Vidya Pradeep

Vidya Pradeep is an Indian actress and scientist. She is currently working as a stem cell researcher in the United States. Her films include '' Saivam'' (2014), '' Pasanga 2'' (2015), '' Thadam'' (2019), and ''Kannagi'' (2023). As a scientist, her most recent paper is titled 'Aster-B Modulates Oxidative Stress Responses and Carotenoid Distribution in ARPE-19 Cells' published in the reputed scientific journal "Antioxidants".

Career

After completing her Master of Science in Biotechnology degree, Vidya Pradeep completed her PhD in Stem Cell Biology at an eye hospital in Chennai. She works on ocular stem cells, and her work has been published in the "International Journal of Cell & Gene Therapy".

She practiced Bharatanatyam during her childhood. While pursuing her PhD, Vidya worked as a model and appeared in several print and television advertisements. Vidya says that her break in to the world of Ads and movies were accidental. She also appeared in the music video for A. R. Rahman's "Aa Bhi Jaa" from his studio album Raunaq alongside Yami Gautam and several other models. Vidya was signed to play a role in a film by Lohithadas, but the film didn't materialise. She was subsequently signed to play a supporting role in '' Aval Peyar Thamizharasi'' (2010) and debuted under the name Dhyana. Her next film was '' Virunthali'' (2010), where she played the heroine. She was spotted by director A. L. Vijay, who cast her in his successful family drama film, '' Saivam'' (2014) to portray Sara Arjun's mother. For the film, she reverted to her original name and put on weight to portray a middle-aged woman. The film and the ensemble cast won positive reviews for its portrayal of a family. She then featured in the action drama, '' Adhibar'' (2015) as the lead actress opposite Jeevan. Pradeep then worked on Pandiraj's '' Pasanga 2'' (2015) portraying the mother of a small child. Critics noted that Pradeep added "solidity to the film by coming up with a credible performance" and that she did "commendably well". She worked on the psychological thriller ''Onnume Puriyala'' (2016), which made the headlines for becoming the first Tamil film to be remade in German, and played a cameo in '' Achamindri'' (2016).

Pradeep made her debut in Kannada with '' Bangara s/o Bangarada Manushya'' (2017) opposite Shivarajkumar, and the film opened to very positive reviews. Vidya was highly appreciated by the critics for her acting skills and screen presence. The New Indian Express noted that "Vidya Pradeep doesn’t stay a glam doll instead proves her talent in acting when called for", while the Deccan Herald says that it is a "fortuitous debut for Vidya Pradeep". In March 2019, she appeared in '' Thadam'' with Arun Vijay. ''Times of India'' said "Vidya's performance stands out" and ''The Indian Express'' stated that "Vidya Pradeep needs a special mention and manages to hold your attention undivided right through as Malar".

Filmography

Web series

Television series

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pradeep, Vidya
Indian film actresses
Actresses in Tamil cinema
Living people
Actresses in Malayalam cinema
Actresses in Kannada cinema
Year of birth missing (living people)
21st-century Indian biologists
Stem cell researchers
Indian biotechnologists
Actresses from Chennai
Actresses from Alappuzha
Scientists from Chennai