Samyukta Hornad

Samyukta Hornad has played the lead in more than 34 films and web series across Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu cinema. She has won both the Filmfare Award and the SIIMA Award for her performances in Oggarane and Toby. Over the years, she has also been part of films that have received both National and State Awards in the Best Film category.

Beyond cinema, as a social entrepreneur, Samyukta is the founder of Praana Animal Foundation, driven by her vision to create a safe and compassionate ecosystem for all living beings. As an ambassador for Urban Wildlife with organizations such as People for Animals, Wildlife SOS, and CARE, she actively champions animal welfare, personally adopting and caring for diverse species including a leopard, bear, elephants, monkeys, and a wild hare.

She also serves as a member of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Government of Karnataka, where she is dedicated to building a transformative animal welfare system to protect and nurture animals across the region. To further amplify her mission, Samyukta is working to produce documentaries and films that celebrate and advocate for animals and nature, using the power of storytelling to inspire awareness and change.