Debut and mainstream success (2006–2014)
Naik began her acting career in 2006 with a brief role in the popular Marathi television series Char Divas Sasuche. [6] She made her film debut in 2007 with Zabardast , a Marathi drama directed by Mahesh Kothare, centered around college life and youthful exuberance, was a commercial success. [7] Her performance, particularly her dance sequences, garnered attention and helped establish her as a promising newcomer in Marathi cinema. [8]
In 2009, she appeared as the romantic lead opposite Pushkar Jog in Tukya Tukvila Nagya Nachvila, where their on-screen chemistry received praise from critics. [9] Over the next few years, Naik made notable cameo appearances in dance numbers—such as a pub dancer in the suspense-comedy Target, and a qawwali performer in Mahesh Manjrekar’s action film Fakta Ladh Mhana . [10]
In 2012, she played a supporting role as a Muslim girl in the family drama Kutumb alongside Siddharth Jadhav, which achieved both critical and commercial success. [11] That same year, she gained widespread recognition for her item number “Baghtoy Rickshaw Wala” from the comedy Teen Bayka Fajiti Aika . Though the film received mixed reviews, DNA critic Blessy Chettiar noted, “Mansi Naik’s ‘Vaat Baghtoy Rickshawala’ item song is the only treat, with well-choreographed moves set to the famous Koli folk song.” [12]
Between 2013 and 2014, Naik expanded her filmography with roles in Cappuccino and HuTuTu, both of which were met with positive responses. [13] Despite a successful debut, she received relatively few film offers, a fact she addressed publicly by stating she had “no fear of being labelled as an item girl.” [14] In 2014, she appeared on the popular Marathi comedy reality show Chala Hawa Yeu Dya . [15]
Career fluctuation and cameo appearances (2015–present)
Her first lead role in years came in 2015 with the comedy Murder Mestri , in which she played Hemlata Mestri. [16] The film was both a critical and commercial success, earning her the Zee Talkies Comedy Award for Best Actress. [17] [18] Later that year, she portrayed a seductive character in Vijay Patkar's Carry On Deshpande, though the film was panned by critics and failed at the box office. [19] She followed this with a praised performance in Dholki, with The Times of India ’s Mihir Bhanage commenting, “Naik finally gets a role that is a little bigger than a song.” [20] That same year, she played the lead in the suspense-horror film The Shadow, portraying a protective mother who confronts mysterious supernatural events in a farmhouse. [21] This marked the first time she played a mother on screen, moving away from her earlier glamorous image. [22] [23]
In the years that followed, Naik made notable special appearances in dance numbers across films like Police Line Ek Purna Satya, Jalsa , Smile Please and Ekdam Kadak, and also featured in several Marathi music videos [24] [25] She also served as a judge on the dance reality show Dholkichya Talavar Season 4. [26]
Naik was also part of Jee Lo Apni Filmy Khwaishen, a unique project directed by late Nitin Chandrakant Desai, in which she portrayed 33 iconic characters from Indian cinema—both male and female. [27] The film was intended to mark her Bollywood debut, but it remained unreleased. [28]
