# Antara Biswas

Antara Biswas (born 21 November), known professionally as Monalisa, is an Indian actress who primarily works in Bhojpuri films and Hindi television. She participated as a contestant on Bigg Boss 10 in 2016 and is best known for portraying Mohana Rathod in the supernatural drama Nazar. Monalisa is considered as one of the highest paid Bhojpuri actress.

## Early life

Antara Biswas was born to a Bengali Hindu family on 21 November. She adopted the stage name of Monalisa at the behest of her uncle. She studied at Julien Day School in Elgin Road, South Kolkata, and graduated from Ashutosh College of the University of Calcutta, earning a BA degree in Sanskrit before starting out a few years ago as a small-time TV actress and model in Odia video albums.

## Career

Monalisa acted in several low-budget films before making her debut in Bollywood with Blackmail, starring Ajay Devgn and Suniel Shetty. She then acted in South Indian films before coming to notice through her role in Tauba Tauba opposite Amin Gazi. She acted in a Kannada film titled Jackpot.
Monalisa made her Bhojpuri film debut with Bhole Shankar alongside Mithun Chakraborty and Manoj Tiwari. The film was a major commercial success and broke the standing record for biggest opening for a Bhojpuri film. She further established herself as a leading actress in Bhojpuri cinema with successful films such as Hum Bahubali, Saat Saheliyan, Devra Bada Satawela and Devra Bhail Deewana among others.
Monalisa's most notable role on television include her playing Mohana Mehta Rathod in Nazar, Iravati Verma in Namak Issk Ka and Yamini Raichand in Bekaboo. In 2022, she participated in Smart Jodi with her husband, Vikrant Singh Rajpoot and later played Rama in Favvara Chowk.

## Personal life

She married Bhojpuri actor Vikrant Singh Rajpoot in the Bigg Boss house on 17 January 2017.

## Media image

Monalisa is considered in the media as one of the most popular and highest paid Bhojpuri actress. She is also one of the most followed Bhojpuri actress on Instagram with over 5.8 million followers. In 2010, The Hindu stated that Monalisa (along with Rinku Ghosh) was the most sought after actress in the Bhojpuri film industry.

