Swara Bhasker (sometimes spelled Bhaskar; born 9 April 1988) is an Indian film actress. She is well recognized for her supporting roles in mainstream movies and major roles in independent films, for which she has won two Screen Awards and been nominated for three Filmfare Awards.
Swara made her cinematic debut in the 2009 drama Madholal Keep Walking, which was a commercial flop. She rose to prominence as a supporting actress in the commercially successful 2011 romance comedy Tanu Weds Manu. Critics praised her performance in the film, and she was nominated for a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Swara's performance in the highly acclaimed love movie Raanjhanaa (2013) got her a second Filmfare Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She then repeated her Tanu Weds Manu role in the sequel and later participated in the family drama Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, both of which were among the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 2015. Her leading parts in the independent flicks Nil Battey Sannata (2016) and Anaarkali of Aarah (2017) brought her even more attention. She received a Screen Award nomination for Best Actress (Critics) for the former and a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actress (Critics) for the latter.
Childhood and education
Swara Bhasker was born in Delhi on April 9, 1988, to C. Uday Bhaskar, an Indian Navy officer of Telugu descent, and his wife Ira Bhaskar, a professor of cinema studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. Her maternal grandma was originally from Varanasi.
Bhasker grew raised in Delhi, where she attended Sardar Patel Vidyalaya. She went on to study English literature at Delhi University's Miranda House, where she met fellow actor, Minissha Lamba. Her master's degree in sociology was obtained from Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi.
Acting career from 2009 until 2012: Debut and subsequent roles
Before she began appearing in films, Bhasker was a member of N. K. Sharma's "Act One" theater troupe in Delhi. She moved to Mumbai in 2008 and made her acting debut in the 2009 film Madholal Keep Walking, which premiered at the 33rd Cairo International Film Festival but bombed at the box office in India. She then appeared in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie Guzaarish (2010) as a supporting actress with Hritik Roshan and Aishwariya Rai.
Bhasker then appeared in Srinivas Sunderrajan's black and white thriller The Untitled Kartik Krishnan Project, which was billed as India's first mumblecore film and was completed in one year on a budget of 40,000 (US$500). It was also the first Indian film to be screened at the Transilvania International Film Festival. However, both Guzaarish and The Untitled Kartik Krishnan Project were box-office flops, and Bhasker's performances went unappreciated.
Bhasker gained considerable acclaim from spectators and critics for her performance as Payal, the lead actress Kangana Ranaut's best friend, in the 2011 financially successful film Tanu Weds Manu. She got appreciation and multiple nominations, including the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
From 2013 until the present: Critical and commercial success
Listen... Amaya (2013), in which she played the lead, featured the reunion of actors Farooq Sheikh and Deepti Naval after 28 years, and received favorable reviews from critics. She next co-starred in Raanjhanaa with Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor, which was one of the year's highest-grossing Bollywood films. She got widespread critical acclaim for her performance as Bindiya in the film, as well as her second Filmfare Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She starred as the lead female in the movie office flop Sabki Bajegi Band, opposite Sumeet Vyas, and in the moderately successful Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai, alongside Bhanu Uday.
Bhasker hosted Shyam Benegal's television mini-series Samvidhaan, which was about the creation of the Indian Constitution. From March to May 2014, Rajya Sabha TV broadcasted the series. Bhasker featured as a guest in the Pakistani TV comedy show Mazaaq Raat during her visit to Lahore in April 2015.
In 2015, Bhasker had three releases. In her debut film, she returned to the character of Payal in Tanu Weds Manu Returns, a sequel to the 2011 film Tanu Weds Manu. The film, as well as Bhasker's performance, gained widespread critical acclaim. The film was also a commercial success, being one of the few women-centric films to rank among the top-grossing Indian films. Her next film was the love romance Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, in which she co-starred with Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor as Rajkumari Chandrika. The film, directed by Sooraj Barjatya, garnered mixed reviews. However, both critics and audiences praised Bhasker's performance. The film became one of the highest-grossing Indian films, with an estimated collection of 400 crore (US$50 million). She also appeared in the collaboration multilingual X: Past Is Present the same year. Bhasker starred in Nalan Kumarasamy's segment, Summer Holiday, which centres around a young kid (played by Anshuman Jha) who goes to South India for summer holidays and is enticed by an Aunty so that her husband might rape him. Although the film received mixed reviews, her performance as Aunty was particularly well applauded. The Hindu's Namrata Joshi commented, "X: Past Is Present belongs to its women."
Bhasker appeared as the lead in Anand L. Rai's comic drama Nil Battey Sannata in 2016, marking her fourth collaboration with Rai. Bhasker was first dubious about the picture due to the age gap between herself and her role. She changed her mind after reading the script and played the role of a teen mother. Following its release, both the film and Bhasker's performance gained critical acclaim, and she was named Best Actress at the Silk Road International Film Festival in September 2015. It's Not That Simple, created by Viacom 18's streaming service Voot, was her first web series. The show is about marriage, relationships, a woman's role in a marriage, love, and so on. The series stars Bhasker, as well as television talents Vivan Bhatena, Akshay Oberoi, and Karanveer Mehra, and is directed by Danish Aslam.
By 2013, Bhasker has finished filming for Abbas Tyrewala's comedy drama Mango, starring Chandan Roy Sanyal and Monali Thakur and produced by Kaleidoscope Entertainment. The film has been postponed indefinitely. She also co-starred with Kareena Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, and Shikha Talsania in Shashanka Ghosh's 2018 romantic comedy film Veere Di Wedding, about four females who go from Delhi to Europe. Her cinematic masturbation scene with a vibrator was acclaimed for its honest representation of women's sexuality.
