriya's Ohm Shanthi Oshaana, in which she had performed a cameo role.[19] She had a third Malayalam release in 2014, Vellimoonga, in which she played a Christian nurse.[21] The film, made on a budget of under ₹ 5 crores, went on to collect over ₹ 20 crores at the box office.[22] At the end of the year, IBTimes called Galrani the most successful actress of 2014 in Malayalam cinema.[23] Even before the release of her first Kannada film, she had been signed for three more Kannada projects as well: Jamboo Savari, a remake of the Telugu film Swamy Ra Ra,[24][25] Obiraya[26] and Paravashanadenu,[27] although the latter two were shelved midway. Ajith and Jamboo Savari released in quick succession in the second quarter of 2014. She had signed up Sharath A Haridaasan's Enthoru Bhagyam[28] and V. K. Prakash's next project,[29] but had to opt out of both due to conflicting schedules.[30]
Debut in Tamil and Telugu cinema (2015–2016)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Nikki_Galrani_-_1st_IIFA_Utsavam_%2824700439136%29.jpg/220px-Nikki_Galrani_-_1st_IIFA_Utsavam_%2824700439136%29.jpg)
The delay of Yagavarayinum Naa Kaakka meant that the horror comedy Darling that she began shooting for much later became her debut Tamil release, which was a commercial success, collecting over ₹32 crore (US$3.8 million) against a budget of ₹10 crore.[citation needed] It was successfully completed over 365-day at the Kollywood Industry, and went on to become successful at the Indian box-office.[31] Galrani portrayed a spirit possessed girl "that you will be rooting for", and her performance was well received by critics, who stated that she gave a "good performance"[32] and had "played her part really well".[33] Sify.com stated that "Nikki Galrani is cute and adorable, she is quite good at emotional sequences as well".[34] Darling was followed by the releases of her two Malayalam films Ivan Maryadaraman and Oru Second Class Yathra.[35] and the Kannada film Siddhartha that featured her in a pivotal role which she shot for in August 2014.[36] In June 2015, Yagavarayinum Naa Kaakka was eventually released. Her character in the film, she said, was a "carbon copy of what I am in my real life".[37] Sify.com stated that "Galrani’s infectious smile and energy is a major plus in the first half".[38]
Galrani starred opposite Suresh Gopi in the Malayalam film Rudra Simhasanam.[39] Her next Tamil film, Ko 2 was commercially successful at the Tamil box-office.[40][41][42] Both of her Telugu language debut films performed fairly at the Tollywood box office.[43][44] Galrani starred in Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran (2016) a Tamil language film where she played a police officer opposite Vishnu Vishal. The film was financially successful.[45] IndiaGlitz.com stated "Nikki added much more glamour to the film in songs and live entire the film by her stunt sequences".[46] Galrani also made a cameo appearance in Shajahanum Pareekuttiyum.[citation needed] Her next Tamil film was opposite G. V. Prakash Kumar again, with Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru.[citation needed] Blasting News stated that "Nikki Galrani was spectacular, and the trio literally captured the soft part of audience's hearts".[47]
2017–present
In 2017, Galrani acted in Tamil film Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva opposite Raghava Lawrence followed by Maragadha Naanayam.[48][49] She also acted in a Malayalam film Team 5 (2017) and successively four Tamil films Neruppu Da (2017), Hara Hara Mahadevaki (2017), Kalakalappu 2 (2018) and Pakka (2018). She also worked in Kannada entitled O Premave (2018).[50] In 2019, she appeared in Tamil action films with Charlie Chaplin 2, Dev and Kee. In 2020, She made her comeback in Malayalam with the comedy Dhamaka.[51]
Personal life
On 24 March 2022, Galrani got engaged to her long-time boyfriend and actor Aadhi Pinisetty.[52][53] The couple married on 18 May 2022.[54][55]
Filmography
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Title[a] | Role(s) | Language | Notes | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 1983 | Manjula Sasidharan | Malayalam | Debut; Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South | [56] |
Ohm Shanthi Oshaana | Thennal K. Warrier | Malayalam | Guest appearance | [3] | |
Ajith | Charulatha (Charu) | Kannada | [12] | ||
Jamboo Savari | Purvi | Kannada | [24] | ||
Vellimoonga | Lisa Wareed | Malayalam | [21] | ||
2015 | Darling | Nisha | Tamil | [32] | |
Siddhartha | Anju | Kannada | Special appearance | ||
Ivan Maryadaraman | Krishnendu (Krishna) | Malayalam | [57] | ||
Oru Second Class Yathra | Lakshmi | Malayalam | |||
Yagavarayinum Naa Kaakka | Kayal | Tamil | |||
Rudra Simhasanam | Haimavathi / Mrinalini | Malayalam | |||
Rajamma @ Yahoo | Sherin | Malayalam | |||
2016 | Malupu | Kayal | Telugu | ||
Krishnashtami | Pallavi | Telugu | |||
Ko 2 | Priyadarshini | Tamil | |||
Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran | Archana | Tamil | |||
Shajahanum Pareekuttiyum | Thresiamma Punnose | Malayalam | Cameo appearance | ||
Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru | Priya | Tamil | |||
2017 | Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva | Jaanu | Tamil | ||
Maragadha Naanayam | Chanakya | Tamil | |||
Team 5 | Nancy | Malayalam | |||
Neruppu Da | Vasumathi | Tamil | |||
Hara Hara Mahadevaki | Ramya | Tamil | |||
2018 | Kalakalappu 2 | Aishwarya | Tamil | ||
Pakka | Rajini Radha | Tamil | |||
O Premave | Anjali | Kannada | |||
2019 | Charlie Chaplin 2 | Sara | Tamil | ||
Dev | Krithika | Tamil | Cameo appearance | ||
Kee | Diya | Tamil | |||
2020 | Dhamaka | Annie / Ann Mary | Malayalam | ||
2021 | Raajavamsam | Gayathri | Tamil | ||
2022 | Idiot | Smitha | Tamil | ||
2024 | Virunnu | Malayalam Tamil | Bilingual; Virundhu in Tamil; post production | [58] |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes | Channel | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Comedy Stars-S3 | Special Judge | Malayalam | Reality show | Asianet TV | |
2022 | Vellum Thiramai | Judge | Tamil | Colors Tamil | [59] | |
2024 | Jodi are you ready | Tamil | Reality show | Star Vijay |
Awards and nominations
| ||||||||
Totals[b] | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wins | 6 | |||||||
Nominations | 0 | |||||||
Note
|
Year[a] | Award | Category | Film | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | 17th Asianet Film Awards | Best New Face of the Year – Female | 1983 | Won | [60] |
Vanitha Film Awards | Best Newcomer Actress | Won | [61] | ||
62nd Filmfare Awards South | Best Female Debut – Malayalam | Won | [62] | ||
4th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Debut Actress – Malayalam | Won | [63] | ||
Kerala Film Critics Association Awards | Upcoming Actress | Won | [citation needed] | ||
2016 | Edison Awards | Best Debut Actress | Darling | Won | [64] |
Notes
- ^ Refers to the year in which the ceremony was held.
References
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- ^ "Nikki wraps work on her debut Malayalam film". The Times of India. 20 June 2013. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ a b M, Athira (2 April 2015). "On a dream run". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ Ipe, Ann (9 November 2016). "From spoilt kid to the rani of Mollywood: Nikki Galrani". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ Nikki Galrani | Redcarpet | RJ Mike | Red FM Malayalam. Red FM Malayalam. 28 October 2019. Event occurs at 13:55. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ a b Thomas, Edison (28 April 2014). "I write down the meaning of my lines to get my emotions right: Nikki Galrani". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ "മഴവില്ലഴകി". 9 April 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ Menon, Vishal (10 January 2015). "Darling devil". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- ^ Zoya Philip (5 August 2013). "Nikki Galrani is rooted on a happy sisterhood". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "Interview With 1983 Actress Nikki Galrani". Kerala9.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ Subramanian, Anupama (25 January 2017). "I don't throw tantrums: Nikki Galrani". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Sanjjanaa's sister Nikki makes Sandalwood debut". The Times of India. 23 January 2013. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ Vishal Menon (10 January 2015). "Darling devil". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "Nikki Galrani to make her Kollywood debut". The Times of India. 20 February 2013. Archived from the original on 10 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "Nikki to debut in Mollywood". The Times of India. 4 June 2013. Archived from the original on 10 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ Desai, Dhwani. "Nikki Galrani is excited about Valentine's Day". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 April 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ Soman, Deepa. "I love Kerala: says Nikki Galrani". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "I had to sunbathe to change my complexion: says Nikki Galrani". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ a b "In a span of a week Nikki Galrani is two films old". The Times of India. 6 February 2014. Archived from the original on 7 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "Winners: 62nd Britannia Filmfare Awards (South)". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ a b Karthikeyan, Shruti. "Nikki to play Christian nurse in her next political thriller". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "2014: When little gems outclassed big guns in southern cinema". Hindustan Times. 10 March 2016. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014.
