Mouni Roy

Mouni Roy (born 28 September 1985) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films and television. She made her acting debut in 2006, with the TV show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Roy became one of the highest-paid Hindi television actresses after portraying a shape-shifting serpent in the supernatural thriller Naagin and its sequel Naagin 2. She has received several awards including an IIFA Award and two ITA Awards with nominations for two Filmfare Awards.
Roy made her film debut with the Punjabi romantic film Hero Hitler in Love (2011). She made her Hindi film debut with the period sport film Gold (2018), receiving a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut nomination. Roy received high critical acclaim for her performance as Junoon in the fantasy action-adventure Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva (2022), which earned her the IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress and a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Early life and education
Roy was born in Cooch Behar, West Bengal on 28 September 1985 into a Rajbongshi family. Her grandfather, Shekhar Chandra Roy was a well-known Jatra theatre artist. Her mother Mukti was a theatre artist, and her father Anil Roy was an office superintendent of the Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad. She did her schooling till class 12th from Kendriya Vidyalaya in Baburhat, Cooch Behar and then went to Delhi.
She took up mass communication at Jamia Milia Islamia at her parents' insistence, but left the course midway and went to Mumbai to try her luck in the Hindi film industry. She finished her part 1 exams and did not return to Delhi after that. Mouni had an interest in acting since her childhood and cited actresses Madhubala, Madhuri Dixit and Waheeda Rehman as her acting idols.
Career
Debut and initial career (2006–2010)
Roy started her career with the Ekta Kapoor drama Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi in 2006, portraying Krishna Tulsi opposite Pulkit Samrat and Akashdeep Saigal. She then participated and won the first season of Zara Nachke Dikha. Then, she portrayed Shivani Sabharwal in Kasturi. In 2008, she participated in Pati Patni Aur Woh. In 2010, Roy played Roop in Do Saheliyaan opposite Jatin Shah.
Breakthrough, success and stardom in television (2011–2017)
In 2011, Roy starred in the Punjabi film Hero Hitler in Love. She attained fame after portraying Sati in Life OK's mythological series Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev opposite Mohit Raina, from 2011 to 2014. During that time she also played the lead as Meera opposite Aditya Redij in Life OK's Junoon – Aisi Nafrat Toh Kaisa Ishq in 2013. In 2014, Roy participated in the dance reality show on Colors Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7 along with Punit Pathak, where she finished at fourth place.
In 2015, Roy returned to television with Ekta Kapoor's supernatural series Naagin, portraying Shivanya, opposite Arjun Bijlani. The series topped the TRP charts, making her a household name not only in India but in other countries as well. She became one of the players of Bijlani's team Mumbai Tigers in Box Cricket League. She hosted the dance show So You Think You Can Dance on &TV.
In 2017, Roy portrayed dual role in the second season of Naagin, opposite Karanvir Bohra. Her chemistry with Bijlani in season 1 and with Bohra in season 2 was highly appreciated by audience and established her as a leading actress in Indian television. In 2016, Roy voiced the role of Sita in the animated film Mahayoddha Rama. In the same year, she appeared in the song "Nachna Aunda Ni" in Tum Bin 2.
Return to Hindi cinema and recent work (2018–present)
Roy made her full-fledged Hindi film debut alongside Akshay Kumar as a housewife in the 2018 period sport film Gold. Hindustan Times noted, "Roy as Akshay's wife Monobina is just the right mixture of crotchety and charming. With her grasp of Bengali, she brings that extra something to the film's milieu." India Today stated, "Mouni crosses over from the small screen to the big with elan and matches Akshay in every scene that she is with him in." With global earnings of 1.5 billion, Gold emerged as a commercial success. Roy followed the success of Gold with an item number named "Gali Gali" in the Hindi version of K.G.F: Chapter 1.
