Neha Pendse

Nehha Pendse Bayas (née Pendse; born 29 November 1984) is an Indian film and television actress and producer who works in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, and Marathi language films.

Pendse started her acting journey as a child artist in Ekta Kapoor's horror show Captain House back in 1995, when she was just ten years old. She rose to prominence through notable roles in Hindi TV shows like Padosan and Hasratein. Her film debut happened in 1999 with an uncredited appearance in Daag: The Fire, followed by playing Sunny Deol 's sibling in Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin. Her first role as an on-screen adult came in 2002, at age 17, in the Telugu romantic comedy Sontham and the Tamil romantic drama Mounam Pesiyadhe. She soon established herself as a leading female star of South Indian cinema, with roles in such films as the comedy film Golmaal (2003), the romantic film Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu (2003), the sucidial drama Nothing but Life (2004), and the action-thriller Abraham & Lincoln (2007).

Notably, she gained recognition in the Marathi film industry during the late 2000s, starring in films like Agnividya and the family drama daily soap Bhagyalakshmi, portraying complex characters. Although she appeared in various Marathi films thereafter, including the fictional biopic Dusari Goshta (2014), the comedy Premasathi Coming Suun (2014), the inspirational drama Balkadu (2015), and the drama Natsamrat (2016). Despite her success in Marathi cinema, she also made notable appearances on Hindi television, notably in the sitcom May I Come In Madam? in 2016 and participated in Bigg Boss season 12. In 2021, Pendse's exceptional performance in the Marathi film June, which she co-produced, garnered critical acclaim, earning her prestigious accolades, including a Filmfare Award Marathi for Best Actress. She also replaced Saumya Tandon in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! but left the show in 2022. She reprised her role in the second season of May I Come In Madam? from mid-2023 to 2024, she continued to captivate audiences with her talent and versatility.

In 2020, she married businessman Shardul Singh Bayas.

Early life
Pendse was born on 29 November 1984 in Bombay to Vijay Pendse and Shubhangi Pendse. She was brought up in Mumbai and completed her schooling there. Her elder sister, Meenal Pendse, is also an actress.

1995–2004: Career beginnings and acting debut
Pendse began her acting journey at the tender age of ten, making her debut as a child actor in the television series Captain House in 1995, under the production of Ekta Kapoor. Her talent broke through, and she rose to prominence in the Hindi entertainment industry as a child actor, featuring in notable shows such as Padosan (1996), Hasratein (1996), Meethi Meethi Baatein (1998), and the Marathi series Pimpalpaan (1999). Venturing into episodic television, she showcased her versatility through various roles in Rishtey–The Love Stories, delving into the complexities of human relationships with nuance and depth.

In 1999, she marked her Hindi film debut, although uncredited, in Daag: The Fire, and the same year, she portrayed Sunny Deol's sister in Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin. Throughout this period, she often portrayed the roles of siblings to the main protagonists in Hindi cinema, featuring in films like Deewane (2000), Chhupa Rustam: A Musical Thriller (2001), Tum Se Achcha Kaun Hai (2002). Particularly noteworthy was her role as Madhuri Dixit's friend, Chaurangi, in Devdas (2002), which she secured without an audition while still in tenth grade. In 2002, she ventured into the Telugu film industry with her leading role debut in the romantic comedy Sontham, where she was the sole female lead among three friends. Her performance was deemed "promising" by critics, and the film proved to be a box-office success. Additionally, during the same year, she made her debut in Tamil cinema with the romantic drama Mounam Pesiyadhe, starring alongside Suriya, Trisha and Nandha.

The following year, Pendse appeared alongside J. D. Chakravarthy in the Telugu comedy Golmaal, which was a remake of the 1994 Malayalam film Malappuram Haji Mahanaya Joji. Critics observed that her roles in these films were somewhat limited. However, her performance in her next venture, Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu in 2003, received acclaim. Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu praised her portrayal, stating, "Neha, whom we saw as the second heroine in 'Mounam Pesiyathe'  is apt as the bold, belligerent Mamathi later softened by love." Similarly, Malini Mannath for Chennai Online noted, "Neha has charming demeanour and the talent to go with it. Vadivelu tries hard to make you laugh," mentioning her noticeable presence even in a supporting role in Mounam Pesiyathe.'"

