Radhika Pandit

Radhika Pandit
Born Shirali, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka
Residence Bangalore, India
Nationality Indian
Occupation Actress
Years active 2005–present
Website radhikapandit.in

Radhika Pandit is an Indian film and former television actress. She has established a career in Kannada cinema as a leading actress and is the recipient of a Karnataka State Film Award and three South Filmfare Awards.

Having worked in television soaps such as Nandagokula and Sumangali, Pandit made her feature film debut in Moggina Manasu (2008), for which she was awarded the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress and South Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She won the latter award again for her performances in Love Guru (2009) and Krishnan Love Story (2010), and in the process, became the only actress to have won the award on three consecutive years.[1]

She rose to fame starring in commercially successful films Hudugaru (2011), Addhuri (2012), Drama (2012), Bahaddur (2014) and Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari (2014), with her performances receiving critical praise alongside.

Early life

Radhika Pandit was born in Bangalore Palace Nursing Home, in the Malleswaram suburb of Bangalore.[2] Her father Krishnaprasad Pandit belongs to the Saraswat Brahmin community of Chitrapur Saraswats, with his roots in Shirali, Bhatkal in the Uttara Kannada region of Karnataka, and worked for an insurance company, apart from directing and appearing in plays.[3][4] Her mother, Mangala, is of Goan descent, and is a housewife.[5] Radhika has a younger brother, Gourang. She grew up in her paternal grandfather's house in Malleswaram and continues to live there for "sentimental reasons" as "had bought the house with all the money he had saved."[6] She completed her schooling in Cluny Convent High School, Bangalore, and later pursued a Bachelor of Commerce (B. Com) course at the Mount Carmel College (Bangalore).

Pandit aspired to become a teacher after completing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) course. However, in 2007, during her final year in B. Com, she was persuaded by her friend to audition for a role in a Kannada language television serial, Nandagokula, directed by Ashok Kashyap. Pandit was offered the role without an audition.[7] The same year, she appeared in another soap, Sumangali. When the former neared completion, her photos began circulating in local magazines, which were noticed by film director Shashank who was looking for a female lead for his film 18th Cross, and the makers of Moggina Manasu. She was cast in both the films, and began filming with the former first.[8][9]

Career

Film debut and critical acclaim

Pandit faced the camera for the first time in films with the Kannada film 18th Cross in 2007. The film was temporarily stalled following its producer Chikkana's death, only to release theatrically in 2012.[10] This was when she began filming with Moggina Manasu. She was cast as Chanchala, a college-going teenage girl, who with her three friends are faced with problems of ragging and irksome boyfriends. She was paired opposite Yash, who she had previously worked with, in the soap Nandagokula.[11] Released in 2008, Moggina Manasu emerged as a critical success and Pandit's performance received critical acclaim. The reviewer for Rediff.com wrote, "Newcomer Radhika Pandit shines among the four, and is bound to go places."[12] She won the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress and Filmfare Award for Best Actress.[13]

Pandit's next role was in the Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar-directed romantic-drama Olave Jeevana Lekkachaara (2009), a film that deals with the deviousness of pseudo-intellectuals. She was cast as Rukmini opposite Balachandra (played by Srinagar Kitty), who cheats her under the influence of misguidance of a pseudo revolutionary lecturer. G. S. Kumar of The Times of India called her performance "classic and lively".[14] Her second release of 2009 was Love Guru, a romantic-drama film dealing with unrequited love and misunderstandings in a corporate setting. She which she was cast as Kushi opposite Tarun Chandra in the film. Critics acclaimed her performance and called her "one of the best actresses to appear on the marquee in the recent times."[15] G. S. Kumar wrote, "Radhika Pandit steals the show with her brilliant expressions, lively action and excellent dialogue delivery."[16] She won her second Filmfare Award for Best Actress.[9]

