Flora Saini
{{Short description|Indian actress and model}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Flora Saini
| image = Flora Saini at Society Leadership Awards 2017.jpg
| caption = Flora in 2017
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Chandigarh, India
| birth_name = Flora Saini
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|model}}
| years active = 1999–present
| partner = Gaurang Doshi
}}
Flora Saini, also known by her screen name Asha Saini or Mayuri, is an Indian actress and model.{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/metoo-movement-flora-saini-appreciates-the-way-men-are-supporting-the-movement/articleshow/66330782.cms |title=#MeToo Movement: Flora Saini appreciates the way men are supporting the movement |website=The Times of India |access-date=24 October 2018 |archive-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024133014/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/metoo-movement-flora-saini-appreciates-the-way-men-are-supporting-the-movement/articleshow/66330782.cms |url-status=live }} She predominantly works in Telugu and Hindi films, and also appeared in a number of Kannada and Tamil films.
She has done more than 80 projects as an actress. Since her debut in Prema Kosam (1999), she has acted in over 50 films and co-starred with noted actors like Venkatesh, Balakrishna, Sudeep, Shivarajkumar, Vijayakanth, Prabhu, Karthik, Jagapati Babu and Rajasekhar.{{cite web |author=Vinita Chaturvedi |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Flora-Saini-Another-southern-hottie-ready-to-storm-Bollywood/articleshow/11167744.cms |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103101318/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-19/news-interviews/30533954_1_hindi-film-mahesh-bhatt-southern-experience |url-status=live |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=Flora Saini: Another southern hottie ready to storm Bollywood |date=19 December 2011 |work=The Times of India |access-date=11 January 2013}}
Early life
Born in Chandigarh to an army officer, Flora began her schooling in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir. She continued her education in the Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi. Her family then moved to Kolkata, where she started pursuing a modeling career. She participated in the Miss Kolkata beauty pageant.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/08/28/stories/2003082800240200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031024102207/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/08/28/stories/2003082800240200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 October 2003 |title=Love in Delhi, the Fllora way |date=28 August 2003 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=11 January 2013}}
Career
Flora made her acting debut in the 1999 Telugu film Prema Kosam.{{cite web |author=Deepa Natarajan |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/65109/rising-like-phoenix.html |title=Rising like a phoenix |work=Deccan Herald |date=22 April 2010 |access-date=11 January 2013 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924074442/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/65109/rising-like-phoenix.html |url-status=live }} The producer of the film rechristened her as Asha Saini; some years later she would adopt a new screen name, Mayuri, as per the advice of an astrologer, before eventually reverting to her original name.{{cite web |author=Y Sunita Chowdhary |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2906858.ece |title=Arts / Cinema : Itsy-Bitsy: Name game |work=The Hindu |date=18 February 2012 |access-date=11 January 2013 |archive-date=19 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719122059/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2906858.ece |url-status=live }}
The actress subsequently played supporting roles in more than a dozen Telugu-language films in the next three years. She appeared in the film Narasimha Naidu (2002), which went on to become highly successful.{{cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/telugu/interview.php?id=6005846&cid=2410 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202070826/http://www.sify.com/movies/telugu/interview.php?id=6005846&cid=2410 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 February 2013 |title=Welcome to |website=Sify |access-date=17 August 2013}} It was for some time the most notable film in her filmography, and it led to her being referred to as "Lux Papa" thereafter.{{cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/hyderabadlive/hlive_fullstory.php?id=14620571&cid=14434701&name |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202052524/http://www.sify.com/hyderabadlive/hlive_fullstory.php?id=14620571&cid=14434701&name |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 February 2013 |title=Asha Saini arrested in Chennai |website=Sify |access-date=11 January 2013}} In 2002, Flora made her first Hindi-language film, starring in the T. P. Aggarwal-produced Bharat Bhagya Vidhata.{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2001/apr/30bharat.htm |title=rediff.com, Movies: Puru, Chandrachur: Face off! |publisher=Rediff |date=30 April 2001 |access-date=11 January 2013 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924141127/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2001/apr/30bharat.htm |url-status=live }} Her second Hindi film, Love in Nepal (2004), also produced by Agarwal, saw her paired with popular playback singer Sonu Nigam.
