Adah Sharma

Early life

Sharma was born in Mumbai. Her father S. L. Sharma (d. 2014), a Tamil Brahmin, hailed from Madurai, Tamil Nadu and was a captain in the Indian Merchant Navy. Her mother Sheila Sharma, a Malayali and native of Nattupura, Palakkad, Kerala, is an Indian classical dancer and mallakhamba yoga practitioner.

Sharma studied at Auxilium Convent High School in Bandra. When she was in tenth grade, she had decided that she wanted to become an actress. She wanted to drop out of school but her parents insisted that she should complete her schooling at least. After completing her twelfth grade, she stopped studying.

Sharma is a gymnast. She has been dancing since the age of three, and has completed her graduation in Kathak from the Natraj Gopi Krishna Kathak Dance Academy in Mumbai. She had learnt salsa for four months in the US, besides jazz and ballet, and has claimed to be "very good" at belly dancing. She is also a practitioner of Silambam, an Indian weapon-based martial art.

Sharma has lived in her Pali Hill house all her life, as she preferred to live close to nature surrounded by trees. In June 2024, she moved to a sea-facing building Mont Blanc in Mumbai which had previously been occupied by Sushant Singh Rajput.

Apart from her mother tongue Tamil, Sharma can speak in English, Marathi, and Hindi, as she was born and brought up in Mumbai.

Career

Trying to break into the film industry, Sharma auditioned for several roles, but was rejected either because of her curly hair or because the casting directors felt that she looked too young. She eventually landed the lead female role in the 2008 Hindi horror film 1920 opposite Rajneesh Duggal which was directed by Vikram Bhatt. Her portrayal of a possessed woman was unanimously praised by critics. The Times of Indias Nikhat Kazmi commented that she "delivers a consummate performance", and labelled her performance as "excellent", "[exceptionally] brilliant", and "incredibly convincing". The film was a commercial success, Bhatt's first box office hit after six years and 10 films, and earned Sharma a Best Female Debut nomination at the 54th Filmfare Awards. Three years later, she had her next release, Phhir, again a horror film, which saw her collaborating with Vikram Bhatt, who wrote the film, and her, 1920 co-star Rajneesh Duggal. Phhir, however, was not as well received as, 1920, opening to negative reviews, and failing at the box office, with Sharma getting mixed response for her performance. While Sujata Chakrabarti wrote that "not even for a minute does she exude the intensity of being a psychic", Sify's Sonia Chopra stated that she was "the only one in the film who can act". Her third film, the romantic comedy Hum Hai Raahi Car Ke, released another two years later and was a critical and financial failure.

In 2014, Sharma had two releases: Puri Jagannadh's romance Heart Attack opposite Nithiin, that marked her Telugu debut and a Hindi film Hasee Toh Phasee alongside Sidharth Malhotra and Parineeti Chopra, which released seven days later and featured her in a supporting role. Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama stated, "Adah Sharma is a natural. One strongly feels she hasn't got her due, despite leaving an impression in every film she's featured in." She described her character in the former as "vulnerable, yet extremely sexy" and worked for two months on her Telugu diction. Sharma received positive remarks for her performance in Heart Attack, with The Times of India writing that she "looks like a natural actress and does a decent job" while 123telugu.com felt that she had made a "stunning debut". Both films were commercially successful, with Hasee To Phasee ending up as one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2014.

Her next two films, the Telugu family drama S/O Satyamurthy, in which she was cast opposite Allu Arjun and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and was directed by Trivikram Srinivas, and the Pavan Wadeyar's action thriller Rana Vikrama, alongside Puneeth Rajkumar and Anjali, her first Kannada project, released on consecutive days in April 2015. Both films were financial successes as well, with the former, having collected over 80 crore, emerging as one of the highest-grossing Telugu films of all time, in spite of receiving mixed reviews from critics. For her next film, she was paired opposite Sai Dharam Tej in Subramanyam for Sale, a Telugu romantic comedy. Directed by Harish Shankar, the film proved to be a moderate success, and Sharma received good reviews for her performance. At the 5th edition of Indian Federation for Fashion Development's India Runway Week, Sharma dazzled in a beautiful lehenga as she walked the ramp for Shravan Kumar. The designer kept the collection region-specific and showcased the lesser known handlooms of the south.

Sharma had three releases in February 2016, two of which were in Telugu language. Her first film, the romantic comedy Garam was directed by Madan and she was cast as the love interest of the character played by Aadi. Her next film was the acclaimed thriller Kshanam where she played the central role of Swetha, who seeks help from her ex-boyfriend (Adivi Sesh). Her final release of the year was the romantic comedy Idhu Namma Aalu, her first Tamil film, in which she had a small role and also performed an item number on the song "King Kong", which topped the charts in South India and her dance moves as well as pairing with Silambarasan was praised. Her next release was the thriller Commando 2, a sequel to the 2013 film Commando: A One Man Army, where she plays the female lead role of an inspector opposite Vidyut Jammwal. Commercially, the film was an average-grosser. In 2020, she played the role of a transgender woman in a MX Player webseries titled Pati Patni Aur Panga.

