# Nikita Dutta (निकिता दत्ता)
**Nikita Dutta** (निकिता दत्ता) is an Indian actress who works primarily in Hindi films and television, best known for the television drama *[Ek Duje Ke Vaaste](https://www.edgepedia.org/ek-duje-ke-vaaste)* (2016) and for her role as Jia Sharma in the film *Kabir Singh* (2019). She entered the industry through the [Femina Miss India](https://www.edgepedia.org/femina-miss-india) 2012 pageant, debuted in film with *Lekar Hum Deewana Dil* (2014), and has since worked across television, cinema, and streaming.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6489927/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 November; sources give 1990, 1991, or 1993[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6489927/) • [2](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/celebs/nikita-dutta.html) • [3](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/nikita-dutta) |
| Early life | Born and brought up in New Delhi, moved to Mumbai with her parents; studied at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6489927/) |
| Pageant | One of the finalists in The Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2012[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6489927/) |
| Film debut | *Lekar Hum Deewana Dil* (2014), directed by Arif Ali[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/nikita-dutta-the-big-bull-maska-interview-6329151/) |
| Television break | *Ek Duje Ke Vaaste* (2016, 155 episodes), opposite Namik Paul[2](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/celebs/nikita-dutta.html) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm6489927/) |
| Breakthrough film | *Kabir Singh* (2019) as Jia Sharma, opposite Shahid Kapoor[6](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/nikita-dutta-reveals-kabir-singhs-success-changed-this-perception-about-her-exclusive-2284922-2022-10-13) |
| Recent work | *Gharat Ganpati* (Marathi debut, 2024); *Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins* (2025) as Farah[7](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/nikita-dutta-i-didnt-pay-much-attention-to-pr-machinery-after-kabir-singh-101722231742076.html) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6489927/) |
| Awards record | 4 wins and 7 nominations total, per IMDb[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6489927/) |
## Early life and entry into the industry
Dutta was born and brought up in New Delhi and later moved to Mumbai with her parents, completing college at [St. Xavier's College, Mumbai](https://www.edgepedia.org/st-xaviers-college-mumbai).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6489927/) She had intended to prepare for the civil services, but took part in the Femina Miss India pageant while in college and became a finalist in the 2012 edition.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6489927/) • [8](https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/nikita-dutta-on-the-post-kabir-singh-phase-her-marathi-debut-and-more) Being part of the pageant got her noticed, and roles in television shows followed.[9](https://femina.wwmindia.com/magazines/2021/june/Filmfare_June_2021.pdf)
## Television career
Her film debut came first: *Lekar Hum Deewana Dil* (2014), a romantic drama directed by Arif Ali, in which she played Simran.[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/nikita-dutta-the-big-bull-maska-interview-6329151/) • [10](https://planetbollywood.com/wp/interviews/web-series-have-bridged-the-gap-between-television-and-films-nikita-dutta/) When the film did not make her a star, she moved to television.[11](https://www.current-affairs.org/nikita-dutta-biography/)
She made her television debut with *Dream Girl* (2015), followed by *Ek Duje Ke Vaaste* (2016) on Sony, which brought her significant recognition on the small screen; she appeared opposite Namik Paul, and the pairing was well received.[2](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/celebs/nikita-dutta.html) The serial ran 155 episodes.[5](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm6489927/) Her next major television role was the thriller *Haasil* (2017–2018, 81 episodes), in which she played Aanchal Srivastav opposite [Zayed Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/zayed-khan) and [Vatsal Sheth](https://www.edgepedia.org/vatsal-sheth).[5](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm6489927/) • [2](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/celebs/nikita-dutta.html)
The move back to film was deliberate rather than accidental. She has said that taking a break from television, declining several shows, and pushing against the industry label of "TV actor" took time, and that *Kabir Singh* helped her break that perception.[12](https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/entertainment/interviews/nikita-dutta-says-patriotism-for-me-is-not-about-shouting-slogans/amp_articleshow/118835687.cms) She has also described the prejudice she faced: in 2013 she was told she was rejected because an actor-producer wanted "somebody fairer", and she has spoken of assumptions that television performers do not fit film roles.[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/nikita-dutta-the-big-bull-maska-interview-6329151/)
