Chitrangada Singh


Chitrangada Singh is an Indian film actress who works primarily in Hindi cinema. She has starred in films like Yeh Saali Zindagi, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Desi Boyz, Inkaar, I, Me Aur Main and Baazaar.

Early life and education

Chitrangada Singh was born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, growing up there as well as in Kota, Rajasthan, and also Bareilly and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, the latter city being the last where her father, Col. Niranjan Singh, an ex-Indian Army officer with a transferable job, was posted. Her brother Digvijay Singh Chahal is a golfer. After her schooling in Meerut at Sophia Girls' School, she completed her graduation in Home Science from Lady Irwin College, New Delhi.

Career

Debut and sabbatical (1991–2010)

Singh began her career as a model before making the transition to the silver screen. After completing her college education she began modeling with brands like ICICI bank and Alukkas Jewellery among others.
She got fame highlighted in Tum To Thehre Pardesi Album sing by Altaf Raja
She drew attention after performing in a music video Sunset Point by Gulzar.
A music video of singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya followed. Subsequently, she made her much acclaimed debut with Sudhir Mishra's film Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi in 2003. The role got her wide acclaim: a Washington Post review noted her for giving "her character a deep sense of dignity and decency." After that Chitrangada acted in the 2005 film Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow.
She took a break from acting from 2005 to 2008. In 2008, she made her comeback with the leading role opposite Sanjay Suri in the director Onir's romantic-comedy, Sorry Bhai!. Its release over the weekend of the Mumbai terror attacks proved disastrous at the box office.

Commercial cinema (2011–present)

She then starred in Rohit Dhawan's Desi Boyz, where she played the role of an economics teacher opposite Akshay Kumar. Desi Boyz also starred John Abraham and Deepika Padukone.
In Sudhir Mishra's movie Yeh Saali Zindagi, Singh played the role of an aspiring singer from Delhi who goes to Mumbai to get fame and money.
In 2012, she performed an item number in Shirish Kunder's Joker.
Her next movie was I, Me Aur Main with John Abraham in 2013. She got together again with her mentor Sudhir Mishra for a short movie Kirchiyaan and for the film Inkaar in 2013. In 2014, she then appeared in a special song with Suriya in Tamil film Anjaan.
In 2015, she again performed a special song with Akshay Kumar for the second time in his film, Gabbar is Back.

Brand endorsement

Singh is a brand ambassador for Airtel, Parachute, Puma, Borges Olive Oil, Garnier, Aliva Crackers, Taj Mahal Tea and Joyalukkas Jewellers. She also endorses Tata Group's Tanishq and Titan Eye Plus.

Personal life

Chitrangada Singh was married to golfer Jyoti Randhawa.
Chitrangada and her husband separated in 2013 and then formally got divorced in April 2015.

Filmography

FilmLanguageRoleNotes
2003Hazaaron Khwaishein AisiHindiGeeta Rao
2005HindiBhavana Dayal
2008Sorry Bhai!HindiAaliya
2011Yeh Saali ZindagiHindiPriti
2011Desi BoyzHindiTanya Sharma
2012JokerHindiHerselfSpecial appearance in the song
KirchiyaanHindiProstituteshort film by Sudhir Mishra
2013InkaarHindiMaya Luthra
2014AnjaanTamilHerselfSpecial appearance in the song "Sirippu En"
2015Gabbar is BackHindiHerselfSpecial appearance in song "Aao Raja"
2017Munna MichaelHindiJudge of Dancing StarCameo appearance
2018SoormaHindiProducer
Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3HindiSuhani-
BaazaarHindiMandira Kothari-
2020GhoomketuHindiHerselfCameo appearance

Awards and nominations

YearFilmAwardCategoryResult
2006Hazaaron Khwaishein AisiBollywood Movie AwardBest Female Debut
2006Hazaaron Khwaishein AisiProducers Guild Film AwardsBest Actress in a Leading Role
2006Hazaaron Khwaishein AisiScreen AwardsBest Debut
2006Hazaaron Khwaishein AisiZee Cine AwardBest Female Debut