In her first release of 2010, Krishnan Love Story, Pandit collaborated with director Shashank for the second time after Moggina Manasu. It film saw her play the role of Geetha, a happy-go-lucky girl belonging to a lower-middle-class family, who, for want of money suppresses her ambitions. Shruti Indira Lakshminarayana of Rediff.com wrote of her performance, "Radhika does a detour from her glam city girl image, but it is hard to miss the sophistication in her. She however comes out with a good performance in the second half." With the film, Pandit won her third Filmfare Award for Best Actress along with other awards.[9] In Gaana Bajaana, she portrayed Radha, who gets involved in a romantic love triangle with Krish and Kuttappa (played by Tarun Chandra and Dileep Raj). On her performance, Y. Maheswara Reddy of The New Indian Express wrote that she "walks away with all honours."[17] Pandit next appeared in a comedy-drama film, Hudugaru, a remake of the Tamil film, Naadodigal, in a brief role. She was cast as the only female lead alongside three parallel male lead characters. She played Gayathri, a foodie, the love interest of Prabhu (played by Puneeth Rajkumar).[18] Her performance won her, her fourth Filmfare Award for Best Actress nomination.

Success and acclaim (2012-14)

The year 2012 saw theatrical releases of six of her films. In the first, Alemari, a drama film based on real-life incidents, she portrayed the role of Neeli, a girl from a middle-class family who falls in love with Mohan, a milkman (played by Yogesh). Of her performance, IBNLive wrote, "Radhika Pandit is as brilliant as ever with her plain Jane looks and high voltage performance in emotional sequences."[19] In Breaking News, a film that deals with commercialization of the media industry, she played the role of Shraddha, the cheerful daughter of the Karnataka Lokayukta, who intends on fooling around with a journalist, played by Ajay Rao. The film opened to mixed reviews, however, Pandit's performance received praise. Rediff.com wrote, "It is Radhika Pandit's superb and light-hearted performance that livens up the proceedings."[20] In her next release, Addhuri, a romance film, she was paired opposite debutant Dhruva Sarja. The film and Pandit's performance received positive reviews from critics. India Today wrote, "[Pandit] ... has once again proved why she is regarded as one of the awesome talents in the industry. She charms the young hearts, but at the same time can make audience emotional with her performances."[21] The performance fetched Pandit her fifth Filmfare Award for Best Actress nomination among others.

Pandit's first film, 18th Cross released in August 2012, received mixed reviews; however, critics praised her performance in the role of Punya, the love interest of Jeeva (played by Deepak), who gets wrongly implicated in a murder case, framed by an underworld don. The Times of India wrote of her performance, "Radhika Pandith hasn't changed much since her debut movie and has given an excellent performance."[22] She was cast as Kajal in her next film, Sagar, opposite Prajwal Devaraj, alongside Haripriya and Sanjjanaa, a film that critics, a "commercial entertainer". Daily News and Analysis praised Pandit's performance in the film and wrote that she "walks away with the honours."[23] Her final release of 2012 was Yogaraj Bhat's Drama, a comedy film that featured an ensemble cast of Pandit alongside Yash, Sathish Ninasam and Sindhu Lokanath, the former three of who play students of a government-owned degree college. The film and Pandit's performance as Nandini earned unanimous praise from critics. IBNLive wrote, "Radhika Pandit is superb as a performer and her beautiful looks and style has added a special charm to the film."[24] She also co-sang a track, "Drama Hitavachana" in the film, which featured her rapping in parts.[25]

In Kaddipudi, Pandit was cast as Uma, a junior artiste in films, opposite Kaddipudi (played by Shivaraj Kumar), a former underworld don who tries to renounce a life of violence, but in vain. Her performance as a girl from a poor family having lost her parents and living with her grandmother, and playing the love interest of Kaddipudi was received well. Muralidhara Khajane of The Hindu wrote, "Radhika Pandit excels and puts in a mature performance and brings dignity to the character."[26] In her second release of 2013, she was cast opposite Sumanth Shailendra in Dilwala, a romantic film that opened to largely negative reviews. Pandit's performance was however praised by critics and she received her second nomination of SIIMA Award of Best Actress.[27][28] She next starred in the romance film, Bahaddur as Anjali, the love interest of Ashok (played by Druva Sarja), a descendant of a royal family. G. S. Kumar wrote that she "wins your heart with her brilliant expressions and dialogue delivery."[29] Despite having received mixed reviews, the film turned out to be a commercial success.[30] Santhosh Ananddram's Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari saw Pandit work with Yash for the third time. She was cast as the girlfriend of a stubborn brat, played by Yash, who idolizes actor Vishnuvardhan and has an easygoing attitude towards life. Kumar felt that Pandit delivered a "winsome performance".[31] The film emerged as a massive commercial success.[32]

