1. Overview
Ritika Mohan Singh (born December 16, 1994) is an Indian actress and mixed martial artist who primarily works in Tamil and Telugu films. She gained prominence for her dual career, notably her breakthrough role as a professional boxer in the bilingual film *Irudhi Suttru* (Tamil) / *Saala Khadoos* (Hindi). Her performance earned her critical acclaim and multiple accolades, including a National Film Award and three Filmfare Awards.
2. Early Life and Background
Ritika Mohan Singh was born on December 16, 1994. From a young age, she trained as a kickboxer and mixed martial artist under the guidance of her father.
3. Combat Sports Career
Ritika Singh pursued a career in combat sports from a young age, training in both kickboxing and mixed martial arts under her father's tutelage. She represented India at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games in kickboxing. Later, she appeared in the inaugural season of the Super Fight League, competing as a professional mixed martial artist.
3.1. Mixed martial arts record
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1-3 | Daizy Singh | Decision (Unanimous) | SFL 22-23 | August 17, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Mumbai, India | |
| Loss | 1-2 | Irene Cabello Rivera | Submission (armbar) | SFL 18 | May 24, 2013 | 1 | 2:06 | Mumbai, India | |
| Win | 1-1 | Aya Saber | Decision (Unanimous) | SFL 11 | November 30, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Mumbai, India | |
| Loss | 0-1 | Manjit Kolekar | TKO (punches) | SFL 5 | October 19, 2012 | 2 | 3:45 | Mumbai, India |
4. Acting Career
Ritika Singh transitioned into acting after being discovered for her athletic background, leading to a critically acclaimed debut and subsequent roles across various film industries.
4.1. Debut and Breakthrough
Ritika Singh commenced her acting career in 2013. Director Sudha Kongara Prasad discovered her in an advertisement for the Super Fight League. The filmmakers, seeking a professional boxer rather than an actress to portray the role, contacted Singh through the competition's chairman, Raj Kundra, and subsequently cast her in their bilingual film. This led to her breakthrough role in the 2016 film *Irudhi Suttru*, simultaneously shot in Hindi as *Saala Khadoos*. In the film, she portrayed Madhi, a Marwari girl from the slums of Chennai. To prepare for the Tamil version of *Irudhi Suttru*, Singh phonetically learned her lines by transcribing the dialogues in Hindi. The film, co-produced by its lead actor R. Madhavan and Rajkumar Hirani, premiered in late January 2016.
Singh's performance garnered significant critical acclaim; for instance, Sify.com lauded her as a "marvelous discovery," highlighting her "lip sync, body language, and gait" as major strengths of the film. Her portrayal in *Irudhi Suttru* earned her the Special Mention at the 63rd National Film Awards, making her the first actress to receive a National Award for a role she did not dub for herself.
4.2. Subsequent Roles and Career
Following her debut, Ritika Singh continued to expand her acting portfolio. In September 2016, she appeared in M. Manikandan's *Aandavan Kattalai*. Her next significant role was in the 2017 Telugu film *Guru*, which was a remake of her breakthrough film *Irudhi Suttru*. The same year, she starred in P. Vasu's horror comedy *Shivalinga*. In 2018, she featured in the Telugu film *Neevevaro*.
Singh played the female lead, Anu Paulraj, in the 2020 romantic fantasy film *Oh My Kadavule*, co-starring with Ashok Selvan. In 2023, she took on a leading role in the Hindi survival thriller *InCar*. She also ventured into streaming series, appearing in *Story of Things* in 2023 and *Bench Life* in 2024. Ritika Singh is set to appear in *Vettaiyan* (2024), where she plays a key role as part of an investigative team led by Rajinikanth's character.
5. Filmography
5.1. Films
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Irudhi Suttru | Ezhil Madhi | Tamil | Bilingual film |
| 2016 | Saala Khadoos | Ezhil Madhi | Hindi | Bilingual film |
| 2016 | Aandavan Kattalai | Karmegha Kuzhali | Tamil | |
| 2017 | Guru | Rameshwari "Ramulu" | Telugu | Remake of Irudhi Suttru / Saala Khadoos |
| 2017 | Shivalinga | Sathya | Tamil | |
| 2018 | Neevevaro | Anu | Telugu | |
| 2020 | Oh My Kadavule | Anu Paulraj | Tamil | |
| 2023 | InCar | Sakshi Gulati | Hindi | |
| 2023 | Kolai | Sandhya Mohanraj | Tamil | |
| 2023 | King of Kotha | Herself | Malayalam | Cameo appearance |
| 2024 | Valari | Divya Dharshini | Telugu | |
| 2024 | Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan | Herself | Tamil | Cameo appearance |
| 2024 | Vettaiyan | ASP Roopa Kiran | Tamil | |
5.2. Television
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Story of Things | Shruthi | Tamil | Sony LIV | Segment: Compressor |
| 2024 | Bench Life | Meenakshi Sharma | Telugu | Sony LIV | |
6. Awards and Nominations
| Year | Title | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Irudhi Suttru | National Film Award - Special Jury Award |
| 2016 | Irudhi Suttru | Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize |
| 2016 | Irudhi Suttru | Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award for Best Actress |
| 2016 | Irudhi Suttru | IIFA Utsavam for Best Actress - Tamil |
| 2016 | Irudhi Suttru | Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil |
| 2016 | Irudhi Suttru | SIIMA Award for Best Debut Actress |
| 2016 | Saala Khadoos | Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut |
| 2016 | Saala Khadoos | Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut |
| 2018 | Guru | Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress - Telugu |