Priyanka Upendra (née Trivedi) is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Kannada films and in a few Tamil- and Bengali-language films.

Priyanka Upendra
Priyanka in 2019
Born
Priyanka Trivedi

Occupation(s)Actress, producer
Years active1997–present
Spouse
(m. 2003)
Children2

Early life

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Priyanka was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Her mother is from West Bengal and father from Uttar Pradesh. She spent ten years of her schooling life in the US and about three years in Singapore, before graduating with a commerce degree from a college in Kolkata. She described herself as "little introverted, pretty flexible as a person, a good listener and overtly sensitive." She appeared in television commercials for brands such as Britannia, Orient Electric and Pillsbury in the late 1990s. During this time, she was cast by director Basu Chatterjee in his first Bengali film, Hothat Brishti (1998).[1] She went on to make two more films with him, Chupi Chupi (2001) and Tak Jhal Mishti (2002).[2]

Career

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Beginnings

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Priyanka made her silver screen debut in Prabhat Roy's Bengali film Joddha (1997).[3] She subsequently moved to Mumbai and acted in the Hindi film Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao (2001). In 2002, she acted in the Bengali film Saathi, which became one of the highest-grossers of Bengali cinema. She then began receiving offers for South Indian films, and went on make Telugu films Soori and Raa, the former of which was remade in Hindi as Durga with Priyanka acting in that too; H2O and Kotigobba in Kannada; and Raajjiyam, Raja, Kadhal Sadugudu and Jananam in Tamil.[2]

2015–present

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In 2015, she starred in Priyanka, a film based on a real-life incident involving a murder where a 27-year-old man killed another man whose wife he was in love with.[4] Released in 2016, the film was received well by critics and her performance received praise.[5] S. Viswanath of Deccan Herald felt that Priyanka turned in "with a polished show as the doting, Facebook-addicted wife."[6] In her second release of the year, the horror film Mummy, Priyanka played a widow and a mother to a young girl and pregnant with a second child, who move in to a haunted villa. Her performance was received well by critics.[7] A. Sharadhaa of The New Indian Express called the film "technically brilliant" and that "Priyanka carries the film on her shoulders with ease..."[8] In 2nd Half, her only release of 2018, she played Anuradha, a police constable, who takes it upon herself to solve a case after receiving no support from her superiors. Critic Sharadhaa felt, "Priyanka carries a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. Being the central focus of the film, she has ample scope to perform and does justice to her role."[9] In H. Lohith's crime-thriller Devaki (2019), who also directed Mummy, Priyanka played a mother who frantically searches the streets of Kolkata for her kidnapped daughter (played by real-life daughter, Aishwarya)[10] with the help of a police officer. Vivek M. V. of Deccan Herald wrote of her performance, "Priyanka is earnest but for the most part, she is in tears. We wonder if she could have brought out other facets like anxiety, fear and the pain of a single mother separated from her daughter. Thankfully, she makes it up in the final scene."[11]

In her first release after Devaki, a period film 1980, set in the same year as the title, Priyanka played a novelist. The film explored the concept of an alternate universe.[12] It was released on the OTT platform Namma Flix on 15 October 2021.[13] Critic Prathibha Joy wrote for Ottplay.com that the film lacked "execution" despite having an "intriguing narrative" and "[the makers'] best efforts, most notably by lead actress Priyanka Upendra..."[14]

Personal life

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On 14 December 2003, she married Upendra, who first starred opposite her in the Telugu movie Raa and then in H2O.[15]

Filmography

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Year Title Role(s) Language(s) Notes Ref(s)
1997 Joddha Bengali [3]
1998 Hothat Brishti Deepa Bengali [16]
Rakter Doshe Bengali [17]
Bada Din Hindi
1999 Sautela Hindi
Katha Kahiba Mo Matha Sindura Pinky Odia
2001 Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao Sonia Malkani Hindi [18]
Chupi Chupi Bengali [19]
Soori Gayatri Telugu Telugu film [20]
Raa Shanthi Telugu Telugu film [21]
Kotigobba Priya Kannada [22]
2002 H2O Kaveri Kannada credited as Priyanka Upendra [23]
Durga Gayatri Hindi [24]
Raajjiyam Anuradha Tamil [25]
Sathi Sonali Bengali [26]
Raja Priya Tamil [27]
Tak Jhal Mishti Dipantika Bengali [28]
Guru Mahaguru Hindi [29]
2003 Kadhal Sadugudu Kausalya Tamil [30]
Ice Anjali Tamil [31]
Sangee Rupa Bengali [32]
2004 Rowdy Aliya Rani Kannada [33]
Malla Priya Kannada [34]
Jananam Shruthi Tamil [35]
2006 Agnipariksha Kabita Bengali
2008 Aamar Pratigya Rina Sen Bengali [36]
Golmaal Chandni Bengali [37]
2009 Aparadhi Nandini Bengali [38]
2010 Pancharangi Herself Kannada [39]
2011 Shrimathi Priya Kannada [40]
Hello Memsaheb Mita Bengali
2013 Enemmy Eklavya's Wife Hindi
2014 Crazy Star Ravi's Wife Kannada
2015 Uppi 2 Herself Kannada Also producer
2016 Priyanka Priyanka Kannada
Mummy Priya Kannada
2018 2nd Half Anuradha Kannada
2019 Devaki Devaki Kannada
2021 1980 Priya Kannada Direct OTT Release – Namma Flix
2023 Master Anshuman Madhabi Sen Bengali [41]
2024 Gowri Kannada Special appearance [42]