In her first release of 2015, the romance-thriller Endendigu, Pandit, paired opposite Ajay Rao for the third time, played the role of his wife with schizophrenic tendencies who foresees his death among other dreams. The film received mixed reviews, with her performance receiving praise.[33]

Upcoming projects

As of February 2016, Pandit is filming with Duniya Soori's Doddmane Hudga with Puneeth Rajkumar and has completed Zoom, opposite Ganesh, which is in its post-production stages. She confirmed of signing for her fourth film opposite Yash,titled Santhu Straight Forward, to be directed by Mahesh Rao.[34]

Personal life

Belonging to the community of Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmins, Pandit maintains that she is a non-practicing Brahmin, and that she is not religious. In a 2010 interview with The New Indian Express, she said that she however loves visiting the Chitrapur Math in Uttara Kannada, where she has her roots, as she "feel[s] good after spending some time" and "believe[s] there are positive vibrations there." On her religious and spiritual beliefs, she said:

"I am not a religious person ... According to me, God is nothing but a positive energy ... that is a must for mankind to lead a happy and content life ... I offer no pujas at home. I believe in the power of prayers. I think the prayer is the best way to connect with God than offering pujas or participating in rituals. Prayer needs no rituals."[3]

Radhika got engaged to Kannada actor Yash on 12 August 2016 in Goa.[35]

In the media

Pandit is considered one of the most versatile actresses in Kannada cinema.[36] In a 2015 Bangalore Times poll, she was voted the second most popular actress in Kannada cinema.[37]

Between 2013 and 2014, Pandit and Puneeth Rajkumar worked as brand ambassadors for Right to education in Karnataka, having been chosen by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.[38] In addition to this, she has endorsed brands in the past such as KLF Nirmal Coconut oil and Orra Jewellery.[39] She was a part of Gillette's Shave India Movement.[40]

Filmography

Films

Key
Films that have not yet been released Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Role Notes
2008 Moggina Manasu Chanchala
2009 Olave Jeevana Lekkachaara Rukmini
2009 Love Guru Kushi
2010 Krishnan Love Story Geetha
2010 Gaana Bajaana Radha (Radhe)
2011 Hudugaru Gayathri
2012 Alemari Neeli
2012 Breaking News Shraddha
2012 Addhuri Poorna
2012 18th Cross Punya
2012 Sagar Kajal
2012 Drama Nandini
2013 Kaddipudi Uma
2013 Dilwala Preethi
2014 Bahaddur Anjali
2014 Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari Divya
2015 Endendigu Jyothi
2016 Zoom Naina Also playback singer for song "Hey Diwana"
2016 Doddmane Hudga Usha / Nisha
2016 Santhu Straight Forward Ananya

