Sayani Gupta’s Bio, Age, Career, Movies, Family, and More

Sayani Gupta is one of the most distinctive actors in modern Hindi cinema and streaming. She stands out for the way she dissolves into characters whether it’s a headstrong activist, a sharp cricket data analyst, or a fearless investigative journalist

Over the last decade, Sayani has built a filmography that cuts across mainstream titles, festival favorites, and popular OTT shows.

She mixes craft with curiosity, often choosing roles that tackle social questions without losing out on entertainment.

Her body of work reflects that balance big-banner films with superstars on one side, and layered, character-driven indies on the other.

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Sayani Gupta’s Biography

Early Life and Education

Sayani Gupta was born in Kolkata (then Calcutta), West Bengal. She later moved to Delhi for higher studies and completed a History degree at Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR), one of India’s premier liberal arts colleges.

In an interview recalling her campus years, she spoke warmly about LSR’s driven culture and the energy of the city.

After graduation, she decided to pursue acting as a full-time craft and enrolled at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) a training ground that shaped her process and discipline as a performer.

The FTII stint gave Sayani exposure to varied methods, collaborations with filmmakers-in-training, and a network of peers across the industry.

It is a consistent theme in her journey: strong academic foundations, followed by rigorous craft training. This grounding shows in the natural ease of her screen presence and the way she handles emotional range.¹

Please go watch #Faraaz in theatres! Such a powerful relevant poignant film! @mehtahansal @anubhavsinha do it again!Effortless storytelling! Congratulations to the phenomenal team and a fantastic casting by @CastingChhabra &team @zahankapoor @adityarawal1 the whole cast well done

— Sayani Gupta (@sayanigupta) February 2, 2023

Stats Table

Breaking In: First Roles and Early Films

Sayani’s feature debut came with “Second Marriage Dot Com” (2012), followed by a series of short films and indie features that allowed her to try different shades.

She appeared in “Shuruaat Ka Interval” (2014) and then delivered two much-talked-about turns in 2015: “Margarita with a Straw” (as the confident, warm Khanum) and “Parched.”

These performances helped position her as a serious actor capable of nuance rather than cliché.

“Margarita with a Straw,” especially, cast her opposite Kalki Koechlin and remains a career-defining credit.

She played Khanum, a blind Pakistani-Bangladeshi activist who enters the life of a young woman with cerebral palsy, with tenderness and conviction an early showcase of Sayani’s ability to carry complex identities without resorting to mannerism.

Entering the Mainstream: Supporting Roles with Impact

Between 2016 and 2017, Sayani appeared in a clutch of mainstream titles that reached wide audiences:

• “Fan” (2016): A thriller headlined by Shah Rukh Khan, where Sayani played Sunaina. Even in a star-driven vehicle, she made her spurts of screen time count.

• “Baar Baar Dekho” (2016): A romance-drama where she featured as Chitra.

• “Jolly LLB 2” (2017): In this Akshay Kumar courtroom drama, she played Hina Siddiqui, an emotionally charged role that demanded vulnerability and restraint.²

The run reinforced her versatility: instead of chasing only lead roles, Sayani picked parts that added weight to the narrative. That instinct to choose what’s interesting, not just what’s large has become a marker of her taste.

Craft Spotlight: “Article 15” and the Song You Didn’t Expect

In “Article 15” (2019), Anubhav Sinha’s widely discussed socio-political drama, Sayani played Gaura, a role that required grit and emotional depth.

The film’s realism demanded an ensemble that could feel lived-in, and Sayani’s performance matched that tone. A fun bit of trivia: she also lent her voice as a singer to the folk-inflected track “Kahab To” in the film’s album another sign of her multi-hyphenate artistry.

Championing the Indie Space: “Axone” and More

2019 was also the year of “Axone,” a gentle, incisive dramedy about a group of North-East Indian friends in Delhi trying to prepare a traditional dish for a wedding celebration.

Sayani’s Upasana is central to the film’s warm, quietly political gaze. The film played at festivals and later reached wider audiences on Netflix, exposing mainstream viewers to a cultural conversation not often seen in Hindi cinema.

Sayani’s choices in this phase “Posham Pa” and English-language “Darkness Visible” among them show she is comfortable moving between languages, genres, and budgets as long as the story has something to say.

 

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Streaming Star: “Inside Edge” and “Four More Shots Please!”

Inside Edge: A Data-Driven Character in Cricket’s Dark Drama

In “Inside Edge,” Amazon’s first Hindi original, Sayani plays Rohini Raghavan, a whip-smart analyst whose cool head counters the chaos around a fictional T20 team.

It’s a role that demanded authority without loudness and it’s a favorite with fans who love the show’s blend of sport and scandal.

Four More Shots Please!: A Modern Working Woman’s Arc

As Damini Rizvi Roy a forthright investigative journalist Sayani anchors some of the most striking moments in “Four More Shots Please!” across three seasons. Damini is ambitious, flawed, loving, angry, and often hilarious.