References

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  1. ^ "Priyanka Upendra remembers her mentor Basu Chatterjee". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b Srinivasa, Srikanth (21 September 2003). "Sandalwood calling". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 13 April 2005. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b "কোথায় হারিয়ে গেছেন জিতের 'সাথী'? এখন কেমন দেখতে হয়েছে প্রিয়াঙ্কাকে?". Hindustantimes Bangla (in Bengali). 14 June 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  4. ^ George, Nina C. (16 October 2015). "A slice of reality". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  5. ^ Suresh, Sunayana (14 May 2016). "Priyanka Movie Review". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  6. ^ Vishwanath, S. (6 February 2016). "Priyanka: Love & murder most foul". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  7. ^ Suresh, Sunayana (27 December 2019). "Priyanka Upendra's Mummy sequel is set in Manali". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  8. ^ Sharadhaa, A. (3 December 2016). "Mummy-save me Review: Blending fear with emotion and succeeding". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. ^ Sharadhaa, A. (1 June 2018). "2nd Half Review: Interesting crime thriller that is let down by the slow pace". Cinema Express. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  10. ^ R, Shilpa Sebastian (6 April 2020). "A virtual platform for début directors". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  11. ^ Vivek, M. V. (6 July 2019). "'Devaki' review: An interesting thriller". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Priyanka Upendra's 1980 trailer gives movie buffs a peek into the concept of an alternate universe". The Times of India. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Priyanka Upendra's upcoming film '1980' will be an exclusive OTT release". The New Indian Express. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  14. ^ Joy, Prathibha. "1980 review: Good plot, let down by drab execution, despite Priyanka Upendra's effort to uplift it". OTTPlay. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Upendra wedding comes as a shocker!". 16 December 2003 – via The Economic Times - The Times of India.
  16. ^ "'হঠাৎ বৃষ্টি', ভারত-বাংলাদেশের ছবিতে যখন পরিচালক ছিলেন বাসু চট্টোপাধ্যায়" [Hothat Brishti; When Basu Chatterjee was the Director of the Indo–Bangladesh Production]. News18 (in Bengali). 4 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  17. ^ "RAKTER DOSHE (1998)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao (2001)". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Chupi Chupi (2001) – Cast and Crew". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Suri (2001) – Review". Full Hyderabad. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  21. ^ "Movie Review – Raa..." Idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2002. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  22. ^ Daihtota, Madhu (18 November 2007). "No age bar in Bollywood". Entertainment Times. The Times Group. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  23. ^ "Review – H2O". Sify. Archived from the original on 21 January 2005. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  24. ^ Adarsh, Taran (29 March 2002). "Durga Review 1/5 | Durga Movie Review". Bollywood Hungama.
  25. ^ Pearl (29 April 2002). "Too many cooks spoil the plot". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  26. ^ "Sathi – SVF Entertainment". Official Website, Shree Venkatesh Films. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  27. ^ "Raja". Sify. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  28. ^ "Tok Jhal Misti – Prime Video". Amazon. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  29. ^ "Guru Mahaguru (2002) – Cast and Crew". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  30. ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (18 April 2003). "Film Review: Kadhal Sadugudu". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  31. ^ "Review – Ice". The Hindu. 11 July 2003. Archived from the original on 12 September 2003. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  32. ^ "Sangee (2003)". Entertainment Times. The Times Group. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  33. ^ Sebastian R, Shilpa (5 December 2017). "The beauty from Bengal". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  34. ^ "Malla – Review". Viggy.com. 13 March 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2004. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  35. ^ "Jananam". Sify. 30 December 2004. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  36. ^ "Aamar Pratigya". Flipkart. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  37. ^ "Priyanka Trivedi". Entertainment Times. The Times Group. 23 September 2013. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  38. ^ "Aparadhi (2008) – Cast and Crew". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  39. ^ Shenoy, Megha (6 May 2010). "Sensuous teacher". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  40. ^ "Celina's skin show ups the ante for Shrimati". Rediff.com. 8 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  41. ^ Anandraj, Shilpa (24 December 2021). "Priyanka Upendra is back in action". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  42. ^ "Samarjit impresses with dance moves and action stunts". Deccan Herald.
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