Shruti Sawant, popularly known by her stage name Ineya, is an Indian actress who has made a significant mark in the Malayalam and Tamil film industries. She received widespread acclaim for her role in Vaagai Sooda Vaa (2011), which earned her both the Edison Award for Best Debut Actress and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress. Her performances in the Malayalam films Parole (2018) and Pengalila (2019) won her the Kerala State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress, further solidifying her reputation as a versatile and talented performer.

Ineya began her career in the entertainment industry as a child artist, acting in various Malayalam telefilms and television serials. Her early appearances included roles in Koottilekku, Orma, and Sree Guruvayoorappan, which were well received. In 2005, she won the Miss Trivandrum title, which paved the way for her modeling career and appearances in numerous commercials. She also starred in several critically acclaimed Malayalam art films such as Saira (2006), Dalamarmarangal (2009), and Umma (2011), and played a pivotal role in The Sacred Face, a short film focused on the issue of child abuse.

Despite some initial setbacks in Tamil cinema, where several of her early projects were shelved or unreleased, Ineya broke through with a notable supporting role in Yuddham Sei (2011). She soon gained prominence with her lead performance in Vaagai Sooda Vaa, where her natural and expressive acting as a tea stall owner was praised by critics. That same year, she continued to impress audiences with her role in Mouna Guru (2011), co-starring Arulnidhi, establishing herself as a dependable actress in both commercial and critically acclaimed films.