## Filmography
### Bhojpuri films

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2008 | Bhole Shankar | | |
| 2008 | Khatailal Mithailal | | |
| 2008 | Kaha Jaiba Raja Najariya Ladaike | | |
| 2008 | Tu Babua Hamaar | | |
| 2008 | Shrimaan Driver Babu | | |
| 2009 | Ho Gaini Deewana Tohra Pyar Me | | |
| 2009 | Kahan Jaiba Raja Nazariya Ladai Ke | | |
| 2009 | Hum Bahubali | Radhika | |
| 2009 | Dulha Albela | Dulhan | |
| 2009 | Ranbhoomi | | |
| 2009 | Pratigya | Dancer | Special appearance in song "Lehariya Luta Ae Raja" |
| 2009 | Hum Hai Khalnayak | | |
| 2009 | Sindur Daan | | |
| 2009 | Jade Mein Balma Pyara Lage | | |
| 2009 | Sahar Wali Jaan Mareli | | |
| 2010 | Ek Aur Kurukshetra | | |
| 2010 | Tu Jaan Hau Hamaar | | |
| 2010 | Dharmatma | | |
| 2010 | Nathuniya Pe Goli Maare | | |
| 2010 | Bhojpuriya Don | Don's lover | |
| 2010 | Rangbaz Daroga | Aanchal | |
| 2010 | Nainihal | | |
| 2010 | Saat Saheliyan | Mona | |
| 2010 | Devra Bada Satawela | Mona | |
| 2010 | Mrityunjay | | Special appearance |
| 2010 | Loafer | | |
| 2010 | Kanoon Hamra Mutthi Mein | | |
| 2010 | Daraar | | |
| 2011 | Mora Balma Chail Chabila | | |
| 2011 | Apne Begaane | | |
| 2011 | Aakhri Rasta | Bindu | |
| 2011 | Barood | | |
| 2011 | The Great Hero Hiralal | Hiralal's lover | |
| 2011 | Gundairaj | | |
| 2011 | Ladaai La Ankhiyan Ae Lounde Raja | | |
| 2011 | Kartavya | | |
| 2011 | Hamaar Devdas | Paro | |
| 2012 | Bhaiya Hamar Dayavan | | |
| 2012 | Mehraru Bina Ratiya Kaise Kati | | |
| 2012 | Dacait | | |
| 2012 | Khuddar | Sunita | |
| 2012 | Naagin | | |
| 2012 | Khoon Pasina | Rama | |
| 2012 | Elan E Jung | | |
| 2013 | Bhaiya Hamar Dayavan | | |
| 2013 | Rang De Pyar Ke Rang Mein | | |
| 2013 | Jaan Lebu Ka Ho | | |
| 2013 | Banaraswali | | |
| 2013 | Pratibandh | | |
| 2013 | Desh Pardesh | | |
| 2013 | Kasam Wardi Ke | | |
| 2013 | Biwi No. 1 | | |
| 2013 | Lagal Sanheiya Ke Dor | | |
| 2013 | Saala Main To Sahib Ban Gaya | | |
| 2013 | Ziddi Aashiq | | |
| 2013 | Saawariyan Tose Laagi Kaisi Lagan | | |
| 2013 | Mati Preet Jagawale | | |
| 2013 | Zanzeer | | |
| 2013 | Ishq Ka Manjan Ghise Hai Piya | | |
| 2013 | Gumrah | | |
| 2013 | Ijjat | | |
| 2013 | Chhamia Bhelwali | | |
| 2013 | Jeevan Yudhh | | |
| 2013 | Saiyan Bhailan Pardesiyaa | | |
| 2013 | Jodi No. 1 | | |
| 2013 | Ghulam | | |
| 2013 | Mita Deb Raavanraaj | | |
| 2013 | Budhwa Tamtamwala | | |
| 2013 | Lagal Ba Pyar Ke Bukhar | | |
| 2013 | Tulsi Bin Suna Anganwa | Tulsi | |
| 2013 | Ganga Putra | | |
| 2013 | Chedi Ganga Kinarewala | | |
| 2013 | Natawar Lal | | |
| 2013 | Ek Nihattha | | |
| 2014 | Devra Bhail Deewana | Mona | |
| 2014 | Khoon Bhari Hamaar Maang | Mona | |
| 2014 | Adalat | | |
| 2014 | Tere Naam | | |
| 2014 | Kare La Kamaal Dharti Ke Laal | | |
| 2015 | Raja Babu | Dolly Singh | |
| 2015 | Prem Leela | | |
| 2015 | Saiyan Toofani | | |
| 2015 | Suhag | | |
| 2015 | Rakhtbhoomi | | |
| 2017 | Sarkar Raj | | |
| 2017 | Jai Shree Ram | | |
| 2017 | Pawan Raja | Mona | |
| 2018 | Jeena Marna Tere Sang | Sita | |
| 2018 | Dulhan Chahi Pakistan Se 2 | Dancer | Special appearance in song "Susuk Susuk Ke Royi Thi" |
| 2018 | Dabangg Mora Balma | | |
| 2018 | Mafia | | |

