Riya Vij
Riya Vij is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Riya Vij began their career in 2013 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 13 years. With 30 credits to their name and an average audience rating of 6.4, Riya Vij remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. An emerging voice in Tamil cinema, Riya Vij is already attracting significant attention for their distinctive work.
- Born
- Age
- 27
Biography
Riya Vij is a Hindi cinema actress from Delhi, best known for playing the lead role of Gurpreet Kaur (Gippi) in the 2013 Dharma Productions children's film Gippi, directed by Sonam Nair. She landed the role unexpectedly after accompanying a friend to the audition, going on to carry the entire film as a bullied, overweight schoolgirl navigating friendships and self-confidence. She subsequently appeared in Kick (2014) alongside Salman Khan as the character Bubbles, and had a role in Kapoor and Sons (2016). After a hiatus, she returned to acting with projects including Section 84 and Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, both announced for 2026.
Career Milestones
Film debut as lead in Gippi, a Dharma Productions coming-of-age film directed by Sonam Nair
View film →Supporting role as Bubbles in major Bollywood action thriller starring Salman Khan
Appeared in critically acclaimed family drama directed by Shakun Batra
Iconic Roles
Gippi
Lead role in this Dharma Productions coming-of-age comedy-drama about a 14-year-old girl dealing with bullying over her weight. The titular character made Riya Vij a recognizable face in Bollywood at age 14.
Kick
Supporting role as Shaina's younger sister in this Salman Khan action blockbuster, giving Riya Vij wider mainstream visibility.
Defining Moments
Gippi's emotional breakdown after being publicly humiliated by Shamira and her clique at school, where she confronts her insecurities about her weight and appearance as a 14-year-old girl
This is Riya Vij's defining performance moment — she delivered a raw, naturalistic portrayal of adolescent vulnerability that critics singled out for full marks in acting, establishing her as a remarkably natural child actor in her debut.
View film →Gippi's heartfelt mother-daughter scenes with Divya Dutta, where she navigates the emotional complexity of adolescence and seeks acceptance
Widely cited as the emotional highlight of the film; Riya held her own opposite veteran actress Divya Dutta, and reviewers praised the chemistry as the film's strongest element.
View film →The climactic challenge sequence where Gippi rises to Shamira's dare, transforming from the bullied outsider into someone who reclaims her confidence
The arc-completing moment of the film — Riya's performance in this turning point is what made Gippi a rare Bollywood coming-of-age story that resonated authentically with young audiences.
View film →Riya Vij by the Numbers
If you watched every Riya Vij film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 2 hours.
Filmography
See all 30 credits →
Career Analytics
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Legacy & Influence
Riya Vij's contribution to Indian cinema is modest and defined by a single, notable appearance as a child actor in the 2013 coming-of-age film 'Gippi'. Directed by Sonam Nair and produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, 'Gippi' was a significant film for its honest portrayal of adolescent insecurities, body image issues, and school life from a young girl's perspective. While her specific role in the film is not widely documented or credited in detail, her participation places her within an important project that aimed to provide relatable content for a younger audience, diverging from the typical glamour of mainstream Hindi cinema at the time. The film has since garnered a cult following for its heartfelt narrative. Following 'Gippi', Riya Vij has not maintained a visible acting career in the public domain, with no subsequent film credits or industry presence reported in verified sources. Consequently, her legacy is intrinsically tied to this one film. Her impact lies not in a prolonged filmography or public persona, but in being part of an ensemble that delivered a sincere story which resonated with its target demographic and remains a reference point for films attempting to authentically capture the complexities of teenage years in India.