ELLE Digital Cover Star: Disha Patani Is Doing Hot Girl Right

If anyone ever asked for the definition of hot in Bollywood, Disha Patani would be the answer without hesitation. And when we say hot girl, we’re not talking about a perfectly lit Instagram post that makes you pause mid-scroll, though yes, those exist, and they do make us gasp. We’re talking about the hot-girl blueprint, where mind, muscle, movement, and mood move in sync.

Patani doesn’t try to be cool for the gram. She simply is. The kind who kicks ass in a kickboxing class, shoots hoops on a basketball court, dances with electric groove—and then casually reminds you that freedom, not fame, is her real flex. She has a clear vision of how she wants to be perceived, and understands exactly what works for her body and personality. Patani has built a fashion identity that’s distinctly her own, without limiting herself to a single stylist or a fixed roster of designers. Call it the Dishafication—every designer adapts to her, not the other way round.

She’s also quietly rewritten the rules of sensuality in Indian wear, making drapes, silhouettes and traditional cuts feel unapologetically sexy without tipping into vulgarity. But who decides where that line exists anyway? For Patani, sensuality has always felt less like performance and more like presence. There’s an ease to how she inhabits her body, a quiet confidence that softens rigid ideas of femininity and masculinity alike. In a culture quick to celebrate women for their bodies while simultaneously policing them, Patani’s relationship with self-expression feels quietly radical. She moves with intention, choosing comfort over conformity, freedom over approval, proof that the labels society assigns often reveal more about its discomfort than a woman’s choices.

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When she entered films, first with the Telugu action drama Loafer in 2015, followed by her Hindi mainstream breakthrough in M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, few could have predicted the layers beneath that sweet, soft-spoken exterior. Today, she’s far clearer about what she wants, and just as importantly, what she doesn’t. So when I ask her what ambition looks like at this stage of her life, her answer is refreshingly unvarnished. For Patani, ambition equals freedom. The freedom to choose. The freedom to say no. The freedom to move through life on her own terms. It’s an idea that mirrors her personality, quietly radical and deeply self-assured. “I think I’ve become more certain about my choices,” she says, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. The girl who once said yes to everything has grown into a woman who finds comfort in drawing boundaries.

Fitness, of course, is a major part of the Patani lore. But beyond the sculpted strength and viral workout clips, it’s her mindset that truly defines her. Training, for the actor, isn’t about just looking a certain way or fitting into rigid fitness ideals ; it’s about presence. “When I work out, it’s the only time I feel like I’m living in the present,” she says. That hour of movement is her meditation, where the noise fades, and balance takes over. That philosophy naturally spills into the advice she offers young girls navigating confidence. “Start. Show up. Do it every day, in whatever capacity you can. There’s no perfection required, only intention.”

Then there’s dance, the space where Patani truly comes alive. Shy by nature, she finds freedom in movement, allowing herself to become a different version of who she is. Dance lets her express what words sometimes can’t. Beyoncé remains her ultimate inspiration, a masterclass in power, precision, and unapologetic self-belief. Hip-hop seems to be her comfort zone, but she’s always itching to explore more. If you’ve ever caught her dancing to BLACKPINK on stage, you already know the vibe is infectious.

That love for movement seamlessly translated on screen earlier this year when Patani featured as the lead in the official music video for ‘Tell Me’—a high-energy collaboration between Karan Aujla, OneRepublic, and Ikky. Her sleek silhouettes, especially a striking red dress, set the internet buzzing, while her fluid dance moves anchored the visual narrative. It was the artist in her element: kinetic and completely in control.

With over 61 million followers, Patani occupies a rare sweet spot in Indian pop culture, widely loved, constantly watched, yet never overexposed. She understands the language of the internet without letting it define her. Instagram, for her, is less a vanity mirror and more a creative playground. There’s intention behind what she shares and restraint in what she keeps for herself, allowing her to maintain an air of mystery while still feeling deeply relatable.

Away from sets and the camera, when she’s unwinding, Patani escapes into anime, a love she’s carried since childhood. Growing up on stories of Naruto and Dragon Ball Z has shaped how she sees the world, instilling resilience, imagination, and a belief in inner strength. “I’ve been watching anime since I was a little child, so maybe that’s why I see the world a little differently,” she shares. “Naruto and Goku are the two characters I really like.” It’s a softer, nerdier side to someone often reduced to a single aesthetic, and it’s precisely what makes her feel so real.

And then there’s love, the purest kind. Ask her about her six pets, and her voice softens instantly. The bond, she says, is unmatched. Unconditional. The kind of love you don’t question or earn, it simply exists.

Patani may be a hot girl, but she’s redefining what that means for a new generation. Not just desirable, but disciplined. Strong yet shy, focused yet playful, all at once. She isn’t posturing to be confident; she’s practising it every day, in the gym, on the dance floor, on screen, and in the quiet certainty of knowing herself better than she ever has.

And honestly? That’s the hottest thing about her.

Team Credits

Editorial Director: Ainee Nizami Ahmedi (@aineenizamiahmedi); Videographer: Prasanna Khawale (@prasannak_19); Fashion Editor: Shaeroy Chinoy (@shaeroy); Stylist: Neha; Chugh (@nehachugh24); Senior Graphic Designer: Sakshi Badani (@saaksh.i); Makeup: Natasha Shaikh (@hairgaragebynatasha); Hair: Seema Mane (@hairbyseema); Bookings Editor: Rishith Shetty (@rishithvshetty); Words by: Ekta Sinha (@16ektasinha); Assisted by: Sharayu Karalkar (@sharayukaralkar) (bookings), Hardika Singh(@hardika.singhh) (styling); Artist Reputation Management: Tree-shul Media Solutions (@treeshulmediasolutions)