Swara Bhasker

Swara Bhasker (also spelled Bhaskar; born 9 April 1988) is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films. Best known for her supporting work in mainstream productions and starring roles in independent films, she has won two Screen Awards and has received nominations for four Filmfare Awards .

Swara Bhasker
Bhaskar in 2017
Born	(1988-04-09) 9 April 1988 (age 37) Delhi, India
Alma mater	University of Delhi Jawaharlal Nehru University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2009–present
Spouse	Fahad Ahmad ​ (m. 2023)​
Children	1
Father	C. Uday Bhaskar

Bhasker made her film debut with a supporting role in the 2009 drama Madholal Keep Walking, a commercial failure. She got wider recognition in 2011 for her supporting role in the commercially successful romantic comedy-drama Tanu Weds Manu, earning her critical praise and a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination.

Bhasker garnered further accolades for her performance in the critically acclaimed romantic drama Raanjhanaa (2013), earning her a second Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination. In 2015, she reprised her role from Tanu Weds Manu in the film's sequel and later appeared in the family drama Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, both productions among the highest-grossing Bollywood films of the year. Her starring roles in the independent films Nil Battey Sannata (2016) and Anaarkali of Aarah (2017) earned her further acclaim. She won the Screen Award for Best Actress (Critics) for the former and was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics) for the latter.^[1] In 2018, she starred in the comedy-drama Veere Di Wedding, which earned her a third nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Early life and education

Swara Bhasker was born in a Hindu family^[2] on 9 April 1988^[3][4] in Delhi to C. Uday Bhaskar, an Indian Navy officer of Telugu descent, and his wife Ira Bhaskar, a professor of cinema studies in JNU Delhi who is of Bihari origin.^[5]

Bhasker grew up in Delhi,^[6] where she did her schooling from Sardar Patel Vidyalaya.^[7] She subsequently studied UG in English at Miranda House where she was classmates with Minissha Lamba. She did her PG in sociology from JNU Delhi.^{[8][9][10][11]}

Acting career

Before Bhasker started acting in films she was associated with N. K. Sharma's "Act One" theater group in Delhi.^[12] She shifted to Mumbai in 2008^[13] and made her acting debut with the 2009 film Madholal Keep Walking, which was screened at the 33rd Cairo International Film Festival but underperformed at the box office India. She then played a supporting role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's drama Guzaarish (2010), alongside Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai.

Bhasker then appeared in Srinivas Sunderrajan's black and white thriller The Untitled Kartik Krishnan Project, which was touted as India's first mumblecore film, made on the budget of ₹40,000 (US$470) and completed in one year, was also the first Indian film to be screened at the Transilvania International Film Festival. However, both Guzaarish and The Untitled Kartik Krishnan Project were box-office failures and Bhasker remained unnoticed for her performances.^[6][14]

Bhasker garnered widespread recognition from critics and audiences with a supporting role in the 2011's commercially successful romantic comedy-drama Tanu Weds Manu in which she played the role of Payal, the best friend of the film's lead actress Kangana Ranaut.^[5] She received praise and several nominations for her performance, including her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.^[15]

In 2013, she played the lead role in Listen... Amaya (2013), which also saw the reunion of actors Farooq Sheikh and Deepti Naval after 28 years, and earned positive reviews from critics.^[16] She then appeared in Raanjhanaa, along with Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor, which was one of the highest-grossing Bollywood film of the year. She received high critical praise as well as her second Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role of Bindiya in the film.^[17] She appeared in a lead female role in the box-office flop Sabki Bajegi Band opposite Sumeet Vyas and in the moderate successful Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai with Bhanu Uday.

Bhasker at the trailer launch of Raanjhanaa, 2013

Bhasker served as a host for Shyam Benegal's television mini-series Samvidhaan, which was based on the making of the Indian Constitution. The series aired on Rajya Sabha TV from March 2014 to May 2014.^[18] On her trip to Lahore, Pakistan, Bhasker appeared as a guest in the Pakistani TV comedy show, Mazaaq Raat which was aired in April 2015.^[19]

Bhasker had three releases in 2015. In her first release, she reprised her role of Payal in the romantic comedy-drama Tanu Weds Manu Returns, a sequel to the 2011 film Tanu Weds Manu. The film and Bhasker's performance received high critical acclaim. The film was a financial success as well and became one of the few women-centric films that rank among the highest-grossing Indian films. Her next release was the romantic family drama Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, in which she played the role of Rajkumari Chandrika alongside Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor. Directed by Sooraj Barjatya, the film received mixed reviews. However, Bhasker's performance was well received by critics and audiences. With an estimated collection of ₹400 crore (US$47 million), the film became one of the highest-grossing Indian films.^[20] That same year, she played a minor role in the collaborative bilingual X: Past Is Present. The film was directed by eleven filmmakers, and Bhasker appeared in Nalan Kumarasamy's segment, Summer Holiday, which revolves around a young boy (played by Anshuman Jha), who goes to South India for summer holidays where an Aunty seduced him so that her husband can rape him. Although the film received mixed reviews, but her role of Aunty was particularly praised. Namrata Joshi of The Hindu wrote "X: Past Is Present belongs to its women".

