# Archana Puran Singh

Archana Puran Singh (born 26 September 1962) is an Indian actress and television personality. She is known for her comedy roles in several Bollywood movies and as a judge in the comedy shows The Kapil Sharma Show and Comedy Circus. She is widely remembered for her supporting roles in several films, including the romance Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). Archana Puran Singh has been featured in more than 100 films and television series.

## Career
### In films

She made her film debut with Nikaah in 1982. In 1987, she starred in Jalwa opposite Naseeruddin Shah. Later, she did roles in films like Agneepath (1990), Saudagar (1991), Shola aur Shabnam (1992), Aashiq Awara (1993), and Raja Hindustani (1996); she did item songs in films like the Govinda-starrer thriller Baaz and the Suniel Shetty starrer Judge Mujrim.
Thereafter, she has largely restricted herself to supporting roles in Hindi films, often in comedies. Some of her films are Love Story 2050, Mohabbatein, Krrish, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Masti, De Dana Dan and Bol Bachchan.

### In television

She became a television anchor, with Wah, Kya Scene Hai on Zee TV in 1993 which was followed by Uncensored. She later acted in Shrimaan Shrimati, Junoon and hosted Archana Talkies on Sony Entertainment Television. She also acted in the TV show Zee Horror Show.
She also directed sitcoms like Jaane Bhi Do Paaro and Nehle Pe Dehla and produced Samne Wali Khidki.
In 2005, she was a contestant in the dance reality show Nach Baliye 1, in which she participated with her husband, Parmeet Sethi; they were eliminated in the sixth episode. In 2006, she and her husband hosted another dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (season 1).
Thereafter, she appeared as a judge on comedy shows, including Sony Entertainment Television's Comedy Circus. In 2015, she appeared in SAB TV's The Great Indian Family Drama as Begum Paro.
In 2019, she entered as the judge in The Kapil Sharma Show. In 2019, she acted as Lakhan's mother, Paramjeet, in SAB TV serial, My Name Ijj Lakhan opposite her real life husband, Parmeet Sethi.

