Pooja Gandhi


Pooja Gandhi is an Indian actress and producer, who mainly works in Kannada language films and also appears in Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali and Hindi. Gandhi after starring in the commercially successful 2006 film Mungaru Male, become one of the most popular and highest paid actresses in South Indian cinema and also the recipient of several awards. Gandhi popularly came to be known as 'Male Hudugi' in the media and Kannada film industry.
Gandhi made her film debut in 2003 with a Bengali film Tomake Salam and Tamil film Kokki in 2006. Since then, she has played lead roles in commercially successful films such as Mungaru Male, Milana, Krishna, Taj Mahal, Budhivanta, Anu, Gokula, Dandupalya and Dandupalya 2. Gandhi has acted in more than 50 films in a decade.
She joined the Janata Dal party in 2012 by taking the membership of the party. She soon hopped onto KJP party and later to the BSR Congress party and contested the Karnataka assembly elections from Raichur constituency. However, she was defeated in the elections and did not win any seat from the constituency.

Early years and personal life

Gandhi was born in Meerut into a traditional Punjabi family. Her father, Pawan Gandhi, is a businessman and her mother, Jyothi Gandhi, is a housewife. She studied at Sophia Convent and Dewan Public School in Meerut. She has two younger sisters – Radhika Gandhi, who is also an actress in Kannada films, and Suhani Gandhi, a tennis player.
Gandhi got engaged in November 2012 but ended the relationship the following month.

Career

Debut (2003)

Gandhi started her career by acting in TV soaps, starting with Zameen Se Aassman Tak directed by Aruna Irani. She made her debut at the age of 19 in the Bengali film Tomake Salam, released in 2003. She moved to the South Indian film industry with the Tamil film Kokki. The film earned moderate reviews and had a successful run at the box office.

Initial success and fame in Kannada (2006–08)

Her debut in the Kannada film industry was with Mungaru Male, The film was the first in India for any language to be screened for continuously one year in a multiplex, and ultimately ran over 865-days in Karnataka. She then acted in the movie Milana with Puneeth Rajkumar, upon theatrical release on 14 September 2007, the film saw commercial success and completed a 500-day run in theatres. Later the film was dubbed into Malayalam as Ishtam Enikkishtam.
In 2008, she starred in the financially successful Kannada language film Taj Mahal with Ajay Rao. She was nominated for a Filmfare Best Actress Award, while Sify's critic wrote that "Pooja Gandhi looks pretty and has done a good job.
Her next movie was Budhivanta alongside Upendra. It became the highest grossing Kannada film of 2008.
Her first 2009 release was Anu, which was the remake of Telugu movie Anusuya starring Bhumika Chawla. Other Kannada movies that Gandhi acted in include Hucchi, Iniya, and Ninagaagi Kadiruve. Other movies from 2009 include the Tamil film Thalai Ezhuthu, and Gokula in which she starred with Vijaya Raghavendra and Yash. The film opened on 27 November 2009.
She made her debut in Hindi film with I Am 2011, together with Juhi Chawla. 'I Am' received mainly positive reviews from critics. The Times of India called it "an important and intelligent film" and The Film Street Journal named it "a must watch".
In 2012 'I Am' won the National Award for Best Hindi Film and Best Lyrics.

Critical acclaim and accolades (2013–18)

Gandhi received Filmfare Award for Best Kannada Actress and Suvarna Fimfare Award for Best Actress for her performance in Dandupalya. The film was dubbed in Telugu and released as Dandupalyam. It was well received in Andhra Pradesh.
A Tamil dub titled Karimedu was produced by Rama Narayanan's Sri Thenandal Films and released on 24 May 2013 to critical acclaim. it was hit in Tamil Nadu.
The film was dubbed in Malayalam and was titled as Kuruthikalam.
Gandhi has signed up to make her Tulu language film debut in Beere Devupoonje, playing the role of Raja Nartaki. The film, produced and directed by R. Dhanraj, will be based on a Tulu warrior named Devapoonja who lived 400 years ago.

Politics

Gandhi joined the Janata Dal party on 18 January 2012.
She then joined briefly the KJP, but she finally contested the 2013 Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections from Raichur on a BSR Congress ticket. This first attempt at public office proved unsuccessful.

Filmography

YearFilmRoleLanguageNotes
2002DushmaniHindi
2003Tomake SalamAnkitaBengali
2006KokkiRajiTamil
2006Mungaru MaleNandiniKannadaKannada Debut
Won Filmfare award
2007MilanaPriyaKannada
2007KrishnaPoojaKannadaSuvarna Film Awards for Best Actress
2007ManmathaHerselfKannadaSpecial appearance
2007Thottal Poo MalarumHerselfTamilSpecial appearance in the song "Vaadi Vambu Pennae"
2007GeleyaHerselfKannadaSpecial appearance in song "Hudugi Malebillu"
2008VaitheeswaranSanjanaTamil
2008Hani HaniPoojaKannada
2008AccidentPoojaKannada
2008Kaamannana MakkaluHerselfKannadaSpecial appearance
2008Nee Tata Naa BirlaPoojaKannada
2008Taj MahalShruthiKannadaNominated—Filmfare Award for Best Kannada Actress
2008Kodagana Koli NungithaLakshmiKannada
2008BudhivantaPoojaKannada
2008MaharshiManasa VeenaKannada
2008Janumada GelathiManjulaKannada
2008ThiruvannamalaiMalathyTamil
2008Haage SummaneNandiniKannadaSpecial appearance
2009AnuAnuKannada
2009Thalai EzhuthuPoojaTamil
2009IniyaJanakiKannada
2009HuchchiPreethiKannada
2009Ninagaagi KaadiruveShweta NandanKannada
2009GokulaLeelaKannada
2010MinuguSanchithaKannada
2010Sri HarikathePooja KrishnamurthyKannada
2010Nee Raani Naa MaharaniRani /
Pooja Gandhi		Kannada
2010VegaHerselfKannada
2011Thavarina RunaRamyaKannada
2011ApthaAnjali DeviKannada
2011Nee IlladheSharanyaKannada
2011I AmAparnaHindi
2011Hare Rama Hare KrishnaRakshitaKannada
2011PanchamruthaKannada
2011JogayyaAdvocateKannadaCameo appearance
2011PaagalPoojaKannada
2012DandupalyaLakshmiKannadaSuvarna Film Award for Best Actress
SIIMA Award for Best Actress in a Negative Role
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actress
2012JaihindAnjaliKannada
2012Hosa Prema PuranaHerselfKannada
2013Maad DadLisaMalayalam
2013Director's SpecialHerselfKannadaSpecial appearance in song "Kannalle eshottu kolltiya"
2014KalyanamasthuRadhaKannada
2015AbhinetriSharat Lata / NandaKannadaAlso producer
2015Thippaji CircleThippajjiKannada
2016Kathe Chitrakathe Nirdeshana PuttannaHerselfKannadaGuest appearance
2017JilebiJilebiKannada
2017Dandupalya 2KempiKannada
2018Dandupalya 3LakshmiKannada
---Kannada-

YearFilmLanguageCast
2015AbhinetriKannadaPooja Gandhi

Awards and nominations

Awards

Television shows

NoYearTitleTelevisionNotes
12016Bigg Boss Kannada 3Colors KannadaFinale contestant