Mona Singh
{{short description|Indian actress}}
{{For|the scientist|Mona Singh (scientist)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mona Singh
| image = Mona Singh at the premiere of The Archies (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Singh at an event in 2023
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1981|10|08}}
| birth_place = Chandigarh, Punjab, India
| occupation = Actress
| alma_mater =
| years_active = 2003–present
| spouses = {{marriage |Shyam Rajagopalan|2019}}
}}
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.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/mona-singh-celebrates-a-fabulous-39th-birthday-gets-a-surprise-from-hubby-shyam-gopalan/articleshow/78590402.cms|title=Mona Singh celebrates a fabulous 39th birthday; gets a surprise from hubby Shyam Gopalan|work=Times Of India|access-date=25 November 2020}}
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
Mona Singh was born on 8 October 1981 in a Sikh family in Chandigarh.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/archives/jassi-mona-singh-bags-role-in-3-idiots/article1-343502.aspx |title='Jassi' Mona Singh bags role in 3 Idiots |first=Subhash K. |last=Jha |date=9 October 2008 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |access-date=15 June 2014 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020174456/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/archives/jassi-mona-singh-bags-role-in-3-idiots/article1-343502.aspx |archive-date=20 October 2014 }} 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
=Television career=
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrities/filmography/20400/index.html |title=Mona Singh | Videos, Wallpapers, Movies, Photos, Biography |website=Bollywood Hungama |access-date=7 April 2013 |archive-date=6 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106034542/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrities/filmography/20400/index.html |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/10/20/stories/2003102000580200.htm|title=Plain Jane Jassi a charm for Sony|date=20 October 2003|access-date=20 October 2018|archive-date=28 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128021534/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2003/10/20/stories/2003102000580200.htm|work=The Hindu|url-status=dead}}
In 2006, she participated in the reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 1 and emerged as the winner.{{Cite web | title = Mona 'Jassi' Singh wins Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa | work = Daily News & Analysis | date = 27 October 2006 | access-date = 2016-08-21 | url = http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-mona-jassi-singh-wins-jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-1060556 | archive-date = 6 November 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161106151951/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-mona-jassi-singh-wins-jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-1060556 | url-status = live }} 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.{{Cite web | title = Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin cast: Then and Now | work = The Times of India | date = 20 August 2016 | access-date = 2016-08-21 | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/jassi-jaissi-koi-nahin-cast-then-and-now/photostory/53780371.cms | archive-date = 16 September 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180916213105/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/jassi-jaissi-koi-nahin-cast-then-and-now/photostory/53780371.cms | url-status = live }}
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.{{Citation|title=Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayengi (TV Series) - IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt7843350/fullcredits|access-date=2020-10-08|archive-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012060709/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7843350/fullcredits|url-status=live}} 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).{{Cite web | title = Mona Singh, the 'Jassi' girl | last = Bhirani | first = Radhika | work = The New Indian Express | date = 2 March 2011 | access-date = 2016-08-21 | url = http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/interviews/article451057.ece | archive-date = 22 August 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160822073118/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/interviews/article451057.ece | url-status = dead }}
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.{{Citation|title=Kya Huaa Tera Vaada|date=2012-01-30|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2429838/|type=Drama|others=Mona Singh, Mohit Malhotra, Pranav Misshra, Mouli Ganguly|access-date=2020-10-08|archive-date=14 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214094706/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2429838/|url-status=live}} The show ended in 2013, and she took a break from television afterwards also.{{Cite web | title = Mona Singh keen on season two of Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin | agency = IANS | work = The Indian Express | date = 7 June 2016 | access-date = 2016-08-21 | url = http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/mona-singh-keen-on-season-two-of-jassi-jaissi-koi-nahin-2839625/ | archive-date = 18 September 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160918140928/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/mona-singh-keen-on-season-two-of-jassi-jaissi-koi-nahin-2839625/ | url-status = live }}
