:Rajshri Deshpande

{{Infobox person

| name = Rajshri Deshpande

| image = Rajshri Deshpande at media meet of 'Angry Indian Goddess'.jpg

| alt = Rajshri Deshpande wearing a white, sleeveless top, grinning at camera

| caption = Deshpande in 2015

| birth_name =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India

| nationality =

| other_names =

| occupation = Actress

| years_active = 2011–present

| known_for =

}}

Rajshri Deshpande is an Indian actress. She gained international recognition for her performance in Pan Nalin's drama film Angry Indian Goddesses.{{cite news |title=नवाजुद्दीन सिद्दीकी संग एक्ट्रेस ने दिया इंटीमेट सीन, हुआ पछतावा, बोलीं- 'फिर सेक्स तो...' |url=https://www.jansatta.com/entertainment/sacred-games-fame-actress-rajshri-deshpande-speaks-on-intimate-scene-with-nawazuddin-siddiqui/3141111/ |work=Jansatta |date=30 December 2023 |language=hi |access-date=7 February 2024 |archive-date=4 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004094932/https://www.jansatta.com/entertainment/sacred-games-fame-actress-rajshri-deshpande-speaks-on-intimate-scene-with-nawazuddin-siddiqui/3141111/ |url-status=live }} She then portrayed the title character in Sanal Kumar Sasidharan's Sexy Durga and received critical acclaim for her performance in the Netflix series Sacred Games. In 2023, Deshpande won Best Actress in a Drama Series at the 2023 Filmfare OTT Awards, for her work in Trial by Fire.

Early life

Rajshri Deshpande was born in a working-class family in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. She is the youngest of three siblings. She has an undergraduate degree in law from Symbiosis Law School and a postgraduate degree in advertising from Symbiosis International University. She got into the advertising industry to support herself but soon found her calling in acting. She also has a diploma in filmmaking from Whistling Woods International in Mumbai.{{Cite news |url=http://www.wmfindia.com/blogs/female-idol-blog-series-an-interview-with-rajshri-deshpande/ |title=Female Idol Blog Series – A Rendezvous With Rajshri Deshpande |work=WMF |access-date=19 January 2018 |archive-date=20 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120065647/http://www.wmfindia.com/blogs/female-idol-blog-series-an-interview-with-rajshri-deshpande/ |url-status=dead }}{{Better source needed|reason=This is a personal blog.|date=November 2023}}

Career

Deshpande made her Bollywood debut in 2012 with a small role in the Aamir Khan starrer Talaash.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}} She then moved to television and appeared in Kuch Toh Log Kahenge and 24: India, in 2013. She subsequently returned to the big screen with a small role in Salman Khan's Kick. She also appeared in the Malayalam film Haram{{Cite news |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/rajshri-deshpande/293054 |title=Rajshri Deshpande |work=outlookindia.com |access-date=19 January 2018 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201082115/https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/rajshri-deshpande/293054 |url-status=live }} in 2015, where she had a double role. In Hindi cinema, it was the portrayal of Laxami in Pan Nalin's Angry Indian Goddesses that provided her with a bigger platform.{{Dead link|date=February 2022}} The film received the 1st Runner Up – People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival{{Cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/angry-indian-goddesses-wins-runner-up-award-at-tiff/ |title='Angry Indian Goddesses' wins runner-up award at TIFF |date=21 September 2015 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=19 January 2018 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042248/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/angry-indian-goddesses-wins-runner-up-award-at-tiff/ |url-status=live }} and the People's Choice Award at the Rome Film Festival.{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rome-film-fest-angry-indian-834481 |title=Rome Film Fest: 'Angry Indian Goddesses' Wins People's Choice Award |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=19 January 2018 |language=en |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201142458/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rome-film-fest-angry-indian-834481 |url-status=live }} Deshpande played the leading role{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Rajshri-Deshpande-in-a-Malayalam-erotic-satire/articleshow/51010157.cms |title=Rajshri Deshpande in a Malayalam erotic satire |work=The Times of India |access-date=19 January 2018 |archive-date=29 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529050820/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Rajshri-Deshpande-in-a-Malayalam-erotic-satire/articleshow/51010157.cms |url-status=live }} in Sanal Kumar Sasidharan's film Sexy Durga in 2017, which won the Tiger Award at the Rotterdam Film Festival.{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-cinema/sasidharan-s-sexy-durga-wins-a-coveted-award-at-rotterdam-film-festival/story-E5QijAXjV4CRtIh45M9jyL.html |title=Sasidharan's Sexy Durga wins a coveted award at Rotterdam Film Festival |date=6 February 2017 |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=19 January 2018 |archive-date=4 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004095025/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-cinema/sasidharan-s-sexy-durga-wins-a-coveted-award-at-rotterdam-film-festival/story-E5QijAXjV4CRtIh45M9jyL.html |url-status=live }}

