Meet Bollywood's first black belt actress, became an overnight star with her debut, was involved in several controversies, career failed to take off, her name is…
Neetu Chandra was born on 20 June 1984 in Patna, Bihar. After completing her schooling at Notre Dame Academy in Patna, she graduated from Indraprastha College in Delhi. Neetu credits her success to her mother Neera Chandra, who hails from East Champaran. Neetu, who started her career with modeling, worked in many advertisements and gradually entered the world of films.
Neetu made her Bollywood debut in 2005 with Priyadarshan's comedy film 'Garam Masala', in which she played the lead role alongside Akshay Kumar and John Abraham. Her character's name in the film is 'Sweety'. The success of this film made her famous overnight. Neetu said in an interview, 'Garam Masala was a superhit. Because of Priyadarshan sir, I was sure that the audience would like this film. Even today, people call me 'Garam Masala Girl'.' Priya Chandra's impressive film portfolio
After this, she proved her acting prowess in the Telugu film 'Godavari' in 2006 and Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Traffic Signal' in 2007. The special thing is that for 'Traffic Signal', Neetu was on the streets of Mumbai for a week. Neetu prepared for her character by staying on the streets.
Neetu is the first Bollywood actress to have a fourth Dan black belt in Taekwondo. She represented India in the World Taekwondo Championship in Hong Kong in 1997 and also participated in the World Korfball Championship in Delhi in 1995. She has also won a silver medal in Taekwondo at the National Games. Neetu Chandra's controversial life
With her first hit film, she achieved many milestones. However, she also had a deep connection with controversies. In 2009, during the shooting of the Telugu film 'Satyamev Jayate', actor Rajasekhar was accused of misbehaving and assaulting her. Neetu filed a complaint with the Hyderabad Police Commissioner, Human Rights and Women's Commissions. Rajasekhar's wife and the film's director, Jeevitha accused Neetu of harassing her.
In the year 2025, Neetu filed a PIL in Patna High Court against rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh's song 'Maniac'. She called the lyrics of the song insulting to women and Bhojpuri. Neetu had said, 'Such obscene songs create discomfort for women and girls in Bihar. This is harmful for the society and the country.' Neetu Chandra's Hollywood film
Neetu also went to Hollywood after leaving Bollywood. In 2021, she made a special identity worldwide by playing the role of a martial arts fighter named Jaya in the Hollywood film 'Never Back Down: Revolt'. According to the information, Neetu got this role without audition. Actually, filmmaker David Zellon decided to cast her in his film after seeing her films and martial arts skills. Apart from this, she was also seen in the Hollywood show 'Gown and Out in Beverly Hills'.
Neetu has worked in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films. She has worked in films like 'Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!', '13B: Fear Has a New Address' and many more. Her production company Champaran Talkies made the Bhojpuri film 'Mithila Makhan', which won a National Award. This film was directed by her brother Nitin Chandra.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
35 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Junior movie review: Kireeti's launchpad buckles under sentimentality and sloppy logic
Junior movie review: The protagonist of Radha Krishna Reddy's Junior feels like a hacky blend of Allu Arjun's Arya, Aamir Khan's Rancho, Ravi Teja's Kalyan (from Kick (2009)), and countless other popular characters from modern lore. Abhi (Kireeti Reddy) has a singular priority in life, and that is to make memories. There isn't a moment that he wouldn't live to the fullest or an experience he would shy away from, and all because of his overbearingly doting father Kodandapani (V Ravichandran). The father has raised Abhi as a single parent, and though his ways of nurturing his child are pleasant, the son has grown up feeling stifled by all the care and affection. So, if there's an opportunity to get into a random fist fight with a fellow college kid or swear revenge against the boss at work, Abhi is all game and excited because his father has never allowed him to encounter those emotions before. Arya, Rancho and Kalyan might have different individual reasons for their zest for life, but the approach remains the same among all of them. But what if Abhi were to be the lucky one, while someone else aches for the very love Kodandapani gives him so freely? What if he were to realise that the purpose of his life isn't to live for himself, but to create new memories for that someone else? Junior, in essence, is a coming-of-age drama, but the method it chooses to drive its message home is that of a sentimental family drama – and the film rarely tries to rein in its sentimentality. Teeing off by introducing Kireeti's Abhi as a spunky college kid, Junior lavishly uses its 154-minute runtime through several scenes that are playful yet dispensable. A majority of the first half is spent running back and forth explaining Abhi's comical conundrums, with his select few friends and classmate/crush Spoorthi (Sreeleela in a rather underwritten role) mucking about alongside. Barring the opening sequence that establishes the emotional depth behind Kodandapani's possessiveness, most of what follows is intentionally frivolous and low-stakes. Devi Sri Prasad attempts to breathe some vigour into these scenes with his trademark uptempo score/songs, while Kireeti himself comes to the fore with some acrobatic dance moves. Yet, all effort yields little of worth because the writing is haphazard and lacks the required guile or intent for the themes it wishes to explore. These inconsequential scenes further nag at us as neither the jokes land nor the story presses on. It is only when Genelia Deshmukh's Vijaya enters the fray that the film's true direction begins to emerge. The popular actor's comeback film in Telugu offers her a feisty yet stoic character who leads a huge global enterprise, and Genelia does a fine job in infusing some strength into Vijaya. The character is sure to remind many of the formidable female figures of Trivikram Srinivas' oeuvre, who often pose a stiff challenge to the male