Amrita Rao

Beginning her career as a model, Rao made her acting debut with Ab Ke Baras (2002) for which she won her best debut award. She then starred in Ken Ghosh's love-story Ishq Vishk (2003) and earned her first Filmfare nomination in the Best Female Debut category. She is best known for Main Hoon Na (2004) and Vivah (2006), her biggest commercial success so far.
Personal life
Rao was born in Mumbai to a Konkani Hindu family from Mangalore, Karnataka.[2] She speaks Marathi, Hindi, English and her mother tongue, Konkani.[3] She attended Canossa High school in Mumbai, and later enrolled in Sophia College to pursue a degree in Psychology.

Career
Modeling
While studying in Sophia College, Rao auditioned for an advertisement for Fairever Face Cream. Her appearance in Cadbury’s Perk Karwa Chaut ad and the Bru Coffee advertisement helped her receive offers from film directors in Bollywood. As she wanted to complete her education, she refused them. After earning a degree in psychology, she began her profession as an actress, working in films.

Acting
Rao made her acting debut with Ab Ke Baras (2002), and followed that with her 2003 film, Ishq Vishk, in which she portrayed Payal. In 2004 her films Masti and Main Hoon Na, Deewaar (2004) were released. Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi (2005), Shikhar (2005), and Pyare Mohan (2006) followed. She starred in Sooraj R. Barjatya's Vivah (2006) opposite Shahid Kapoor.[4] Her performance earned her a Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award.

In 2006 Rao made her debut in Tollywood, with the Telugu film Athidhi opposite Mahesh Babu.[5] Amrita's releases in 2008 include My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves and Welcome to Sajjanpur. Amrita's releases in 2009 are Victory, and Shortkut.

Awards and nominations
Filmfare Awards
Nominated

2004: Filmfare Best Female Debut Award for Ishq Vishk
2005: Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Main Hoon Na
Star Screen Awards
Nominated

2003: Star Screen Award Most Promising Newcomer - Female for Ab Ke Baras
2004: Star Screen Award Most Promising Newcomer - Female for Ishq Vishk
2007: Star Screen Award Best Actress for Vivah[6]
2007: Star Screen Award Jodi No. 1 along with Shahid Kapoor - Vivah[7]
Zee Cine Awards
Nominated

2004: Zee Cine Award Best Female Debut for Ishq Vishk
International Indian Film Academy Awards
Winner

2004: IIFA Awards, Best Female Debut for Ishq Vishk
Stardust Awards
Winner

2004: Stardust Superstar of Tomorrow - Female for Ishq Vishk
2009: Stardust Best Actress Award for Welcome to Sajjanpur
Other Awards
2004: Sansui Awards, Best Debut - Female for Ishq Vishk
2007: GR8 Women Awards, Young Achiever
2007: Anandalok Puroshkar Awards, Most Promising New Talent for Vivah
2007: Sports World Awards, Jodi of the Year along with Shahid Kapoor for Vivah
2007: Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award for Vivah[8]
Filmography
Year Title Role Other notes
2002 Ab Ke Baras Anjali Thapar/Nandini
The Legend of Bhagat Singh Mannewali
2003 Ishq Vishk Payal Mehra Nominated, Filmfare Best Female Debut Award
2004 Masti Aanchal Mehta
Main Hoon Na Sanjana (Sanju) Bakshi Nominated, Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award
Deewaar Radhika
2005 Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi Priya
Shikhar Madhvi
2006 Pyare Mohan Piya
Vivah Poonam
2007 Heyy Babyy Special appearance in song Heyy Babyy
Athidhi Amrita Telugu film
2008 My Name is Anthony Gonsalves Riya
Shaurya Neerja Rathode Cameo appearance[9]
Welcome to Sajjanpur Kamla Winner, Stardust Best Actress Award
2009 Victory Nandini
Short Kut: The Con is On Mansi
Life Partner Anjali Kumar Guest appearance
2010 Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai Tara's Sister Cameo appearance
The Legend Of Kunal Kanchanmala Pre-production
Hook ya Crook Anjali Pre-production