Khushbu Sundar

Khushbu Sundar (born Nakhat Khan; 29 September 1970) is an Indian politician, actress, film producer and television personality. She is known for her work predominantly in Tamil language films and in a few Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films. She has appeared in over 185 films, and has won three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, two Cinema Express Awards, a Kalaimamani Award and a Kerala State Film Award.
Khushbu was born as Nakhat Khan on 29 September 1970 into a Muslim family in Bombay, Maharashtra, India. Her parents gave her the stage name Khushbu when she started her career as a child actress. She has been living in Chennai for nearly 40 years now.
Khushbu started her career as a child artist in the Hindi film The Burning Train (1980) in the song "Teri Hai Zameen Tera Aasman". Between 1980 and 1985, she performed as a child actor in various Hindi films like Naseeb, Laawaris, Kaalia, Dard Ka Rishta, and Bemisal.
Her sensitive performance in the emotional 1982 Hindi movie, Dard Ka Rishta was appreciated by audiences. The fairy song "Kaun Hu Main Kya Naam Hai Mera" from the movie is still a very popular song at Annual Day School performances, children's parties and fairy themed parties in India.
She made her adult acting debut in the much-acclaimed 1985 Hindi film Meri Jung in a supporting role as Anil Kapoor's younger sister. In the same year, she got her first lead role in the film Jaanoo opposite veteran actor Jackie Shroff. This was followed by Tan-Badan (1986) paired with Govinda. Khushbu played a significant supporting role in Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin (1990), alongside Aamir Khan and Madhuri Dixit.
Khushbu was introduced to South Indian screens by D. Ramanaidu and K. Raghavendra Rao through the Telugu film Kaliyuga Pandavulu (1986). Khushbu moved her base to Chennai and started focussing on Tamil and other South Indian film industries.
Khushbu had done close to 12 movies in Telugu and Kannada, and had bagged her first role in Tamil in the movie Dharmathin Thalaivan (1988). Then she did films like Varusham 16 (1989), Kizhakku Vaasal (1990) and Nadigan (1990), but the movie which catapulted her to the top was the runaway hit Chinna Thambi (1991).
Khushbu appeared in several films including Dharmathin Thalaivan (1988), Vettri Vizhaa (1989), My Dear Marthandan (1990), Chinna Thambi (1991), Kizhakku Karai (1991), Pandithurai (1992), Naalaya Seidhi (1992), Uthama Raasa (1993), Maravan (1993) and Chinna Vathiyar (1995).
She met her future husband on the set of Sundar C's directorial debut Murai Maman (1995).
She later appeared in successful films such as Nattupura Pattu (1996), Irattai Roja (1996), Ettupatti Rasa (1997), Paththini (1997), Thulli Thirintha Kaalam (1998), Simmarasi (1998), Viralukketha Veekkam (1999), Power of Women (2005), Periyar (2007) and Pazhani (2008).
Khushbu then forayed into television, plunged into politics and also devoted time as a homemaker.
In 2021, she made a comeback with Rajinikanth in Annaatthe.
She also makes appearances in songs directed by her husband Sundar C such as Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru (2013), Aambala (2015), Aranmanai 2 (2016) and Aranmanai 4 (2024).
Khushbu and sprinter Usain Bolt are honorary members of Richmond Football Club, based in Melbourne, Australia. Khushbu was made the number-one ticket holder of Richmond Football Club in March 2017. She became the first Indian, and is the only Indian female, to be bestowed with such an honour in the AFL.
Khushbu was introduced to Australian Rules Football, and nominated for the role of honorary member of Richmond Tigers by former Ministerial Adviser Mr. Nitin Gupta.
On 14 August 2017, Khushbu was invited by RMIT University to speak with their Media and Communication students about the 'Representation of Women in Indian Cinema' at a session moderated by Dr. Vikrant Kishore. She also engaged in a lengthy Q&A with students and guests, sharing her own experiences of working in Indian cinema for over 37 years and appearing in around 200 films.
Around 200-plus students and guests turned up to listen and interact with Khushbu. She was given a standing ovation by the audiences both at the beginning and at the end of the session.
On 15 August 2017, Khushbu was invited as the chief guest at the Deakin University Indian Club's (DUIC) Indian Independence Day celebrations event by DUIC Founder President Mr. Amogh Chakravarthy. Deakin University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement, Professor Gary Smith, was guest of honor at the celebrations, which were hosted at the University's Burwood Campus.
Khushbu joined the DMK on 14 May 2010. She was welcomed by DMK Leader Karunanidhi at the party headquarters in Chennai. Khushbu quit DMK on 16 June 2014.