## Film career
**Return to film.** Her return came with the sports film *Gold* (2018), starring [Akshay Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/akshay-kumar), followed by a cameo in [Zoya Akhtar](https://www.edgepedia.org/zoya-akhtar)'s segment of *Lust Stories* (2018).[8](https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/nikita-dutta-on-the-post-kabir-singh-phase-her-marathi-debut-and-more) • [13](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/amp/news/features/exclusive-nikita-dutta-reveals-gold-didnt-work-later-kabir-singh-changed-everything-recalls-sandeep-reddy-vanga-spotted-zoya-akhtar-connection/) She has said *Gold* did not give her the result she expected, and that director [Sandeep Reddy Vanga](https://www.edgepedia.org/sandeep-reddy-vanga) then spotted her in *Lust Stories*, which led to *Kabir Singh*.[13](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/amp/news/features/exclusive-nikita-dutta-reveals-gold-didnt-work-later-kabir-singh-changed-everything-recalls-sandeep-reddy-vanga-spotted-zoya-akhtar-connection/) • [14](https://www.rediff.com/movies/special/nikita-dutta-on-the-rediff-podcast-kabir-singh-helped-me-breakaway/20260708.htm)
**Kabir Singh.** In Sandeep Reddy Vanga's *Kabir Singh* (2019), opposite [Shahid Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/shahid-kapoor) and [Kiara Advani](https://www.edgepedia.org/kiara-advani), she played Jia Sharma, an actress with whom Kabir has a brief fling.[6](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/nikita-dutta-reveals-kabir-singhs-success-changed-this-perception-about-her-exclusive-2284922-2022-10-13) • [9](https://femina.wwmindia.com/magazines/2021/june/Filmfare_June_2021.pdf) She has called the film a career-defining moment, saying that after 2019 filmmakers approached her completely differently, and that she gives the film "almost 99 percent" of the credit for that change; she later signed her first two lead-role films.[15](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/nikita-dutta-reflects-on-kabir-singhs-lasting-impact-on-her-career/articleshow/131901359.cms) • [16](https://www.amarujala.com/entertainment/bollywood/nikita-dutta-on-kabir-singh-says-after-it-i-was-looked-at-much-differently-with-respect-to-casting-shahid-kapo-2026-06-21) The film had been a surprise hit for her as well: she has said she did not anticipate its success.[17](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/nikita-dutta-of-kabir-singh-fame-opens-up-about-similarities-between-her-and-triptii-dimris-character-zoya-in-animal/articleshow/106192311.cms) Its box-office take is given as $55 million by one compiled filmography.[18](https://auteurgraph.com/person/nikita-dutta/ratings) She also drew parallels between her *Kabir Singh* role and Triptii Dimri's Zoya in *Animal* (2023), both "other woman" characters she says were written with nuance.[17](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/nikita-dutta-of-kabir-singh-fame-opens-up-about-similarities-between-her-and-triptii-dimris-character-zoya-in-animal/articleshow/106192311.cms)
**2020 to 2022.** She appeared as an aspiring actor in the Netflix film *Maska* (2020), a housewife opposite [Abhishek Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/abhishek-bachchan) in the crime drama *The Big Bull* (2021), and Maahi Sood in the supernatural horror *[Dybbuk](https://www.edgepedia.org/dybbuk-film)* (2021) alongside [Emraan Hashmi](https://www.edgepedia.org/emraan-hashmi).[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/nikita-dutta-the-big-bull-maska-interview-6329151/) • [19](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/nikita_dutta) She played Tania in *Rocket Gang* (2022) and Tanu in the Netflix web series *Khakee: The Bihar Chapter* (2022).[19](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/nikita_dutta) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm6489927/) She has noted that the pandemic disrupted the post-*Kabir Singh* momentum: of five films she had in hand, two were shelved, two went from theaters to streaming, and one had its release pushed by three years.[7](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/nikita-dutta-i-didnt-pay-much-attention-to-pr-machinery-after-kabir-singh-101722231742076.html)
**2024 onward.** *Dange* (2024) was followed by her Marathi debut, *Gharat Ganpati* (2024), in which she speaks Hindi on screen; she has said regional cinema performers tend to be more craft-focused, many coming from theater.[20](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/nikita-dutta/1046105/filmography) • [7](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/nikita-dutta-i-didnt-pay-much-attention-to-pr-machinery-after-kabir-singh-101722231742076.html) In 2025 she played Poonam in Ram Madhvani's *The Waking of a Nation* and Farah in *Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins*, a Netflix heist thriller with [Saif Ali Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/saif-ali-khan) and [Jaideep Ahlawat](https://www.edgepedia.org/jaideep-ahlawat).[21](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2025/epaper/march/vijayawada-english-edition-2025-03-26.pdf) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm6489927/) *Jewel Thief* received a lukewarm critical reception; Rotten Tomatoes lists it as her lowest-rated film at 5 percent, and she has described it as a light fictional story meant to entertain.