Mouni Roy
Mouni Roy is an Indian actress, singer, Kathak dancer and former model, who began her career with television in 2006 with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Her popular works include Mahadev, Naagin and Gold.
In 2014, Roy was a finalist on the reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. She rose to fame by her portrayal of Sati and Shivanya/Shivangi in Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev and Naagin respectively. In 2018, she entered films with Reema Kagti's sports film Gold opposite Akshay Kumar, getting nominated for the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award, and made her singing debut with the remake single "Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein". In 2019, Roy appeared in two films, Romeo Akbar Walter and Made in China. She will be next seen in Brahmāstra and Mogul.
Life and career
Early life and television debut (2006–2010)
Mouni Roy was born on 28 September 1985 in Cooch Behar to a Bengali Rajbongshi family from West Bengal. Her grandfather, Shekhar Chandra Roy was a well-known Jatra theatre artist. While her mother Mukti was a theatre artist, 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 Bollywood films Industry. She finished her part 1 exams and did not return to Delhi after that. She appeared as a background dancer in the song Nahi Hona in 2004 film Run.Mouni started her career in 2006 with the Ekta Kapoor drama Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi playing the role of Krishna Tulsi opposite Pulkit Samrat. She then participated and won the first season of Zara Nachke Dikha along with Karishma Tanna and Jennifer Winget. Mouni then appeared as Shivani in the series Kasturi. In 2008, Roy participated in Pati Patni Aur Woh along with Gaurav Chopra then after in 2010, she played the role of Roop in Do Saheliyaan.
Breakthrough and success in television (2011–2017)
In 2011, Mouni starred in the Punjabi movie Hero Hitler in Love. She made fame after playing the role of Sati in Life OK's mythological series Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev from 2011 to 2014. During that time she played the lead as Meera opposite Aditya Redij in Life OK's Junoon – Aisi Nafrat Toh Kaisa Ishq in 2013. In 2014, Mouni participated in the dance reality show on Colors Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa in its seventh season along with Punit Pathak.In 2015, Mouni returned to television with Ekta Kapoor's supernatural series Naagin playing the role of Shivanya opposite Arjun Bijlani and Adaa Khan. The series topped the TRP charts, making Mouni a household name not only in India, but in other countries too. She became one of the players of Bijlani's team Mumbai Tigers in Box Cricket League. She also hosted the dance show So You Think You Can Dance along with Rithvik Dhanjani on &TV. Mouni also played a double role in Season 2 of Naagin. 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 Industry. In 2016, Mouni voiced for the role of Sita in the animated film Mahayodha Rama. In the same year she also appeared in a song 'Nachna Aunda Ni' in Tum Bin 2.
Bollywood debut and break from television (2018–present)
In 2018, Mouni made her Bollywood debut alongside Akshay Kumar in Gold directed by Reema Kagti. She drew praises for her performance in the movie. Describing her performance, Hindustan Times wrote, "Mouni 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."Suparna Sharma of Asian Age reviewed her performance and sensuality. "Her Monobina is created out of Punjabi men and women’s fetishised fantasy of married Bengali women — snappy and scolding, but also sexy and sultry."
The film was given a verdict of average by Box Office India.
In December 2018, she made a special appearance in the film in the song 'Gali Gali'. The song was a recreation of a song of Tridev with the same name. It only appeared in the Hindi version of the film. The dance number became popular, and Roy was praised for her dance.
In May 2019, she made a cameo appearance in the final few episodes of Naagin 3 as Mahanaagrani Shivangi.
Her first release in 2019 was Romeo Akbar Walter. The film also starred John Abraham and Jackie Shroff. Roy's performance in the movie drew mixed reviews. She played Shraddha, a spy, in the film, who is sent to her lover Romeo, in Pakistan. In Bollywood Hungama review, it was written : Mouni Roy has an interesting part to essay. Though she does well, her character gets a raw deal. Sabilal Chatterjee said that she has a 'eminently forgettable role' in the film. "Mouni Roy, cast as the hero's colleague and beloved, pops up now and then in an eminently forgettable role.", he wrote. The film was a flop at the box-office.
Her next film, Made in China, was released on the occasion of Diwali. She played the role of a Gujarati housewife, Rukmini Mehta, in the film, whose husband Raghuvir Mehta decides to travel to China for new opportunities in business. Mouni had taken Gujarati lessons for the film. Her performance was described by Saurabh S. Nair as, "Mouni as Raghu's wife is a surprise package. Though given a small role, Mouni comes with much power, owning every bit of the screen time she gets in the film." The film clashed with much awaited, multistarrer Housefull 4 and Saand Ki Aankh and was a disaster.
As of 2020, she has an upcoming major project; Indian superhero trilogy Brahmastra directed by Ayan Mukherjee and produced by Karan Johar, co-starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan.. Also She will be seen opposite Aamir Khan in Biopic of Gulshan Kumar titled as Mogul.
Television
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | Run | Herself | Special Appearance in Nahi Hona Nahi Hona Song |
| 2011 | Hero Hitler in Love | Sahiban | Punjabi Film |
| 2016 | Mahayodha Rama | Sita | Animated film |
| 2016 | Tum Bin II | Herself | Special appearance in song "Nachna Aaonda Nahin" |
| 2018 | Gold | Monobina Das | Nominated-Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut |
| 2018 | Lucy | Special appearance in song "Gali Gali" | |
| 2019 | Romeo Akbar Walter | Shraddha Sharma / Parull | Played a spy ; based on story of Ravindra Kaushik |
| 2019 | Made in China | Rukmini Mehta | |
| 2020 | Brahmastra | TBA | Filming |
| 2020 | Mogul | TBA | Filming |
Music video
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2020 | Holi Mein Rangeele | Along with Varun Sharma Sunny Singh |
| 2020 | Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein | Along with Nakash Aziz, remake of the song from Ajanabee |