Diana Penty (pronounced [ajna pei]; born 2 November 1985) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi cinema. Her modeling career began in 2005, when she was signed by Elite Models India. Penty then made her acting debut in the romantic comedy flick Cocktail (2012), which was a box office triumph and earned her a nomination for a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
Following a four-year absence, Penty acted as Happy in Happy Bhag Jayegi (2016), a sleeper smash that earned her a BIG Star nomination for Most Entertaining Actress in a Comedy Film. She later played an NGO worker in Lucknow Central (2017), an army officer in Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran (2018), a public service volunteer in Shiddat (2021), and the lead lady in the Malayalam film Salute (2022).
Penty is a well-known celebrity ambassador for businesses and goods in addition to her acting profession.
Childhood and education
Penty was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra on November 2, 1985, to a Parsi father and a Konkani Christian mother. She attended St. Agnes High School in Mumbai and graduated from St. Xavier's College with a bachelor's degree in Mass Media.
Career in modeling (2005-2011)
Penty got her start in modeling after sending her photos to Elite Models India, who appreciated her work and encouraged she take on modeling tasks. Penty was in college at the time and was hesitant to pursue a modeling career, so she decided to work part-time as a fashion model. Penty began working for Elite Models India in 2005, and she made her runway debut for Italian designers Nicola Trussardi and Gianfranco Ferré at the Indo-Italian Festival. Following that, Penty worked as a model for several other Indian designers, including Wendell Rodricks, Rohit Bal, and Rina Dhaka. By 2007, she had developed a successful modeling career, having appeared in print ads for some of India's most recognizable brands, including Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri, Parachute, and Westside, as well as on the covers of a few Indian fashion magazines.
Penty moved on to model on an international circuit the following year, when she began to represent multinational companies such as Maybelline, Garnier, and Forever 21. Sushma Puri, CEO of Elite Models India, commented on Penty's international appeal, saying, "Diana has a face that is very versatile and appeals to both Indian and international markets, and she is also young, beautiful, and confident." As a result, she is an excellent pick for any worldwide brand." Penty began to receive film offers later in her modeling career, but she refused them because she felt she was too inexperienced. Penty rose to worldwide prominence after modeling for fashion weeks in Paris and New York from 2008 to 2010.
Debut and breakthrough in film (2012-2018)
Penty was set to make her Bollywood debut in 2011 with Imtiaz Ali's Rockstar, staring Ranbir Kapoor, however she declined owing to modeling commitments at the time and was replaced by Nargis Fakhri. On Ali's recommendation, she later joined up for Homi Adajania's Cocktail instead. The film, which starred Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone, garnered mixed to good reviews. Critics praised Penty's portrayal of Meera, a modest Indian girl with traditional values. "Diana, who makes her acting debut, gets to portray a rather difficult character for her debut film," Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama said. She adds a very disarming type of innocence to the character, and she really impresses." Raja Sen concurred, describing her as "refreshingly natural." "Diana is saddled with the most colorless character, but [...] infuses her role with a quiet poise and holds her own," Anupama Chopra observed. Her performance got her nominations for best debut and best supporting actress at a slew of Indian award shows, including the International Indian Film Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Cocktail became a box office success.
Penty returned to the screen after a four-year hiatus to play the titular runaway bride in Aanand L. Rai's production Happy Bhag Jayegi (2016), written and directed by Mudassar Aziz, which tells the story of her character's subsequent adventures when, in an attempt to elope with her lover, she instead ends up on the other side of the border, much to the chagrin of a young politician whose house she ends up in. "It wasn't a conscious break," Penty stated of his break from acting. I was taking my time, hoping to be a part of a good story. "I didn't want to do anything that was thrown at me." The film received mixed reviews from critics but became a surprise hit. Penty "steals the spotlight in every frame," according to Rohit Bhatnagar, while Anna M. M. Vetticad of Firstpost remarked, "Penty is brimming with potential [...] but her Happy, despite being the titular protagonist, is the most under-written character."
In 2017, she played Gayatri Kashyap, a dedicated NGO worker who promotes the cause of a band established by a group of prison convicts, in debutante Ranjit Tiwari's prison film Lucknow Central, with Farhan Akhtar. She does a good job, according to the Times of India.
In 2018, Penty had two releases. Her breakthrough role was as Captain Ambalika Bandyopadhyay in Abhishek Sharma's commercially successful period drama Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran, with John Abraham. According to Bollywood Hungama, "Diana Penty has a crucial role and plays the no-nonsense character very well." She repeated her titular character in Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi, a sequel to Happy Bhag Jayegi, opposite Sonakshi Sinha, who portrayed an eponymous namesake; the film failed in comparison to the precursor.
Career advancement (2019-present)
In 2019, she appeared in a promotional music video for Khandaani Shafakhana (2019) as the proverbial "Shehar Ki Ladki" alongside singer Badshah and actors Suniel Shetty and Raveena Tandon as the proverbial "Shehar Ki Ladki."
In Kunal Deshmukh's 2021 romantic drama Shiddat, Penty played Ira Sharma Sehgal, a public service volunteer who had ideological differences with her husband. "Though Diana Penty gets extremely limited screen time in comparison to her male counterparts, she leaves a mark as a free-spirited, practical, and open-minded woman," India Today wrote. Penty made her Malayalam cinema debut in the 2022 film Salute, co-starring with Dulquer Salmaan as Dia, Salmaan's love interest. According to the Hindustan Times, "the women have very little to contribute to the film, and Diana Penty gets wasted in a role that has no impact."
