Shweta Basu Prasad Explained

Shweta Basu Prasad
Birth Date:11 January 1991
Birth Place:Jamshedpur, Bihar,(present-day Jharkhand), India
Occupation:Actress, film maker
Yearsactive:2002 – present
Awards:section on awards

Shweta Basu Prasad (born 11 January 1991) is an Indian actress known for her works in television, Hindi cinema, Telugu cinema and Tamil cinema. She won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for her role in Makdee (2002). After Iqbal (2005), she transitioned to adult roles and found success with Kotha Bangaru Lokam (2008), The Tashkent Files (2019), and OTT platform films and web series such as Serious Men (2020), Criminal Justice (Season 3, 2022), India Lockdown (2022), Jubilee (2023) and Tribhuvan Mishra: CA Topper (2024).

Shweta has also worked in Bengali language films. She made a documentary on Indian classical music, and has produced and written for short films. She made her directoral debut with the short film Retake in 2023.

Education and early career

Shweta Prasad was born on 11 January 1991 in Jamshedpur, in Bihar (now in Jharkhand).[1] [2] She migrated to Mumbai with her family while still a child.[3] Basu is her mother's maiden name and Prasad is her father's surname.[4] In her earlier films she was credited as Shweta Prasad; later, she added her mother's maiden name to her screen name.[5]

Shweta studied commerce at the R. N. Podar High School, Santacruz, Mumbai, and completed her graduation in mass media and journalism. She has written columns for The Indian Express.[6]

Shweta made her film debut in 2002 with a double role in Makdee for which she got the National Award for Best Child Actress. She then got offers from television series Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and Karishma Kaa Karishma. In 2005, director Nagesh Kukunoor offered her the film Iqbal, and she became a household name with the role of “Khadija” in the film. She won the Best Supporting Actress Award at the 5th Karachi International Film Festival for Iqbal.[1]

She took a break after Iqbal and continued her studies.[7] She is a graduate in Journalism and Mass Media, and after her studies, she made a documentary Roots, on Indian classical music featuring the legends of the music industry. Shweta spent four years between 2012 and 2016 researching and making this documentary film, which features personalities like Shubha Mudgal, A R Rahman, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Vishal Bhardwaj, Amit Trivedi and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. The film also has a ten-minute animation bit showing a 5000-year history of Indian music. Shweta, who is herself trained in playing the Sitar, is a classical music enthusiast and made this project from her own pocket out of passion.[8] During the time, she worked as a script consultant at Phantom Films for an year.[9] [10]

Television and later film career

Shweta made her debut in Telugu cinema in 2008, with the film Kotha Bangaru Lokam.[11] She has also done movies in Tamil and Bengali.[2] [1]

She played the leading role of Nandini, wife of Chandragupta Maurya, in the television series Chandra Nandni (2016-2017). She said that this marked her comeback to television.[12]

Her next Hindi film outing was Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017) by Dharma Productions.[13]

Shweta played a rookie journalist and central protagonist in The Tashkent Files (2019), a suspense drama thriller based on the death of India's second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. She received critical praise and acclaim from critics and audiences alike.[14] The film was received well commercially and was hailed as a surprise box office success of 2019,[15] after successfully making a 50-day Box Office run.

Shweta has worked on OTT films and series, Serious Men,[16] Comedy Couple,[17] and High[18] in 2020, Ray (2021),[19] Jamun (2021),[20] (season 3, 2022), and Jubilee (2023).[21]

Shweta has acted in short films Interior Café: Night, which she also produced,[22] Visa, Chubhan, and The Lovers. She made her directorial debut with the short film Retake, that she wrote as well. The film has Anupam Kher in the lead, and made its American premiere in the short films category at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) in May 2023.[23] [24]

Filmography

Films

YearFilmRoleLanguage Notes
2002MakdeeChunni / MunniHindiDual role; Child actress
2005IqbalKhadijaHindilead actress
Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi!Shweta
2006Darna Zaroori HaiAshuHindi
2008Ek Nadir GalpoAnuBengaliBengali Debut
Kotha Bangaru LokamSwapnaTeluguTelugu Debut
2009RideRaniTelugu
KaskoRJ Krishnaveni
2010Kalavar KingShrutiTelugu
2011Raa RaaGayathriTamil Tamil Debut
PriyuduTelugu
GeniusItem song "Dibiri Dibiri"
2012 MaiTamil[25]
2013Chandhamama MaryTamil
2014Interior Café: NightYoung girlHindiShort film[26]
2017Badrinath Ki DulhaniaUrmila Shukla BansalHindi
Visa TejaswiniHindi /EnglishShort film[27]
2018Mard Ko Dard Nahi HotaAai (mother)Hindi
VijethaTelugu
MegalopolisSvetlanaHindi
2019The Tashkent FilesRaagini PhuleHindi
ChubhanMeghna Short film
2020ShukranuReemaHindiZEE5 film
The LoversNitya Short film[28]
Serious MenAnuja DhavreHindiNetflix film
Comedy CoupleZoya BatraZEE5 film
2021 JamunChetnaHindiEros Now release
2022India LockdownMehrunissaHindiZEE5 film

