Mona Singh (born 8 October 1981) is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films and series. Having first gained prominence in 2000s for playing the eponymous heroine in the soap opera series Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin (2003–06), she has since appeared in several other television and film roles. Singh is the recipient of two Indian Television Academy Awards.

Mona Singh
Singh in 2023
Born (1981-10-08) 8 October 1981 (age 43)
OccupationActress
Years active2003–present
Spouses
Shyam Rajagopalan[1]
(m. 2019)

Singh is also known for participating and winning the first season of the reality series Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, and for playing Mona Chopra in Kya Huaa Tera Vaada, Preet Singh in Pyaar Ko Ho Jaane Do, and Paridhi Bundela in Kavach... Kaali Shaktiyon Se. She made her film debut with a supporting role in Rajkumar Hirani's comedy-drama 3 Idiots (2009), which ranks as one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.

Singh was also praised for her roles of Ananya Sharma and Poorva Gupta in Kehne Ko Humsafar Hain and Yeh Meri Family, both in (2018) respectively. Outside of acting, she has also hosted such television shows as Comedy Nights Live and Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega.

Life and family

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Mona Singh was born on 8 October 1981 in a Sikh family in Chandigarh.[2] Her father was an Army officer, so she shifted to many place and she is now a prominent alumni of Kendriya Vidyalaya Vayusena Nagar, Nagpur. On December 27, 2019, She married Filmmaker Shyam Rajagopalan in a traditional Sikh ceremony.

Career

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Singh celebrates Janmashtami at ISKCON in Juhu

Television career

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Singh debuted into Hindi television with Sony Entertainment Television's iconic and super-hit soap opera Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin (2003–06) in which she gained popularity through her work as the sincere, intelligent and naive Jasmeet "Jassi" Walia for consecutively three years.[3] The show made her a household name, and won her many accolades at award functions such as Apsara Awards, Indian Telly Awards and Indian Television Academy Awards.[4]

In 2006, she participated in the reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 1 and emerged as the winner.[5] She hosted Femina Miss India and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 2 in 2007, followed by her participation and win in Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena in 2008.[6]

Singh then teamed up with Ekta Kapoor's banner Balaji Telefilms for the first of four consecutive fiction show collaborations in NDTV Imagine's Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayengi where she was cast as Raunaq Makhija from 2008 to 2009.[7] Shifting her focus to mostly hosting and non fiction shows, she hosted Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (2009), Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4 (2010), Shaadi 3 Crore Ki (2010), Star Ya Rockstar (2011) and CID Veerta Awards (2012) and was a participant on Meethi Choori No 1 (2010).[8]

By returning to fiction shows, she entered Sony Entertainment Television's Kya Huaa Tera Vaada (produced by Kapoor) in 2012 as Mona, a wife whom her husband leaves and divorces due to an extramarital affair with his former girlfriend.[9] The show ended in 2013, and she took a break from television afterwards also.[10]

Two years later Singh made a comeback to television in October 2015 with Pyaar Ko Ho Jaane Do, her third consecutive show to be produced by Kapoor where she played Preet Singh, a woman who lost her parents.[11] Due to low TRPs, Pyaar Ko Ho Jaane Do went off air within three months in January 2016.[12] Later in 2016 she featured in Kapoor's supernatural production Kavach...Kaali Shaktiyon Se as Paridhi, a married woman attempting to protect her husband from his former lover who has turned into a spirit post death and arrived to haunt the couple, and hosted Comedy Nights Bachao.[13]

In September 2021, she hosted the &TV's show Mauka-E-Vardaat.[14]

Web series career

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In 2018, Singh ventured into web world with her portrayal of Ananya in Kehne Ko Humsafar Hain.[15] That year she also starred in The Viral Fever and Netflix series Yeh Meri Family.[16] In 2019, she was seen in ZEE5 and ALT Balaji series Mission Over Mars.[17] She next appeared in Black Widows on ZEE5.[18]

In 2023, Singh appeared in the Zoya Akhtar created Made In Heaven as Bulbul Jauhari. Singh played the role of an auditor attempting to bring the company out of debt whilst simultaneously handling a police case against her son. She received critical acclaim for her role from critics and audiences alike.[19][20] Singh next appeared in a brief but pivotal role as a doctor in Netflix's Kaala Paani.[21] Her performance was well received by critics.[22]

Film career

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Singh made her film debut in 2009 with the supporting and important character of Mona Sahastrabuddhe in Rajkumar Hirani's Hindi satirical comedy 3 Idiots, which became one of the highest grossing Indian films with a global accumulation of about 4 billion (US$48 million).[23] She next appeared in Utt Pataang, Zed Plus and Amavas.[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]

