In this story
Biography
Who Is Shalini Pandey?
Shalini Pandey is an Indian actress from Jabalpur. She works in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films. She is also a computer engineering graduate.
Most people know her as Preethi from the 2017 Telugu hit Arjun Reddy. In 2026 she appeared in the comedy Rahu Ketu and the Prime Video series Bandwaale.
Shalini Pandey Age
She was born on 23 September 1993, a Thursday. As of 2026, she is 33. Her zodiac sign is Virgo.
Early Life, Family and Education
She grew up in a middle-class family. Her father works for the Madhya Pradesh government. Her mother is a trained Carnatic singer.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh |
| Father | Government employee (name not public) |
| Mother | Trained Carnatic singer (name not public) |
| Sister | Pooja Pandey (younger) |
| School | Christ Church Girls Higher Secondary School, Jabalpur |
| College | Global Engineering College, Jabalpur |
| Degree | B.Tech, Computer Science |
Acting started in college theatre, in her second year. Her father wanted her in a stable job. He let her try Mumbai for one week and bought her a return ticket. She never used it.
Physical Appearance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
| Hair | Black |
| Eyes | Black |
| Tattoo | Small one on her ankle |
Fans often say she looks like Alia Bhatt.
Personal Life
She is unmarried. No boyfriend or partner has been confirmed. She keeps her private life private.
She loves dogs. In 2022 she got a puppy and named it AJ. In August 2026 she supported a petition against removing community dogs from Mumbai railway stations.
Her Instagram handle is @shalzp. She posts film updates and travel photos.
Career
Start (2016–2017). Her first work was small TV episodes in Man Mein Hai Visshwas and Crime Patrol. Then came Arjun Reddy, opposite Vijay Deverakonda. It was a big hit and later remade as Kabir Singh. She won the Best Debut Actress award at the Zee Cine Awards Telugu.
South films (2018–2020). She played Suseela in Mahanati and had five releases in 2019. These included 118, 100% Kadhal and Gorilla.
Hindi films (2020–2022). She starred in Bamfaad and then Jayeshbhai Jordaar with Ranveer Singh. The second film flopped. After that she was off screen for two years.
OTT comeback (2024–2025). She played Kishori in Netflix’s Maharaj. The role won her an Iconic Gold Award and a Times of India Film Award. In 2025 she led Netflix’s Dabba Cartel and appeared in Dhanush’s Tamil film Idli Kadai.
2026. Rahu Ketu released in theatres on 16 January. Reviews were mixed. Bandwaale followed on Prime Video on 13 February. She plays Mariam, a young poet from Ratlam who posts her work online without her name. No new release date has been announced yet.
Movies and Web Series
| Year | Title | Role | Language / Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Arjun Reddy | Preethi Shetty | Telugu |
| 2018 | Mahanati | Suseela | Telugu |
| 2019 | 118 | Megha | Telugu |
| 2019 | 100% Kadhal | Mahalakshmi | Tamil |
| 2019 | Gorilla | Jhansi | Tamil |
| 2019 | Iddari Lokam Okate | Varsha | Telugu |
| 2020 | Bamfaad | Neelam | Hindi |
| 2020 | Nishabdham | Sonali | Telugu |
| 2022 | Jayeshbhai Jordaar | Mudra Patel | Hindi |
| 2024 | Maharaj | Kishori | Netflix |
| 2025 | Dabba Cartel | Raji Jagtap | Netflix |
| 2025 | Idli Kadai | Meera | Tamil |
| 2026 | Rahu Ketu | Meenu Taxi | Hindi |
| 2026 | Bandwaale | Mariam | Prime Video |
Net Worth
There is no verified number. Most sites estimate about $1 million (₹8–9 crore). Her income comes from acting, brand deals and social media posts.
Favourite Things
- Food: Pizza
- Colour: Blue
- Film: A Clockwork Orange
- Actors: Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan
- Actresses: Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Kajol, Kangana Ranaut, Waheeda Rehman
- Hobbies: Films, dancing, reading
Rumours and Controversies
Deepfake video (August 2026). A fake AI-made video of her went viral. She posted on Instagram that it was fabricated and asked people not to share it.
Body-shaming. She has said she faced it after Arjun Reddy. She also said she was naive then.
On-set incident. She has spoken about a director entering her van without knocking early in her career.
Maharaj stay. The film faced a court stay before its Netflix release. The issue was about the film, not about her.
Relationships. No dating rumour about her has a confirmed source.
Facts
- She sang “Naa Pranamay” in 2018.
- She appeared in Armaan Malik’s music video “Nakhrey Nakhrey” (2022).
- She ranked 19th on the Hyderabad Times Most Desirable Women list in 2017.
- Kiara Advani played her Arjun Reddy role in Kabir Singh.
- In August 2026 she marked nine years of Arjun Reddy with a heartfelt post.
FAQs
1. Who is Shalini Pandey?
An Indian actress known for Arjun Reddy, Maharaj and Dabba Cartel.
2. How old is she?
She is 33, born on 23 September 1993.
3. Is she married?
No. No relationship is confirmed.
4. What is her height?
About 5 ft 5 in (165 cm).
5. What are her latest projects?
Rahu Ketu (January 2026) and Bandwaale (February 2026).
6. What is Shalini Pandey’s Instagram handle?
Conclusion
Shalini Pandey began with college plays and a B.Tech degree. Today she has work in three languages and on two major streaming platforms. Some films missed, and some roles were small. Even so, she keeps picking different parts, and that is what keeps her career moving.
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