Sriti Jha (born 26 February 1986) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi television. Jha earned wider recognition with her portrayal of Pragya Arora Mehra in Kumkum Bhagya. She is a recipient of several accolades including two ITA Awards, two Indian Telly Awards and two Gold Awards.Jha made her acting debut in 2007 with the teen drama, Dhoom Machaao Dhoom, playing Malini Sharma. Jha then established herself as a leading actress with her portrayal of Sudha "Devika" Sharma Vashisht in Jyoti, Sandhya Savratkar Pradhan in Rakt Sambandh and Jhanvi Dobriyal / Sia Pratapsingh in Dil Se Di Dua... Saubhagyavati Bhava?. In 2022, she participated in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 12, where she finished at 10th place and became the 3rd runner-up in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10.

Early life and education

Jha was born on 26 February 1986 in Begusarai, Bihar. She went to live with her family in Kolkata, where they stayed for 10 years, then moved to Kathmandu, Nepal. They then moved to New Delhi, where she continued her studies at Laxman Public School. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Sri Venkateswara College, New Delhi. She has an elder sister, Meenakshi and a younger brother, Shashank. As a child artist, Jha appeared in Falguni Pathak's song "O Piya", in 2001.

Personal life

Jha was born on 26 February 1986 in Begusarai, Bihar, India. She went to live with her family in Kolkata, where they stayed for 10 years, then moved to Kathmandu, Nepal. They then moved to New Delhi, where she continued her studies at Laxman Public School. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Sri Venkateswara College, New Delhi. She has an elder sister, Meenakshi.In January 2021, Jha revealed she is an asexual and she recited a poem "Confessions Of An Asexual Romantic" during the 2020 Kommune India Spoken Fest, in which she spoke about how the life of an asexual might be and how there is a lack of freedom in India when it comes to talking about one's sexuality. She has several poems under her name. Along with being an award-winning actress, she is also a critically acclaimed poet.

Career

Jha made her acting debut in 2007 playing Malini Sharma in Disney India's teen drama ''Dhoom Machaao Dhoom''. In 2008, she played Sunaina Kotak opposite Saurabh Pandey in ''Jiya Jale'' and also participated in the friend-based reality show ''Kaho Na Yaar Hai''. Jha played Suhani, a royal princess in ''Shaurya Aur Suhani'', opposite Saurabh Pandey, in 2009. Jha's first major role was in ''Jyoti'', where she played Sudha Sharma, a split personality patient opposite Alok Narula, from 2009 to 2010. Jha's first major role was in ''Jyoti'', where she played Sudha Sharma, a split personality patient opposite Alok Narula, from 2009 to 2010. In 2010, Jha played a visually impaired girl, Sandhya Savratkar Pradhan opposite Naman Shaw and Dhruv Bhandari in ''Rakt Sambandh''. Critic from ''The Indian Express'' noted, "Sriti is well cast as she brings a certain vulnerability and quiet strength to her character." In that year, she appeared as a contestant on ''Nachle Ve with Saroj Khan'' and ''Meethi Choori No 1''.From 2011 to 2013, Jha portrayed Jhanvi Sharma Dobriyal / Sia Sharma Pratapsingh, a victim of domestic violence in ''Dil Se Di Dua... Saubhagyavati Bhava?'', opposite Harshad Chopda and Karanvir Bohra. The show proved to be her breakthrough and earned her recognition. In 2013, Jha also played Ganga Singh opposite Shashank Vyas in ''Balika Vadhu''. The series earned her critical acclaim, success and established her among the leading actresses of Indian television. Her portrayal of Pragya earned her various accloades including ITA Award for Best Actress - Drama and Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role. Alongside her role in ''Kumkum Bhagya'', Jha acted as the narrator for ''Naagin 2'' in 2016. Alongside her role in ''Kumkum Bhagya'', Jha acted as the narrator for ''Naagin 2'' in 2016. She also played Deepa in the 2020 short film ''U-Turn'' and in 2021, she played Sakshi Deewan in the podcast series ''Darmiyaan''.In 2022, Jha first participated in ''Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 12'' and ended up finishing at the 10th place. In the same year, she participated in ''Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10'', as a wildcard entry and finished as the 3rd runner-up.In 2023, Jha played Jaya, an actress in Karan Johar's ''Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani''. In the same year, she appeared as the ghost of Jhanvi / Sia in ''Saubhagyavati Bhava: * Niyam Aur Shartein Laagu'', a sequel to her 2011 series. She played a working wife in the short film ''Chawal'', alongside Nihal Parashar, in the same year.Since November 2023, Jha is seen playing Amruta Bhavani Chitnis, a banker opposite Arjit Taneja in ''Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye''.