protagonist and urge them to find the maturity lurking deep inside them. Radha Krishna Reddy manages to set the stage for something very similar in Junior, and for a brief while, he succeeds in creating a delicious battle between a scrappy, up-and-coming young man and a seasoned, highly successful woman. However, the fire dies down quite early into the proceedings because the writing, once again, starts to meander by depending heavily on cliches. What also holds the film back is how often logic takes a backseat in the storytelling. There's no plausible reason as to why a massive crew of techies, led by their CEO herself, would shift base to a tiny village for the sake of a CSR (corporate social responsibility) obligation. Characters are forced to remain estranged for convenience's sake while medical conditions are twisted and wrung about just so that the film throws a few punchy surprises at us. One finds no harm in using such contrivances to develop drama in the narrative, but the problem occurs when the contrived nature of the writing doesn't warrant merit – and Junior seldom finds itself deserving of the benefit of the doubt. Yet, there are a few worthy bright moments that linger (aided by DSP's background score). Ravichandran's restrained performance as the wistful yet warm father leaves a solid impression, while Kireeti shares a handful of emotionally resonant sequences with Genelia; debutant Kireeti, otherwise, fares underwhelmingly in the role that barely demands much. The production design, too, makes a mark and 'Baahubali' and 'RRR' cinematographer KK Senthil Kumar's frames are fittingly rich and vivid. The technical team and the rest of the ensemble cast deliver what's expected, though the script gives them precious little to work with. Also Read | Saiyaara movie review: Aneet Padda-Ahaan Panday show spark, but this is no Aashiqui 3 Ultimately, Junior finds itself juggling between being a grand launchpad for its lead actor and a striking family drama with echoes of Telugu cinema's not-so-long-ago past. For the latter, it required a nuanced approach that would have done away with the datedness of the material and imbued it with some freshness and originality. Without the required agency, it ends up being a tediously long, illogical affair that relinquishes the good opportunities it fleetingly presents itself. Junior movie cast: Kireeti Reddy, Sreeleela, Genelia Deshmukh, V Ravichandran Junior movie director: Radha Krishna Reddy Junior movie rating: 2.5 stars
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Entries invited for int'l short film competition on Telugu language development
Guntur: The Andhra Saraswatha Parishath has announced an International Short Film Competition focused on the development of the Telugu language. Speaking to the media, Parishath president Dr Gajjal Srinivas said the competition will revolve around themes such as the historical grandeur of the Telugu language, the brilliance of Andhra Saraswatha, Telugu language development, the glory of Telugu, and the protection and promotion of the Telugu language. "The film screening ceremony will be held at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan premises, Guntur, on Sept 14," said Dr Srinivas. He added that entries must be exactly 5 minutes long, with a minimum duration of 4 minutes. Participants of all ages are welcome. However, content related to political parties, hate-inciting topics, or anything that disrupts national unity will not be permitted. Once submitted, entries cannot be withdrawn. Entries must be submitted by Aug 14 via 'WeTransfer' to aspshortfilmcontest@ Renowned actor and producer Lohit Kumar will serve as the chief coordinator, while Saketh Udayagiri (9182612419) will be the co-coordinator. Dr Srinivas also mentioned that a no objection certificate (NOC) from key technical team members is mandatory for submission. Each organisation can submit up to two entries. Both documentaries and narrative films are allowed, and the films should inspire future generations and the Telugu community while promoting the protection of the Telugu language. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Walmart Cameras Captured These Hilarious 20 Photos Old Money Style Undo World Telugu Conference chief coordinator P. Ramachandra Raju stated that the prizes for the contest will be Rs. 1 lakh for first place, Rs. 75,000 for second place, and Rs. 50,000 for third place. Additionally, three consolation prizes of ₹10,116 each will be awarded, along with honors for best actor, best actress, best writer, and best cinematography. The award ceremony will be held during the 3rd World Telugu Conference in Guntur on January 3, 2026. Winning films and those deemed eligible will be screened at the conference, said Reddappa Dhaveji.
Mint
37 minutes ago
- Mint
Bhairavam on OTT: Manchu Manoj's action drama streaming on Zee5 from THIS date
'Bhairavam', the high-octane action drama marking Manchu Manoj's return to the silver screen, is now available for streaming on Zee5. Directed by Vijay Kanakamedala, the Telugu film is an official remake of the Tamil hit 'Garudan', and first released in cinemas on May 30. After its theatrical run, the film has made its digital debut with Zee5 announcing the release alongside a gripping teaser. Set against a rural backdrop, 'Bhairavam' delves into themes of loyalty, betrayal, and justice. The plot centres around three childhood friends whose bond is shattered by a corrupt land deal. A dishonest minister hires the manipulative Circle Inspector Pardha Sarathi to illegally seize sacred temple land, igniting a chain of conflict and moral reckoning. Manchu Manoj's performance has been widely praised, with critics and audiences alike noting his powerful screen presence. He stars alongside Bellamkonda Srinivas and Rohit Nara in the lead roles. The supporting cast includes Aditi Shankar, Anandhi, Divya Pillai, Jayasudha, Ajay, Raja Ravindra, and Sharath Lohitaswa. The film is directed by Vijay Kanakamedala and penned by R.S. Durai Senthilkumar. It was produced by K.K. Radhamohan under the Sri Sathya Sai Arts banner and presented by Dr. Jayantilal Gada of Pen Studios. Sricharan Pakala composed the music, while cinematography was handled by Hari K. Vedantam. With its arrival on OTT, 'Bhairavam' is set to reach a wider audience, giving fans another chance to catch Manchu Manoj in one of his most intense roles to date.
