Paoli Dam

Paoli Dam
Dam at party for Ankur Arora Murder Case in 2013
Born	(1980-10-04) 4 October 1980 (age 36) Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	Vidyasagar College Rajabazar Science College
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2006–present
Notable work	Madhabilata in Kaalbela (2009) Kavyah Krishna in Hate Story (2012) Ela in Elar Char Adhyay (2012)

Paoli Dam (born 4 October 1980) is an Indian film actress who began her career in 2004 with the Bengali television serial Jibon Niye Khela. Over the next several years, she worked in Bengali television serials such as Tithir Atithi and Sonar Harin; the former ran for six years on ETV Bangla. Dam spent her childhood in Kolkata, earning a postgraduate degree in chemistry from Rajabazar Science College. Initially, she wanted to become a chemical researcher or a pilot. Her debut Bengali film—Teen Yaari Katha, directed by Sudeshna Roy and Abhijit Guha—was begun in 2004, but not released until 2012. Dam's first film release was Agnipariksha, directed by Rabi Kinagi. Between 2006 and 2009 she appeared in five Bengali films, coming into prominence with the 2009 Kaalbela directed by Goutam Ghose.

In 2011, she received international recognition for her role in the Bengali film, Chatrak. The film was screened at the Cannes film festival, and also at film festivals in Toronto, U.K. In 2012, Dam made her Bollywood debut in Hate Story. She also appeared in Vikram Bhatt's Ankur Arora Murder Case, directed by Sohail Tatari. She won the Viewers' Choice Award for Best Actress award for her performance in Natoker Moto at the Hyderabad Bengali Film Festival, 2016 edition.

Dam was born in Kolkata, West Bengal to a Bengali family which is originally from Faridpur District, Bangladesh. Her father and mother are Amol and Papiya Dam (mother) and she has a brother, Mainak.

Dam attended Loreto School in Bowbazar before passing her Higher Secondary Examination. She was a good student, winning scholarships. Dam was admitted to Vidyasagar College of the University of Calcutta, graduating with a degree in chemistry. She earned a postgraduate degree in chemistry from Rajabazar Science College of the University of Calcutta.