Debut and early breakthrough (2007-2013)

Jha made her acting debut in 2007 playing Malini Sharma in Disney India's teen drama ''Dhoom Machaao Dhoom''. In 2008, she played Sunaina Kotak opposite Saurabh Pandey in ''Jiya Jale'' and also participated in the friend-based reality show ''Kaho Na Yaar Hai''. Jha played Suhani, a royal princess in ''Shaurya Aur Suhani'', opposite Saurabh Pandey, in 2009. Jha's first major role was in ''Jyoti'', where she played Sudha Sharma, a split personality patient opposite Alok Narula, from 2009 to 2010. Jha's first major role was in ''Jyoti'', where she played Sudha Sharma, a split personality patient opposite Alok Narula, from 2009 to 2010. In 2010, Jha played a visually impaired girl, Sandhya Savratkar Pradhan opposite Naman Shaw and Dhruv Bhandari in ''Rakt Sambandh''. Critic from ''The Indian Express'' noted, "Sriti is well cast as she brings a certain vulnerability and quiet strength to her character." In that year, she appeared as a contestant on ''Nachle Ve with Saroj Khan'' and ''Meethi Choori No 1''.From 2011 to 2013, Jha portrayed Jhanvi Sharma Dobriyal / Sia Sharma Pratapsingh, a victim of domestic violence in ''Dil Se Di Dua... Saubhagyavati Bhava?'', opposite Harshad Chopda and Karanvir Bohra. The show proved to be her breakthrough and earned her recognition. In 2013, Jha also played Ganga Singh opposite Shashank Vyas in ''Balika Vadhu''.

Success and establishment with Kumkum Bhagya (2014-2022)

The series earned her critical acclaim, success and established her among the leading actresses of Indian television. Her portrayal of Pragya earned her various accloades including ITA Award for Best Actress - Drama and Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role. Alongside her role in ''Kumkum Bhagya'', Jha acted as the narrator for ''Naagin 2'' in 2016. Alongside her role in ''Kumkum Bhagya'', Jha acted as the narrator for ''Naagin 2'' in 2016. She also played Deepa in the 2020 short film ''U-Turn'' and in 2021, she played Sakshi Deewan in the podcast series ''Darmiyaan''.In 2022, Jha first participated in ''Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 12'' and ended up finishing at the 10th place. In the same year, she participated in ''Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10'', as a wildcard entry and finished as the 3rd runner-up.

Recent work (2023-present)

In 2023, Jha played Jaya, an actress in Karan Johar's ''Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani''. In the same year, she appeared as the ghost of Jhanvi / Sia in ''Saubhagyavati Bhava: * Niyam Aur Shartein Laagu'', a sequel to her 2011 series. She played a working wife in the short film ''Chawal'', alongside Nihal Parashar, in the same year.Since November 2023, Jha is seen playing Amruta Bhavani Chitnis, a banker opposite Arjit Taneja in ''Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye''.

Off-screen work

In January 2021, Jha recited a poem, "Confessions Of An Asexual Romantic", during the 2020 Kommune India Spoken Fest, in which she spoke about how the life of an asexual might be and how there is a lack of freedom in India when it comes to talking about one's sexuality. In an interview, she clarified she is not an asexual and that the poem isn't about her. She also recited two more poems regarding people with different sexual preferences and the problems they face such as "Choodiyaan" which talks about a gay male, and "Chaabi Gum Gai Hai", based on a lesbian female. In "It's Pehla Pyaar Every Time", she talks about how every time we fall in love, it feels as if it's the first time.Her other works, such as "To Like? Or To Love?" differentiate between loving and liking and how liking is free of boundaries while love is limiting. Jha's first open letter "A Letter To Myself" is about what she wants to tell her 15-year-old self in the past and that we should never compromise under any circumstance. In this collaboration with ITC Vivel, Jha inspires women to uncondition, challenge stereotypes and go forth to fulfill their dreams with confidence and say out loud, "Ab Samjhauta Nahin". She also presented a poem "Cheesy Stupid Ishq", as a narrator a day before the Valentines Day in 2021.