Private life
Bhasker has been an outspoken opponent of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. She has taken part in rallies against the Citizenship Amendment Act. She married activist Fahad Ahmad in February 2023.
 | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Madholal Keep Walking | Sudha M. Dubey | |
| 2010 | Guzaarish | Radhika Talwar | |
| The Untitled Kartik Krishnan Project | Swara Bhaskar / Maya | ||
| 2011 | Tanu Weds Manu | Payal Sinha Singh | |
| Chillar Party | Battle Hour Anchor | ||
| 2013 | Listen... Amaya | Amaya Krishnamoorthy | |
| Aurangzeb | Suman | ||
| Raanjhanaa | Bindiya | ||
| Sabki Bajegi Band | Jaya | ||
| 2014 | Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai | Ayesha Saxena | |
| 2015 | Tanu Weds Manu Returns | Payal Sinha Singh | |
| Prem Ratan Dhan Payo | Rajkumari Chandrika | ||
| X: Past Is Present | Aunty | ||
| 2016 | Nil Battey Sannata | Chanda Sahay | |
| 2017 | Anaarkali of Aarah | Anarkali | |
| 2018 | Veere Di Wedding | Sakshi Soni | |
| 2018 | The Story | ZEE5 | |
| 2020 | Sheer Qorma | Rukhsar Siddiqui | |
| 2022 | Jahaan Chaar Yaar | Shivangi | |
| 2023 | Mrs Falani | TBA | Filming |
| Year(s) | Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Samvidhaan | Presenter |
| 2015–2017 | Rangoli | Host/presenter |
| Year(s) | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–2018 | It's Not That Simple | Meera | Web series |
| 2019 | Hello Mini | ||
| 2020 | Rasbhari | Shanoo Bansal | |
| 2020 | Flesh | ACP Radha Nautiyal | |
| 2020 | Bhaag Beanie Bhaag | Beanie Bhatnagar | |
| 2021 | Aapkey Kamrey Mein Koi Rahta Hai | Mausam |
| Film | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanu Weds Manu | 57th Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
| 2012 Zee Cine Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role– Female | Won | |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
| Screen Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
| Raanjhanaa | Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
| International Indian Film Academy Awards | Nominated | ||
| Screen Awards | Won | ||
| Zee Cine Awards | Won | ||
| Nil Battey Sannata | Silk Road International Film Festival | Best Actress | Won |
| Screen Awards | Best Actress (Critics) | Won | |
| Anaarkali of Aarah | Filmfare Awards | Best Actress (Critics) | Nominated |
| Veere Di Wedding | Lux Golden Rose Awards | Confident Beauty of the Year | Won |
| Screen Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female) | Nominated | |
| Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Swara Bhaskar Chitrapu |
| Profession | Actress |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters- 165 cm in meters- 1.65 m in feet inches- 5’ 5” |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 9 April 1988 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 35 Years |
| Birthplace | Delhi, India |
| Zodiac sign | Aries |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Delhi, India |
| School | Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, New Delhi |
| College/Universities | • Miranda House, University of Delhi, New Delhi • Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi |
| Educational Qualification(s) | • B.A. in English Literature • M.A. in Sociology |
| Debut | Film: Madholal Keep Walking (2009, English) Guzaarish (2010, Bollywood) TV: Samvidhaan: The Making of the Constitution of India (2014, as a Presenter) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Food Habit | Vegetarian (turned vegetarian in 2016) |
| Address | A 3-BHK apartment in Yari Road, Mumbai |
| Hobbies | Doing yoga, Dancing, Cooking, Reading |
| Awards | 2012: Zee Cine Award for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role– Female for the film 'Tanu Weds Manu' 2014: Screen Award for the Best Supporting Actress for the film 'Raanjhanaa', Zee Cine Award for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role– Female for the film 'Raanjhanaa' 2016: Silk Road International Film Festival Award for the Best Actress for the film 'Nil Battey Sannata', Screen Award for the Best Actress- Critics for the film 'Nil Battey Sannata' |
| Tattoo(s) | Right back- Lunar phase of "Moon" Left side of chest- Madhubani folk art representation of "Sun" |
| Boys, Affairs and More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Marriage Date | She registered her wedding in court on 6 January 2023 under the Special Marriage Act. [2]India Today |
| Family | |
| Husband/Spouse | Fahad Ahmad (political activist) |
| Parents | Father- Chitrapu Uday Bhaskar (Columnist, Retired Commodore) Mother- Ira Bhaskar (Professor of Cinema Studies) |
| Siblings | Brother- Ishan Bhaskar (Elder) Sister- None |
| Favourites | |
| Food | Guacamole, Dosa, Aloo sabzi, Maggi, Italian cuisine |
| Beverage(s) | Masala tea, Coffee, Kale spinach apple smoothie, Bloody Mary |
| Actor | Shah Rukh Khan |
| Actress | Meryl Streep |
| Film(s) | Bollywood- The Untitled Kartik Krishnan Project Hollywood- The Mill on the Floss, The Exorcism of Emily Rose |
| Director(s) | Aanand L. Rai, Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Kashyap, Ashwini Iyer Tiwari, Hansal Mehta, Joe Wright, Wong Kar-Wai |
| TV Show | Last Week Tonight with John Oliver |
| Play | Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible' directed by Yael Farber |
| Song | "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira |
| Book(s) | Istanbul: Memories and the City by Orhan Pamuk, The Illicit Happiness of Other People by Manu Joseph, The Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton, A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif, The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot |
| Colour | White |
| Restaurant | Dishoom in London |
| Travel Destination(s) | Italy, Istanbul, Beirut |
| Style Quotient | |
| Car Collection | BMW X1 |
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