Prachi Desai (born 12 September 1988), is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films and television. Desai is a recipient of several accolades including an IIFA Award and four Indian Telly Awards, as well as two Filmfare Awards nominations.

Desai marked her acting debut with the successful television drama Kasamh Se (2006–2008). In 2007, she emerged as the winner of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 2. Following this, Desai made her film debut with Rock On!! (2008), receiving the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut nomination. Desai received the IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of a gangster's lover in Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010). After appearing in the action comedy Bol Bachchan (2012), which remains her biggest commercial success, the romantic comedy I, Me Aur Main (2013) and the biographical sports drama Azhar (2016), she took a break from acting.

Desai returned to films in 2021 with the thriller Silence... Can You Hear It? and then expanded to web with the Telugu series Dhootha (2023). Alongside her acting career, Desai is a celebrity endorser for brands and products.

Desai was born on 12 September 1988 in Valsad, Gujarat, to Niranjan Desai and Ameeta Desai in a Hindu family. She has one sister named Esha Desai. She studied in St. Joseph Convent School, Panchgani and completed her schooling until ninth grade in Surat. She completed her higher studies from Sinhagad College in Pune.

In 2006, Desai got selected to play the lead role in Ekta Kapoor's television drama, Kasamh Se. Desai played Bani Dixit Walia, opposite Ram Kapoor. In her acting debut, Desai won her praises and earned several awards, including the Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role. In the same show, she also played Anamika Dixit Randheria opposite Sumeet Vyas.

In 2007, Desai entered Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, the Indian version of BBC Strictly Come Dancing with choreographer Deepak Singh. Desai was eliminated on 10 November 2007, but entered the contest again via a wildcard entry and ultimately won the competition. Desai also appeared in two episodes of the Star Plus television series Kasauti Zindagi Ki in a cameo. She portrayed a student at Prerna's school.

Desai then made the transition to the film industry in 2008. She made her film debut with Rock On!! (2008), directed by Abhishek Kapoor, where she played Sakshi, a band singer wife opposite Farhan Akhtar. Desai had to leave Kasamh Se to star in Rock On. The film earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. In his review, Rajeev Masand stated, "Desai, saddled with what I think is the film's trickiest role, comes off unscathed because she's an actor who oozes warmth." Next year, she played Prachi opposite Tusshar Kapoor in Life Partner, a box office average.

Desai's career marked a significant turning point in 2010, when she appeared in Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai. The film saw her play Mumtaz, a character based on Mehjabin Shaikh, opposite Emraan Hashmi. It emerged a box office success and earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress and won the IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress. Kaveree Bamzai from India Today opined, "Prachi Desai as Shoaib's girlfriend, is suitably tremulous and pleading."