Television

Awards

Year[lower-alpha 1] Category Award Film Result
2009 Best Actress – Kannada Filmfare Awards South Moggina Manasu Won[41]
2010 Best Actress Innovative Film Awards Olave Jeevana Lekkachaara Won[42]
2010 Most Popular Actress Suvarna Film Awards Olave Jeevana Lekkachaara Nominated[43]
2010 Best Actress – Kannada Filmfare Awards South Love Guru Won[44]
2010 Best Actress South Scope Cine Awards Love Guru Nominated[45]
2010 Best Actress Karnataka State Film Awards Moggina Manasu Won[46]
2011 Most Entertaining Heroine of the Year BIG Kannada Entertainment Awards Krishnan Love Story Won[47]
2011 Best Actress Suvarna Film Awards Krishnan Love Story Won[48]
2011 Best Actress – Kannada Filmfare Awards South Krishnan Love Story Won[49]
2011 Best Actress Udaya Film Awards Krishnan Love Story Won[50]
2012 Best Actress TV9 Sandalwood Star Awards Hudugaru Nominated[51]
2012 Best Actress – Kannada Filmfare Awards South Hudugaru Nominated[52]
2012 Best Actress The Bangalore Times Film Awards Hudugaru Nominated[53]
2013 Best Actress – Kannada Filmfare Awards South Addhuri Nominated[54]
2013 Best Actress Udaya Film Awards Addhuri Won[55]
2013 Best Actress (Kannada) South Indian International Movie Awards Addhuri Nominated[56]
2013 Best Actress The Bangalore Times Film Awards Addhuri Nominated[57]
2014 Best Actress (Kannada) South Indian International Movie Awards Dilwala Nominated[58]
2015 Best Actress – Kannada Filmfare Awards South Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari Nominated[59]
2015 Best Actress (Kannada) South Indian International Movie Awards Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari Won[60]
2016 Best Actress – Kannada IIFA Utsavam Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari Won[61]
2016 Best Actress IBNLive Movie Awards Mr. and Mrs. Ramachari Pending[62]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Refers to the year in which the ceremony was held.