In 2019, Roy made a cameo appearance in the final few episodes of Naagin 3 as Mahanaagrani Shivangi. Roy's first release in 2019 was Romeo Akbar Walter alongside John Abraham and Jackie Shroff. For her performance as a RAW agent, Bollywood Hungama wrote, "Mouni Roy has an interesting part to essay. Though she does well, her character gets a raw deal." Romeo Akbar Walter underperformed at the box office. In her next film the same year, Made in China, Roy played a disturbed housewife alongside Rajkummar Rao. India Today noted, "Mouni is a surprise package. Though given a small role, she comes with much power, owning every bit of the screen time she gets." Made in China proved to be a commercial success.
Roy played a pregnant RAW agent in her first OTT feature film, London Confidential. Rediff.com stated, "Mouni Roy shows conviction in playing her part and is in a different avatar from her earlier performances." In 2021, she played an actress in Velle alongside Abhay Deol. Times of India wrote, "Mouni has limited scope to perform. Nonetheless, she lights up the screen every time she appears in the film."
Roy appeared as the judge in Dance India Dance Li'l Masters 5. The same year, she played the main antagonist Junoon, in Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva. Roy received rave reviews from critics and audience alike. India Today noted, "Roy as the villain is terrific and breaks the Naagin stigma with this career-altering performance." News18 wrote, "The real find of the film, Roy is simply terrific and really holds herself in this elaborate cast and effortlessly shines as the nemesis." The film became the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2022. Her performance in the film earned her the IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress and a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In 2023, Roy made her web debut with Milan Luthria's Sultan of Delhi opposite Tahir Raj Bhasin. She played a cabaret dancer in the series.
Roy is currently filming The वरGIN Tree with Sunny Singh. She also has BlackOut with Vikrant Massey in the pipeline.
Personal life
Roy has been awarded the UAE golden visa due to her frequent visits to the country.
Following three years of relationship, Roy and Dubai-based businessman Suraj Nambiar got married in traditional Bengali and Malayali ceremonies on 27 January 2022, in Panaji, Goa.
Other work and media image
Roy has established herself as one of the most popular and highest paid television actress in India. Times of India termed Naagin as a "game-changer" for Roy. Post the release of Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva, Mayukh Majumdar of Filmfare termed her "the undisputed star of the film". Financial Express stated that Roy's Junoon will be the "best antagonist Bollywood has seen in a while".
Roy has frequently featured on Times' 50 Most Desirable Women list. She ranked 35th in 2017, 32nd in 2018, 41st in 2019 and 44th in 2020. She was placed 3rd in Times 20 Most Desirable Women on TV list of 2017. She is a prominent celebrity endorser for brands and products including Bryan & Candy, Joy and Spawake. In March 2023, Roy performed in various cities in the United States for "The Entertainers" tour, alongside Akshay Kumar, Disha Patani, Nora Fatehi, Sonam Bajwa, Aparshakti Khurana, Stebin Ben and Zahrah S Khan.
Roy also supports a number of social causes. During the COVID-19 crisis, she donated a sum for the people in need. In 2020, after the cyclone Amphan, she joined hands with an NGO and auctioned her paintings in order to raise funds. Roy also donated to the Iskcon Foundation, for medical facilities in Mayapur in 2021. Roy and her husband Suraj Nambiar launched "Ultimate Gurus", a global education platform in 2022. In May 2023, Roy opened a restaurant named Badmaash in Mumbai.
Filmography
Films
All films are in Hindi unless otherwise noted.
Television
Web series
Music videos
Accolades
Roy has received two Filmfare Awards nominations: Best Female Debut for Gold and Best Supporting Actress for Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva. Roy also won the ITA Award for Best Actress Popular for Naagin.
See also
List of Hindi television actresses
List of Indian television actresses
List of Indian film actresses
List of Hindi film actresses
References
External links
Mouni Roy at IMDb
1985 births
Living people
Indian television actresses
People from Cooch Behar
Actresses in Hindi television
Actresses in Hindi cinema
Indian film actresses
21st-century Indian actresses
Actresses from West Bengal
People from Cooch Behar district
Rajbongshi people