## Filmography
### Films

Key :
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Language(s) |
| 1982 | Nikaah | Salesgirl | Hindi |
| 1987 | Jalwa | Jyothi | Hindi |
| 1988 | Aaj Ke Angaarey | Priya | Hindi |
| 1988 | The Perfect Murder | Miss Twinkle | Hindi |
| 1988 | Woh Phir Aayegi | | Hindi |
| 1989 | Ladaai | Sashi Verma | Hindi |
| 1990 | Aag Ka Gola | Nisha | Hindi |
| 1990 | Agneepath | Shanti/Laila | Hindi |
| 1991 | Jeena Teri Gali Mein | | Hindi |
| 1991 | Saudagar | | Hindi |
| 1992 | Main Hoon Sherni | Ganga Verma | Hindi |
| 1992 | Zulm Ki Hukumat | Chitra | Hindi |
| 1992 | Shola Aur Shabnam | Mrs. Deva | Hindi |
| 1992 | Naalaya Seidhi | | Tamil |
| 1992 | Pandiyan | | Tamil |
| 1992 | Bandhu | Bandhu's wife | Hindi |
| 1992 | Baaz | Monica | Hindi |
| 1993 | Aasoo Bane Angaarey | Chanda | Hindi |
| 1993 | Kondapalli Raja | | Telugu |
| 1993 | Aashiq Awara | Sheela | Hindi |
| 1994 | Mahakaal | Anita | Hindi |
| 1994 | Yuhi Kabhi | | Hindi |
| 1994 | Pyaar Ka Rog | | Hindi |
| 1995 | Takkar | Maya | Hindi |
| 1996 | Aisi Bhi Kya Jaldi Hai | | Hindi |
| 1996 | Raja Hindustani | Shalini "Shalu" Mitra | Hindi |
| 1997 | Share Bazaar | | Hindi |
| 1997 | Judge Mujrim | | Hindi |
| 1998 | Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | Miss Breganza | Hindi |
| 1999 | Bade Dilwala | Manthara | Hindi |
| 1999 | Anyay Hi Anyay | | Hindi |
| 2000 | Mela | Vidyavati | Hindi |
| 2000 | Mohabbatein | Preeto | Hindi |
| 2001 | Censor | Margaret | Hindi |
| 2001 | Moksha: Salvation | Mrs D'Souza | Hindi |
| 2002 | Maine Dil Tujhko Diya | Dancer | Hindi |
| 2003 | Jhankaar Beats | Ms. Voluptuous | Hindi |
| 2003 | Khanjar: The Knife | | Hindi |
| 2003 | Janasheen | Martha | Hindi |
| 2003 | Enakku 20 Unakku 18 / Nee Manasu Naaku Telusu (Tamil / Telugu) | | Tamil/Telugu |
| 2004 | Masti | Mrs. Tyagi | Hindi |
| 2004 | Mirchi - It's Hot | | Hindi |
| 2004 | Rok Sako To Rok Lo | Sweety | Hindi |
| 2004 | Aabra Ka Daabra | Suzanne | Hindi |
| 2005 | Insan | Rajjo | Hindi |
| 2006 | The Gold Bracelet | Baljit Singh | Hindi |
| 2006 | Krrish | Nayantara | Hindi |
| 2006 | Mera Dil Leke Dekho | | Hindi |
| 2007 | Naqaab | TV Reporter | Hindi |
| 2008 | Mere Baap Pehle Aap | Inspector Bhawan | Hindi |
| 2008 | Love Story 2050 | Sangeeta Bedi | Hindi |
| 2008 | Money Hai Toh Honey Hai | Dolly | Hindi |
| 2008 | Rafoo Chakkar: Fun on the Run | Kokila | Hindi |
| 2008 | Good Luck! | | Hindi |
| 2008 | Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! | Kamlesh Handa | Hindi |
| 2009 | Kal Kisne Dekha | Bebe | Hindi |
| 2009 | Tera Mera Ki Rishta | | Punjabi |
| 2009 | Bad Luck Govinda | Mamta | Hindi |
| 2009 | De Dana Dan | Kuljeet Kaur | Hindi |
| 2011 | Luv Ka The End | Lux Lovani | Hindi |
| 2011 | Haat - The Weekly Bazaar | | Hindi |
| 2012 | Bol Bachchan | Zohra/Madhumati | Hindi |
| 2014 | Kick | Rati Lal Singh | Hindi |
| 2015 | Dolly Ki Doli | Manjot's mother | Hindi |
| 2015 | Uvaa | Jayshri Bhatiya | Hindi |
| 2019 | Housefull 4 | Varsha P. Sinha (photo only) | Hindi |
| 2020 | Virgin Bhanupriya | Madhu Awasthi | Hindi |
| 2023 | Walk | | Hindi |
| 2024 | Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video | Vidya's mother | Hindi |
| 2025 | Nadaaniyan | Mrs. Braganza-Malhotra | Hindi |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1987–1988 | Mr Ya Mrs | Seema | |
| 1987 | Karamchand | Various characters | |
| 1988 | Doordarshan New Year Program | Host | Television special |
| 1993–1997 | Wah, Kya Scene Hai | Host | |
| 1993 | Zee Horror Show | Julie | |
| 1994–1999 | Shrimaan Shrimati | Prema Shalini | |
| 1994 | Junoon | Rekha | |
| 1998–1999 | Jaane Bhi Do Paaro | Paaro | Also director |
| 1998–1999 | Uncensored | Host/presenter | |
| 1999 | Nehle Pe Dehla | Various characters | Also director |
| 2000 | Archana Talkies | Host/presenter | |
| 2001 | Aasman Se Tapki | | Also producer |
| 2002–2003 | Archana Aaa-Haa | Host/presenter | |
| 2003 | Samnewali Khidki | Sanjana | Also producer |
| 2005 | Nach Baliye 1 | Contestant | |
| 2006 | Kandy Floss | Host | |
| 2006 | Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 1 | Host | |
| 2007–2018 | Comedy Circus | Judge | |
| 2008 | Sun Yaar Chill Maar | Miss Briganza | Guest |
| 2014 | Bhoot Aaya | Narrator | Episode 20 |
| 2015 | The Great Indian Family Drama | Begum Paro | |
| 2015–2016 | Comedy Classes | Judge | |
| 2018 | Aunty Boli Lagao Boli | Aunty | |
| 2019 | My Name Ijj Lakhan | Paramjeet | |
| 2019–2023 | The Kapil Sharma Show | Permanent Guest | |
| 2022 | India's Laughter Champion | Judge | |
| 2024–present | The Great Indian Kapil Show | Permanent Guest | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 1997 | Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Raja Hindustani | Nominated |
| 1999 | Filmfare Awards | Best Comedian | Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | Nominated |
| 1999 | Screen Awards | Best Comedian | Kuch Kuch Hota Hai | Won |
| 1999 | Screen Awards | Best Anchor | Archana Talkies | Nominated |
| 1999 | Asian Television Awards | Best Entertainment Presenter/Host | Uncensored | Won |
| 2000 | IIFA Awards | Best Comedian | Mohabbatein | Nominated |
| 2001 | Indian Television Academy Awards | Best Comedian | Aasman Se Tapki | Won |
| 2006 | Method Fest Independent Film Festival | Best Ensemble Cast | The Gold Bracelet | Nominated |

## Personal life

Singh is a Rajput. Her first marriage did not work and ended in a divorce. She later married actor Parmeet Sethi on 30 June 1992. They have two sons.