Shriya Pilgaonkar

ndi and Marathi cinema.    Her mother Supriya Pilgaonkar made her debut with the much loved tele serial called, ‘Tu Tu Main Main’ directed by Sachin starring along with the very popular Reema Lagu.

She studied in St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai.

Shriya’s grandfather was Sharad Pilgaonkar.

As a child, Shriya has been trained to be a professional swimmer and has won several medals in swimming while in school.  She was very good with languages and believed when she grew up she would be a linquist.  She took up classes in Japanese as a child and later decided to complete her graduation with Bachelor degree in Sociology. She learnt Kathak dance as a child and was clear she wanted to get into films.

Shriya Pilgaonkar made her film debut in the Marathi film, ‘ Ekulti Ek’ in 2013 and later made her debut in Hindi film, ‘ Fan’ in 2016.

At the age of five, Shriya had first appeared on the television Hindi serial ‘Tu Tu Main Main’ in which she plays the role of a boy called ‘ Bitu’.  She made her first stage appearance in 2012 with her performance in Karan Shetty’s 10 minute short play called the ‘ Freedom of Love’. The play was a part of the NCPA’s Festival called ‘Short and Sweet’  she has acted, danced and sang in this play.

Shriya made her big screen debut in 2013 in Marathi film called Ekulti Ek wherein she plays the role of Swara the daughter of her real life parents Sachin and Supriya. The film was written, directed and produced by Sachin so it was more of a family film.  Sachin who is known for launching many actors and actress including his wife Supriya it was not a surprise that he created this platform for his able daughter Shriya.  Shriya had expressed she is proud to do her first film under the direction of her father and also be a part of the film with both her parents in the film.

This debut film led her to win six awards . Among them one was Maharashtra State Government Award for the Best Debut Actress which she received at the 51st Maharasthra State Film Awards.  Following her role in this film, Shriya participated in many stage and film projects. She was approached by the veteran actor Akarsh Khurana to star in the Internal Affairs and Comomn People.    She got an opportunity to work in a French film called Un Plus une which was helmed by Oscar winning director Claude Leouche. Shriya plays the role of Ayanna an Indian dancer and actor in this film.  

Then came her Bollywood debut in 2016 in the film’ Fan’ written and directed by Maneesh Sharma. The film is being produced by Aditya Chopra through Yash Raj Films.   Shriya Pilgaonkar was selected for this role among 750 girls wo had come for audition conducted by Maneesh Sharma . Getting a role opposite the super star ShahRukh Khan in the film, was a dream come true for the young star who plays the role of Neha, a Delhi Based call centre girl .

Shriya was simultaneously working in two films , ‘Fan’ and ‘ the French film ‘Un Plus Une’ .

The film ‘ Fan’ received a good response and she was overwhelmed though the role was small she had got this opportunity to share the screen with ShahRukh Khan and her performance was noticed and acknowledge.,

Besides being an actress Shriya Pilgaonkar is also a director and has directed and produced short films.  In 2012 she went to the Harvard University for the Summer School which led her start her work with her own short films.   

She has directed ‘Painted Signal’ a short film and ‘ Panchgavya’ a documentary film. She has also co-directed with Hana Kitasei, a documentary film on the plight of the wandering cows around Bikaner in Rajasthan. She also co-directed and edited the short film called, ‘Dresswala’ with Siddharth Joglekar which was selected at the 2012 Mumbai Film Festival.     Both her films, ‘ Dresswala’ and ‘Painted Signal’ received average responses from film critics but were screened at the International Film Festival.

Shriya has also modelled and is remembered for her ad film with celebrities like Shahid Kapoor and Vikrant Massey .

At an young age Shriya Pilgaonkar has followed the footsteps of her famous father and has acted in four theatre plays, in four television serials and five films . She has directed three short films .