Flora has appeared in several Kannada-language films, too, including Giri, starring Srinagara Kitty, and Nammannna, starring Sudeep.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/15/stories/2008031554450500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318174714/http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/15/stories/2008031554450500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 March 2008 |title=Karnataka / Bangalore News : Flora Shiny had acted in Kannada movies |date=15 March 2008 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=11 January 2013}}
In March 2008, she was arrested in Chennai for supposedly having forged visa documents, and was subsequently banned from the Tamil film industry.{{cite web |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/37197.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314150910/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/37197.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 March 2008 |title=Aasha Saini aka Mayuri arrested en route to the US |website=IndiaGlitz |date=12 March 2008 |access-date=11 January 2013}} She claimed innocence,{{cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/asha-saini-claims-innocence-news-telugu-kkftHPhbfii.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120133223/http://www.sify.com/movies/asha-saini-claims-innocence-news-telugu-kkftHPhbfii.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 January 2019 |title=Asha Saini claims innocence |website=Sify |date=28 March 2008 |access-date=17 August 2013}} and the ban was lifted a couple of weeks later.{{cite web |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/40174.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725104052/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/40174.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 July 2008 |title=Actress relieved from ban |website=IndiaGlitz |date=24 July 2008 |access-date=11 January 2013}}
Three films in which Flora Saini stars – the Telugu-language Broker, and two Kannada-language films, Vismaya Pramaya and Vah Re Vah – were released on 31 December 2010, a rare occurrence that secured her an entry in the Limca Book of Records for the most film releases on one day.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}} In 2010, Flora Saini was honoured with the Uttarakhand Ratna Award.{{cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100503/dun.htm |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India |work=The Tribune |access-date=11 January 2013 |archive-date=13 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313183503/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100503/dun.htm |url-status=live }} She has also received The Great Daughter of Soil Award in Mauritius for her anti-poverty work there.
She is last seen in a web-series called Gandii Baat season 2 with Anveshi Jain,{{cite web |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.arms.anveshijain&hl=en_IN |title=Anveshi Jain Plays a role with Flora Saini in Gandii Baat Season 2, Videos Available on App |work=Anveshi Jain Official App |access-date=15 November 2019}} where she played a lead role. Recently, Saini was seen in many web series and notably worked in Mayanagari-City of Dreams of Hotstar.
In 2015, Flora Saini played the role of Muskan in MSG: The Messenger starring Gurmeet Ram Rahim. She played the role of a daughter with Jayshree Soni as Kasam and Olexandra Semen as Alice.
In October 2019 Flora Saini made her debut in Bengali web series through Dupur Thakurpo hoichoi web series. It was the 3rd season of the series and she played the iconinc role of Phulwa boudi.{{cite web |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/celebs/2019/oct/31/actor-flora-saini-relates-to-the-character-of-phulwa-boudi-in-the-webseries-dupur-thakurpo-19396.html |title=Actor Flora Saini, relates to the character of Phulwa Boudi in the webseries Dupur Thakurpo |access-date=20 July 2020 |archive-date=1 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101070154/https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/celebs/2019/oct/31/actor-flora-saini-relates-to-the-character-of-phulwa-boudi-in-the-webseries-dupur-thakurpo-19396.html |url-status=live }}
She also was chosen as a face of short video app "Firework", while being managed by "Celeb Connex".{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
Filmography
= Films =