- ^ "Malayalam Cinema Review: Top 5 Debutants of 2014". International Business Times, India Edition. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ a b "'Jamboosavari' shooting in Banglore's brigade road". Sify. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ A Sharadhaa (30 July 2013). "Debut princess". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "Nikki Roped in for Yogi's 25th film". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "Nikki Galrani signs Yogesh's 25th film". The Times of India. 24 February 2014. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- ^ "Nikki Turns Busy in Mollywood". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ Soman, Deepa. "Asif Ali and Nikki Galrani in V K Prakash's next". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ Soman, Deepa. "Nikki Galrani opts out of V K Prakash's film". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "Tamil film 'Darling' became one of the biggest blockbuster hit in Tamil cinema by completing 365-day and collected over 50 crore". cinebilla.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ a b "Review: Darling is worth a watch". Rediff. 16 January 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "'Darling' a crowd-pleasing tale of horror (Tamil Movie Review)". Business Standard India. Indo-Asian News Service. 16 January 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "Darling". Sify. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015.
- ^ Sampath, Parinatha. "It gets lonely even for actors: Nikki". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 January 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ Joy, Prathibha. "Nikki to do cameo in Vinay Rajkumar's debut". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "Caught in the act: Nikki wears Sanjjanaa's outfit". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "Yaagavarayinum Naa Kaakka". Sify. Archived from the original on 28 June 2015.
- ^ "A Family Thriller". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "Superhit! Ko 2 Movie 6th Day Box Office Collection Earing Report". dekhnews.com. 18 May 2016. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ Karthikeyan, Shruti. "I'm known as a Malayali actress: Nikki Galrani". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "'Malupu' review roundup: Aadhi-Nikki Galrani's film bags good verdict, decent ratings from critics". m.ibtimes.co.in. 21 February 2016. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- ^ "Krishnashtami' box office collections rise to Rs 6 crore in opening weekend". financial express news. 22 February 2016. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ "Malupu doing well at the box office". telugucinema.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ Pillai, Sreedhar (9 July 2016). "features cinema a-halfyearly-report-on-kollywoods-run-at-the-box-office". The Hindu.
- ^ "velainu-vandhutta-vellaikaaran-tamil-movie-review". m.indiaglitz.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ "Tamil movie 'Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru' review and live audience response". us.blastingnews.com. Archived from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ Upadhyaya, Prakash (14 March 2017). "Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva box office collection: Raghava Lawrence's film earns over Rs 11 crore in Tamil Nadu". IB Times. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Maragatha Naanayam (aka) Maragatha Nanayam review". Behindwoods. 16 June 2017. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ Mehar, Rakesh (16 March 2018). "'#O Premave' review: This Kannada romance is an excruciating mess of sexist clichés". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Dhamaka review: Lowbrow comedy". Sify. 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Aadhi Pinisetty gets engaged to Nikki Galrani: 'We found each other a couple of years ago'". The Indian Express. 27 March 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "PICS: Aadhi Pinisetty and Nikki Galrani get engaged; Seek blessings for their new journey". Pinkvilla. 26 March 2022. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- ^ "Aadhi and Nikki are husband and wife now. Pics and videos from wedding ceremony go viral". India Today. 19 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ^ "Official! Aadhi Pinisetty and Nikki Galrani are now husband and wife". The Times of India. 18 May 2022. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- ^ Palicha, Paresh C (3 February 2014). "Review: Malayalam film 1983 is worth a watch". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ G, Ragesh (4 April 2015). "Ivan Maryadaraman: A deadly game that kills audience". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
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- ^ "திறமைக்கு களம் அமைக்கும் கலர்ஸ் தமிழ்.. நிக்கி கல்ராணி நடுவர்!!". tamil.news18.com (in Tamil). 6 June 2022. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
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External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Nikki Galrani at IMDb