Television and web series

YearWorkRoleNetwork Notes
1998X ZoneYoung AnuZee TVEpisode 94
2000-2008Kahaani Ghar Ghar KiiYoung Shruti AggarwalStar Plus2 episode
2001- 2003KutumbVanshita250 episode
2002Koshish - Ek AashaaKajal's Daughter, 2002)1 episode
2003-2004Karishma Kaa KarishmaSweetyStar Plus65 episode
2003The Magic Make-Up BoxMayaZee TV33 episode
2015 2016Darr Sabko Lagta HaiPangkhuri &TV1 episode
2016- 2017Chandra NandiniNandini MauryaMain role
2018GangstarsAishwaryaAmazon VideoTelugu series
2019FlipMini series
2019- 2020HostagesShikha PandeyDisney+ HotstarMain role, season 2
2020Dr DonnALTBalaji
2020–present HighDr. ShwetaMX Player
2021RayMaggieNetflixepisode: "Forget Me Not"
2022LekhaDisney+Hotstar[29]
2023JubileeRatna DasAmazon Prime Video
2024Shobha PathakNetflix

Personal life

In September 2014, Shweta was arrested from a hotel in Hyderabad after a police raid. She was detained by the police on charges of prostitution, and sent to a rescue home, where she was held for two months.[30] [31] In December 2014, the Metropolitan Sessions Court, Nampally, Hyderabad, withdrew all charges against her. After her release, she issued an open letter to the media clarifying as false and misleading, a statement attributed to her by a journalist at the time of the arrest.[32] In the letter, she said during the time of the arrest, she was attending the Santosham Film Awards event and staying at the hotel arranged by the organizers.[33]

She married filmmaker Rohit Mittal on 13 December 2018.[34] She announced their separation on Instagram on 10 December 2019.[35] [36]

Awards

YearFilmAwardCategoryResult Ref
2003Makdee50th National Film AwardsBest Child Artist[37]
2006IqbalZee Cine AwardsBest Actress (Critics)[38]
Screen AwardsBest Supporting Actress
51st Filmfare Awards[39]
20075th Karachi International Film FestivalBest Supporting Actress [40]
2009Kotha Bangaru Lokam56th Filmfare Awards SouthBest Actress – Telugu[41]
2009Santosham Film AwardsBest Actress