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.{{Cite web|title = Mona Singh back on TV with 'Pyar Ko Ho Jaane Do', says doesn't like backstabbing in family dramas|url = http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/mona-singh-pyar-ko-ho-jaane-do-doesnt-like-backstabbing-in-family-dramas/|website = The Indian Express|date = 2015-10-19|access-date = 2015-10-27|archive-date = 29 October 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151029012128/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/mona-singh-pyar-ko-ho-jaane-do-doesnt-like-backstabbing-in-family-dramas/|url-status = live}} Due to low TRPs, Pyaar Ko Ho Jaane Do went off air within three months in January 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity_interviews/Bollywood+Interview+Mona+Singh++++Jassi+-15264.html |title=Bollywood Interview Mona Singh – 'Jassi' |publisher=Femalefirst.co.uk |date=17 March 2006 |access-date=7 April 2013 |archive-date=28 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328190737/http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity_interviews/Bollywood+Interview+Mona+Singh++++Jassi+-15264.html |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070323071726/http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?page=article§id=12&contentid=20070319034155703de158667&pageno=1|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?page=article§id=12&contentid=20070319034155703de158667&pageno=1|title=Mona dancing|work=Mumbai Mirror|archive-date=23 March 2007}}
In September 2021, she hosted the &TV's show Mauka-E-Vardaat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/mona-singh-set-comeback-television-five-years-host-mauka-e-vardaat-2/|title=Mona Singh set to comeback on Television after five years as a host of Mauka-e-Vardaat 2|website=Bollywood Hungama|date=28 May 2021|language=en|access-date=2021-09-09}}
=Web series career=
In 2018, Singh ventured into web world with her portrayal of Ananya in Kehne Ko Humsafar Hain.{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/mona-singh-introduces-us-to-yeh-meri-family/20180713.htm |title=Mona Singh introduces us to Yeh Meri Family |publisher=Rediff |access-date=20 July 2018 |archive-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720140031/http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/mona-singh-introduces-us-to-yeh-meri-family/20180713.htm |url-status=live }} That year she also starred in The Viral Fever and Netflix series Yeh Meri Family.{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005002111/http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2005/04/09/stories/2005040901380400.htm|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/04/09/stories/2005040901380400.htm|title=Bausch & Lomb ropes in 'Jassi' Mona Singh|work=The Hindu |archive-date=5 October 2012 }} In 2019, she was seen in ZEE5 and ALT Balaji series Mission Over Mars.{{cite web|title=Sakshi Tanwar, Mona Singh team up for ALTBalaji's Mission Over Mars|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2019/jun/08/sakshi-mona-team-up-for-altbalajis-mom-1987291.html|access-date=2022-02-19|website=The New Indian Express}} She next appeared in Black Widows on ZEE5.{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201515/http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?page=article§id=30&contentid=200703160230506097b631f31&pageno=1|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?page=article§id=30&contentid=200703160230506097b631f31&pageno=1|title=Singh on song|work=Mumbai Mirror|archive-date=27 September 2007}}
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.{{Cite news |date=2023-08-29 |title=Truly made in heaven for me: Mona Singh on standout role in the series |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/hindi/truly-made-in-heaven-for-me-mona-singh-on-standout-role-in-the-series/articleshow/103172592.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-11-05 |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite web |title=Made In Heaven Season 2: Mona Singh Reacts To Being Praised For Her Performance On The Show, "Such An Overwhelming Response Makes Me Happy" |url=https://www.koimoi.com/television/made-in-heaven-season-2-mona-singh-reacts-to-being-praised-for-her-performance-on-the-show-such-an-overwhelming-response-makes-me-happy/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |website=Koimoi}} Singh next appeared in a brief but pivotal role as a doctor in Netflix's Kaala Paani.{{Cite web |title=Mona Singh Delivers Impeccable Performance In Kaala Paani |url=https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/web-series/mona-singh-delivers-impeccable-performance-in-kaala-paani-2678113.html |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=Zee News |language=en}} Her performance was well received by critics.{{Cite web |title='Kaala Paani': A Tragedy That Sacrifices Its Heroes |url=https://thewire.in/film/kaala-paani-review-tragedy-that-sacrifices-heroes-to-spotlight-errors-of-human-actions |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=The Wire}}
=Film career=
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 {{INRConvert|4|b}}.{{Cite web|title=Utt Pataang Movie (Feb 2011) - Trailer, Star Cast, Release Date {{!}} Paytm.com|url=https://paytm.com/movies/utt-pataang-movie-detail-137313|access-date=2020-10-08|website=Paytm|language=en}} She next appeared in Utt Pataang, Zed Plus and Amavas.{{Citation|title=Utt Pataang (2011) - IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1809399/|language=en|access-date=2020-10-08|archive-date=10 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210115116/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1809399/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=BookMyShow|title=Utt Pataang Movie (2011) {{!}} Reviews, Cast & Release Date in|url=https://in.bookmyshow.com//movies/utt-pataang/ET00006157?fbrefresh=1|access-date=2020-10-08|website=BookMyShow|language=en|archive-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012060705/https://in.bookmyshow.com//movies/utt-pataang/ET00006157?fbrefresh=1|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Zed Plus {{!}} Netflix|url=https://www.netflix.com/title/81213884|access-date=2020-10-08|website=www.netflix.com|language=en|archive-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918052159/https://www.netflix.com/title/81213884|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=BookMyShow|title=Zed Plus Movie (2014) {{!