In 2023, she starred in the lead role in The Kerala Story, in which she played the role of Shalini Unnikrishnan/Fathima Ba. Anuj Kumar of The Hindu noted, "Adah Sharma delivers an earnest performance and captures the pain of the vulnerable Shalini who is robbed of her innocence but retains her spine." The film became the ninth-highest-grossing Hindi film of 2023. Her next project was Bastar: The Naxal Story (2024), by the makers of The Kerala Story.

In an interview to NDTV, Sharma shared her views on pervasive nepotism in the film industry calling it "a huge rock wall" which sometimes an outsider gets through, by finding small cracks. She called The Kerala Story one such crack that bagged her huge success.

Filmography

Films

Television

Short films

Music videos

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

References

1. (11 May 2022). "Adah Sharma turns 30. Actress talks about working birthday {{!}} Exclusive".
2. (26 April 2015). "Adah Sharma talks about her roots".
3. "Yeh Ladki Pagal Hai Ft. Adah Sharma: Episode 39". Hauterrfly.
4. (March 29, 2019). "Thank u ! My mother tongue is Tamil but since I'm born and brought up in Mumbai Hindi and Marathi are what I speak more fluently. However my granny speaks to me daily and makes sure it's in Tamil :)".
5. (18 November 2014). "Actress Adah Sharma reminisces about father after his demise : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". [[Bollywood Hungama]].
6. [https://www.youandi.com/bond-magic-sheila-and-adah-sharm/ Bond of Magic: Sheila and Adah Sharma] {{Webarchive. link. (1 December 2020 . ''You and I''.)
7. (6 May 2023). "Twitter schools Adah Sharma as she tweets about Kerala Story in Tamil, she clarifies: 'My parents allowed me to have Tamil words seep into my Malayalam'". Indian Express.
8. "Adah Sharma- The Etimes Photogallery Page 98". photogallery.indiatimes.com.
9. (11 May 2024). "The Kerala Story Actor Adah Sharma Impressive Education Qualification". India.com.
10. "The success of Hasee toh e has put 1920 girl Adah Sharma firmly in the spotlight". The Telegraph.
11. (25 April 2015). "I have roots in Kerala: Adah Sharma". The Times of India.
12. "'My Periods Went On For 48 Days': Adah Sharma On Suffering Endometriosis Due To Stress During Bastar Shoot".
13. M. Srinivas. (2 May 2015). "I am luckier than my contemporaries". The Hindu.
14. "Interview with Adah Sharma". The Times of India.
15. (2 December 2019). "Commando 3's Adah Sharma does silambam; know all about the martial art form". Indian Express.
16. (2024-08-13). "Adah Sharma clarifies that she has rented the house Sushant Singh Rajput lived in: 'The Rs 300 crore from The Kerala Story is not mine'". The Times of India.
17. "Adah Sharma On If She Was Scared While Moving Into Sushant Singh Rajput's Flat: "Kyun Darr Lagna Chahiye?"".
18. (9 September 2008). "A chilly love yarn". The Hindu.
19. Nikhat Kazmi. (12 September 2008). "1920". [[The Times of India]].
20. "Movie Review: 1920 {{pipe}} Bollywood.com : Entertainment news, movie, music and fashion reviews". Bollywood.com.
21. "1920 Movie Review". The Times of India.
22. (12 September 2008). "Review: Vikram Bhatt's '1920'- an engrossing horror flick!". Zee News.
23. "Review : Review: Watch 1920 with someone you can hold on to". Sify.
24. "Vikram Bhatt tastes success after six years". Sify.
25. Sudhish Kamath. (13 August 2011). "Phhir – What the hell was that, again?". The Hindu.
26. "Review : Phhir review: The no-brainer thriller, again!". Sify.
27. "Hit hit hurray". The Telegraph.
28. "Review: 'Phhir' is melodramatic, predictable". CNN-IBN.
29. (28 May 2013). "'Ishkq in Paris' fails miserably at the box office". mid-day.
30. "Preity Zinta's comeback film Ishkq in Paris is a wipe out at box office". The Indian Express.
31. (1 February 2014). "Adah Sharma carries different looks in back to back releases". The Indian Express.
32. "Hasee Toh Phasee (2014) | Hindi Movie Critic Review By Taran Adarsh".
33. (February 2014). "Review : Heart Attack – Puri Mark Romance". 123telugu.com.
34. "Rising Star in Southern Skies". The New Indian Express.
35. "Boxoffice". Box Office India.
36. (23 August 2014). "Puneeth Rajkumar, Adah Sharma shoot at MG Road Metro Station, Bangalore".
37. (8 April 2015). "Adah Sharma excited for her forthcoming films". The Indian Express.
