Nimisha Sajayan


Nimisha Sajayan is an Indian actress who primarily works in Malayalam films, apart from Tamil and Hindi films. Nimisha made her acting debut with the film Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum directed by Dileesh Pothan. She won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress in 2018 for her performance in Oru Kuprasidha Payyan and Chola. She is also a recipient of three Filmfare Awards.

Early and personal life

Nimisha was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India to Late Sajayan, an engineer, and Bindhu Sajayan. Her family is from Kerala.
She completed her schooling at Carmel Convent School, Mumbai and graduated from KJ Somaiya College, Mumbai.

Acting career

Nimisha started her acting career with the film Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, directed by Dileesh Pothan. She then played the lead role in editor B. Ajithk and Rajeev Ravi's Eeda. She won the 49th Kerala State Film Award for Best actress in 2019 for the movies Oru Kuprasidha Payyan directed by Madhupal and Chola directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan. Chola premiered at several international film festivals.
In 2021, she acted in The Great Indian Kitchen. The film as well as her performance were well received. The same year, she played lead roles in Nayattu and Malik. In 2022 she was a part of Oru Thekkan Thallu Case, Innale Vare and Heaven. Her upcoming films are Thuramukham and Chera. She made her Tamil debut through A. L. Vijay's Mission: Chapter 1 - Achcham Enbathu Illaiyae film but her first release in Tamil was Chithha in 2023.

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes
2017Thondimuthalum DriksakshiyumSreejaMalayalam
2018EedaAishwaryaMalayalam
2018Mangalyam ThanthunanenaClaraMalayalam
2018Oru Kuprasidha PayyanHanna ElizabethMalayalam
2019Nalpathiyonnu BhagyasooyamMalayalam
2019CholaJanakiMalayalam
2019Stand UpKeerthiMalayalam
2021The Great Indian KitchenSreedevi HareeshMalayalam
2021OneLathikaMalayalam
2021NayattuWCPO SunithaMalayalam
2021MalikRoslineMalayalam
2022Innale VareAnjaliMalayalam
2022HeavenDefense councilorMalayalamCameo
2022Hawa HawaiJyotiMarathi
2022Oru Thekkan Thallu CaseVasanthiMalayalam
2023ThuramukhamUmaniMalayalam
2023Footprints on WaterMeeraIndian English
2023ChithhaShakthiTamil
2023Jigarthanda DoubleXMalaiyarasiTamil
2023Adrishya JalakangalMirandaMalayalam
2024Mission: Chapter 1Nancy KurianTamil
2024LantraniManasi GangopandheyHindi
2025CrazxyBobbyHindiVoice role
2025DNADhivya AnandTamil

Short films

Television

YearTitleRoleLanguageNotes
2024PoacherMala YogiMalayalamTV series on Prime Video
2025Dabba CartelMalaHindiTV series on Netflix

Awards and nominations

AwardYearCategoryWorkResult
Kerala State Film Awards2019Best ActressOru Kuprasidha Payyan
Chola		Won
Kerala Film Critics Association Awards2019Best ActressOru Kuprasidha PayyanWon
Filmfare Awards South2018Best Actress Thondimuthalum DriksakshiyumNomitated
South Indian International Movie Awards2018Best Female Debut – MalayalamThondimuthalum DriksakshiyumWon
South Indian International Movie Awards2018Best Actress – MalayalamThondimuthalum DriksakshiyumNomitated
Asianet Film Awards2018Best ActressThondimuthalum DriksakshiyumNomitated
Asianet Film Awards2019Best Star Couple EedaWon
Asianet Film Awards2019Best Character ActressOru Kuprasidha PayyanNomitated
Filmfare Awards South2019Best ActressEedaNomitated
Filmfare Awards South2019Best Actress EedaWon
Vanitha Film Awards2018Best Newcomer ActressThondimuthalum DriksakshiyumWon
IFFM Awards2021Best Performance Female The Great Indian KitchenNomitated
IFFM Awards2021Honourable Mention for Best Actress The Great Indian KitchenWon
Movie Street Film Excellence Awards2018Best Debutant Actor – FemaleThondimuthalum DriksakshiyumWon
Movie Street Film Excellence Awards2019Best Actor Oru Kuprasidha PayyanWon
Toronto International South Asian Film Awards2019Best Debut ActressThondimuthalum DriksakshiyumWon
South Indian International Movie Awards2021Best ActressCholaNomitated
South Indian International Movie Awards2021Best Actress – CholaWon
Filmfare Awards South2022Best Actress The Great Indian KitchenWon
South Indian International Movie Awards2022Critics Choice AwardsThe Great Indian KitchenWon
Filmfare Awards South2024Best ActressChithhaWon
Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards2024Best ActressChithhaWon