Sanya Malhotra

Sanya Malhotra is an Indian actor known for her work in Hindi cinema. She burst onto the scene with a supporting role in the sports drama Dangal (2016), one of the highest-grossing Indian films ever. She followed that with the comedy Badhaai Ho (2018) and later appeared in the blockbuster action film Jawan (2023). Her filmography spans over a dozen films and several streaming projects, showcasing her range from commercial hits to intimate dramas.

Malhotra earned Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress nominations for her lead performances in the drama Photograph (2019) and the black comedy Ludo (2020). She won two Filmfare OTT Awards for her work in Kathal (2023) and Mrs. (2024). Her other notable streaming films include Shakuntala Devi (2020), Pagglait (2021), Love Hostel (2022), and the biopic Sam Bahadur (2023). Critics have praised her ability to bring depth to both lead and supporting roles, making her one of the most versatile actors of her generation.[edit]

Sanya Malhotra grew up in Delhi's Janakpuri area in a middle-class Punjabi household. Her father worked in hospitality and her mother was a homemaker. She attended a local school and trained in Kathak for several years, also picking up contemporary dance forms. After school, she earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi, where she stayed active in dance competitions and cultural events.

Her first steps toward entertainment came when she moved to Mumbai to pursue acting. She started as a background dancer in Bollywood songs, appearing in London Thumakda from Queen (2014) and Gandi Baat from R... Rajkumar (2013). She auditioned for roles and took acting workshops. The breakthrough came when she was cast as the younger Babita Kumari in Aamir Khan's Dangal (2016), beating out thousands of applicants in a nationwide audition. She trained for six months in wrestling and learned the Haryanvi dialect for the role.[edit]

Sanya Malhotra made her film debut in 2016 with Dangal, which became one of the highest-grossing Indian films ever, earning over ₹2,000 crore worldwide. Her performance earned widespread praise for her physical transformation and wrestling training. In 2018, she starred in Badhaai Ho, a comedy about an unexpected pregnancy that grossed over ₹220 crore worldwide. She played the lead role of Miloni Shah in Photograph (2019), a romantic drama directed by Ritesh Batra that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and earned her a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress nomination.

In 2020, she appeared in Shakuntala Devi on Amazon Prime Video and Ludo on Netflix, the latter earning her another Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress nomination. She played the lead in Pagglait (2021), a Netflix film about a young widow discovering herself, which received positive reviews. In 2022, she starred in Love Hostel and Meenakshi Sundareshwar, both on Netflix. 2023 was a blockbuster year: she appeared in Sam Bahadur as Siloo Manekshaw and Jawan starring Shah Rukh Khan, which earned over ₹1,100 crore worldwide. She also starred in Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery on Netflix, winning the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Actress. In 2024, she won her second Filmfare OTT Award for Mrs. and appeared in Dhak Dhak.[edit]

Sanya Malhotra is known for her girl-next-door image with a modern, minimalist fashion sense. She often wears Indian wear for events and prefers casual, comfortable clothing in her personal life. The media describes her as "versatile" and "understated," praising her choice of diverse roles that avoid typecasting. On social media, she posts a mix of professional photos, behind-the-scenes content, fitness videos, and personal moments. Her tone is warm, relatable, and occasionally humorous. Fans informally call themselves the "Sanya Squad" and celebrate her birthday on February 25 with trending hashtags. She is known for being authentic and unfiltered, often sharing candid photos and engaging with fans through Q&A sessions.[edit]

Sanya Malhotra has built a reputation that transcends typical Bollywood stardom, earning her a spot among the most recognized faces in Indian cinema without relying on manufactured hype. Despite her rising profile and critical acclaim for roles in films like Badhaai Ho and Photograph, the iFANN Global Fame Engine has evaluated her status as of August 2026 and determined she does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings for the Global Top 1,000 or any specific Top-100 scope list. This absence from the numbered hierarchy reflects a unique position where her influence is profound yet organic, driven by consistent artistic choices rather than viral saturation. Her fanbase operates without a formal name, existing instead as a dispersed community of viewers who connect with her relatable persona and grounded public image. Unlike stars with organized clubs that flood streets with billboards or coordinate massive charity drives, Sanya's supporters are drawn to her advocacy for women's rights and her refusal to conform to industry stereotypes. The cultural mythology surrounding her is less about chaotic crowd reactions and more about the quiet power of her career trajectory. Fans often retell the story of her turning down a major Bollywood role in 2019 to pursue independent cinema, a decision now viewed as a pivotal moment that defined her integrity. Recent discourse from August 2026 regarding her comments on "desi acts of service" has further cemented her status as a modern icon for progressive Indian women, creating a legacy built on substance rather than spectacle.[edit]