Deshpande made her digital debut with BBC One's McMafia, directed by James Watkins, in January 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2018/jan/11/10379/nawazuddin-siddiqui-rajshri-deshpande-make-digital-debut-in-mcmafia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235405/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2018/jan/11/10379/nawazuddin-siddiqui-rajshri-deshpande-make-digital-debut-in-mcmafia |url-status=live |archive-date=19 January 2018 |title=Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Rajshri Deshpande make digital debut in McMafia |last=Lookhar |first=Mayur |website=Cinestaan |access-date=19 January 2018}} She was also seen in the Netflix show Sacred Games, directed by Anurag Kashyap.{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sacred-games-actor-rajshri-deshpande-defends-sex-scenes-i-am-not-dancing-to-a-derogatory-song/story-0MV9Q1zQQPhnbwBGxwwmsI.html |title=Sacred Games actor Rajshri Deshpande defends sex scenes: I am not dancing to a derogatory song |date=18 July 2018 |access-date=19 July 2018 |archive-date=19 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233220/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/sacred-games-actor-rajshri-deshpande-defends-sex-scenes-i-am-not-dancing-to-a-derogatory-song/story-0MV9Q1zQQPhnbwBGxwwmsI.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=http://www.news18.com/news/movies/s-durga-actor-rajshri-deshpande-all-set-to-shake-off-her-small-town-days-1588757.html |title=S Durga Actor Rajshri Deshpande All Set to Shake off Her Small Town Days |work=News18 |access-date=19 January 2018 |archive-date=4 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004094950/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/s-durga-actor-rajshri-deshpande-all-set-to-shake-off-her-small-town-days-1588757.html |url-status=live }} In it, she played the character of Subhadra and was praised for her role as the wife of Nawazuddin Siddiqui's character.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-44882771 |title=India Netflix actor Rajshri Deshpande 'disgusted by porn star label' |work=BBC News |date=19 July 2018 |access-date=19 July 2018 |archive-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720201948/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-44882771 |url-status=live }} A scandal arose when she was accused of being a porn star by some viewers, as the show included a nude sex scene. The actress replied that she hadn't done anything wrong. She later portrayed Ismat Chughtai{{Cite web |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2017/oct/24/8812/ismat-chughtai-is-in-me-rajshri-deshpande-on-playing-the-fearless-feminist-in-manto |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120000902/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2017/oct/24/8812/ismat-chughtai-is-in-me-rajshri-deshpande-on-playing-the-fearless-feminist-in-manto |url-status=live |archive-date=20 January 2018 |title=Ismat Chughtai is in me: Rajshri Deshpande on playing the fearless feminist in Manto |last=Iyengar |first=Shriram |website=Cinestaan |access-date=19 January 2018}} in Nandita Das's Manto.

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ {{Sronly\|List of film appearances, with year, title, and role shown}}
Year	Title	Role	Language	Ref
2012 \|Talaash \|Priya \|rowspan=2\|Hindi \|
2014 \|Kick \|Mrs. Sharma \|
rowspan=2\|2015 \|Haram \|Ameena \|Malayalam \|
Angry Indian Goddesses \|Laxmi \|Hindi \|
rowspan=2\|2016 \|Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani \|Ganga \|Marathi Hindi English \|{{cite news \|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Rajshri-back-to-Mollywood/articleshow/49195901.cms \|title=Rajshri back to Mollywood \|work=The Times of India \|location=Kochi, India \|date=3 October 2015 \|access-date=5 June 2020 \|archive-date=20 January 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120151225/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Rajshri-back-to-Mollywood/articleshow/49195901.cms \|url-status=live }}
Mumbai Central \|Gauri \|Hindi \|
rowspan=2\|2017 \|Sexy Durga \|Durga \|Malayalam \|
Mom \|DK's wife \|Hindi \|
2018 \|Manto \|Ismat Chughtai \|Hindi Urdu \|{{cite web \|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/manto-biopic-rajshri-deshpande-eager-to-enter-the-world-of-nawazuddin-siddiqui/story-SjXPiGOcY0rMgVPHQlsGaI.html \|title=Manto biopic: Rajshri Deshpande eager to enter the world of Nawazuddin Siddiqui \|work=Hindustan Times \|access-date=5 June 2020 \|archive-date=26 December 2018 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226074407/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/manto-biopic-rajshri-deshpande-eager-to-enter-the-world-of-nawazuddin-siddiqui/story-SjXPiGOcY0rMgVPHQlsGaI.html%20 \|url-status=live }}
rowspan=3\|2019 \|Nirvana Inn \|Mohini \|Hindi \|
The Sky Is Pink \|Anita Tandon \|Hindi \|
Kanpuriye \|Kohinoor \|Hindi \|{{Cite web \|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/amp/aparshakti-relives-days-of-struggle-with-kanpuriye/1647208 \|title=Aparshakti relives days of struggle with Kanpuriye \|website=Outlook India \|access-date=23 October 2019 \|archive-date=23 October 2019 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023150755/https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/amp/aparshakti-relives-days-of-struggle-with-kanpuriye/1647208 \|url-status=live }}
2020 \|Choked \|Neeta \|Hindi \|
2021 \|Collar Bomb \|Rita \|Hindi \|{{Cite news \|date=25 June 2021 \|title=Jimmy Sheirgill's crime thriller film Collar Bomb to premiere on Disney + Hotstar in July \|work=Outlook India \|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/jimmy-sheirgills-crime-thriller-film-collar-bomb-to-premiere-on-disney--hotstar-in-july/2108814 \|access-date=25 June 2021 \|archive-date=25 June 2021 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625122807/https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/jimmy-sheirgills-crime-thriller-film-collar-bomb-to-premiere-on-disney--hotstar-in-july/2108814 \|url-status=live }}
2022 \|Mann Kasturi Re \|Siddhant's lawyer \|Marathi \|
2023 \|Joram \|Mukta \|Hindi \|
rowspan="2" \|2024 \|Satyashodhak \|Savitribai Phule \|Marathi \|
Chote Nawab \| Asgari \|Hindi \|

