Neeta Pillai

{{Infobox person | name = Neeta Pillai | image = | birth_date = | birth_place = Thodupuzha, Kerala, India | occupation = {{Hlist|Actor|model}} | years_active = 2018–present }}

'''Neeta Pillai''' is an Indian actress from Kerala who predominantly working in the Malayalam film industry. She debuted with Poomaram in 2018, alongside Kalidas Jayaram.<ref name="TOI delay">{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/kalidas-jayaram-takes-trolls-about-poomarams-release-in-good-stride/articleshow/62219943.cms |title=Kalidas Jayaram takes trolls about Poomaram's release in good stride - Times of India |website=The Times of India |date=23 December 2017 |accessdate=4 March 2018 |archive-date=20 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520063614/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/kalidas-jayaram-takes-trolls-about-poomarams-release-in-good-stride/articleshow/62219943.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/neeta-pillai-im-not-a-leader-like-irene/articleshow/63951469.cms |title=Neeta Pillai: I'm not a leader like Irene |newspaper=The Times of India |date=29 April 2018 |access-date=16 January 2024 |archive-date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430154527/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/neeta-pillai-im-not-a-leader-like-irene/articleshow/63951469.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Early life == Neeta was born at Thodupuzha, Kerala to Vijayan P.N. and Manjula D. Nair.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.deepika.com/cinema/StarChat.aspx?Actress-Neeta-Pillai-about-The-Kung-Fu-Master&ID=50015 |title='ദ കുങ്ഫു മാസ്റ്ററി'ൽ എത്തിച്ചത് എബ്രിഡ് ഷൈൻ എന്ന ബ്രാൻഡ് നെയിമിലുള്ള വിശ്വാസം - നീത പിള്ള |website=deepika.com |access-date=7 March 2020 |archive-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815203354/https://www.deepika.com/cinema/StarChat.aspx?Actress-Neeta-Pillai-about-The-Kung-Fu-Master&ID=50015 |url-status=live }}</ref> She has done Masters in Petroleum engineering from University of Louisiana at Lafayette, United States. She is a trained classical musician and dancer.<ref>{{Cite news |last=M |first=Athira |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/neeta-pillai-about-her-martial-arts-moves-in-the-kungu-master/article30702019.ece |title=Neeta Pillai on packing a punch in 'The Kung Fu Master' with her martial art moves |date=31 January 2020 |work=The Hindu |access-date=7 March 2020 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=26 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226095042/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/neeta-pillai-about-her-martial-arts-moves-in-the-kungu-master/article30702019.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> She has also won second runner-up title of Miss-Bollywood beauty pageant held at Houston in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/celebrity-news/poomaram-actress-neetha-pillai-gets-wide-acceptance/articleshow/63344247.cms |title=ഇതാണ് നീത പിള്ള!!! വേനലിൽ പൂത്ത 'പൂമര'ത്തിലെ ഐറിൻ |date=17 March 2018 |website=Malayalam |language=ml |access-date=7 March 2020 |archive-date=27 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127053511/https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/celebrity-news/poomaram-actress-neetha-pillai-gets-wide-acceptance/articleshow/63344247.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/how-neeta-pillai-trained-martial-arts-play-female-lead-kung-fu-master-116929 |title=How Neeta Pillai trained in martial arts to play female lead |website=thenewsminute.com |date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127173752/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/how-neeta-pillai-trained-martial-arts-play-female-lead-kung-fu-master-116929 |archive-date=27 January 2020 |access-date=7 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.malayalamnewsdaily.com/node/254626/entertainment |title=ആക്ഷൻ ഹീറോയിൻ |date=29 January 2020 |website=Malayalam News |access-date=7 March 2020 |archive-date=27 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527095144/https://www.malayalamnewsdaily.com/node/254626/entertainment |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Career == Neeta started her acting in 2018 with Kalidas Jayaram in the film Poomaram, a musical drama film written and directed by Abrid Shine and won Asianet Film Awards for ''Best New Face of the Year (Female)'' for her role.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} She was also nominated for 8th South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) for Best Debut Actress (Malayalam).