Priya Bapat

Priya Bapat (born September 18, 1986) is an Indian actress known for her work in Marathi and Hindi cinema, television, stage drama, and web series.

Born in Dadar, Mumbai, she is primarily celebrated for her versatile performances in Marathi films and has become among the highest-paid actresses in Marathi cinema.

Priya Bapat was born on September 18, 1986, in Dadar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Her father's name is Sharad Bapat and her mother's name is Smita Bapat. She grew up in a chawl (a type of traditional Mumbai housing) on Ranade Road in Dadar.

Her elder sister, Shweta Bapat, is a renowned costume designer, and together they founded the clothing venture "Sawenchi" to support the Indian Weavers Community.

Full Name	Priya Bapat
Occupation	Actress
Date of Birth	18-September-1986 (39 years)
Birth Location	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Gender	Female
Nationality	Indian
Religion	Hindu
Zodiac Sign	Virgo
Height	167 cm
Weight	54 kg
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Black
College	Ruia College
Qualification	Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication
Hobbies	Dancing, travelling

She completed her primary education at Balmohan Vidyamandir school, where she developed a deep interest in acting and stage arts. She participated in numerous plays, cultural programs, and competitions during her school years.

She received classical music training for two years from Shubhada Dadarkar and later from Uttara Kelkar, though the training was interrupted due to vocal issues. After school, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Ramnarayan Ruia College in Matunga, Mumbai, followed by a degree in Mass Communication.

During this period, she also completed a short course in film production.

She began her acting career as a child artist. In 2000, she made her Bollywood debut in Dr. Jabbar Patel's National Film Award-winning film "Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar," where she portrayed young Ramabai Ambedkar. This role earned her initial recognition. She also appeared in the Marathi film "Bhet" (2002).

She gained visibility in Hindi cinema through cameo appearances in Rajkumar Hirani's box-office hits "Munna Bhai M.B.B.S." (2003) and "Lage Raho Munna Bhai" (2006). From 2004 to 2006, she acted in the television serial "Adhuri Ek Kahani," where her energetic and powerful performance was appreciated.

Her debut as a lead actress came in 2009 with the Marathi blockbuster "Mi Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy," directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, where she played Shashikala Bhosale, an ambitious actress.

The film became the highest-grossing Marathi film at that time with ₹25 crore earnings and addressed social issues. For this role, she received a nomination for the Best Newcomer Actress award at the V. Shantaram Annual Film Awards. In 2010, she appeared in the Zee Marathi serial "Shubham Karoti," which focused on joint family values.

She received national acclaim for her portrayal of Uma in the 2012 Marathi film "Kaksparsh". Her performance was highly appreciated by audiences and critics, earning her the Best Actress award at both the Zee Gaurav Awards and the Maharashtra State Film Awards.

She also won the Best Actress award at the Screen Awards in 2013 for her roles in "Kaksparsh" and "Aamhi Doghi".

Her performance in "Happy Journey" (2014) earned her the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress and a nomination for the Best Actress category at the 2014 Marathi Filmfare Awards. Other notable Marathi films include "Timepass 2" (2015), "Andhali Koshimbir" (2014), "Vजनदार" (2016), "Pipl" (2017), and "Aamhi Doghi" (2018).

On the Marathi stage, she plays a lead role in the popular drama "Nava Gadi Nava Rajya" alongside her husband Umesh Kamat. In December 2011, she took on a new role as a producer with the Marathi play "Dada Ek Good News Aahe," which became a grand success and cemented her position as a prominent figure in Marathi theatre. She also produced this play in 2019.

Her television work includes serials such as "Damini" (2000), "Bandinī" (2000), "De Dhamaal" (2001), "Shubham Karoti" (2010), "Vicky Ki Taxi," and "Abhalmaya".

She gained widespread recognition through her captivating performance as Purnima Rao Gaikwad (a Maharashtra Assembly Member and Chief Minister) in the popular OTT series "City of Dreams" (also known as "Mayanagari"), which ran for three seasons from 2019 to 2023. This role is considered a defining moment in her career.

In Hindi cinema, she appeared in "Chakki" (2022), "Vishfoot" (2024), and the 2025 Zee5 Global biopic "Costao," where she portrayed Maria, the resilient wife of an honest customs officer, alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui. In October 2024, she acted in the Hindi television series "Rat Jawaan Hai," directed by Sumeet Vyas and starring Barun Sobti and Anjali Anand, which premiered on SonyLIV.

Priya Bapat met actor Umesh Kamat at the premiere of the film "Bhet" in 2002. After approximately eight years of dating, they married on October 5, 2011, in a traditional Marathi ceremony. The couple has also worked together in the Marathi play "Nava Gadi Nava Rajya".

She and her husband have publicly decided not to have children, stating that "having a child is entirely a personal decision, which is only the subject of husband, wife, and family". Their marital life often remains in media headlines, particularly regarding this choice.

Priya Bapat has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including:

• Two Maharashtra State Film Awards (Best Actress for "Kaksparsh" and "Happy Journey")
• Zee Gaurav Award for Best Actress ("Kaksparsh")
• Screen Awards Best Actress (2013, for "Kaksparsh" and "Aamhi Doghi")
• Multiple nominations including Filmfare Marathi for Best Actress

She is recognized for consistently portraying strong, independent female-centric roles that challenge typical stereotypes and inspire women across India. 

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