Khushbu joined the Indian National Congress on 26 November 2014 after meeting with then Congress President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and then Vice-president Mr. Rahul Gandhi. She served as the National Spokesperson of the INC. Khushbu has been very critical of Narendra Modi's policies and has often taken to Twitter to criticise the ruling dispensation.
Khushbu resigned from Congress on 12 October 2020 ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in 2021. The Congress Secretary of Media said that Khushbu was being pressured by her husband, Sundar C, to join the BJP. Khushbu claimed that her previous party "does not want an intelligent woman" and there is no freedom to speak the truth within the party. She referred to the Congress as "mentally retarded". The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) filed 30 complaints at different police stations in the state over her statements, alleging that she made derogatory remarks against people with disabilities.
On 12 October 2020, Khushbu joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. She is currently a National Executive Committee Member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Khushbu said during a meeting with journalists in November 2023 that she wouldn't apologize for using the term "cheri language". She used the term to highlight the use of foul language against women in a post on social media platform X while responding to a supporter of the DMK who accused her of staying silent during the Manipur ethnic violence on social media. In Tamil, the term refers to Dalit colonies that are separated from the rest of a village or town, and it is frequently used in a derogatory manner in reference to anything crude or crass. Her use of the term 'cheri' was condemned by activists for its caste-based connotations. The Neelam Foundation, an organization fighting for Dalit rights, demanded an unconditional apology. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi lodged a police complaint about her remarks. The Chennai city police increased security for Khushbu's house after the SC/ST wing of the Congress party announced a protest in front of her house. In her defence, she claimed that she had utilized the French term 'chéri', which translates to 'beloved', and not the Tamil word 'cheri'.
The Bharatiya Janata Party fielded Khushbu for the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election from Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai. She lost the election by a margin of 32,200 votes to Ezhilan Naganathan of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
During her prime, Khushbu was a prominent actress in Tamil cinema. She became the first Indian actress for whom her fans built a dedicated temple.
During her prominence in Tamil cinema, several dishes in Tamil Nadu were named after Khushbu. Kushboo Idli, a rice cake, stood out as the most popular food item named after the actress. Other items such as Kushboo Jhumki, Kushboo Sarees, Kushboo Sharbet, Kushboo Coffee, Kushboo Cocktails, and various other food items were also named after her, with many still retaining those names.
Khushbu has been a very vocal supporter of the bull-taming sport, jallikattu, and has voiced her opinion at various national and international platforms. In Aug 2017, she even visited a cattle station in Warrnambool, Australia, to get a better understanding of how cattle are treated and raised on farms outside India.
Khushbu has been very vocal about obtaining more recognition for South Indian cinema and non-Hindi cinema from India on global platforms, and film festivals. She has always maintained that Indian cinema is not just about Bollywood movies.
In Aug 2017, Khushbu had visited the Victorian Parliament, and had meetings with former Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu, and Ministerial Adviser Mr. Nitin Gupta to request for more recognition for South Indian cinema in the Victorian government created and funded Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
In 2000, Khushbu married actor, director, and producer Sundar C. Following their union, she adopted her husband's name, Sundar, and has since been known as Khushbu Sundar. They have two daughters, Avantika and Anandita, after whom they named their production house, Avni Cinemax.
Although she married a Hindu, she has stated that she has not converted to Hinduism, nor has she been asked to do so by her husband. Though born into a Muslim family, Khushbu stated in 2006 that she was an atheist.
Kushbu stirred controversy in December 2012 when she wore a saree that had images of the Hindu gods Rama, Krishna and Hanuman. The Hindu Makkal Katchi demanded an apology from her and threatened to start agitations. She responded by saying, "I am not going to answer every Tom, Dick and Harry. Why should I? There is no need at all. Why are they worried about what a woman sports. Don't they have any other worthwhile work?".
The Hindu Munnani and the Hindu Makkal Katchi filed several cases against Khushbu, accusing the actress of disrespecting Hindu gods by sitting cross-legged with her slippers in front of the idols of the goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Parvati during a puja for the muhurta in Chennai on 22 November 2007.
In January 2006, in its first Indian edition, Maxim magazine featured a full-page composite photograph with her head pasted onto the body of a model wearing a bikini. Khushbu filed two complaints: defamation and the indecent representation of women against the editor and four others involved with the magazine. The proceedings were later stayed by the Madras High Court in December 2007 based on a plea filed by one of those charged.
In 2005, she said in an interview it was fine for girls to indulge in pre-marital sex if they safeguard themselves and took precautions to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Later, she justified her statement by saying no educated man could expect his partner to be a virgin. The Dalit Panthers of India stormed the office of the South India Film Artistes' Association in Chennai demanding an apology from her. The Pattali Makkal Katchi said it will protest outside her house. 22 complaints alleging that she was "defaming Tamil womanhood and chastity" were brought against her, but in 2010, the Supreme Court dismissed all cases.