Sai Pallavi Biography: Who Is Sai Pallavi ?

Full Name: Sai Pallavi Senthamarai Kannan
Popular Name: Sai Pallavi
Profession: Actress, Dancer
Date of Birth: May 9, 1992 (Saturday)
Age: 32 Years (as of 2024)
Birth Place: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Hometown: Kotagiri, Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu
Nationality: Indian
Religion: Hinduism
Educational Qualification: MBBS
School: Avila Convent School, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
College/University: Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia
Languages Known: Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Georgian, English
Height: 165 cm
Weight: 55 kg
Eye Color: Dark Brown
Hair Color: Black
Marital Status: Unmarried
Estimated Net Worth: $2 million (approx.)

Sai Pallavi Early Life and Family

Sai Pallavi was born into a Badaga family on May 9, 1992, in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. She grew up in a close-knit family with her parents, Senthamarai Kannan (a Central Excise Officer) and Radha Kannan (a homemaker), and her younger sister Puja Kannan, who also pursued acting. Her roots trace back to Kotagiri in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district, where she maintains a deep connection with her cultural heritage.

During her childhood, Sai Pallavi displayed a keen interest in dancing, often participating in school functions and competitions. This passion would later play a significant role in shaping her career. She studied at Avila Convent School in Coimbatore before moving abroad to pursue a degree in medicine.

Sai Pallavi Education

Sai Pallavi pursued an MBBS at Tbilisi State Medical University in Georgia, completing her medical studies in 2016. Despite completing the required studies, she has not yet registered as a practicing doctor in India. She also appeared for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) in 2020, showing her commitment to her medical career.

Sai Pallavi Passion for Dance

Her mother encouraged Sai Pallavi’s dancing talent, leading her to participate in popular dance shows like Ungalil Yaar Adutha Prabhu Deva (2008) on Vijay TV and Dhee Ultimate Dance Show (D4) on ETV (2009). She quickly gained popularity, and her distinct dance style caught the attention of fans and industry professionals alike.

Sai Pallavi Acting Career

Early Appearances

Sai Pallavi first appeared in small, uncredited roles as a child artist in Kasthuri Maan (2005) and Dhaam Dhoom (2008). Her true acting debut, however, came much later.

Breakthrough with Premam (2015)

In 2014, while studying in Georgia, Sai Pallavi received a call from director Alphonse Puthren, who offered her the role of Malar in his upcoming Malayalam film, Premam. Initially skeptical of the offer, she eventually agreed and returned to India during her semester breaks to film. Her role as a college lecturer with a heartwarming personality won over audiences, and Premam became a massive hit, marking her as a rising star.

Her portrayal of Malar earned her numerous “Best Female Debut” awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut (South).

Malayalam and Telugu Success

After her success in Premam, Sai Pallavi took another break from studies to star in the Malayalam film Kali (2016) with actor Dulquer Salmaan. The film was well-received, and she was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam.

In 2017, Sai Pallavi made her debut in the Telugu film industry with Fidaa, directed by Sekhar Kammula. She played Bhanumathi, a fierce and independent village girl. Her performance was celebrated, and the role became iconic, solidifying her status as a leading actress. Film Companion recognized it as one of the “100 Greatest Performances of the Decade,” and she won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her role.

Establishing Her Tamil Film Career

In 2018, Sai Pallavi appeared in Maari 2 alongside Dhanush. The film’s song “Rowdy Baby” became incredibly popular, setting a record as the first Tamil song to surpass 1.5 billion views on YouTube.

Her next significant role was in Athiran (2019), where she portrayed Nithya Lakshmi, a non-verbal autistic character in a Malayalam thriller alongside Fahadh Faasil.

In 2021, Sai Pallavi starred in Love Story, reuniting with Sekhar Kammula. Her role as Mounika Rani was widely appreciated. She followed this with the film Shyam Singha Roy (2021), where she played a dual role and was praised for her versatility.

2022 and Beyond

In 2022, she starred in Virata Parvam alongside Rana Daggubati and was widely appreciated for her role. The same year, she was featured in Gargi, where she played the titular character in a critically acclaimed performance.

In 2024, Sai Pallavi took on a challenging role in Amaran, where she portrayed Indhu Rebecca Varghese, wife of Major Mukund Varadarajan, opposite Sivakarthikeyan. This role demonstrated her range as an actress.

Her upcoming projects include Naga Chaitanya’s 23rd film and Nitesh Tiwari’s adaptation of the Ramayana, where she is set to portray Sita.

Sai Pallavi Awards and Recognitions

Sai Pallavi’s career has been adorned with several prestigious awards, including:

• Filmfare Awards South: Best Female Debut (South) for Premam, Best Actress – Telugu for Fidaa
• SIIMA Awards: Best Debut (Female) for Premam
• Asianet Film Awards: Special Jury Award for Premam, Most Popular Actress for Kali
• Kochi Times Most Desirable Woman (2016)

In 2020, Forbes India recognized her in its 30 Under 30 list, making her the only person from the film industry on that year’s list.

Interesting Facts About Sai Pallavi

• Named After: She was named after Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi.
• Dance Reality Shows: She was a finalist in Ungalil Yaar Adutha Prabhu Deva and Dhee Ultimate Dance Show Season 4.
• Rowdy Baby’s Milestone: The song “Rowdy Baby” from Maari 2 broke records as the first South Indian song to reach over 1.5 billion views on YouTube.
• Medical Career: Sai Pallavi completed her MBBS but chose to pursue acting over medicine.

Social Media and Online Presence

Sai Pallavi maintains a strong online presence and frequently shares insights into her life and career with fans.

• Instagram: @saipallavi.senthamarai
• Twitter: @Sai_Pallavi92
• Facebook: Sai Pallavi

Sai Pallavi Filmography

Sai Pallavi has carved a niche for herself with her commitment to authentic storytelling, dance, and versatility, making her one of the most beloved actresses in the South Indian film industry.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who is Sai Pallavi?
   • Sai Pallavi is an Indian actress and dancer known for her roles in South Indian films, particularly in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu cinema. She is acclaimed for her natural acting style and expressive dance performances.
2. What is Sai Pallavi’s age?
   • Sai Pallavi was born on May 9, 1992, making her 32 years old as of 2024.
3. What are Sai Pallavi’s most popular movies?
   • Sai Pallavi’s popular movies include Premam, Fidaa, Maari 2, Kali, Love Story, and Gargi. Her role in Premam as “Malar” brought her significant fame.
4. Is Sai Pallavi married?
   • As of 2024, Sai Pallavi is unmarried and is focused on her acting career.
5. What is Sai Pallavi’s educational background?
   • Sai Pallavi holds an MBBS degree from Tbilisi State Medical University in Georgia. Though qualified as a doctor, she has chosen to pursue acting full-time.
6. What is Sai Pallavi’s net worth?
   • Sai Pallavi’s estimated net worth is around $2 million, primarily earned through her successful career in the South Indian film industry.
7. Why is Sai Pallavi famous?
   • Sai Pallavi is famous for her expressive and natural acting style, as well as her skill in dance. She gained widespread fame with her role as Malar in Premam and has since become one of the leading actresses in South Indian cinema.