Patralekha Paul (born 20 February 1990) known mononymously as Patralekha, is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films. Paul made her acting debut with drama film CityLights (2014), for which she won the Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Female.Patralekha made her web debut with Bose: Dead/Alive (2017), receiving the iReel Award for Best Actress - Drama nomination. She has since appeared in the film Nanu Ki Jaanu (2018) and the web series, Mai Hero Boll Raha Hu (2021) and Aar Ya Paar (2022). Patralekha is married to actor Rajkummar Rao.

Early life

Patralekha was born in Shillong, Meghalaya, in a Bengali family, to a Chartered Accountant father and a homemaker mother Papri Paul. In an interview, she stated that her grandmother was a poet. She has two siblings Parnalekha Paul and Agnish Paul. She went to The Assam Valley School, a boarding school, and then graduated from Bishop Cotton Girls' School, Bangalore. Her father wanted her to follow in his footsteps, but she was interested in acting. While studying in H.R. College of Commerce and Economics she did a few commercials for Blackberry, and Tata Docomo, before getting a break in films.

Early life and education

Patralekha was born on 20 February 1990 in Shillong in a Bengali family, to a Chartered Accountant father and a homemaker mother Papri Paul. In an interview, she stated that her grandmother was a poet. She has two siblings Parnalekha Paul and Agnish Paul. She went to The Assam Valley School, Assam, a boarding school and then graduated from the Bishop Cotton Girls' School, Bangalore.Patralekha's father wanted her to follow in his footsteps, but she was interested in acting. While completing her graduation in Mumbai at H.R. College of Commerce and Economics, she did a few commercials for Blackberry, and Tata Docomo, before getting a break in films. Patralekhaa has also received formal training in Bharatnatyam.

Career

Directed by Hansal Mehta, the film tells the story of a poor couple living in Rajasthan who move to Mumbai in search of livelihood. Made on a low budget, the film became a box office success. Sweta Kaushal from ''Hindustan Times'' said that Patralekha "slipped effortlessly" in her part. The film won her Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Female. Her next film was, ''Love Games'', an urban-thriller directed by Vikram Bhatt and produced by Mukesh Bhatt and Mahesh Bhatt. Patralekha played a woman who lust for a man. It received negative reviews and was a box office failure.In 2017, Patralekha made her web debut with ''Bose: Dead/Alive'' opposite Rajkummar Rao. For the series, she received iReel Award for Best Actress - Drama nomination. In the next year, Patralekha first appeared in the series ''Cheers''. Patralekha then played a ghost opposite Abhay Deol in ''Nanu Ki Jaanu''. Many critics found her part in the film to be "negligible". In 2019, Patralekha played a surrogate mother opposite Divyendu Sharma in the Zee5 film ''Badnaam Gali'' and received positive response for her performance.After appearing in the 2020 series ''Forbidden Love'', Patralekha played an aspiring actress in the 2021 series ''Mai Hero Boll Raha Hu'', opposite Parth Samthaan. Archika Khurana of ''Times of India'' stated, "Patralekha raises the oomph factor as Laila and shares a sizzling chemistry with Parth." In 2022, she played an activist-doctor in the series ''Teerandaz''. Saibal Chatterjee of ''NDTV'' noted, "Patralekha delivers in the scenes that matter. If only there were more such moments, her performance might have acquired greater depth and range."

Personal life

On 15 November 2021, the couple got married in a traditional Hindu wedding at The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort in Chandigarh.