# Shalini Pandey
**Shalini Pandey** is an Indian actress and producer who works in Telugu, Tamil, and [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema), best known for her debut role as Preeti Shetty in the 2017 Telugu blockbuster *Arjun Reddy* opposite [Vijay Deverakonda](https://www.edgepedia.org/vijay-deverakonda)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7441022/). Born in 1993 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, she began in theater in her hometown before moving into South Indian film, and later made her Hindi film debut with [Yash Raj Films](https://www.edgepedia.org/yash-raj-films)' *Jayeshbhai Jordaar* (2022)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7441022/) • [2](https://www.yashrajfilms.com/yrf-alumni/shalini-pandey).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1993, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7441022/) |
| Screen debut | *Arjun Reddy* (2017, Telugu), as medical student Preeti Shetty opposite Vijay Deverakonda[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7441022/) |
| Hindi debut | *Jayeshbhai Jordaar* (2022), Yash Raj Films, opposite Ranveer Singh, directed by Divyang Thakkar[2](https://www.yashrajfilms.com/yrf-alumni/shalini-pandey) |
| Notable streaming work | Raji Jagtap in *Dabba Cartel* (2025, 7 episodes)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7441022/) |
| Recent films | *Idli Kadai* / *Idli Kottu* (2025, Tamil and Telugu, with Dhanush); *Rahu Ketu* (2026, Hindi)[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/shalini-pandey/1086417/filmography) |
| Recognition | SIIMA Award nomination for Best Female Debut – Telugu for *Arjun Reddy*[4](https://starlogue.com/person/shalini-pandey/) |
## Early life and theater
Pandey was born in Jabalpur, a city in [Madhya Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/madhya-pradesh), into a family with no ties to the film industry[5](https://www.newsinbollywood.com/wiki/shalini-pandey/). She started her career in theater in Jabalpur before entering films[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHkkEOu4N1s). She has described the move from a small city into cinema as the starting point of a career that has since spanned the Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi industries[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/shalini-pandey-interview-2026-rahu-ketu-career-nepotism-ageing-diet-fitness-10455873/).
## Arjun Reddy and the Telugu years
Her screen debut came with [Sandeep Reddy Vanga](https://www.edgepedia.org/sandeep-reddy-vanga)'s *Arjun Reddy* (2017), in which she played Preethi Shetty, a first-year medical student and the female lead opposite Vijay Deverakonda[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/shalini-pandey-on-her-debut-film-arjun-reddy-says-it-gave-her-validation-and-confidence-as-an-actor/articleshow/124219998.cms) • [9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/shalini-pandey). Although a North Indian, she dubbed her own lines in Telugu for the film[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHkkEOu4N1s). The film was a commercial success, and in a later interview she said its reception gave her "validation as an actor" and the confidence to pursue diverse roles[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/shalini-pandey-on-her-debut-film-arjun-reddy-says-it-gave-her-validation-and-confidence-as-an-actor/articleshow/124219998.cms). The performance earned her a SIIMA Award nomination for Best Female Debut – Telugu[4](https://starlogue.com/person/shalini-pandey/).
She followed the debut with work across Telugu and [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema): the biographical drama *Mahanati* (2018), about the legendary actress Savitri, and in 2019 the Telugu thriller *118*, the Tamil comedy *Gorilla*, *[100% Kadhal](https://www.edgepedia.org/100-kadhal)*, and *Iddari Lokam Okate*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7441022/) • [3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/shalini-pandey/1086417/filmography). In 2020 she appeared in *Nishabdham* (Telugu and Tamil) and *Bamfaad* (Hindi)[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/shalini-pandey/1086417/filmography).
## Hindi film and streaming work
Pandey's Hindi film debut was *Jayeshbhai Jordaar*, a Yash Raj Films production in which she played the lead opposite [Ranveer Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/ranveer-singh); the studio describes the storyline as celebrating women's empowerment[2](https://www.yashrajfilms.com/yrf-alumni/shalini-pandey). She played Mudra, a pregnant woman, a role she chose despite advice against playing a pregnant character in her Hindi debut; the film underperformed at the box office, but her performance drew positive notice[10](https://odishapostepaper.com/uploads/epaper/2022-07/62d9a75fcfe5e.pdf).
