Preeti Panigrahi

Summary

Preeti Panigrahi is an Indian actress who gained widespread recognition for her debut performance in the coming-of-age film Girls Will Be Girls. Born in 2002, she grew up in India and studied at Hindu College, where she actively participated in theatre and developed her acting skills. Inspired by her father's passion for theatre, she later pursued further studies in animation at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI).

Panigrahi's breakthrough came when she responded to an open casting call in 2022 for the lead role of Mira in Girls Will Be Girls. As part of the audition process, applicants were asked to create a video portraying their high-school selves. Drawing on her own experiences as a school head girl, she successfully secured the role. To prepare for the character, she participated in acting workshops led by casting director Dilip Shankar.

Her portrayal of Mira—a teenage girl navigating adolescence, personal identity, relationships, and societal expectations—received widespread critical acclaim. At the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Girls Will Be Girls won the Audience Award in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition, while Panigrahi received the Special Jury Award for Acting. Critics praised her nuanced and natural performance, with film critic Anupama Chopra describing her as one of the year's most remarkable discoveries.

As of 2024, Girls Will Be Girls remains Panigrahi's most notable screen credit and marks a highly promising beginning to her acting career. Her success at Sundance established her as one of the emerging talents in contemporary Indian cinema.

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Credits & Filmography

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Roundabout (2025)

Kavya

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History of the Universe (2024)

Mala

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Girls Will Be Girls (2024)

Mira

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Night Queen (2024)

Anokhi

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Liar's Dividend

Simi Sharma

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