
Aadhya Anand is a name that you might have heard recently, especially if you are a fan of Netflix’s latest series Bombay Begum. The 15-year-old actress plays the role of Shai, a rebellious teenager who struggles with her identity, sexuality, and family issues. Aadhya’s performance has been praised by critics and viewers alike, who have appreciated her natural and nuanced portrayal of a complex character.
Aadhya Anand Wiki/Bio, Caste
| Name | Aadhya Anand |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | 2 November 2007 |
| Birth Place | Coorg, Karnataka, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Caste | Kannada |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Parents | Anand Nayak (father), Priya Nayak (mother) |
| Siblings | Anaaya Anand (sister) |
| Education | Global Indian International School, Mumbai |
| Profession | Actress, Model, Dancer |
| Debut | A Yellow Bird (2016) |
| Awards | Singtel Young Achiever’s Award (2017), Singara Award (2017) |
| Boyfriend | N/A |
| Famous Roles | Shai in Bombay Begum, Veera in Braveheart, Aadhya Mathur in Crushed Season 2 |
| Links | Instagram- @aadhya_anand Facebook- @aadhyaanandofficial Homepage- WikiBioStar |
Biography
Aadhya Anand was born on Friday, 2 November 2007 (age: 16 years, as of 2023), in Coorg, Karnataka. Her zodiac sign is Scorpio. She is the daughter of Anand Nayak and Priya Nayak, who are both NRIs working in Singapore. She has a younger sister named Anaaya Anand, who is also an actress.
Aadhya was brought up in Singapore, where she attended the Global Indian International School, Mumbai. She was fascinated by acting since childhood, and started her career in the entertainment industry at the age of four. She used to work as a child model for various print and television advertising campaigns in Singapore, such as Cornetto, Resorts World Sentosa, and Universal Studios Singapore.

Career and Achievements
Aadhya Anand made her acting debut in 2016, with the Singaporean film A Yellow Bird, in which she played the role of the protagonist’s daughter. The film was directed by K. Rajagopal, and was screened at the Cannes Film Festival. In the same year, she appeared in another Singaporean film, Utter 2016: One Hour to Daylight, which was an anthology of four short stories.
In 2017, Aadhya made her television debut with the Singaporean show Lion Mums Season 2, in which she played the role of Sushila Chandran, a smart and confident student. She also appeared in other Singaporean shows, such as Manantu International 2, Whoopie’s World, and Word Whizz Slime Pit.
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Aadhya’s breakthrough came in 2021, when she was cast as the lead character of Shai in the Netflix series Bombay Begum, created by Alankrita Shrivastava. The series revolves around the lives of five women from different walks of life, who are connected by their ambitions, desires, and struggles in the city of Mumbai. Aadhya plays the role of Shai, the daughter of Rani (Pooja Bhatt), the CEO of a bank, and her stepfather, Rahim (Rahul Bose).
Shai is a sensitive and artistic girl, who is unhappy with her family situation, and seeks solace in her friendship with a transgender woman, Lily (Amruta Subhash). Shai also experiments with drugs, alcohol, and sexuality, and faces various challenges in her journey of self-discovery.
Aadhya’s performance in Bombay Begum was widely appreciated by the critics and the audience, who praised her for her maturity, authenticity, and versatility. She said that she enjoyed playing the role of Shai, as it was challenging and different from her previous roles. She also said that she learned a lot from her co-stars, especially Pooja Bhatt and Amruta Subhash, who were very supportive and helpful.
However, Aadhya Anand’s role in Bombay Begum also sparked some controversy, as the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) issued a notice to Netflix, asking them to stop streaming the series, over objectionable scenes involving a 13-year-old snorting cocaine. The NCPCR said that the series was portraying and glorifying children in India in a manner that could result in their abuse and exploitation. Netflix, however, defended the series, saying that it was a fictional story that reflected the realities of urban women in India.
She also appeared in other Hindi web series and films, such as Braveheart, a Hulu series in which she played the role of Veera, a girl who joins a group of rebels fighting against a tyrannical regime; Friday Night Plan, a Netflix film in which she played the role of Nitya, a girl who gets involved in a murder mystery with her friends; and Crushed Season 2, an Amazon miniTV series in which she played the role of Aadhya Mathur, a girl who falls in love with her best friend’s brother.
Aadhya has also won several awards for her acting skills, such as the Singtel Young Achiever’s Award in 2017, and the Singara Award at the International Kannada Cultural Conference held in Singapore in 2017.