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/television/photo-gallery-siima-2019-nominations-list-out-who-among-kiara-advani-srinidhi-shetty-and-nidhhi-agerwal-will-claim-best-debut-award-2777395/best-debutante-actress-kannada-for-siima-2019-2777400 |title=Best Debutante actress Kannada for SIIMA 2019 {{!}} Latest News & Updates at DNAIndia.com |website=DNA India |language=en |access-date=7 March 2020 |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415141147/https://www.dnaindia.com/television/photo-gallery-siima-2019-nominations-list-out-who-among-kiara-advani-srinidhi-shetty-and-nidhhi-agerwal-will-claim-best-debut-award-2777395/best-debutante-actress-kannada-for-siima-2019-2777400 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/poomaram-movie-review-abrid-shine-shines-a-light-on-college-life-in-a-reality-show-style-film-4395019.html |title=Poomaram movie review: Abrid Shine shines a light on college life in a reality-show-style film |date=18 March 2018 |website=Firstpost |language=en |access-date=7 March 2020 |archive-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623184350/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/poomaram-movie-review-abrid-shine-shines-a-light-on-college-life-in-a-reality-show-style-film-4395019.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2020, she played the lead role of a martial arts expert in Abrid Shine's ''The Kung Fu Master''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/did-you-know/the-kung-fu-master-actress-neeta-pillai-debuted-through-poomaram/articleshow/73772314.cms |title='The Kung Fu Master' actress Neeta Pillai debuted through 'Poomaram' - Times of India |website=The Times of India |date=30 January 2020 |language=en |access-date=7 March 2020 |archive-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329220639/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/did-you-know/the-kung-fu-master-actress-neeta-pillai-debuted-through-poomaram/articleshow/73772314.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2019/12/23/the-kung-fu-master-movie-poster-neeta-pillai-abrid-shine.html |title=The Kung Fu Master first look: Neeta Pillai looks intense |website=OnManorama |language=en |access-date=7 March 2020}}</ref> The film was influenced by the action films of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li and shot at Himalayan Valley, Badrinath and India-China border.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/neeta-pillai-jiji-scaria-and-sanoop-pack-a-punch-in-the-kung-fu-master-first-poster/articleshow/72950410.cms |title=Neeta Pillai, Jiji Scaria and Sanoop pack a punch in 'The Kung Fu Master' first poster - Times of India |website=The Times of India |date=24 December 2019 |language=en |access-date=7 March 2020 |archive-date=30 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230000935/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/neeta-pillai-jiji-scaria-and-sanoop-pack-a-punch-in-the-kung-fu-master-first-poster/articleshow/72950410.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2020/01/20/chat-with-neeta-pillai-kungu-fu-master-heroine.html |title='ഇപ്പോഴും കാൽപാദത്തിലെ നീല നിറം മാറിയിട്ടില്ല'; നീത പിള്ള അഭിമുഖം |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml |access-date=7 March 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122071450/https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2020/01/20/chat-with-neeta-pillai-kungu-fu-master-heroine.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She has trained for a year to do action scenes in the film ''The Kung Fu Master''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=249327&u=%E2%80%9Che-should-never-again-do-this-to-anyone%E2%80%9D-actress-neeta-pillai-on-person-who-misbehaved-with-her-at-temple-(video) |title="He should never again do this to anyone"; Actress Neeta Pillai on person who misbehaved with her at temple |last=Daily |first=Keralakaumudi |website=Keralakaumudi Daily |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415141150/https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=249327&u=%E2%80%9Che-should-never-again-do-this-to-anyone%E2%80%9D-actress-neeta-pillai-on-person-who-misbehaved-with-her-at-temple-(video) |archive-date=15 April 2023 |access-date=7 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/interview/neeta-pillai-interview-the-kungfu-master-movie-directed-by-abrid-shine-1.4465402 |title=ബ്രൂസ് ലിയുടേയും ജാക്കി ചാന്റെയും ഫൈറ്റുകള്‍ പലപ്രാവശ്യം കണ്ടു-നീത പിള്ള |last=എ.യു |first=അമൃത |website=Mathrubhumi |date=22 January 2020 |language=en |access-date=7 March 2020 |archive-date=28 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228152424/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/interview/neeta-pillai-interview-the-kungfu-master-movie-directed-by-abrid-shine-1.4465402 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Filmography == {{Pending films key}}