### Other language films

| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
| 1997 | Jayate | Aarti | Hindi | |
| 1998 | Hamam fi Amsterdam | | Odia | |
| 1999 | Jai Sriram | Rima Das | Odia | |
| 2001 | Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence | Dancer | Hindi | Special appearance in song |
| 2002 | Wrong Number | | Odia | |
| 2003 | Top Somrat | | Bengali | Bangladeshi film |
| 2004 | Adhikar | | Bengali | |
| 2004 | Tauba Tauba | Rubina | Hindi | |
| 2004 | Ab Bas! | | Hindi | Special appearance |
| 2005 | Ek Hi Bhool | Tanvi | Hindi | |
| 2005 | Jalwa: Fun in Love | Manisha Tripathi / Tanya "Chinky" | Hindi | |
| 2005 | Bunty Aur Babli | Dancer | Hindi | Special appearance in song "Bunty Aur Babli" |
| 2005 | Blackmail | Dancer | Hindi | |
| 2005 | Bobby: Love and Lust | Bobby D'Costa | Hindi | |
| 2006 | Jackpot | Laila | Kannada | |
| 2006 | Half Fry Hyderabadi | | Hindi | |
| 2007 | Love Guru | | Hindi | |
| 2007 | Kaafila | Niharika | Hindi | |
| 2007 | Jagadam | Dancer | Telugu | Special appearance in song "36-24-36" |
| 2008 | Encounter Dayanayak | | Kannada | |
| 2008 | Money Hai Toh Honey Hai | Manish Sarraf’s wife | Hindi | |
| 2008 | Vathiyar | | Tamil | Cameo appearance |
| 2008 | Nagaram | | Telugu | |
| 2008 | Silambattam | Herself | Tamil | Cameo appearance |
| 2009 | Boni | Dancer | Telugu | Special appearance in song |
| 2010 | To The London Calling | Sonia / Urvashi | Hindi | |
| 2010 | Ek Chatur Naar | | Hindi | |
| 2010 | Royal Utsav | | Hindi | |
| 2010 | Hamilton Palace | | Hindi | |
| 2010 | Khoobsurat – The Beauty | | Hindi | |
| 2010 | Meri Life Mein Uski Wife | Dipal | Hindi | |
| 2011 | Khubsurat Naukrani | | Hindi | |
| 2011 | Bablu | | Telugu | |
| 2011 | Kadhalukku Maranamillai | | Tamil | |
| 2012 | En Peyar Kumarasamy | | Tamil | |
| 2016 | Saugandh Chee Maa Baap Na | Kajal | Gujarati | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2016–2017 | Bigg Boss 10 | Contestant | 6th place |
| 2017 | Nach Baliye 8 | Contestant | 8th place |
| 2018–2020 | Nazar | Mohana Mehta Rathod | |
| 2019 | Kitchen Champion | Contestant | |
| 2020 | Nazar 2 | Madhulika Chaudhary | |
| 2020–2021 | Namak Issk Ka | Iravati Verma | |
| 2021 | Ankahee Dastaan: Nazar | Mohana Rathod | Telefilm |
| 2022 | Smart Jodi | Contestant | |
| 2022–2023 | Favvara Chowk | Rama | |
| 2023 | Bekaboo | Yamini Raichand | |
| 2024 | Laal Banarasi | Nayantara Sinha | |
| 2024 | Mata Ki Mahima | Indrayani | |
| 2024 | Shamshaan Champa | Mohini | |
| 2024–present | Prem Leela | Rudrakshi | |

#### Special appearances

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2012 | Bigg Boss 6 | Herself |
| 2016 | Comedy Nights Bachao | Herself |
| 2017 | Comedy Dangal | Herself |
| 2019 | Divya Drishti | Mohana Mehta Rathod |
| 2020 | Bigg Boss 14 | Herself |
| 2022 | Good Night India | Herself |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2018 | Dupur Thakurpo: 2 | Jhuma Boudi | |
| 2020-2022 | Ratri Ke Yatri | Prostitute | 2 seasons |
| 2022 | Dhappa | Meera | Episode: "Raat Ki Baat" |
| 2022 | Hasratein | Shararat Bai | Episode: "Shararat Bai" |
| 2023 | Bajao | Tanvi Choudhary | |

## Award and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2015 | Bhojpuri Film Awards | Best Actor – Female | Adalat | Nominated |
| 2019 | Indian Telly Awards | Best Actress in a Negative Role | Nazar | Nominated |
| 2020 | Kalakar Awards | Most Stylish Vamp | Nazar | Won |