[19](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/nikita_dutta) • [22](https://teluguz.com/nikita-dutta-on-growth-challenges-and-finding-her-space-in-cinema/) Upcoming projects include Dharmatic's *Nazdeekiyan* for Prime Video India, in which she leads the cast, along with *Gul Gule Bakawali* and *White*.[23](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/nikita-dutta/)
## Working method and public remarks
Dutta estimates she has given more than 1,000 auditions in her career, crediting *Gold* and *Lust Stories* for leading to *Kabir Singh*.[14](https://www.rediff.com/movies/special/nikita-dutta-on-the-rediff-podcast-kabir-singh-helped-me-breakaway/20260708.htm) She has said she did not focus much on publicity machinery after *Kabir Singh*, and attributes part of her trajectory to that.[7](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/nikita-dutta-i-didnt-pay-much-attention-to-pr-machinery-after-kabir-singh-101722231742076.html) Comparisons with the yesteryear actress Mumtaz she accepts "with gratitude, and responsibility", and she has quoted advice she received early: chase growth, not fame.[22](https://teluguz.com/nikita-dutta-on-growth-challenges-and-finding-her-space-in-cinema/)
## References
1. [Nikita Dutta, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6489927/)
2. [निकिता दत्ता biography, Filmibeat Hindi](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/celebs/nikita-dutta.html)
3. [Nikita Dutta, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/nikita-dutta)
4. [Was once rejected because actor-producer demanded somebody fairer: Nikita Dutta, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/nikita-dutta-the-big-bull-maska-interview-6329151/)
5. [Nikita Dutta, IMDb (Hindi)](https://www.imdb.com/hi/name/nm6489927/)
6. [Nikita Dutta reveals Kabir Singh's success changed THIS perception about her, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/nikita-dutta-reveals-kabir-singhs-success-changed-this-perception-about-her-exclusive-2284922-2022-10-13)
7. [Nikita Dutta: I didn't pay much attention to PR machinery after Kabir Singh, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/nikita-dutta-i-didnt-pay-much-attention-to-pr-machinery-after-kabir-singh-101722231742076.html)
8. [Nikita Dutta On The Post Kabir Singh Phase, Her Marathi Debut And More, Free Press Journal](https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/nikita-dutta-on-the-post-kabir-singh-phase-her-marathi-debut-and-more)
9. [FUTURE STOCK, Filmfare June 2021](https://femina.wwmindia.com/magazines/2021/june/Filmfare_June_2021.pdf)
10. ["The digital medium has bridged the gap between television and films", Planet Bollywood](https://planetbollywood.com/wp/interviews/web-series-have-bridged-the-gap-between-television-and-films-nikita-dutta/)
11. [Nikita Dutta Bio, Age, Career, Family, Movies, TV Shows, current-affairs.org](https://www.current-affairs.org/nikita-dutta-biography/)
12. [Nikita Dutta exclusive interview, Navbharat Times](https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/entertainment/interviews/nikita-dutta-says-patriotism-for-me-is-not-about-shouting-slogans/amp_articleshow/118835687.cms)
13. [Nikita Dutta reveals Gold didn't work out for her, later Kabir Singh changed everything, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/amp/news/features/exclusive-nikita-dutta-reveals-gold-didnt-work-later-kabir-singh-changed-everything-recalls-sandeep-reddy-vanga-spotted-zoya-akhtar-connection/)
14. [Nikita Dutta On The Rediff Podcast, Rediff.com](https://www.rediff.com/movies/special/nikita-dutta-on-the-rediff-podcast-kabir-singh-helped-me-breakaway/20260708.htm)
15. [Nikita Dutta Reflects on Kabir Singh's Lasting Impact on Her Career, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/nikita-dutta-reflects-on-kabir-singhs-lasting-impact-on-her-career/articleshow/131901359.cms)
16. [निकिता दत्ता ने 'कबीर सिंह' को बताया करियर का टर्निंग पॉइंट, Amar Ujala](https://www.amarujala.com/entertainment/bollywood/nikita-dutta-on-kabir-singh-says-after-it-i-was-looked-at-much-differently-with-respect-to-casting-shahid-kapo-2026-06-21)
17. [Nikita Dutta of Kabir Singh fame opens up about similarities with Triptii Dimri's Zoya in Animal, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/nikita-dutta-of-kabir-singh-fame-opens-up-about-similarities-between-her-and-triptii-dimris-character-zoya-in-animal/articleshow/106192311.cms)
18. [Nikita Dutta Ratings, AuteurGraph](https://auteurgraph.com/person/nikita-dutta/ratings)
19. [Nikita Dutta Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/nikita_dutta)
20. [Nikita Dutta filmography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/nikita-dutta/1046105/filmography)
21. [The Pioneer, Vijayawada edition, 26 March 2025](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2025/epaper/march/vijayawada-english-edition-2025-03-26.pdf)
22. [Nikita Dutta on Growth, Challenges, and Finding Her Space in Cinema, TeluguZ](https://teluguz.com/nikita-dutta-on-growth-challenges-and-finding-her-space-in-cinema/)
23. [Nikita Dutta celebrity page, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/nikita-dutta/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Hindi film actors, 2010s onward › Surnames symbols to G*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license