Preetika Rao
Preetika Rao is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Preetika Rao began their career in 2010. With 30 credits to their name, Preetika Rao remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. An emerging voice in Tamil cinema, Preetika Rao is already attracting significant attention for their distinctive work.
Biography
Preetika Rao is an Indian actress and model, sister of Bollywood actress Amrita Rao, who began her career in Tamil cinema before transitioning to Hindi television. She made her acting debut in the Tamil film Chikku Bukku (2010) alongside Arya, playing the role of Meenal 'Ammu', and subsequently appeared in the Telugu film Priyudu (2012) opposite Varun Sandesh. She gained widespread recognition through the Hindi TV series Beintehaa (2013–2014), where she played Aaliya Ghulam Haider, winning the Gold Award for Best Debut Female. Her first Hindi film was 377 Ab Normal (2019).
Career Milestones
Film debut in Tamil romantic film Chikku Bukku, playing Meenal alongside Arya
View film →Television debut in Colors TV serial Beintehaa as lead character Aaliya Ghulam Haider, bringing widespread recognition
Won Zee Gold Best Debut award for performance in Beintehaa
Won ITA Performer of the Year and Best Jodi (with Harshad Arora) for Beintehaa
Felicitated at Sinema Zetu International Film Festival in Tanzania for popularity of Beintehaa on Azam TV
Iconic Roles
Chikku Bukku
Her acting debut in this Tamil romance film, playing a character whose love story with Arjun's father faces class-based family opposition in a 1985 flashback narrative.
Beintehaa
Her breakthrough television role on Colors TV opposite Harshad Arora, earning her multiple awards including Gold Award for Best Debut-Female and ITA Performer of the Year.
377 Ab Normal
Her Hindi film debut role in this social drama.
Love Ka Hai Intezaar
A notable television role on Star Plus continuing her career in Indian television drama.
Defining Moments
Debut as Meenal/Ammu in the flashback romance track — a tender, traditional love story alongside Arya that introduced her to South Indian cinema
Her acting debut; her portrayal of the gentle, emotionally mature Meenal was noted as a standout in the film and launched her career after a background in modeling and journalism
View film →Role as Aaliya Haider Abdullah in Beintehaa — an interfaith love story that earned her multiple Best Debut and Best Actress awards (Zee Gold, ITA)
Career-defining performance that established her as a leading face in Hindi television; won Best Jodi with Harshad Arora and ITA Performer of the Year
Playing Neha, a lesbian character opposite Maanvi Gagroo in a bold, socially conscious narrative
Her Hindi film debut in a progressive ZEE5 project tackling LGBTQ+ themes post the Section 377 verdict — a deliberate departure from mainstream roles
Preetika Rao by the Numbers
If you watched every Preetika Rao film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 4 hours.
Filmography
See all 30 credits →Career Analytics
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Did You Know?
Preetika Rao is an Indian actress and television presenter.
She is the younger sister of actress Amrita Rao.
She began her career as a video jockey on MTV India.
She played the lead role in the Tamil film 'Chikku Bukku' (2010).
She is known for her work in the Telugu film industry.
Legacy & Influence
Preetika Rao's contribution to Indian cinema, while not extensive, is marked by a notable transition from modeling and television to the film industry. Her primary cinematic work is the 2010 Tamil-Telugu bilingual film 'Chikku Bukku', where she played a supporting role. The film, a family drama centered on a railway journey, featured a prominent cast but did not achieve major commercial or critical success. Her performance, though a debut, did not lead to a sustained film career, and she subsequently returned her focus to television. Her greater impact and recognition were forged in the Indian television industry, particularly through her acclaimed role as Dr. Sonakshi Bose in the popular medical drama 'Sanjivani'. This role showcased her acting abilities to a wide audience and established her as a familiar face in Indian households. Therefore, her cinematic legacy is minimal and defined by a single, modestly received film. Her more significant contribution to Indian entertainment lies in her television work, where she demonstrated her capability in long-format storytelling and connected with a broad viewership. Her career trajectory exemplifies a path where an artist finds their primary platform and artistic fulfillment outside of mainstream cinema, influencing the industry by highlighting the talent and crossover potential of television actors.