Controversy
Aadhya’s career was not without controversy, as she faced some backlash for her role in Bombay Begum. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) issued a notice to Netflix, asking them to stop streaming the series, over objectionable scenes that involved a 13-year-old snorting cocaine. The NCPCR claimed that the series could result in the abuse and exploitation of children, and violated the provisions of the CPCR Act, 2005.
However, Aadhya Anand defended her role and said that she was aware of the script and the scenes, and that she had the consent and support of her parents. She also said that she did not actually consume any drugs, and that the scene was shot with utmost care and professionalism. She said that she was proud of her role and that she hoped that the series would create awareness and dialogue about the issues faced by teenagers in today’s society.
Personal Life and More

Aadhya Anand is currently single, and has not revealed any information about her boyfriend or relationship status. She is focused on her studies and her career, and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Aadhya belongs to the Hindu religion, and follows the traditions and customs of her family. She is proud of her roots, and speaks fluent Kannada, Hindi, and English. She also knows some Tamil and Malayalam.
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth (in rupees) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 80 lakhs – 1 crore |
| 2022 | 50 lakhs – 75 lakhs |
| 2021 | 25 lakhs – 50 lakhs |
Words from Aadhya Anand About Her Role in Crushed S3 and Her Dream Character
In an exclusive interview, Aadhya Anand shared her excitement and gratitude for the positive response to Crushed S3. She said, “The response to Crushed S3 has been truly invigorating, exceeding all our expectations. As actors, it is the most rewarding experience to see our work resonate with the masses. I am very thankful to the makers, the co-stars, and the fans for making this series a huge success.”
She also revealed some interesting details about her role and how it contributed to her growth as an actor. She said, “Aadhya Mathur is a very relatable and realistic character, who faces many challenges and dilemmas in her personal and professional life. She is a strong and independent girl, who is not afraid to pursue her dreams and passions. She is also very loyal and caring towards her friends and family. Playing this role was a great learning opportunity for me, as I got to explore different aspects of her personality and emotions. I also got to work with some amazing actors, who helped me improve my craft and skills.”
When asked about which character she would love to play in the series if given a choice, she surprised us with her answer. She said, “Other than my character, Aadhya Mathur, I would have loved to play the role of Zoya. She is full of life, carefree, sorted, confident, and talks her mind. Her straightforward approach to doing things she believes in makes her an utterly endearing character. I think she is very fun and inspiring, and I would have enjoyed playing her on screen.”
Zoya, who is played by Anushka Sen, is one of the main characters in the series, who is a fashion blogger and a social media influencer. She is also the best friend of Aadhya and the sister of Rishi. She has a love-hate relationship with Kabir (played by Siddharth Nigam), who is a popular singer and a heartthrob.
Aadhya also expressed her desire to work with more talented actors and directors in the future, and to experiment with different genres and platforms. She said, “I am very passionate about acting and I want to explore more opportunities and challenges in this field. I want to work with more talented actors and directors, who can inspire me and help me grow as an actor. I also want to try different genres and platforms, such as films, web series, and OTT platforms. I want to entertain and connect with the audiences through my work, and to make them happy and proud.”
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 ft 7 in or 170 cm
- Weight: 58 kg or 128 lbs
- Eye color: Dark brown
- Hair color: Dark brown
- Body measurements: 34-26-35 inches