Before stepping into the spotlight as a lead actress, Sanya Malhotra worked as a background dancer in the song London Thumakda from the film Queen (2014). A trained Kathak dancer, she has also performed in various stage shows throughout her career. She turned down a role in a major Bollywood film in 2019 to focus on independent cinema, a choice she later described as the best career move of her life. She is an avid reader who frequently cites Haruki Murakami and Jhumpa Lahiri as her favorite authors. Known for her disciplined lifestyle, she does not drink alcohol and regularly shares workout videos online. A small star tattoo adorns her left wrist, inked in 2018. Beyond her personal quirks, fans cherish the narrative of her perseverance; having faced numerous rejections without coming from a film family, her journey has become a widely told story of grit in interviews and social media tributes. While there are no records of crowds shutting down streets for her, her performance in Badhaai Ho remains a defining professional milestone that established her as a leading lady capable of carrying a major commercial comedy.[edit]

Sanya Malhotra was raised in a middle-class Punjabi family in Delhi. Her father, Sunil Malhotra, worked in the hospitality industry, and her mother, Rita Malhotra, is a homemaker. She has one younger sister, Khushali Malhotra. The family lived in Janakpuri, Delhi, and she remains close to them, often sharing photos on social media. She owns an apartment in Mumbai's Andheri West area, purchased in 2021. Malhotra does not have any pets and has no children.[edit]

Sanya Malhotra has collaborated with several notable figures in Indian cinema. She co-starred with Aamir Khan in Dangal (2016), who became a mentor figure. She worked with Shah Rukh Khan in the blockbuster Jawan (2023). She appeared alongside Vicky Kaushal in Sam Bahadur (2023) and has been frequently rumoured to have dated him. Other co-stars include Ayushmann Khurrana in Badhaai Ho (2018), Rajkummar Rao in Ludo (2020), and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Photograph (2019). She has worked with directors Ritesh Batra and Anurag Basu.[edit]

Sanya Malhotra has kept her romantic life largely private. She mentioned in a 2019 interview that she was in a relationship before her career took off, which ended amicably around the time she began filming Dangal in 2015. In 2018-2019, she was linked to actor Vicky Kaushal after being spotted together at events, but both denied the rumours, calling each other good friends. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she reportedly dated a non-industry professional, confirming in a 2022 interview with Vogue India that she was seeing someone but chose not to reveal their identity to protect their privacy. That relationship ended amicably in late 2022. As of 2026, Malhotra is single and has stated she is focused on her career.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Sanya Malhotra's net worth is estimated at $5 Million as of 2026. Her primary income stream derives from film fees, where she reportedly charges between ₹2 and ₹3 crore per lead role. For supporting appearances in major productions like Jawan, her earnings are estimated around ₹1 to ₹1.5 crore. She also generates revenue through endorsement partnerships with brands including Lakmé, Puma India, and Garnier, each valued annually between ₹50 lakh and ₹1 crore. Streaming projects on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime contribute significantly, with reports indicating she earns ₹1 to ₹2 crore per project. Malhotra owns an apartment in Mumbai's Andheri West, which she purchased in 2021 for approximately ₹3.5 crore. While she maintains investments in mutual funds and fixed deposits, she has not yet launched any business ventures.[edit]

Sanya Malhotra has won several awards for her performances. She won the Zee Cine Award, Screen Award, and Stardust Award for Best Female Debut for Dangal (2016). She won the IIFA Award and Zee Cine Award for Best Supporting Actress for Badhaai Ho (2018). She has won two Filmfare OTT Awards for Best Actress for Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery (2023) and Mrs. (2024), and a Special Jury Recognition for Pagglait (2021). She also won the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Award for Best Actress for Kathal (2023).[edit]