Disha Patani

Disha Patani is an Indian actress known for her work primarily in Hindi cinema. Celebrated for her focus on physical fitness and her appearances in male-dominated feature films, she has built a prominent public presence. Her popularity gained official recognition when she was featured on the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list in 2019.

Born on 13 June 1992 in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, Patani comes from a Hindu Kumaoni Rajput background. Her father, Jagadish Singh Patani, works as a police officer, while her mother is a health inspector. She grew up alongside an elder sister, Khushboo, who served as a Major in the Indian Army before becoming a fitness coach and entrepreneur, and a younger brother named Suryansh. Patani initially pursued an engineering degree at Amity University in Lucknow but departed during her second year. Before entering film acting, she was named first runner-up in the Pond's Femina Miss India Indore pageant in 2013.

Patani made her acting debut in 2015 with the Telugu action film Loafer, followed by an appearance in the 2016 music video Befikra. Her Hindi film debut came that same year in the biographical sports drama M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, playing the role of Priyanka Jha. The movie was a major commercial hit, earning her widespread public recognition and the IIFA Award for Star Debut of the Year – Female. Shortly after, she appeared alongside Jackie Chan in the international action comedy Kung Fu Yoga.

In 2018, Patani starred in the high-grossing action feature Baaghi 2. She subsequently took on a brief role in the successful 2019 drama Bharat, followed by a leading part in the 2020 action thriller Malang, which performed moderately at the box office. She also made an appearance in a special dance number for the third installment of the Baaghi franchise, Baaghi 3.

Patani's career continued with varied commercial outcomes across several major releases. She starred in the 2021 film Radhe, followed by the psychological thriller Ek Villain Returns in 2022. In 2024, she appeared in the action movie Yodha and played a cameo role as Roxie in the Telugu hit Kalki 2898 AD. She also made her entry into Tamil cinema with the film Kanguva. Her later projects include appearances in O'Romeo, the ensemble comedy Welcome to the Jungle, and the romantic drama sequel Awarapan 2.

Beyond film acting, Patani maintains a significant media footprint with millions of social media followers. She was ranked fifth among Google's most searched celebrities in 2016 and placed 21st on IMDb's 100 Most Viewed Indian Stars list in 2024. Furthermore, she frequently appeared on the Times Most Desirable Woman lists, securing top placements between 2017 and 2020. Her commercial ventures include brand endorsements for companies such as Joy personal care, Bata footwear, and Fossil watches. She has also performed at live events, including the opening ceremonies of the Indian Premier League in 2017 and 2025, as well as the 2023 "The Entertainers" tour in the United States.