In the ICC World Cup 2023 final between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the attention of viewers and camerapersons was drawn to a woman dressed in white amidst a sea of blue-clad fans. Referred to as the ‘World Cup final’s mystery girl,’ this individual is no ordinary fan but rather the 28-year-old Odia actress Prakruti Mishra.
Prakruti Mishra, known for her work in Odia cinema, as well as Hindi and Odia TV and OTT shows, is an avid cricket enthusiast who attended the final to support Team India. Despite the overwhelming blue attire of the fans, the cameras repeatedly focused on her, leading to her becoming a popular online figure during the match. Prakruti playfully acknowledged her newfound status as the ‘mystery girl’ in a cheeky video posted after the conclusion of the final.
Born to Odia music composer Manmath Mishra and news reader Krushnapriya Mishra, Prakruti grew up in Bhubaneshwar. She made her acting debut as a child artist at the age of 5 and gained popularity in ETV Odia’s Tulasi. She received the Odisha State Film Award for Best Child Actor for her performance in Sashughara Chalijibi in 2006. Her lead roles in Odia films earned her recognition, and she won a National Film Award, a special jury mention, for her role in the 2018 film Hello Arsi.
Prakruti Mishra extended her career to Bollywood in 2014 with India’s Best Cinestar Ki Khoj and later appeared in TV shows like Trideviyaan and Jai Kanhaiya Lal Ki. She landed a lead role in Bitti Business Wali and participated in the reality show Ace of Space season 2 in 2019. Additionally, she was featured in the 2020 web series Class of 2020. Prakruti Mishra’s presence at the World Cup final added an unexpected and intriguing element, sparking curiosity among viewers and fans alike.