In 2004, Pendse got into the English-Malayalam experimental bilingual film Nothing but Life. In the film, she starred opposite R. Madhavan, portraying the character of a suicidal girl born in the US but with Malayalee roots. The movie was showcased at various film festivals, including the 12th Kerala International Film Festival, before its theatrical release. Unfortunately, upon its commercial release, the film failed to make an impact at the box office. Nonetheless, this project served as Pendse's debut in the Malayalam cinema industry. Also, she acted in the Malayalam delayed release Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and played a supporting role in the Kannada action drama Inspector Jhansi in 2005. That same year, she got her first lead role in a Hindi movie titled Dreams, but it didn't do well with critics or at the box office.

Following that, she featured in the Malayalam film Abraham & Lincoln, directed by Pramod Pappan, portraying the character of Nancy, Lincoln's sister, who faced challenges and dealt with mental health issues stemming from an incident during her studies. The film received positive reviews from both critics and audiences, particularly praising her performance. Subsequently, she appeared in the Hindi drama Swami, directed by Ganesh Acharya, alongside Manoj Bajpayee and Maninder Singh, portraying the role of Bajpayee's daughter-in-law. While Swami received mixed reviews from critics, her performance was highlighted. She then starred opposite Upendra in the Kannada action film Parodi, playing the role of a journalist. Despite the film's lackluster performance at the box office, critics commended her performance and the chemistry between her and Upendra. Moviebuzz critics commented that Neha's portrayal of a journalist indicates room for improvement, while RG Vijayasarathy of Rediff.com wrote, "Upendra and Neha are the saving graces of this otherwise weak film." In 2008, she once again collaborated with Upendra and director Om Sai Prakash in Veedhi Rowdy.

2009–2015: Expansion in films and other success
In 2009, she portrayed the teenage daughter of a divorced mother, played by Gracy Singh, in Aseema: Beyond Boundaries. That same year, she made her debut in Marathi cinema with Agnidivya, where she starred alongside Subodh Bhave, Reema Lagoo, Mohan Agashe, and Mohan Joshi. The film, based on Chintamani Tryambak Khanolkar's novel Agochar, centers around the conflict between her character, Nandini, who is married to Bhave's character, a cruel man, and Anandrao, the autocratic leader. Nandini must confront a challenging ordeal known as the cleansing fire, 'Agnidivya.' It received critical acclaim in the Marathi film industry in 2009 and was also recommended for consideration in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 82nd Academy Awards.

In 2010, she gained widespread acclaim for her role in the Marathi family drama series Bhagyalakshmi. Portraying the lead character of a troubled woman named Kashi, she starred alongside Vikram Gokhale, Priya Berde, and Surekha Kudachi. The storyline revolves around Kashi, the daughter of a devdasi, who marries Sanjay, a politician's relative. However, the village head, Bappaji, becomes apprehensive about Kashi's strong devotion to Goddess Bhirai, fearing it might challenge his authority. This marked her return to television after an eight-year.

In 2013, her role in the internationally acclaimed drama film Touring Talkies, directed by Gajendra Ahire, once again brought attention, as the film was considered for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 86th Academy Awards. In the movie, she portrayed a brief role as an actress working with an indie filmmaker, who is shocked to discover some unexpected moments in the film. Keyur Seta of The Common Man Speaks praised her performance, stating that "Pendse shines in a cameo." The following year, she had a busy schedule with appearances in five films. She played a supporting role in Rajendra Talak's A Rainy Day and took on the female lead in the fictional biopic Dusari Goshta, directed by Chandrakant Kulkarni, based on the life of former Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. Additionally, she was part of two multi-starrer films: Hu Tu Tu directed by Kanchan Adhikari, alongside Jitendra Joshi, Hemant Dhome, and Mansi Naik, and Bol Baby Bol alongside Aruna Irani, Makarand Anaspure, and Aniket Vishwasrao. In Premasathi Coming Suun, she played the main protagonist, a prospective bride with a hidden agenda opposite Adinath Kothare. Mihir Bhanage of The Times of India complimented her appearance, stating that "Neha looks ravishing after having lost those extra kilos."

