Kriti Sanon

Kriti Sanon made her acting debut in 2014 with the Telugu psychological thriller 1: Nenokkadine, where she played Mahesh Babu’s love interest. Despite being nervous about action sequences at sea, the film received positive reviews for her performance. She followed this with her Hindi debut in Heropanti, opposite Tiger Shroff, which was a commercial success. Sanon won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut and IIFA Award for Star Debut of the Year for her role.

In 2015, she appeared in Dohchay, her second Telugu film, before joining the star-studded ensemble of Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Varun Dhawan. The film was a massive success, grossing over ₹3.72 billion globally, though critics were divided on Sanon’s role.

After a brief hiatus, Sanon returned to the screen with Raabta (2017), which was panned by critics but noted for her presence. She found success with Bareilly Ki Barfi, a romantic comedy-drama where her portrayal of a small-town woman was well-received, although some critics found her performance lacking in naturalism.

In 2019, Sanon starred in two successful projects. Luka Chuppi, a comedy about live-in relationships, earned praise for her comic timing and grossed ₹1.29 billion worldwide. She also appeared in Housefull 4, which, despite poor reviews, was one of the highest-grossing films of the year, earning over ₹2.8 billion. Her final 2019 film, Panipat, was a commercial failure.

Kriti Sanon’s career took a significant turn with her role in the 2021 comedy-drama Mimi, which marked a career milestone. In this remake of the Marathi film Mala Aai Vhhaychy!, she played an aspiring actress who becomes a surrogate mother. Sanon gained 15 kg for the role to portray her character’s pregnancy. While the film itself received mixed reviews, her performance earned widespread praise, with Mashable India calling it her career-best. She won several awards, including the Filmfare and National Film Award for Best Actress, shared with Alia Bhatt.

Sanon’s next film, Hum Do Hamare Do (2021), was a comedy in which she starred opposite Rajkummar Rao. While the film didn’t succeed, her performance stood out. She then appeared in the action-comedy Bachchhan Paandey (2022), alongside Akshay Kumar, though it failed to recover its budget. In Bhediya, the third film in Dinesh Vijan’s horror-comedy universe, Sanon received praise for her role, despite limited screen time.

In 2023, Sanon starred in Shehzada alongside Kartik Aaryan, a remake of Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, but the film was both a critical and commercial failure. She also played Janaki in the mythological epic Adipurush, based on the Ramayana, but the film, which had a massive budget, was a critical disappointment and failed at the box office. Sanon’s role, while visually stunning, was criticized for its lack of depth. Her next film, Ganapath, where she reunited with Tiger Shroff, also failed both critically and commercially.

In 2024, Kriti Sanon starred alongside Shahid Kapoor in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, a science fiction romantic comedy where she played SIFRA, a humanoid robot. While her portrayal of the robot received praise for her look and body language, the film’s weak storyline limited her performance. She then starred in the female-led heist comedy Crew, alongside Tabu and Kareena Kapoor Khan, where the trio played flight attendants. Sanon earned praise for holding her own against her seasoned co-stars, and both films became commercial successes, ranking among the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2024.

Sanon also ventured into production with her company Blue Butterfly Films, producing Do Patti, a mystery film for Netflix, co-starring Kajol and Shaheer Sheikh. Inspired by her role in Mimi, Sanon sought more well-written roles to exercise greater creative freedom. She played dual roles of twin sisters Saumya and Shailee, with contrasting personalities. While the film received mixed reviews, Sanon’s performance was praised for her portrayal of both characters’ emotional depth. Looking ahead, she will star opposite Dhanush in the romantic drama Tere Ishk Mein, directed by Aanand L. Rai.

Other work and media image

Kriti Sanon’s career has been marked by steady growth and increasing confidence. In 2017, Chandni Sehgal from Vogue India noted that she had become “more introspective, focused, and less insecure” than when she began. A journalist from Hindustan Times praised Sanon as a “confident performer” who can effortlessly switch from glamorous to small-town roles. In 2021, Rediff.com included her in their list of “Best Bollywood Actresses,” and Harper’s Bazaar highlighted her quiet determination as key to her rise. She was also featured in Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list in 2019, ranking 38th, and was named one of the “30 Most Influential Young Indians” by GQ India in 2022.

Known for her sense of style, Sanon has a massive social media following, with over 54 million Instagram followers. In 2021, she modeled for designer Manish Malhotra’s bridal collection. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanon contributed to government funds and raised money for the Kailash Sathyarthi Children’s Foundation. She has performed at major events like the 2017 Indian Premier League and the 2023 Women’s Premier League.

Sanon is a brand ambassador for several high-profile products, including Coca-Cola, Titan’s Raga, Parachute, and Tissot. She has consistently ranked among the Times of India’s 50 Most Desirable Women, securing spots in the top 20 from 2017 to 2020. Apart from her professional work, she has voiced her opinions on issues like pay disparity in Hindi cinema and the patriarchal mindset in the industry. In 2016, she launched her own clothing line, Ms. Taken.