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shweta Basu Prasad Birthday: Makdee, Iqbal, Shukranu – 5 Films Starring the Actress That You Should Definitely Watch! . Ananya Swaroop . 11 January 2021 . 26 April 2023 . Yahoo!.
  2. Web site: Birthday Special: Shweta Basu Prasad turns a year older; posts a picture wishing herself . 11 January 2020 . 26 April 2023 . The Times of India.
  3. Web site: Shweta Basu Prasad: A Former Child Star's Fall From Grace . ndtv.com . NDTV . 18 April 2023.
  4. Web site: Shweta Basu Prasad on her turn as a sex worker in 'India Lockdown' . Sudeshna Banerjee . 7 December 2022 . 27 April 2023 . The Telegraph (India).
  5. http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/shweta-prasad-s-name-games/story-iiisM4JZe7hohiqzfYqClM.html Shweta Prasad's name games
  6. Web site: Shweta Basu Prasad columns . 19 November 2017.
  7. Web site: Here's Why Shweta Basu Prasad Took a Break from Acting Despite the Success of Makdee, Iqbal . News18 . 19 April 2019.
  8. Web site: Makdee star Shweta Basu Prasad makes a documentary about classical music . 9 February 2017 . Hindustan Times.
  9. Web site: Shweta Prasad Basu associates with Phantom Films as a script consultant . https://web.archive.org/web/20141226144252/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/shweta-prasad-basu-associates-with-phantom-films-as-a-script-consultant/ . 12 December 2014 . 26 December 2014 . Priyanka Bhadani . The Indian Express.
  10. Web site: Second coming for Shweta Basu . 1 November 2015 . Natasha Coutinho . 23 April 2023 . asianage.com.
  11. Web site: My Divorce Felt More Like A Break Up . Satya B . 4 February 2021 . 23 April 2023 . gulte.com.
  12. Web site: Ekta Kapoor brings the untold tale of Chandragupta Maurya and his queen Nandini . The Times of India.
  13. News: Shweta Basu Prasad calls prostitution controversy nazar ka kaala tikka of her life . The Times of India . en.
  14. Web site: The Tashkent Files Review 1.5/5 | Film Review . Bollywood . Hungama . Bollywood Hungama.
  15. Web site: The Tashkent Files Box Office Collections – The Tashkent Files continues with good momentum, should find screens in third week too :Bollywood Box Office - Bollywood Hungama . Bollywood . Hungama . . 25 April 2019.
  16. Web site: 16 September 2020 . Serious Men teaser: Nawazuddin Siddiqui takes charge of his son's destiny in 30-second video, watch . 16 September 2020 . Hindustan Times . en.
  17. Web site: Comedy Couple movie review: Saqib Saleem, Shweta Basu Prasad attempt to dial up the funny . Hindustan Times . en . 21 October 2020.
  18. Web site: High review: The web-series is a trip on the wild side . Ritika Handoo . 9 October 2009 . 13 April 2023 . india.com.
  19. Web site: Srivastava . Samriddhi . 8 June 2021 . Ray trailer out. Manoj Bajpayee, Ali Fazal lead the cast of Netflix anthology . India Today . en.
  20. Web site: ‘Jamun’ trailer: Raghubir Yadav and Shweta Basu Prasad play father and daughter . 13 January 2021 . 13 April 2023 . scroll.in.
  21. Web site: Jubilee Season 1 Review : An enchantingly dark tale of Bollywood’s golden era . Ronak Kotecha . 7 April 2023 . 13 April 2023 . The Times of India.
  22. Web site: Remember Shweta Basu Prasad? Watch her new short film with Naseeruddin Shah . HT Correspondent, New Delhi . 19 July 2016 . 19 May 2023 . Hindustan Times.
  23. Web site: Written and directed by Shweta Basu Prasad ‘Retake’ to be premiered at the NYIFF! . Keerti Kadam . 12 April 2023 . 22 April 2023 . cinebuster.in.
  24. Web site: Applause Entertainment’s Retake to be premiered at The New York Indian Film Festival . Subhash K Jha . 12 April 2023 . 22 April 2023 . The Times of India.
  25. Web site: Mai Review - Mai Movie Review.
  26. Web site: Interior Cafe Night review: On Naseeruddin Shah's birthday, a return gift for his fans . Tatsam Mukherjee . 20 July 2016 . 29 April 2023 . indiatoday.in.
  27. Web site: This Short Film Has A Big Message On The Refugee Crisis . Sanya Jain . 20 March 2017 . 29 April 2023 . ndtv.com.
  28. Web site: Anuraag Malhan shares his interest in skills apart from acting . 9 December 2021 . 29 April 2023 . The Times of India.
  29. Web site: Criminal Justice Adhura Sach review: Pankaj Tripathi sleepwalks through this boring, predictable murder mystery . Abhimanyu Mathur . 26 August 2022 . 29 August 2022 . Hindustan Times.
  30. Web site: When Shweta Basu Prasad slammed those who circulated false statement of her when her name cropped up in alleged prostitution scandal . 30 August 2021 . 9 September 2021 . The Times of India.
  31. Web site: Shweta Basu Prasad on Prostitution Scandal: Prove There Were Businessmen With me in Room . 8 December 2014 . 9 September 2021 . Gitanjali Roy . ndtv.com.
  32. Web site: Well done! You created a mess in my very life, says Shweta Basu Prasad in her open letter to media . 9 December 2014 . 9 September 2021 . Express News Service . The Indian Express.
  33. Web site: I'm a victim in the whole situation: Shweta Basu Prasad on prostitution scandal . 3 November 2014 . 9 September 2021 . India Today.
  34. Web site: Trending Pics From Actress Shweta Basu Prasad's Wedding . NDTV.com.
  35. Web site: Shweta Basu Prasad Announces Separation from Husband Rohit Mittal in Less Than a Year of Marriage . News18 . 10 December 2019 . 11 December 2019.
  36. News: Shweta Basu Prasad talks about divorce with Rohit Mittal: 'We've filed for a legal separation, are perfectly cordial'. Hindustan Times .
  37. Web site: 50th National Film Awards . Directorate of Film Festivals . 2 September 2020 . 25 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200725233131/http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/67_50thNfacatalogue.pdf . live.
  38. Zee Cine Awards 2006 Best Actress Critics Shweta Prasad . video . Zee Cine Awards . 30 September 2016 . 26 April 2023.
  39. News: Filmfare Awards Winners 2006: Complete list of winners of Filmfare Awards 2006 . 14 February 2020 . The Times of India.
  40. Web site: An award is like a candy . Priyanka Dasgupta . 21 January 2006 . 26 April 2023 . The Times of India.
  41. Web site: 56th Idea Filmfare Awards 2008 South: The winners . The Times of India . 11 August 2009 . 30 May 2021.