In 2016, Bhasker played the lead in Anand L. Rai's comedy drama Nil Battey Sannata which marked her fourth collaboration with Rai. Bhasker was initially skeptical about the film because of the age difference between her and her character. However, she changed her mind after reading the script and played the role of a mother of a teenager.^[21] Upon the release, the film as well as Bhasker's performance received critical acclaim and she was awarded with the Best Actress award at the Silk Road International Film Festival in September 2015. She began working in web series with It's Not That Simple, which is produced by Viacom 18's streaming service Voot. The show revolves around the idea of marriage, relationships, a woman's stand in a marriage, love etc. The series stars Bhasker along with television stars Vivan Bhatena, Akshay Oberoi and Karanveer Mehra, with Danish Aslam as the director.

Swara posing for a file photo

As of 2013^[update], Bhasker had completed shooting for Abbas Tyrewala's comedy drama Mango, starring Chandan Roy Sanyal and Monali Thakur, being produced under the banner of Kaleidoscope Entertainment. The film has been indefinitely delayed.^[22]

She also played the lead role in Shashanka Ghosh's 2018 romantic comedy film Veere Di Wedding, co-starring Kareena Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor and Shikha Talsania, about four girls who embark on a trip from Delhi to Europe.^[23] Her masturbation scene using a vibrator in the film was praised for its frank portrayal of women's sexuality.^[24][25][26] Her performance in the film earned her a third Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination.

Personal life

On 16 February 2023, she married Fahad Ahmad.^[27][28] On 23 September that year, she gave birth to their daughter, Rabiya.^[29]

Political views

Bhasker has been a vocal critic of the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and NRC (National Register of Citizens). She has actively participated in the CAA protests.^[30]

In October 2024, she commented on the assassination of Yahya Sinwar, the former leader of Hamas who was listed as a terrorist by the USA^[31] and European Union,^[32] calling him a "revolutionary hero" after viewing footage of his last moments.^[33][34] She stated:

"I didn’t know anything about #yahyasinwar till I saw the footage of his last moments & assassination by the Zionist State and now I think he’s a revolutionary hero. Listen to his will, his last words and tell me that you are unmoved. #FreePalestine."

— Swara Bhaskar, x.com/ReallySwara

Filmography

Films

Key

†	Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2009	Madholal Keep Walking	Sudha M. Dubey
2010	Guzaarish	Radhika Talwar
	The Untitled Kartik Krishnan Project	Swara Bhaskar / Maya
2011	Tanu Weds Manu	Payal Sinha Singh
	Chillar Party	Battle Hour Anchor
2013	Listen... Amaya	Amaya Krishnamoorthy
	Aurangzeb	Suman
	Raanjhanaa	Bindiya
	Sabki Bajegi Band	Jaya
2014	Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai	Ayesha Saxena
2015	Tanu Weds Manu Returns	Payal Sinha Singh
	Prem Ratan Dhan Payo	Rajkumari Chandrika
	X: Past Is Present	Aunty
2016	Nil Battey Sannata	Chanda Sahay
2017	Anaarkali of Aarah	Anarkali
2018	Veere Di Wedding	Sakshi Soni
2018	The Story		ZEE5
2020	Sheer Qorma	Rukhsar Siddiqui
2022	Jahaan Chaar Yaar	Shivangi
	Mimamsa	Adhira
2024	Mrs Falani †	TBA	Completed[35]

Television

Year(s)	Show	Role	Notes	Ref.
2014	Samvidhaan	Presenter		[36]
2015–2017	Rangoli	Host/presenter		[37][38]
2016–2018	It's Not That Simple	Meera		[39][40]
2019	Hello Mini			[41]
2020	Rasbhari	Shanoo Bansal
2020	Flesh	ACP Radha Nautiyal
2020	Bhaag Beanie Bhaag	Beanie Bhatnagar		[42]
2021	Aapkey Kamrey Mein Koi Rahta Hai	Mausam	MX Player

Accolades

Film	Award	Category	Result	Ref.
Tanu Weds Manu	57th Filmfare Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Nominated	[43]
	2012 Zee Cine Awards	Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Female	Won	[44]
	13th IIFA Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Nominated	[citation needed]
	Screen Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Nominated	[45]
Raanjhanaa	59th Filmfare Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Nominated	[46]
	15th IIFA Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Nominated	[citation needed]
	Screen Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Won	[47]
	Zee Cine Awards	Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Female	Won	[48]
Nil Battey Sannata	Silk Road International Film Festival	Best Actress	Won	[49]
	Screen Awards	Best Actress (Critics)	Won	[49]
Anaarkali of Aarah	63rd Filmfare Awards	Best Actress (Critics)	Nominated	[50]
Veere Di Wedding	Lux Golden Rose Awards	Confident Beauty of the Year	Won	[51]
	64th Filmfare Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Nominated	[52]
	Screen Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Nominated	[53]