In 2022, she appeared in Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha, where she played the protagonist’s mother.[33] Despite being 16 years younger than Khan, Singh defended her role and stated, ''I’m not playing Aamir Khan’s mother, I’m playing Laal’s mother.''[34]

Media image

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Singh at an event in 2018

With her performances in Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin, Singh established herself among the leading and highest-paid actresses of Hindi television.[35] In 2012, Singh appeared in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list, ranking 97th with an estimated annual income of 22.5 million (US$270,000).[36] Singh is termed as the hottest television actress by Rediff.com.[37] In 2023, she was placed in its "Best performers on OTT" list.[38]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2009 3 Idiots Mona Sahastrabuddhe [3]
2011 Utt Pataang Koel Datta [39]
2014 Zed Plus Hameeda [26][40]
2019 Amavas Dr. Shivani [29][30]
Ek Chotisi Ego Priya Short film [32]
2022 Don Bhaisahab Rekha Anand [41]
Laal Singh Chaddha Gurpreet Kaur Chaddha [42]
Ek Chup Dr Radhika Short film [43]
2024 Munjya Pammi [44]
Happy Patel Khatarnaak Jasoos TBA Completed [45]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2003–2006 Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin Jasmeet Walia Suri / Jessica Bedi / Neha Shastri [4]
2006 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 1 Contestant Winner
2007 Femina Miss India Host
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 2
2008 Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena Contestant Winner
2008–2009 Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayengi Raunaq Kapoor [7]
2009-2014 Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega 1 Host
2010 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4
Meethi Choori No 1 Contestant
Shaadi 3 Crore Ki Host
2011 Ratan Ka Rishta Herself Guest
Star Ya Rockstar Host
2012 CID Veerta Awards
2012–2013 Kya Huaa Tera Vaada Mona Chopra [9]
2015 Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar Herself Guest appearance
2015–2016 Pyaar Ko Ho Jaane Do Preet Singh Hooda
2016 Kavach...Kaali Shaktiyon Se Paridhi "Pari" Bundela
2015–2016 Comedy Nights Bachao Taaza Host
2021 Mauka-E-Vardaat Host [46]
2022 Pushpa Impossible Advocate Damini Mehra [47]