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ {{Sronly|List of film appearances, with year, title, and role shown}}

Year

Title

Role

Language

Ref

2012

|Talaash

|Priya

|rowspan=2|Hindi

2014

|Kick

|Mrs. Sharma

rowspan=2|2015

|Haram

|Ameena

|Malayalam

Angry Indian Goddesses

|Laxmi

|Hindi

rowspan=2|2016

|Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani

|Ganga

|Marathi
Hindi
English

|{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Rajshri-back-to-Mollywood/articleshow/49195901.cms |title=Rajshri back to Mollywood |work=The Times of India |location=Kochi, India |date=3 October 2015 |access-date=5 June 2020 |archive-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120151225/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Rajshri-back-to-Mollywood/articleshow/49195901.cms |url-status=live }}

Mumbai Central

|Gauri

|Hindi

rowspan=2|2017

|Sexy Durga

|Durga

|Malayalam

Mom

|DK's wife

|Hindi

2018

|Manto

|Ismat Chughtai

|Hindi
Urdu

|{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/manto-biopic-rajshri-deshpande-eager-to-enter-the-world-of-nawazuddin-siddiqui/story-SjXPiGOcY0rMgVPHQlsGaI.html |title=Manto biopic: Rajshri Deshpande eager to enter the world of Nawazuddin Siddiqui |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=5 June 2020 |archive-date=26 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226074407/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/manto-biopic-rajshri-deshpande-eager-to-enter-the-world-of-nawazuddin-siddiqui/story-SjXPiGOcY0rMgVPHQlsGaI.html%20 |url-status=live }}

rowspan=3|2019

|Nirvana Inn

|Mohini

|Hindi

The Sky Is Pink

|Anita Tandon

|Hindi

Kanpuriye

|Kohinoor

|Hindi

|{{Cite web |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/amp/aparshakti-relives-days-of-struggle-with-kanpuriye/1647208 |title=Aparshakti relives days of struggle with Kanpuriye |website=Outlook India |access-date=23 October 2019 |archive-date=23 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023150755/https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/amp/aparshakti-relives-days-of-struggle-with-kanpuriye/1647208 |url-status=live }}

2020

|Choked

|Neeta

|Hindi

2021

|Collar Bomb

|Rita

|Hindi

|{{Cite news |date=25 June 2021 |title=Jimmy Sheirgill's crime thriller film Collar Bomb to premiere on Disney + Hotstar in July |work=Outlook India |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/jimmy-sheirgills-crime-thriller-film-collar-bomb-to-premiere-on-disney--hotstar-in-july/2108814 |access-date=25 June 2021 |archive-date=25 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625122807/https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/jimmy-sheirgills-crime-thriller-film-collar-bomb-to-premiere-on-disney--hotstar-in-july/2108814 |url-status=live }}

2022

|Mann Kasturi Re

|Siddhant's lawyer

|Marathi

2023

|Joram

|Mukta

|Hindi

rowspan="2" |2024

|Satyashodhak

|Savitribai Phule

|Marathi

Chote Nawab

| Asgari

|Hindi

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"

+ {{Sronly|List of film appearances, with year, title, and role shown}}

! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes

2012–13

|Kuch to Log Kahenge

|Suhasini

2013

|24

|Agent Veena

2018

|McMafia

|Manju

| British television series

2018

|Sacred Games

|Subhadra

|Netflix series

2019

|Parchhayee

|Vaishali

|ZEE5 series

2022

|The Fame Game

|Shobha Trivedi

|Netflix series

2023

|Trial by Fire{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Anuj |title='Trial By Fire' Netflix series review: Anatomy of a man-made disaster |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/trial-by-fire-netflix-series-review-anatomy-of-a-man-made-disaster/article66378277.ece |access-date=16 January 2023 |work=The Hindu |date=14 January 2023 |archive-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116101137/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/trial-by-fire-netflix-series-review-anatomy-of-a-man-made-disaster/article66378277.ece |url-status=live }}

|Neelam Krishnamoorthy

|Netflix series

2025

|Black Warrant

|Pratibha Sen

|Netflix series