Disha Patani

Disha Patani made her acting debut in the Telugu film Loafer (2015) alongside Varun Tej. She portrayed Mouni, a young woman escaping a forced marriage. Directed by Puri Jagannadh and produced by C. Kalyan under C.K. Entertainment, the film had a budget of ₹200 million but underperformed at the box office, earning ₹106 million. The following year, she appeared in the music video Befikra with Tiger Shroff, produced by T-Series and composed by Meet Bros, with vocals by Aditi Singh Sharma.

Patani gained widespread recognition with M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016), a biographical sports drama directed by Neeraj Pandey. Starring alongside Sushant Singh Rajput and Kiara Advani, she played Priyanka Jha, MS Dhoni’s late girlfriend. The film was a major box office success, grossing ₹216 crore (US$25 million), and earned her critical acclaim. She won the Star Debut of the Year (Female) award at the 18th IIFA Awards. That same year, she starred in Kung Fu Yoga with Jackie Chan and Sonu Sood.

In 2018, she featured in Baaghi 2, a sequel to Baaghi, starring opposite Tiger Shroff. Directed by Ahmed Khan and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the film received mixed reviews but was praised for its action sequences. Despite some criticism of her role’s depth, Baaghi 2 became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2018, earning ₹258 crore (US$30 million) worldwide.

Patani made a brief appearance in Bharat (2019), starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. The film was well received, collecting ₹325.58 crore and becoming a commercial success. She then starred in Malang (2020), an action thriller directed by Mohit Suri, alongside Aditya Roy Kapur, Anil Kapoor, and Kunal Khemu. Praised for its music, action, and performances, Malang performed moderately well at the box office. In March 2020, she also made a special appearance in a song from Baaghi 3, the third installment in the Baaghi franchise.

In 2021, Disha Patani reunited with Salman Khan for Radhe, directed by Prabhu Deva. Initially delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was released on Zee Plex via ZEE5 during Eid al-Fitr. Despite strong OTT viewership, it received overwhelmingly negative reviews, with criticism directed at the story, screenplay, direction, and VFX. Patani’s role was also deemed insignificant.

In 2022, she starred in Ek Villain Returns, a psychological thriller by Mohit Suri, alongside John Abraham, Tara Sutaria, and Arjun Kapoor. Playing a retail salesgirl, Patani’s performance couldn’t salvage the film, which opened to mixed reviews and failed at the box office. Critics noted that it leaned heavily on its popular Galliyan track for appeal.

Her first 2024 release, Yodha, featured her as a terrorist disguised as an air hostess opposite Sidharth Malhotra. While critics praised her action sequences and potential as an action star, her dialogues failed to leave an impact, and the film underperformed commercially. However, she found success with the Telugu sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD, starring Prabhas. She played Roxie, a worker in the Complex, and the film became the highest-grossing Indian movie of the year, marking her first major box-office hit since 2020.

Expanding into Tamil cinema, she appeared in Kanguva as bounty hunter Angela, opposite Suriya. While the film received mixed reviews, her role was criticized as insignificant. Up next, Patani will be seen in the ensemble comedy sequel Welcome to the Jungle.

Other work and public image

Disha Patani ranked fifth among the most searched celebrities on Google in 2016 and remains one of the most followed Indian celebrities on social media, boasting over 57.5 million Instagram followers. In 2019, she secured the 43rd spot on Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list, with an estimated annual income of ₹58 million (US$670,000).

Patani has frequently featured in Times’ 50 Most Desirable Women list, ranking 19th in 2017, 9th in 2018, and claiming the top spot in 2019. She later ranked third in 2020. A sought-after brand ambassador, she has endorsed major brands like Joy personal care, Bata footwear, and Fossil watches.

Beyond films and endorsements, she has showcased her stage presence at high-profile events. She performed at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Indian Premier League in Indore and later participated in The Entertainers tour across the United States in March 2023, alongside Akshay Kumar, Mouni Roy, Nora Fatehi, and others.