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2018 Yeh Meri Family Poorva Gupta Season 1 [48]
2018–2020 Kehne Ko Humsafar Hain Ananya Sharma Mehra 3 seasons
2019 M.O.M. - Mission Over Mars Moushmi Ghosh [17]
2020 Black Widows Veera Mehrotra [49]
2023 Kafas Seema Vashisht [50]
Made in Heaven Bulbul Jauhari Season 2
Kaala Paani Dr. Soudamini Singh [51]
TBA Paan Parda Zarda TBA Completed [52]
Ma Ka Sum TBA Completed [53]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2003 Apsara Awards Best Actress in Drama Series Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin Won [54]
Outstanding Debut Won
2004 Indian Telly Awards Television Personality of The Year (Female) Won [55]
Best Actress (Female) Won
Indian Television Academy Awards Best Actress (Popular) Won [56]
2005 Indian Telly Awards Best Actress (Female) Won [57]
Indian Television Academy Awards Best Actress - Drama (Jury) Won [58]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mona Singh celebrates a fabulous 39th birthday; gets a surprise from hubby Shyam Gopalan". Times Of India. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  2. ^ Jha, Subhash K. (9 October 2008). "'Jassi' Mona Singh bags role in 3 Idiots". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ a b "Mona Singh | Videos, Wallpapers, Movies, Photos, Biography". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Plain Jane Jassi a charm for Sony". The Hindu. 20 October 2003. Archived from the original on 28 November 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Mona 'Jassi' Singh wins Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa". Daily News & Analysis. 27 October 2006. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin cast: Then and Now". The Times of India. 20 August 2016. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  7. ^ a b Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayengi (TV Series) - IMDb, archived from the original on 12 October 2020, retrieved 8 October 2020
  8. ^ Bhirani, Radhika (2 March 2011). "Mona Singh, the 'Jassi' girl". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  9. ^ a b Kya Huaa Tera Vaada (Drama), Mona Singh, Mohit Malhotra, Pranav Misshra, Mouli Ganguly, 30 January 2012, archived from the original on 14 February 2017, retrieved 8 October 2020{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  10. ^ "Mona Singh keen on season two of Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin". The Indian Express. IANS. 7 June 2016. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
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  13. ^ "Mona dancing". Mumbai Mirror. Archived from the original on 23 March 2007.
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  17. ^ a b "Sakshi Tanwar, Mona Singh team up for ALTBalaji's Mission Over Mars". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Singh on song". Mumbai Mirror. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  19. ^ "Truly made in heaven for me: Mona Singh on standout role in the series". The Times of India. 29 August 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Made In Heaven Season 2: Mona Singh Reacts To Being Praised For Her Performance On The Show, "Such An Overwhelming Response Makes Me Happy"". Koimoi. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Mona Singh Delivers Impeccable Performance In Kaala Paani". Zee News. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  22. ^ "'Kaala Paani': A Tragedy That Sacrifices Its Heroes". The Wire. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Utt Pataang Movie (Feb 2011) - Trailer, Star Cast, Release Date | Paytm.com". Paytm. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  24. ^ Utt Pataang (2011) - IMDb, archived from the original on 10 February 2017, retrieved 8 October 2020
  25. ^ BookMyShow. "Utt Pataang Movie (2011) | Reviews, Cast & Release Date in". BookMyShow. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  26. ^ a b "Zed Plus | Netflix". www.netflix.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  27. ^ BookMyShow. "Zed Plus Movie (2014) | Reviews, Cast & Release Date in Bhubaneswar". BookMyShow. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  28. ^ Dwivedi, Chandra Prakash (28 November 2014), Zed Plus (Comedy), Vinod Acharya, Adil Hussain, Ravi Jhankal, Ekavali Khanna, WisdomTree Productions, archived from the original on 11 August 2018, retrieved 8 October 2020
  29. ^ a b Hungama, Bollywood. "Amavas Cast List | Amavas Movie Star Cast | Release Date | Movie Trailer | Review- Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  30. ^ a b Hungama, Bollywood. "Mona Singh News, Latest News of Mona Singh, Movies, News, Songs, Images, Interviews - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  31. ^ Ek Choti Si Ego (2019) - IMDb, archived from the original on 12 October 2020, retrieved 8 October 2020
  32. ^ a b "EK CHOTI SI EGO | Husband and Wife Story | Ft. Mona Singh & Iqbal Khan | Miraj Miracle". YouTube.
  33. ^ Laal Singh Chaddha (2021) - IMDb, archived from the original on 9 July 2020, retrieved 8 October 2020
  34. ^ "Mona Singh defends Laal Singh Chaddha age difference: 'I'm not playing Aamir Khan's mother, I'm playing Laal's mother'". The Indian Express. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  35. ^ "Reinventing Mona Singh". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  36. ^ "2012 Celebrity 100". Forbes India. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  37. ^ "Hottest women on television". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  38. ^ "2023's Best Performers On OTT". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
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  40. ^ BookMyShow. "Zed Plus Movie (2014) | Reviews, Cast & Release Date in Bhubaneswar". BookMyShow. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  41. ^ "Aamir Khan's Laal Singh Chaddha release date pushed to THIS date in 2022; Official announcement inside". Pinkvilla. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  42. ^ "Aamir Khan's Laal Singh Chaddha release date pushed to THIS date in 2022; Official announcement inside". Pinkvilla. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  43. ^ "Dream Girl 2, Naane Varuvean, My Name Is Vendetta, Ek Chup: New trailers, teasers and posters". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  44. ^ "Maddock Films' unveils 'Munjya' movie to release on June 7". The Week. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  45. ^ "Mona Singh-starrer Happy Patel Khatarnaak Jasoos, produced by Aamir Khan, expected to release during Diwali". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  46. ^ "Actor Mona Singh to return as host with &TV's Mauka-E-Vardaat". Indian Television. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  47. ^ "Mona Singh's look from Pushpa Impossible revealed, will be seen as lawyer Damini Mehra". Times of India. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  48. ^ "Mona Singh introduces us to Yeh Meri Family". Rediff. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  49. ^ "Black Widows trailer: Shamita Shetty, Mona Singh and Swastika Mukherjee make for killer wives in new Zee5 series". Hindustan Times. 17 November 2020.
  50. ^ "Exclusive! Mona Singh roped in for Applause entertainment's upcoming web series titled "Kafas"". Tellychakkar.com. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  51. ^ "Netflix announces survival drama show 'Kaala Paani'; Ashutosh Gowariker and Mona Singh to star". Mid-Day. PTI. 14 July 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  52. ^ "Mona Singh, Tanvi Azmi-led crime series 'Paan Parda Zarda' goes on floors". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  53. ^ "Mona Singh's next is a web series 'Ma Ka Sum', BTS pictures out". Film Companion. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  54. ^ "1st Apsara Awards - Winners". apsaraawards.org. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  55. ^ "Winners of 4th Indian Telly Awards". Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
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  57. ^ "Winners of 5th Indian Telly Awards". Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  58. ^ "Winners of Indian Television Academy Awards, 2005". Archived from the original on 4 May 2012.
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