References

  1. ↑ "Radhika`s third award". sify.com. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Pandit, Radhika (13 September 2014). Weekend With Ramesh - Episode 13 - September 13, 2014 (in Kannada). India: Zee Kannada. Event occurs at 3:48. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 "I'm not religious: Radhika Pandit". The New Indian Express. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  4. ↑ Shettar, Manju. "I've been lucky to get good projects so far: Radhika Pandit". Mid-Day. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Radhika Pandit". megamedianews.in. Archived from the original on 3 June 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  6. ↑ "Wind beneath her wings". Deccan Herald. 26 October 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  7. ↑ Kumar G. S. (25 July 2011). "Hat-trick heroine is flavour of the season". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  8. ↑ Reddy, Maheswara Y. (16 August 2010). "Radhika Pandit preparing for 'Gaana Bajaana'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 Kumar, Nanda S. (26 May 2012). "Not just a pretty face". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "Radhika Pandit's '18th cross' is all set to hit the screens". IBNLive. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  11. ↑ Sharanya C. R. (24 July 2012). "Sandalwood stars' filmi journey from small screen". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "Moggina Manasu works". Rediff. rediff.com. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  13. ↑ Sharadhaa A. (23 December 2014). "No Ordinary Romance in Radhika Pandit's Next Film". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  14. ↑ Kumar G. S. (13 June 2009). "Olave Jeevana Lekkachaara Movie Review". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Don't miss Love Guru". Rediff. rediff.com. 17 July 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  16. ↑ Kumar G. S. (17 July 2009). "Loveguru Movie Review". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  17. ↑ Reddy, Maheswara Y. (30 October 2010). "Gaana Bajaana". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  18. ↑ Lakshminarayana, Shruti Indira (6 March 2011). "Review: Hudugaru remains faithful to the original". Rediff. rediff.com. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  19. ↑ "Kannada Review: Yogi makes 'Alemari' watchable". IBNLive. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  20. ↑ "Review: Breaking News has no soul". rediff.com. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  21. ↑ "Addhuri Movie Review: Fun film replete with emotions". India Today. indiatoday.intoday.in. 19 June 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  22. ↑ "18th Cross Movie Review". The Times of India. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  23. ↑ "Review: 'Sagar' (Kannada) is packed with action". Daily News and Analysis. dnaindia.com. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  24. ↑ "'Drama' Review: This Kannada film is an entertaining drama". IBNLive. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  25. ↑ Shruti I. L. (23 August 2012). "All rapped up for Radhika Pandit". Daily News and Analysis. dnaindia.com. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  26. ↑ Khajane, Muralidhara (9 June 2013). "Decent portrayal of the city's underbelly". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  27. ↑ Srivani B. S. (4 October 2013). "Love works wonders". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  28. ↑ Nicy V. P. (21 July 2014). "SIIMA 2014 Kannada Nominations: Sudeep, Yash, Darshan, Upendra and Shivarajkumar Rated as Best Actors". International Business Times. ibtimes.co.in. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  29. ↑ "Bahaddur Movie Review". The Times of India. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  30. ↑ "'Bahaddur' declared hit". sify.com. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  31. ↑ "Mr and Mrs Ramachari Movie Review". The Times of India. 27 December 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  32. ↑ "Mr and Mrs Ramachari to Crack the 50-crore Club". The New Indian Express. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  33. ↑ Prasad, Shashi (3 May 2015). "Movie review 'Endendigu': A tale of precognition". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  34. ↑ Veena (9 February 2016). "TITLE TALK: Yash & Radhika Pandit Next Titled 'Maanja'!". Filmibeat. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  35. ↑ http://www.newskarnataka.com/sandalwood/yash-radhika-pandits-journey-from-good-friends-to-lovers
  36. ↑ "Radhika is Now a Proven Favourite". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  37. ↑ "Radhika Pandit celebrates Most popular Kannada actress title.". Southie. 10 March 2015. Archived from the original on 14 March 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  38. ↑ "Puneeth, Radhika to raise awareness on RTE". Deccan Herald. 20 September 2013. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  39. ↑ "Radhika Pandit Acquiring Big Brand Status". Chitraloka. 4 August 2012. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  40. ↑ "R Madhavan & Radhika Pandit come together to demystify 'What women want'". thisweekbangalore.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  41. ↑ "Filmfare announces award nominees for the best film talents of 2008". reachouthyderabad.com. July 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  42. ↑ "Innovative Film Awards, star studded, star oriented". chitratara.com. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  43. ↑ "2010 Suvarna Film Awards". gandhadagudi.com. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  44. ↑ "Filmfare Awards winners". The Times of India. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  45. ↑ "Manasaare Sweeps South Scope Cine Awards". South Scope. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  46. ↑ "Controversies cloud Karnataka state film awards". The New Indian Express. 4 December 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  47. ↑ "An award for all...". Deccan Herald. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  48. ↑ "Puneet Rajkumar, Radhika Pandit bag Suvarna Film Awards". filmibeat.com. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  49. ↑ Mahadevan, Asha (4 July 2011). "58th Filmfare Awards 2010 (South): Winners' list". bollywoodlife.com. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  50. ↑ "Udaya film awards presented". indiaglitz.com. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  51. ↑ "Sandalwood Star Awards 2012 - Best Actress". TV9 Kannada. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  52. ↑ Ramachander (13 June 2012). "Puneet Rajkumar, Sudeep, Darshan nominated for Filmfare Awards". filmibeat.com. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  53. ↑ "Bangalore Times Film Awards nominations". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  54. ↑ "60th Idea Filmfare Awards 2013 (South) Nominations". Filmfare. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  55. ↑ "Udaya Film Awards Pics: Upendra, Radhika Pandit won Best Actor Awards". filmibeat.com. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  56. ↑ Subramanian, Anupama (26 August 2013). "Awesome foursome for SIIMA Nominations". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  57. ↑ "The Bangalore Times Film Awards 2012 Nominations". The Times of India'. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  58. ↑ "SIIMA 2014 Kannada Nominations: Sudeep, Yash, Darshan, Upendra and Shivarajkumar Rated as Best Actors". International Business Times. ibtimes.co.in. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  59. ↑ "Nominations for the 62nd Britannia Filmfare Awards (South)". Filmfare. filmfare.com. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  60. ↑ "Mr and Mrs Ramachari sweep awards". The Times of India. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  61. ↑ "'Srimanthudu', 'Rangitaranga' win laurels at IIFA Utsavam". The Indian Express. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  62. ↑ "IBNLive Movie Awards 2016: Nominees for Best Actress (South)". IBNLive. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
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