| Prachee Shah Paandya | |
| Birth Place: | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Occupation: | Model, Actress |
| Children: | 1 |
| Yearsactive: | 2000–present |
Prachee Shah Paandya, also known as Prachi Shah, is an Indian actress and Kathak dancer who appears in Hindi films and television. She is best known for her role as Pooja Hemant Virani in Ekta Kapoor's Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi[1]
Shah is a Gujarati Jain by birth but her family has lived in Maharashtra for three generations. In an interview she admitted not knowing how to speak Gujarati but being fluent in Marathi because of her upbringing.[2] Prachi gained significant popularity for playing Tulsi's sister in-law in the hugely successful serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. This led to multiple roles in serials produced by Ekta Kapoor up until she took a break from acting to focus on parenthood.
She is a trained Kathak dancer and has performed in dance shows both nationally and internationally.[3] [4] She trained with her guru Ganesh Hiralal ji, of the seventh generation of the Hiralal family of the Jaipur gharana[5] and holds the Guinness World Record for performing 93 spins in one minute and in 2015 was appointed as the Kathak ambassador by the Government of India.[6]
In 2019, Shah attended the Cannes Film Festival moderating a session discussing women in global cinema.[7]
Shah has been married to filmmaker Vishwas Paandya since 9 December 2005.[8] She gave birth to their daughter Khiana in 2009 and subsequently took a year off from work.[9] [10]
| Year | Title | Roles | Language | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Hey Ram | Lavani Dancer | Simultaneously shot in Hindi | ||
| 2005 | Pak Pak Pakaak | Bhutya/Sakharam's wife | |||
| 2010 | Isi Life Mein | Pragriti Khandelwal | Hindi | [11] | |
| 2011 | Haunted – 3D | Mrs. Stephens | |||
| 2012 | Ichar Tharla Pakka | Radhika | Marathi | ||
| Student of the Year | Mrs. Shah | Hindi | [12] | ||
| 2013 | Akaash Vani | Vani's Maami | |||
| 2014 | Raja Natwarlal | Raghav's wife | |||
| 2015 | ABCD 2 | Padmashri Durga Devi | |||
| 2017 | Shubh Aarambh | Manasvi | |||
| Judwaa 2 | Ankita Malhotra | Hindi | |||
| 2018 | Mulk | Choti Tabassum | [13] [14] | ||
| 2020 | Laxmii | Girija's wife | |||
| 2021 | Hum Do Hamare Do | Rupa Mehra | |||
| 2022 | Rashtra Kavach Om | Yashvi | [15] | ||
| 2023 | Chhatriwali | Nisha Kalra | [16] | ||
| 2024 | Udan Chhoo | [17] | |||
| 2024 | Do Patti | Shobhana Pundir | Hindi |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-2004 | Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi | Pooja Hemant Virani | ||
| 2000–2002 | Koshish Ek Asha | Bhavna | ||
| 2001 | Manzilein Apani Apani | Priya | ||
| 2000–2001 | Kundali | Vidhi Viraj Agarwal | ||
| 2002 | Kahin Diyaa Jale Kahin Jiyaa | Payal | ||
| 2003 | Piya Ka Ghar | Yashoda Rakesh Sharma | ||
| 2002-2008 | Bhabhi | Seema | ||
| 2003-2005 | Karan - The Detective | Namita | ||
| 2006–2008 | Rangoli | Herself / Host | ||
| 2006–2007 | Kesar | Kesar | ||
| 2007–2009 | Kayamath | Premlata Shah | ||
| 2009–2010 | Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam | Mrs. Brijbhushan Mathur | [18] | |
| 2013–2015 | Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? Ek Baar Phir | Kalindi Kirloskar | ||
| 2016–2017 | Ek Shringaar-Swabhiman | Sharda Solanki | [19] | |
| 2019 | Jashodaben Narendrabhai Modi | [20] |