Nimisha Sajayan

Nimisha Sajayan, honestly, is one of those actresses who just kind of snuck up on the Malayalam film scene and then—bam—she was everywhere. Born and raised in Mumbai, she wasn’t just any regular student; she could, quite literally, kick ass, having snagged a black belt in Taekwondo back in eighth grade. She even represented Maharashtra at the nationals, which, let’s be real, is no small feat. School days happened at Carmel Convent in Mumbai, and then she jumped into mass communication studies at K.J. Somaiya. But, instead of following the usual city grind, Nimisha just pivoted straight into films. Her debut? Thondi Muthalum Driksakshiyum in 2017. She wasn’t just hanging around in the background, either—she was right up there with Fahadh Faasil, Suraj Venjaramoodu, and some of the best in the business. Things just escalated from there. Oru Kuprasidha Payyan in 2018 had her holding her own next to Tovino Thomas, and then Eeda came along, with her nailing the role of a college student caught up in the messiness of love and politics. Then there’s The Great Indian Kitchen (2021)—honestly, she crushed it. That film was a whole mood, and Nimisha just carried it with this quiet but fierce intensity. Nayattu and Malik dropped in 2021, and Nimisha just kept racking up praise. People noticed, and awards followed—Best Debut here, Best Actress there. She’s not just a flash in the pan; definitely someone who’s shaping Malayalam cinema right now.