Recognized as one of the most promising faces on the digital platform, Shriya Pilgaonkar is now setting her ambitions high, aiming to transition from online streaming success to making a significant mark on the silver screen. Interestingly, she seeks to do this by joining forces with acclaimed Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, longing to feature in one of his trademark, grandiose period dramas.
Shriya’s journey in the acting world began with the Marathi film “Ekulti Ek” in 2013, a film directed by none other than her father, Sachin Pilgaonkar. Throughout the years, Shriya has built an impressive portfolio, particularly within the OTT landscape, with notable successes such as “Mirzapur”, “Guilty Minds”, “The Broken News”, and “Taaza Khabar”. Despite her achievements on the digital front, she now feels an intrinsic pull towards the larger-than-life world of the big screen, a realm she believes has yet to see her full potential. In a recent conversation with PTI, she expressed her heartfelt wish to dive into the grandeur of Bollywood masala films. For her, acting in an epic Sanjay Leela Bhansali film would be a realization of her cinematic dreams.
The 35-year-old actress describes this phase of her career as pivotal, a time where she’s more than willing to step out of her comfort zones. She emphasizes the importance of taking risks and advocating for one’s growth in this competitive industry. It’s about building pathways on one’s own as nothing is easily handed out on a platter. This spirit of independence recently led her to serve as a jury member at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, where she encountered a wave of creativity and aspiration among young writers and filmmakers. The meeting of such enthusiastic individuals reinforced her belief in taking creative control to carve out a distinctive path in the world of films.
Currently, Shriya can be seen bringing her character Madhu to life in the second season of “Taaza Khabar”. Madhu, whom she portrays with a combination of dignity and spunk, marks her return to the comedic genre, a field she first ventured into with “Ekulti Ek”. She commends the Disney+ Hotstar show for providing her the opportunity to explore comedy from different angles, noting that the genre has significantly evolved from its earlier slapstick forms to more nuanced and conversational styles.
. This shift has sparked her interest in dabbling with a variety of cinematic genres, with dark comedy being particularly enticing to her.
Raised by a veteran actor couple—Sachin and Supriya Pilgaonkar—Shriya’s passion for acting was a natural progression. However, she emphasizes that her entry into the industry wasn’t solely due to her lineage. Her formal training in Kathak dancing facilitated a deeper connection to the performing arts. Beyond acting, she’s also a professional swimmer, showing her versatility in and out of the entertainment sphere. She cherishes the effort she put into honing her craft independently of her parents’ reputations. She believes that her journey, grounded in self-reliance, allowed her work to speak for itself, and reach audiences beyond her initial base in Maharashtra.
Reflecting on her career trajectory, Shriya recounts how the boom of “Mirzapur” established her identity distinct from being just the daughter of famous parents, a fact she finds particularly rewarding. She asserts that each actor’s journey is unique and that one’s family legacy cannot be a perpetual shield in the entertainment industry. To truly succeed and sustain oneself in the competitive world of showbiz, personality, and individual work ethic are essential. In her view, the secret to standing out is authenticity and steadfast dedication to one’s craft.
As Shriya prepares for the unveiling of her upcoming feature films, the anticipation surrounding her next moves grows. Her aspirations for cinematic grandeur, coupled with her earnest storytelling efforts, indicate a promising expansion of her already diverse repertoire. Her journey highlights the tenacity required to transition seamlessly across mediums within the unpredictable landscape of the Indian entertainment industry.