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Film !! Role !! Language !! Notes | ||||
| 1999 | Prema Kosam | Aishwarya | rowspan="2" | Telugu | |
| 2000 | Antha Mana Manchike | Nisha | ||
| 2000 | Sabse Bada Beiman | rowspan="2"|Hindi | ||
| 2000 | Yeh Hai Green Signal | |||
| 2000 | Manasunna Maraju | rowspan="14" | Telugu | ||
| 2000 | Chala Bagundi | Ganga | ||
| 2001 | Cheppalani Vundi | |||
| 2001 | Sardukupodaam Randi | Nisha | ||
| 2001 | Timepass | |||
| 2001 | Akka Bavekkada | Shilpa | ||
| 2001 | Navvuthu Bathakalira | |||
| 2001 | Narasimha Naidu | Sandhya | ||
| 2001 | Prematho Raa | Anitha | ||
| 2001 | Rowdysheeter | |||
| 2001 | Subhakaryam | |||
| 2001 | Nuvvu Naaku Nachav | Asha | ||
| 2002 | O Chinnadana | Asha | ||
| 2002 | Adrustam | Smita / Pinky | ||
| 2002 | Kodanda Rama | Sangeetha | Kannada | |
| 2002 | Sontham | Asha | Telugu | Cameo appearance |
| 2002 | Bharat Bhagya Vidhata | Shabnam | Hindi | |
| 2003 | Ottesi Cheputunna | Telugu | Cameo appearance | |
| 2004 | Love in Nepal | Maxi | Hindi | |
| 2004 | 143 | TV reporter | rowspan="2" | Telugu | |
| 2004 | Swamy | Special appearance | ||
| 2004 | Gajendra | Kausalya | Tamil | |
| 2005 | Giri | Kannada | ||
| 2005 | Mr. Errababu | Telugu | Special appearance | |
| 2005 | Nammanna | Rani | Kannada | |
| 2005 | Sorry Enaku Kalyanamayidichu | Manju | rowspan="2" | Tamil | |
| 2006 | Kusthi | Abhi | ||
| 2008 | Michael Madana Kamaraju | Mandira | Telugu | |
| 2008 | Swagatam | Deepthi | Telugu | |
| 2008 | Kuselan | Tamil | Special appearance | |
| 2008 | Dheemaku | Indira Devi | Kannada | |
| 2008 | Chedugudu | Telugu | ||
| 2008 | Dindigul Sarathy | Tamil | Special appearance | |
| 2009 | Aa Intlo | Pallavi | rowspan="3" | Telugu | |
| 2009 | Junction | Special appearance | ||
| 2010 | Comedy Express | |||
| 2010 | Naane Ennul Illai | rowspan="2" | Tamil | ||
| 2010 | Kanagavel Kakka | Special appearance | ||
| 2010 | Broker | Ganapathi's wife | Telugu | |
| 2010 | Vismaya Pramaya | Meera | rowspan="2" | Kannada | |
| 2010 | Vaare Vah | Adi's boss | ||
| 2011 | Chattam | rowspan="2" | Telugu | Special appearance | |
| 2011 | Money Money, More Money | |||
| 2012 | Dabangg 2 | Hindi | Cameo appearance as reporter | |
| 2013 | CID Eesha | Kannada | ||
| 2013 | Aakasamlo Sagam | Vasu | rowspan="2"|Telugu | Main Lead |
| 2013 | Sahasra | Special appearance | ||
| 2014 | Paisa Yaar N Panga | Meera | Punjabi | |
| 2014 | Ya Rab | rowspan="16" | Hindi | ||
| 2014 | Lakshmi | Swarna | ||
| 2015 | MSG: The Messenger | Muskan | ||
| 2015 | Dhanak | Gypsy Woman | ||
| 2015 | Guddu Ki Gun | Nurse | ||
| 2016 | Do Lafzon Ki Kahani | Natasha | ||
| 2017 | Begum Jaan | Maina | ||
| 2018 | Stree | Stree | ||
| 2019 | Fraud Saiyaan | Shraddha | ||
| 2020
|Sapna Rani | | ||||
| 2020 | Darbaan | Charul Tripathi | ||
| 2021 | 12 'O' Clock | Maya D'Souza | Earlier titled as Geher | |
| 2021 | 200 Halla Ho | Poornima | ||
| 2021 | Chaddi | Mrs.Chaddha | ||
| 2022 | 36 Farmhouse | Mithika Singh | ||
| 2023 | Khichdi 2: Mission Paanthukistan | Rani Gulkanda - Queen of Paanthukistan |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Series !! Role !! Language !! Notes | ||||
| 2019 | Apna News Aayega | Hindi | ||
| 2020 | Mere Sai – Shraddha Aur Saburi | Suvarna Bai, a female singer and dancer | Hindi | A mythological TV serial, show premiered in Sony Entertainment Television.{{cite web |date=27 June 2020 |title=Flora Saini: Things you may not know about her |url=https://bollywood-junction.com/flora-saini-things-you-may-not-know-about-her/ |access-date=27 June 2020 |publisher=Bollywood-Junction |archive-date=27 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627101235/https://bollywood-junction.com/flora-saini-things-you-may-not-know-about-her/ |url-status=live }} |
= Web series =
All web series are in Hindi language, otherwise noted the language.
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{commons}}
- {{IMDb name|2750007}}
- {{Bollywood Hungama person|flora-saini}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saini, Flora}}
Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema
Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema
Category:Female models from Chandigarh
Category:Actresses from Chandigarh
Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema
Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema
Category:Indian film actresses
Category:20th-century Indian actresses
Category:21st-century Indian actresses