In 2015, she starred opposite Umesh Kamat in Balkadu, a film inspired by the ideologies of the late Indian politician Bal Thackeray. In the movie, she portrayed the childhood sweetheart of Kamat's character, reuniting with him after a long separation and providing unwavering support in his endeavors. Keertikumar Kadam of Marathi Movie World praised her performance, stating that "Pendse does what was expected of her and looks ravishingly stunning, on screen." Following this, she appeared in Anant Mahadevan's biographical film Gour Hari Dastaan, which depicts the life of an Indian freedom fighter from Odisha.

2016–present: Claim to fame and Bigg Boss 12
In 2016, she experienced significant success, marking her return to Hindi television with the lead role in the comedy-drama May I Come In Madam? airing on Life OK. In the show, she portrayed the charming boss of a young man who feels downtrodden due to his overbearing wife. The series quickly became one of the top-rated shows in 2016. Furthermore, she portrayed the daughter-in-law of the titular character in Natsamrat, played by Nana Patekar and directed by Mahesh Manjrekar. This cinematic adaptation, based on a play by the renowned playwright Kusumagraj, delves into the poignant family dynamics of a retired stage actor grappling with nostalgia for his past life in the theater. Natsamrat garnered widespread praise upon its release, becoming the top-grossing Marathi film of its time with earnings of ₹48 crore. The following year, she had only one film release, Nagarsevak - Ek Nayak, which received negative reviews, starring opposite Upendra Limaye.

In 2018, Pendse was involved in various reality television programs. She participated as a contestant on shows like Comedy Dangal and Entertainment Ki Raat. Additionally, she served as the presenter alongside Kapil Sharma on the reality comedy game show Family Time With Kapil Sharma. Pendse also entered the popular reality TV show Bigg Boss 12 as a contestant, but was eliminated on the 28th day, on October 14. Furthermore, she took part in the fourth season of the celebrity Indian sports reality show, Box Cricket League, an indoor cricket game format.

In 2021, Pendse took over the role of Anita Vibhuti Narayan Mishra in the popular daily sitcom Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!, replacing Saumya Tandon. However, she left the show in January 2022 because it was hard for her to travel from her home in Nariman Point to the shoot location in Naigoan, which took over four hours. Her next project was the Marathi drama film June, set in Aurangabad, tackling various social issues such as bullying, sexism, suicide, and the generation gap. In the film, she portrays a troubled married woman. Pendse not only acted in the film but also co-produced it without charging any fee. Critics applauded Pendse's performance, with Mihir Bhanage from The Times of India describing it as a "revelation" and noted, "she channels Neha’s inner turmoil effortlessly and is comfortable in the skin of the character." Another critic from Film Information commended, "Pendse Bayas delivers an honest performance, straight from the heart. She lives the character of Neha and expresses the anguish of a separated woman to the hilt. Not once does she go overboard in her performance." The film screened at several festivals, including the Pune International Film Festival, International Film Festival of Kerala, New York Indian Film Festival and 51st International Film Festival of India. Her performance in June earned her Filmfare Award Marathi for Best Actress and a nomination at Fakt Marathi Cine Sanman. From mid-2023 to 2024, she returned to her popular role as Sanjana Hiteshi in the second season of May I Come In Madam? 2, which aired on Star Bharat.

Personal life
The actress tied the knot with her boyfriend Shardul Singh Bayas on 5 January 2020, in a traditional Marathi ceremony. During an interview, Neha revealed that Shardul proposed marriage three months after they started dating, in April. The couple started dating in early 2019. Neha changed her name after marriage, adding Bayas to her last name.

Media
Pendse was ranked in The Times Most Desirable Women at No. 49 in 2019.