38. (2015-04-11). "'S/O Satyamurthy' strikes gold at the box office".
39. (2015-04-15). "New Successes Keep Rana Vikrama Flag flying High".
40. "S/O Satyamurthy nets Rs 80 cr, in all-time top 10 Telugu films' list". Hindustan Times.
41. "Actress Adah Sharma dazzled in a beautiful lehenga at the last day of India Runway Week as she walked the ramp for Shravan Kumar. The designer kept the collection region-specific and showcased the lesser known handlooms of the south.".
42. (22 March 2016). "Adah Sharma to debut with ''Idhu Namma Aalu''". [[The Hindu]].
43. (17 February 2016). "Commando' sequel to go on floors on Wednesday in Mumbai". [[Mid-Day]].
44. Chittora, Piyush. (1 July 2020). "Adah Sharma Shares Benefits Of Not Being A Star Kid, Godfather, Nepotism By Horror Video".
45. (17 December 2020). "Happy with the response for my role in Pati Patni Aur Panga : Adah Sharma". The New Indian Express.
46. (26 April 2023). "'The Kerala Story' trailer out: Adah Sharma headlines a hard-hitting, thought-provoking story". [[Mid-Day]].
47. "The Kerala Story movie review: Adah Sharma's performance marred by half-truths and an emotionally exploitative gaze". [[The Hindu]].
48. "Adah Sharma's Act Too Can't Save Sudipto Sen's Yawn Fest". [[Free Press Journal]].
49. "NDTV Exclusive: Adah Sharma's Big Comment - "Nepotism Rocks And Is Also A Huge Rock"".
50. (2024-05-25). "Adah Sharma's Stellar Performance Anchors CD: Criminal Or Devil".
51. (2025-02-14). "अदा शर्मा को कैसे लड़के हैं पसंद? वैलेंटाइन डे पर एक्ट्रेस ने खोला राज, दिल जीत रहा VIDEO".
52. (2025-08-28). "'Haatak': Adah Sharma unveils fierce new look in crime thriller with powerful first poster". The Times of India.
53. (2014-11-13). "Rannvijay Singh Adah Sharma launch 'Pukaar- Call for the Hero'".
54. (2019-07-30). "Adah Sharma: The Holiday shows that male-female friendship can be platonic and fun".
55. "'Guess I have done justice to the opportunity': Adah Sharma on playing trans-woman in 'Pati Patni Aur Panga'".
56. "'Aisa Waisa Pyaar': Adah Sharma, Saqib Saleem And Ahsaas Channa starrer 'Aisa Waisa Pyaar' Official Trailer". The Times of India.
57. (2022-11-25). "'Meet Cute' Telugu anthology review: A mixed bag, with two standout stories and other cheerful but generic ones". The Hindu.
58. (2022-11-25). "Disney+ Hotstar announces series based on 'Commando' films". The Hindu.
59. Mukherjee, Anindita. (2024-02-03). "Disney+ Hotstar announces series based on 'Commando' films". The Hindu.
60. Web, Statesman. (2024-07-01). "Adah Sharma takes center stage as 'Rapchick Reeta' in new Disney+ Hotstar show".
61. "Tindey – Comedy Short Film {{!}} Filmfare Short Film Awards".
62. (30 March 2019). "Moh {{!}} Official Trailer {{!}} Adah Sharma {{!}} A ZEE5 Original Film {{!}} Streaming Now On ZEE5".
63. (2020-09-14). "Do not have a bucket list; I am getting to do awesome roles: 'Soulsathi' star Adah Sharma".
64. (26 February 2021). "'The short film format has helped me explore my acting skills further,' says actress Adah Sharma about her new release Chuha Billi".
65. "Adah Sharma - Page 2 {{!}} Adah Sharma: News, Movies, Photos, Videos & Updates".
66. (2023-09-28). "Adah Sharma and Jatin Sarna's 'Kofuku' Chosen for JioCinema Film Festival; Dynamic Duo Thrilled with Excitement {{!}} Exclusive".
67. "Punjabi Song Life Sung By Akhil Feat Adah Sharma".
68. (6 February 2020). "Adnan Sami is back with music video Tu Yaad Aaya: Bahot ho gaya aaram. I owe it to people".
69. (29 January 2021). "Adah Sharma feels her new music video ''Drunk n High'' has repeat value".
70. (20 October 2021). "Raashi Sood's track 'Sorry Sorry' is a treat for all newlyweds {{!}} english.lokmat.com".
71. "Check Out Latest Punjabi Official Lyrical Video Song – 'Aashiq Mud Na Jaawe' Sung by Akhil". The Times of India.
72. "पाकिस्तानी सिंगर ने आसिम रियाज के नए गाने की धुन पर लगाया चोरी का आरोप, कहा- 'अपना बनाओ'".
73. (6 September 2023). "Raabta: Jubin Nautiyal and Adah Sharma {{!}} T – Series".
74. "Ken Ghosh at the red carpet of 'Screen awards' at MMRDA ground, Bandra - Photogallery".
75. "Adah Sharma Biography: Know The Age, Family, Bollywood Career, and More of 'The Kerela Story' Actress".
76. (2024-04-15). "After More Than A Decade In Industry, This Actress Delivered Her First Blockbuster In 2023".
77. "2024 – Zee Cine Awards".