The show became one of Amazon India’s most-watched originals; Season 2 helped the series land a 2020 International Emmy nomination for Best Comedy Series, with Sayani part of the principal cast highlighted by the Academy.

Damini’s styling and beauty looks also became pop-culture talking points proof that Sayani’s performances travel beyond the screen into everyday fashion and conversation.³

Notable Recent Work: “Pagglait,” “Sherdil,” and “Zwigato”

• “Pagglait” (2021): A darkly funny, poignant Netflix film about a young widow reassessing life. Sayani appears as Akansha, part of a cast that keeps the tone light without losing sight of the film’s sharp observations.

• “Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga” (2022): Opposite Pankaj Tripathi, Sayani plays Lajwanti (Lajjo) in this satire-drama inspired by true events.

• “Zwigato” (2023): In Nandita Das’s drama about a delivery worker and the gig economy, Sayani shows up in a corporate role, adding texture to a film about work, dignity, and survival.

Collaboration and Co-Stars

Sayani has worked with actors across generations Kalki Koechlin, Richa Chadha, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi, and more.

These collaborations helped her refine a screen rhythm that blends with ensembles rather than overpowering them.

Projects like “Parched,” “Article 15,” “Zwigato,” and “Inside Edge” show her comfort in rich ensembles a skill that is underrated but central to memorable storytelling.

Beyond Acting: Music and Short Films

Sayani isn’t confined to features and series. She has a healthy list of short films including “Leeches,” “Shame,” “Detour,” and “Shameless.”

Shorts let her experiment with tone and structure, and keep the craft nimble between large projects. And as noted earlier, she also sang “Kahab To” in Article 15, hinting at a musical streak that appears now and then.

Public Persona

On screen, Sayani’s characters are sharp and assertive; off screen, she comes across as thoughtful and outspoken.

She has spoken about the impact of OTT on the industry, the importance of women-led narratives, and her desire to keep stretching as an artist.

Her style choices especially during “Four More Shots Please!” publicityoften trend, echoing the character’s contemporary, independent vibe. ⁴

Filmography Highlights

Films

• Second Marriage Dot Com (2012) – Debut

• Margarita with a Straw (2015) – Khanum

• Parched (2015) – Champa

• Fan (2016) – Sunaina

• Baar Baar Dekho (2016) – Chitra

• Jolly LLB 2 (2017) – Hina Siddiqui

• Darkness Visible (2019) – Asha

• Article 15 (2019) – Gaura

• Posham Pa (2019) – Regha

• Axone (2019) – Upasana

• Pagglait (2021) – Akansha

• Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga (2022) – Lajwanti “Lajjo”

• Zwigato (2023) – Regional Head (corporate role)

Series

• Inside Edge (2017– ) – Rohini Raghavan

• Four More Shots Please! (2019– ) – Damini Rizvi Roy

Awards, Distinctions, and Milestones

• International Emmy Nomination (2020) – As principal cast of Four More Shots Please! which was nominated for Best Comedy Series. This was a landmark nod, noted as the first International Emmy nomination for an Indian comedy.

• Festival & Critical Praise – Performances in Margarita with a Straw, Parched, and Axone continue to be cited in reviews and festival notes, strengthening her reputation for layered roles.

FAQ’s

1) What is Sayani Gupta’s age?

She was born on October 9, 1985.

2) Where did Sayani Gupta study acting?

She trained at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), after completing a History degree at LSR, Delhi.

3) What is her debut film?

“Second Marriage Dot Com” (2012) marked her feature debut.

4) Which roles made her popular?

Khanum in Margarita with a Straw, Hina in Jolly LLB 2, Gaura in Article 15, Upasana in Axone, Rohini Raghavan in Inside Edge, and Damini Rizvi Roy in Four More Shots Please!

5) Was Four More Shots Please! recognized internationally?

Yes. The series received a 2020 International Emmy nomination for Best Comedy Series, with Sayani as part of the lead ensemble.

6) Is Sayani Gupta a singer too?

Yes, she sang “Kahab To” on the Article 15 soundtrack.

7) Is she active on OTT beyond FMSP?

Absolutely. She plays Rohini Raghavan in Amazon’s “Inside Edge,” one of India’s earliest high-profile streaming dramas.

8) What are some recent films to watch?

Check out “Pagglait” (2021) on Netflix, “Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga” (2022), and “Zwigato” (2023).

9) What defines her acting style?

Grounded, research-driven performances with an eye for detail equally comfortable in indie realism and glossy streaming worlds.

10) Where can I follow her?

Her public Instagram handle is @sayanigupta.

Conclusion

Sayani Gupta’s path is a template for the new-age Hindi actor: trained, selective, and unafraid of the grey.

She has stacked up a decade of work that refuses to sit in one box pairing commercial films with bold independent cinema and bold, conversation-starting streaming series.

If you are discovering her today, start with “Margarita with a Straw,” “Article 15,” “Axone,” “Pagglait,” and the tandem of “Inside Edge” and “Four More Shots Please!” you’ll see, within a handful of projects, why she’s one of the most quietly influential performers of her generation.

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