In Raj Mehta's Selfiee, Penty played Naina alongside Akshay Kumar. According to Bollywood Hungama, "Though Diana Penty doesn't have much to do, she underplays her part well." Penty will next be seen in Shabbir Khan's Adbhut, co-starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Work done away from the camera
Penty worked for an NGO in 2017 after being inspired by her character in Lucknow Central. She also supports several causes. In 2020, she will offer safety equipment to Mumbai police officers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she will also partner with Ketto India on the project #EveryLifeMatters, which will help provide relief and financial support throughout the crisis.
Penty made her Cannes Film Festival debut in 2019 and has since featured on the red carpet in the years since. She has walked the runway during Lakme Fashion Week. She has appeared on the covers of numerous magazines, including Vogue, Elle, Verve, Women's Health India, Grazia India, and Femina.
Penty has been outspoken on a number of issues. "I am proud that the #MeToo movement has kicked off," she remarked, praising the #MeToo movement. It is admirable that women are speaking out and shedding light on challenges they have faced in the past. It takes a lot of guts."
Controversy
Mika Singh made a joke about Penty's surname during a Happy Bhag Jayegi musical event in 2016, which irritated her. After much probing, the actress finally said, "I don't find these jokes funny." I don't understand how people can chuckle at such remarks."
Artistry and public perception
Penty was dubbed the "next big thing" in Hindi cinema after her debut. Femina's Aishwarya Acharya describes her as "sensitive, astute, calm, passionate, and hopeful." Rajeev Masand describes her as "refreshingly natural." Tanya Mehta of Grazia thinks Penty has a "compelling onscreen presence" and that she's here to stay.
Penty was named the 10th most promising female newcomer of 2012 by the Times of India. In 2013, she was named Grazia Face of the Year. She was ranked 15th on Eastern Eye's list of the 50 Sexiest Asian Women. She was placed 25th in 2013 and 23rd in 2019 in the Times' list of the 50 Most Desirable Women.
Penty took a four-year break after her debut picture. "I know it did take me a while in the beginning, but now, I have momentum and I don't want that to stop," she remarked of her approach to selecting films. I've made a conscious effort to play varied roles and work in different genres of films because it keeps things interesting for me."
Apart from acting and modeling, Penty is a brand and product endorser for TRESemme and Nokia, specifically the Lumia 510. She is the first Indian celebrity to endorse Estée Lauder India. She is also the current Garnier brand spokesperson.
 | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Cocktail | Meera Sahni | |
| 2016 | Happy Bhag Jayegi | Harpreet "Happy" Kaur | |
| 2017 | Lucknow Central | Gayatri Kashyap | |
| 2018 | Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran | Capt. Ambalika Bandopadhyay / Nakul | |
| Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi | Harpreet "Happy" Kaur | ||
| 2019 | Khandaani Shafakhana | Sunita | Special appearance in song "Sheher Ki Ladki" |
| 2021 | Shiddat | Ira Sharma Sehgal | |
| 2022 | Salute | Dia | Malayalam film |
| 2023 | Selfiee | Naina | |
| Bloody Daddy | TBA | Completed | |
| Adbhut | TBA | Completed |
| Year | Title | Singer |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | "Challon Ke Nishaan" | Stebin Ben |
| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | BIG Star Entertainment Awards | Most Entertaining Actor (Film) Debut - Female | Cocktail | Nominated |
| Vogue Beauty Awards | Best Female Debut | Won | ||
| 2013 | Filmfare Awards | Best Female Debut | Nominated | |
| Screen Awards | Most Promising Newcomer – Female | Nominated | ||
| Zee Cine Awards | Best Female Debut | Nominated | ||
| Star Guild Awards | Best Female Debut | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Nominated | |||
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | BIG Star Entertainment Awards | Most Entertaining Actress in a Comedy Film | Happy Bhag Jayegi | Nominated |
| Bio | |
| Real Name | Diana Penty |
| Nickname | Diana |
| Profession | Actress and Model |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height | in centimeters- 178 cm in meters- 1.78 m in Feet Inches- 5' 10" |
| Weight | in Kilograms- 54 Kg in Pounds- 112 lbs |
| Figure Measurements | 33-26-33 |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 2 November 1985 |
| Age (as in 2022) | 37 Years |
| Birth Place | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Zodiac sign/Sun sign | Scorpio |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| School | St. Agnes High School, Mumbai |
| College | St. Xavier's College, Mumbai |
| Educational Qualifications | Degree in Mass Media |
| Debut | Film Debut: Cocktail (2012) |
| Family | Father- Not Known Mother- Not Known Sister- Not Known Brother- Not Known |
| Religion | Christian |
| Hobbies | Workout, traveling and reading fiction and sports autobiographies |
| Favourite Things | |
| Favourite Food | Chocolates, rice-dal, chicken curry and maggi |
| Favourite Actor | Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Boman Irani and Abhishek Bachchan |
| Favourite Actress | Deepika Padukone |
| Favourite Fashion Designer | Manish Malhotra |
| Favourite Perfume | Chanel Chance |
| Favourite Restaurant | Royal China in Mumbai |
| Favourite Destination | Italy, Cape Town and Czech Republic |
| Boys, Affairs and More | |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Husband | N/A |
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