Nimisha Sajayan

In this Indian name, the name Sajayan is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Nimisha.

Nimisha Sajayan
Nimisha Sajayan in 2018
Born
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
OccupationActress
Years active2017–present

Nimisha Sajayan is an Indian actress who has been appearing in Malayalam and Tamil language movies in addition to a Marathi and an English language film. Nimisha made her acting debut with the film Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum directed by Dileesh Pothan.[1] She won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress in 2018 for her performance in Oru Kuprasidha Payyan and Chola. She is also a recipient of three Filmfare Award South and three SIIMA Awards.

Early and personal life

Nimisha was born in Mumbai, India to Sajayan, an engineer and Bindhu Sajayan. Her mother's ancestral home is in Punalur, Kerala.[2]

Nimisha attended Carmel Convent School, Mumbai and graduated from KJ Somaiya College, Mumbai.[3]

Acting career

Nimisha started her acting career with the film Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, directed by Dileesh Pothan.[4] She then played the lead role in editor B. Ajithk and Rajeev Ravi's 'Eeda'.[5][6] She won the 49th Kerala State Film Award for Best actress in 2019 for the movies Oru Kuprasidha Payyan directed by Madhupal and Chola directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan.[7] Chola premiered at several International Film Festival.[8]

In 2021, she acted in The Great Indian Kitchen. The film as well as her performance were well received.[9] The same year, she played lead roles in Nayattu and Malik. In 2022 she was a part of Oru Thekkan Thallu Case, Innale Vare and Heaven. Her upcoming films are Thuramukham and Chera. She made her Tamil debut through A.L Vijay's Mission: Chapter 1 - Achcham Enbathu Illaiyae film but her first release in Tamil was Chithha in 2023.

Filmography

Films

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
List of Nimisha Sajayan film credits and roles
Year Title Role Language Notes Ref.
2017 Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Sreeja Malayalam [10]
2018 Eeda Aishwarya [11]
Mangalyam Thanthunanena Clara [12][13]
Oru Kuprasidha Payyan Hanna Elizabeth [14][15]
2019 Nalpathiyonnu (41) Bhagyasooyam [16]
Chola Janu [17]
Stand Up Keerthi [18][19]
2021 The Great Indian Kitchen Sreedevi Hareesh [20][21]
One Lathika [22]
Nayattu Sunitha [23][24]
Malik Rosline [25]
2022 Innale Vare Anjali [26]
Heaven Defense councilor Cameo [27]
Hawa Hawai Jyoti Marathi
Oru Thekkan Thallu Case Vasanthi Malayalam [28]
2023 Thuramukham Umani [29]
Footprints on Water Meera Indian English [30][31]
Chithha Shakthi Tamil [32]
Jigarthanda DoubleX Malaiyarasi [33]
Adrishya Jalakangal Miranda Malayalam [34]
2024 Mission: Chapter 1 Nancy Kurian Tamil [35][36]
Lantrani Manasi Gangopandhey Hindi [37]

Short films

List of Nimisha Sajayan short film credits and roles
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2017 Nethram Rape victim [38]
2020 Ghar Se Wife Hindi [39]
Draupadi Mother Photo Story [40]

Television

Key
† Denotes series that have not yet been released
List of Nimisha Sajayan television credits and roles
Year Title Role Language Notes Ref.
2024 Poacher Mala Yogi Malayalam TV series on Prime Video [41]
2024 Dabba Cartel TBA Hindi TV series on Netflix [42]

Awards and nominations

List of Nimisha Sajayan's awards and nominations
Award Year [a] Category Work Result Ref.
Kerala State Film Awards 2019 Best Actress Oru Kuprasidha Payyan
Chola		 Won [43]
Kerala Film Critics Association Awards Best Actress Oru Kuprasidha Payyan Won [44]
Filmfare Awards South 2018 Best Actress (Malayalam) Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Nominated [45]
South Indian International Movie Awards Best Female Debut – Malayalam Won [46]
Best Actress – Malayalam Nominated [47]
Asianet Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
2019 Best Star Couple (shared with Shane Nigam) Eeda Won
Best Character Actress Oru Kuprasidha Payyan Nominated
Filmfare Awards South 2019 Best Actress Eeda Nominated [48]
Best Actress (Critics) Won [49]
Vanitha Film Awards 2018 Best Newcomer Actress Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Won [50]
IFFM Awards 2021 Best Performance Female (Feature) The Great Indian Kitchen Nominated [51]
Honourable Mention for Best Actress (Feature) Won [52]
Movie Street Film Excellence Awards 2018 Best Debutant Actor – Female Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Won [53]
2019 Best Actor (Female) Oru Kuprasidha Payyan Won
Toronto International South Asian Film Awards Best Debut Actress Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Won [54]
South Indian International Movie Awards 2021 Best Actress Chola Nominated
Best Actress – (Critics) Won
Filmfare Awards South 2022 Best Actress (Malayalam) The Great Indian Kitchen Won [55]
South Indian International Movie Awards Critics Choice Awards Won
Filmfare Awards South 2024 Best Actress Chithha Won [56]
Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards Best Actress Won [57]

Notes

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

References

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  2. ^ "Nimisha Sajayan reminisces about her childhood home". On Manorama. 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Mumbai girl Nimisha Sajayan bags honours at Kerala State Film Awards". Media Eye News. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Sreeja of Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum is one of us". The New Indian Express. Express News Service. 19 July 2017. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  5. ^ Soman, Deepa (13 July 2017). "Nimisha Sajayan plays a college student in 'Eeda'". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  6. ^ Soman, Deepa (6 October 2017). "Shane Nigam – Nimisha Sajayan film 'Eeda' poster shows their interesting chemistry in the film!". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
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  27. ^ Heaven | Official Trailer | Suraj Venjaramoodu, Nimisha Sajayan, Sudev Nair | Now Streaming. Disney+ Hotstar Tamil. 20 August 2022. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022 – via YouTube.
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