===Films=== All films are in Malayalam language unless otherwise noted. {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 2018 || ''Poomaram'' || Irene George || Debut Film||<ref>{{cite web |title=Poomaram Review: A Half-Hearted Yet Charming Tribute To Adolescence |url=https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/reviews/poomaram-review-a-half-hearted-yet-charming-tribute-to-adolescence/ |website=Silver Screen India |date=16 March 2018 |accessdate=27 September 2020 |archive-date=20 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620100924/https://silverscreenindia.com/movies/reviews/poomaram-review-a-half-hearted-yet-charming-tribute-to-adolescence/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | 2020 || ''The Kung Fu Master'' || Rithu Ram || ||<ref name="auto"/> |- | 2022 || ''Paappan'' || ASP Vincy Abraham IPS || || <ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/paappan-movie-review-suresh-gopi-and-neeta-pillai-shine-in-joshiys-crime-thriller/article65702902.ece |title=Suresh Gopi and Neeta Pillai shine in Joshiy's crime thriller |website=The Hindu |date=30 July 2022 |access-date=16 January 2024 |archive-date=19 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419202342/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/paappan-movie-review-suresh-gopi-and-neeta-pillai-shine-in-joshiys-crime-thriller/article65702902.ece |url-status=live |last1=Nagarajan |first1=Saraswathy }}</ref> |- | rowspan=2 | 2024 || ''Thankamani'' ||Anitha Varkey / Anitha Abel || ||<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 January 2023 |title=ദിലീപിന്റെ 148-ാം ചിത്രത്തിലൂടെ മലയാളത്തിൽ‍ അരങ്ങേറാൻ പ്രണിത സുഭാഷ് |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/pranitha-subhash-debuting-in-malayalam-movie-through-dileep-s-148th-movie-1.8256044 |access-date= |website=Mathrubhumi |language=ml |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707162406/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/pranitha-subhash-debuting-in-malayalam-movie-through-dileep-s-148th-movie-1.8256044 |url-status=live }}</ref> |- | ''Varshangalkku Shesham'' || Radhika || ||<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vineeth Sreenivasan's Varshangalkku Shesham trailer out |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2024/feb/13/vineeth-sreenivasans-varshangalkku-shesham-trailer-out-52019.html |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=Cinema Express |date=13 February 2024 |language=en}}</ref> |- |}

===Television=== {| class="wikitable" !Year ! Program !Role ! Channel !Notes |- |Rowspan=4|2020 |''Chill Bowl'' |Cook |Rowspan=4|Asianet | |- |''Chankanu Chackochan''||Dancer|| |- |''Comedy Stars Season 2''||Celebrity Judge|| |- |''Star Singer''||Dancer|| |}

==Awards==

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Film ! Result ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | rowspan="2"|2019 | 21st Asianet Film Awards | Best New Face of the Year (Female) | rowspan="2"| ''Poomaram'' | {{Won}} | {{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} |- | 8th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Debut Actress (Malayalam) | {{nom}} | <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/television/photo-gallery-siima-2019-nominations-list-out-who-among-kiara-advani-srinidhi-shetty-and-nidhhi-agerwal-will-claim-best-debut-award-2777395 |title=SIIMA 2019 nominations for best debutante actor and actresses |website=Daily News and Analysis |date=30 July 2019 |access-date=18 April 2020 |archive-date=17 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117103839/https://www.dnaindia.com/television/photo-gallery-siima-2019-nominations-list-out-who-among-kiara-advani-srinidhi-shetty-and-nidhhi-agerwal-will-claim-best-debut-award-2777395 |url-status=live }}</ref> |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pillai, Neeta}} Category:Living people Category:Indian film actresses Category:Actresses from Kerala Category:21st-century Indian actresses Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema Category:Women artists from Kerala Category:People from Idukki district Category:Year of birth missing (living people)