Preeti Panigrahi

Biography:

Preeti Panigrahi is an Indian actress who gained recognition for her role in the 2024 film Girls Will Be Girls. She earned the Special Jury Award for Acting at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival for her portrayal of a high school student grappling with the challenges of adolescence and societal pressures.

Born in 2002, Preeti grew up in India and pursued her education at Hindu College, Delhi University, where she was actively involved in theater. She is currently studying animation at SRFTI. Her passion for acting was nurtured by her father’s enthusiasm for theater.

Preeti secured the lead role of Mira in Girls Will Be Girls after responding to an open call in 2022. The audition required participants to submit a video showcasing their high school persona. Drawing from her experience as the head girl in school, Preeti successfully embodied the character of Mira. She honed her skills for the role through workshops with casting director Dilip Shankar. At the Sundance Film Festival, the film won the audience award in the World Cinema Dramatic competition, and Preeti’s performance earned her the special jury prize. Critic Anupama Chopra praised her for her natural and nuanced portrayal of Mira, saying, “Panigrahi is the find of the year. Without a trace of strain or drama, she captures the myriad emotions coursing through Mira as she discovers passion, sexuality, unbridled rage, a twisted sort of jealousy, resentment, disappointment, and eventually, comfort.”