}} Reviews, Cast & Release Date in Bhubaneswar|url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/bhubaneswar/movies/zed-plus/ET00025681?fbrefresh=1|access-date=2020-10-08|website=BookMyShow|language=en|archive-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012060706/https://in.bookmyshow.com/bhubaneswar/movies/zed-plus/ET00025681?fbrefresh=1|url-status=live}}{{Citation|last=Dwivedi|first=Chandra Prakash|title=Zed Plus|date=2014-11-28|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4190220/|type=Comedy|others=Vinod Acharya, Adil Hussain, Ravi Jhankal, Ekavali Khanna|publisher=WisdomTree Productions|access-date=2020-10-08|archive-date=11 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811144140/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4190220/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/amavas-2/cast/|title=Amavas Cast List | Amavas Movie Star Cast | Release Date | Movie Trailer | Review- Bollywood Hungama|first=Bollywood|last=Hungama|website=Bollywood Hungama |access-date=20 September 2020|archive-date=22 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422114714/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/amavas-2/cast/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/mona-singh/|title=Mona Singh News, Latest News of Mona Singh, Movies, News, Songs, Images, Interviews - Bollywood Hungama|first=Bollywood|last=Hungama|website=Bollywood Hungama |access-date=30 January 2019|archive-date=30 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130220756/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/mona-singh/|url-status=live}}{{Citation|title=Ek Choti Si Ego (2019) - IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12875546/|language=en|access-date=2020-10-08|archive-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012060706/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12875546/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_QoxcbLQWIM|title = EK CHOTI SI EGO | Husband and Wife Story | Ft. Mona Singh & Iqbal Khan | Miraj Miracle|website = YouTube}}
In 2022, she appeared in Aamir Khan’s Laal Singh Chaddha, where she played the protagonist’s mother.{{Citation|title=Laal Singh Chaddha (2021) - IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10028196/|language=en|access-date=2020-10-08|archive-date=9 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709212558/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10028196/|url-status=live}} Despite being 16 years younger than Khan, Singh defended her role and stated,
Media image
With her performances in Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin, Singh established herself among the leading and highest-paid actresses of Hindi television.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/reinventing-mona-singh/article67222266.ece |title=Reinventing Mona Singh |work=The Hindu |archive-date=27 September 2023 |access-date=29 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927114453/https://www.thehindu.com/society/reinventing-mona-singh/article67222266.ece}} In 2012, Singh appeared in Forbes India{{'s}} Celebrity 100 list, ranking 97th with an estimated annual income of {{INRConvert|22.5|m}}.{{cite news |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/lists/2012-celebrity-100/1395/all |title=2012 Celebrity 100 |work=Forbes India |access-date=20 December 2014 |archive-date=19 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219063445/https://www.forbesindia.com/lists/2012-celebrity-100/1395/all |url-status=live}} Singh is termed as the hottest television actress by Rediff.com.{{cite news|url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/2006/mar/08slide1.htm |title=Hottest women on television |work=Rediff.com|archive-date=10 October 2016 |access-date=21 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010114453/https://m.rediff.com/movies/2006/mar/08slide1.htm}} In 2023, she was placed in its "Best performers on OTT" list.{{cite news|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/special/2023s-best-performers-on-ott/20231230.htm |title=2023's Best Performers On OTT |work=Rediff.com|archive-date=16 January 2024 |access-date=31 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116114453/https://m.rediff.com/amp/movies/special/2023s-best-performers-on-ott/20231230.htm}}
Filmography
=Films=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| 2009
| 3 Idiots | Mona Sahastrabuddhe | |
| 2011
| Koel Datta | |
| 2014
| Zed Plus | Hameeda | | {{Cite web|last=BookMyShow|title=Zed Plus Movie (2014) {{!}} Reviews, Cast & Release Date in Bhubaneswar|url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/bhubaneswar/movies/zed-plus/ET00025681?fbrefresh=1|access-date=2020-10-08|website=BookMyShow|language=en|archive-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012060706/https://in.bookmyshow.com/bhubaneswar/movies/zed-plus/ET00025681?fbrefresh=1|url-status=live}} |
| rowspan="2" | 2019
| Amavas | Dr. Shivani | |
| Ek Chotisi Ego
| Priya | Short film |
| rowspan="3" | 2022
| Don Bhaisahab | Rekha Anand | |
| Laal Singh Chaddha
| Gurpreet Kaur Chaddha | |
| Ek Chup
|Dr Radhika |Short film |
| rowspan="1"|2024
|Pammi | |
| 2025
|{{Pending film|Happy Patel Khatarnaak Jasoos}} |{{TableTBA}} |Completed |
=Television=
=Web series=
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" | |||||
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2" | 2003
| rowspan="2" | Producers Guild Film Awards | Best Actress in a Drama Series | rowspan="7" | Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin | {{won}} | |||||
| Outstanding Debut
| {{won}} | |||||
| rowspan="3" | 2004
| rowspan="2" | Indian Telly Awards | Best Television Personality of the Year | {{won}} | |||||
| Best Actress in a Lead Role
| {{won}} | |||||
| Indian Television Academy Awards
| {{won}} | |||||
| rowspan="2" | 2005
| {{won}} | |||||
| Indian Television Academy Awards
| {{won}} | |||||
| rowspan="2"| 2024
| Best Supporting Actress – Drama Series | {{won}} | |||||
| Bollywood Hungama Style Icons
| Most Stylish Mould-Breaking Talent of the Year | {{N/A}} | {{nom}} |
See also
{{Portal|India|Bollywood}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Mona Singh}}
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{Bollywood Hungama person}}
- {{instagram|monajsingh}}
{{Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa}}
{{Navboxes | title = Awards for Mona Singh | list = {{Indian Telly Award Best Lead Actress}}
{{Indian Television Academy Award Best Lead Actress}}
{{Producers Guild Film Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series}}
}}
{{Ugly Betty series}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Mona}}
Category:Indian television actresses
Category:Dancing with the Stars winners
Category:Indian women television presenters
Category:Indian television presenters
Category:Female models from Chandigarh