In 2024 she played Kishori in *Maharaj*, the debut film of [Junaid Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/junaid-khan), Aamir Khan's son, alongside [Jaideep Ahlawat](https://www.edgepedia.org/jaideep-ahlawat)[11](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/shalini-pandey-on-comparisons-with-alia-bhatt-we-dont-need-another-alia-no-one-should-be-alia-maharaj-arjun-reddy-101743512750607.html). She then played Raji Jagtap in the Netflix series *Dabba Cartel* (2025), a role she discussed in interviews as an example of her preference for quietly powerful characters, working alongside [Shabana Azmi](https://www.edgepedia.org/shabana-azmi)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7441022/) • [12](https://pynr.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/13-HYD-12-PAGES-PDF.compressed.pdf).
## Recent and upcoming work
In 2025 she appeared in Dhanush's directorial *[Idli Kadai](https://www.edgepedia.org/idli-kadai)* in Tamil and its Telugu version *Idli Kottu*, playing Meera[3](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/shalini-pandey/1086417/filmography) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7441022/). In 2026 she appeared in the Hindi action-comedy-fantasy *Rahu Ketu*, with [Pulkit Samrat](https://www.edgepedia.org/pulkit-samrat) and [Varun Sharma](https://www.edgepedia.org/varun-sharma), released on 16 January 2026[13](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/shalini-pandey/filmography/), and in the television series *Bandwaale*, playing Mariam[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7441022/).
## Public profile
Pandey has been frequently compared to [Alia Bhatt](https://www.edgepedia.org/alia-bhatt) in appearance and voice, a comparison she has addressed publicly, saying she values her individuality and that "we don't need another Alia"[11](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/shalini-pandey-on-comparisons-with-alia-bhatt-we-dont-need-another-alia-no-one-should-be-alia-maharaj-arjun-reddy-101743512750607.html). In interviews she has also described difficulties after *Arjun Reddy*, saying she felt sidelined in discussions and expected mainly to look decorative[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/shalini-pandey). In August 2026 she publicly condemned a fake AI-generated video circulating online, calling it a disturbing misuse of technology and asking users to report the manipulated content[9](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/shalini-pandey).
## References
1. [Shalini Pandey, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7441022/)
2. [Shalini Pandey, Yash Raj Films Alumni](https://www.yashrajfilms.com/yrf-alumni/shalini-pandey)
3. [Shalini Pandey Filmography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/shalini-pandey/1086417/filmography)
4. [Shalini Pandey, Starlogue](https://starlogue.com/person/shalini-pandey/)
5. [Shalini Pandey Wiki, Age, Boyfriend, Family, Biography, NewsInBollywood](https://www.newsinbollywood.com/wiki/shalini-pandey/)
6. [Arjun Reddy Heroine Shalini Pandey Exclusive Interview, Filmy Focus (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHkkEOu4N1s)
7. [Shalini Pandey on her 2026 career outlook, nepotism, diet, Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/shalini-pandey-interview-2026-rahu-ketu-career-nepotism-ageing-diet-fitness-10455873/)
8. [Shalini Pandey on her debut film Arjun Reddy, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/shalini-pandey-on-her-debut-film-arjun-reddy-says-it-gave-her-validation-and-confidence-as-an-actor/articleshow/124219998.cms)
9. [Shalini Pandey topic page, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/shalini-pandey)
10. [Odisha Post e-paper, July 2022](https://odishapostepaper.com/uploads/epaper/2022-07/62d9a75fcfe5e.pdf)
11. [Shalini Pandey on comparisons with Alia Bhatt, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/shalini-pandey-on-comparisons-with-alia-bhatt-we-dont-need-another-alia-no-one-should-be-alia-maharaj-arjun-reddy-101743512750607.html)
12. [Sunday Pioneer e-paper, 13 April 2025](https://pynr.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/13-HYD-12-PAGES-PDF.compressed.pdf)
13. [Shalini Pandey Filmography, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/shalini-pandey/filmography/)
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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 › Telugu film actors › Surnames H to R*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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