Pooja Gandhi
| Pooja Gandhi | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Pooja Gandhi Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India. |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 2003 - present |
Pooja Gandhi is an Indian film actress and producer who works mainly in Kannada and Tamil cinema, and also appears in Malayalam, Bengali and Hindi films.
She has played lead roles in commercially successful films such as Mungaru Male (2006), Milana (2007), Krishna (2007), Taj Mahal (2008), Budhivanta (2008), Gokula (2009) and Dandupalya (2012).
She has acted in more than 50 films and also participated in the reality show Bigg Boss Kannada 3.
Early years and personal life
Gandhi was born in Meerut[1] 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.[1][2]
Gandhi got engaged in November 2012 but ended the relationship the following month.[3]
Career
Debut (2003)
Gandhi started her career by acting in TV soaps, starting with Zameen Se Aassman Tak directed by Aruna Irani.[1] She made her debut at the age of 18 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.[2]
Initial success and fame in Kannada (2006–08)
Her debut in the Kannada film industry was with Mungaru Male,[4] The film was the first in India for any language to be screened for continuously one year in a multiplex.[5] It ran over 865-days in Karnataka and was remade in Telugu as Vaana[6] and in Bengali as Premer Kahini[7] in 2008. She popularly came to be known as Mungaru Male Girl (Girl of "Mungaru Male").[8]
She then acted in the movie Milana with Puneeth Rajkumar. Upon theatrical release on 14 September 2007, the film saw massive commercial success and completed a 450-day run in theatres. Later the film was dubbed into Malayalam as Ishtam Enikkishtam.
Gandhi worked in Krishna, with "Comedy Time" Ganesh, her co-actor in Mungaru Male. She has since acted in several Kannada films, such as Manmatha, Geleya, Hani Hani, Accident, Kaamannana Makkalu and Nee Tata Naa Birla.
In 2008, she starred in the Kannada film Taj Mahal with Ajay Rao. She was nominated for a Filmfare Best Actress Award. Her next film was the Tamil movie Thiruvannamalai also starring Arjun Sarja. The film was later dubbed in Hindi as Main Hoon Vinashak.[1]
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 Ezhudu, and Gokula in which she starred with Vijaya Raghavendra and Yash. The film opened on 27 November 2009.[9]
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"[10] and The Film Street Journal named it "a must watch".[11] In 2012 'I Am' won the National Award for Best Hindi Film and Best Lyrics.[12] In the same year she has acted several Kannada movies such as Thavarina Runa, Aptha, Nee Illadhe, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Panchamrutha, Pagal and Jogayya. In 'Jogayya' movie, she made a cameo appearance as an Advocate, directed by star director Prem.
Critical acclaim and accolades
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.[13]
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.[14][15] 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.[16]
Politics
Gandhi joined the Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) party on 18 January 2012.[17]
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.[18]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Tomake Salam | Bengali | ||
| 2006 | Kokki | Raji | Tamil | |
| Mungaru Male | Nandini | Kannada | ||
| 2007 | Milana | Priya | Kannada | Special appearance in song "Ninnindale" |
| Krishna | Pooja | Kannada | ||
| Manmatha | Kannada | Special appearance | ||
| Geleya | Herself | Kannada | Special appearance in song "Hudugi Malebillu" | |
| 2008 | Hani Hani | Ramya | Kannada | |
| Accident | Pooja | Kannada | ||
| Kaamannana Makkalu | Kannada | Special appearance | ||
| Nee Tata Naa Birla | Pooja | Kannada | ||
| Taj Mahal | Shruthi | Kannada | Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Kannada Actress[19] | |
| Kodagana Koli Nungitha | Lakshmi | Kannada | ||
| Budhivanta | Pooja | Kannada | ||
| Maharshi | Manasa Veena | Kannada | ||
| Janumada Gelathi | Manjula | Kannada | ||
| Thiruvannamalai | Malathy | Tamil | ||
| Haage Summane | Nandini | Kannada | Special appearance | |
| 2009 | Anu | Anu | Kannada | |
| Thalai Ezhuthu | Tamil | |||
| Iniya | Janaki | Kannada | ||
| Huchchi | Preethi | Kannada | ||
| Ninagaagi Kaadiruve | Shweta Nandan | Kannada | ||
| Gokula | Leela | Kannada | ||
| 2010 | Minugu | Sanchitha | Kannada | |
| Sri Harikathe | Pooja Krishnamurthy | Kannada | ||
| Nee Raani Naa Maharani | Rani, Pooja Gandhi | Kannada | ||
| Vega | Kannada | |||
| 2011 | Thavarina Runa | Kannada | ||
| Aptha | Anjali Devi | Kannada | ||
| Nee Illadhe | Sharanya | Kannada | ||
| I Am | Aparna | Hindi | ||
| Hare Rama Hare Krishna | Kannada | |||
| Panchamrutha | Prithi | Kannada | ||
| Jogayya | Advocate | Kannada | Cameo appearance | |
| Paagal | Pooja | Kannada | ||
| 2012 | Dandupalya | Lakshmi | Kannada | Winner – Suvarna Film Award for Best Actress Winner – SIIMA Award for Best Actress in a Negative Role Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Kannada |
| Jaihind | Anjali | Kannada | [20] | |
| Hosa Prema Purana | Kannada | |||
| 2013 | Maad Dad | Lisa | Malayalam | |
| Director's Special | Herself | Kannada | Special appearance in song "Kannalle eshottu kolltiya" | |
| 2014 | Kalyanamasthu | Radha | Kannada | |
| 2015 | Abhinetri | Sharat Lata / Nanda | Kannada | Also producer[21] |
| Thippaji Circle | Kannada | |||
| 2016 | Kathe Chitrakathe Nirdeshana Puttanna | Kannada | ||
| TBA | Hoovi | Anjali | Kannada | Filming |
| Muthulakshmi | Kannada | Announced | ||
| Jilebi | Kannada | Announced |
| Year | Film | Language | Cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Abhinetri | Kannada | Pooja Gandhi |
Awards
- Filmfare Best Actress Award for Tajmahal movie (2008).
- Filmfare Best Actress Award for Dandupalya movie (2012).
Reality shows
- She was one of the Top 5 finalist of the Bigg Boss Kannada 3 which was aired on Colors Kannada during 2016.
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Mischievous to spiritual with movies in between". Times of India. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- 1 2 "mypoojagandhi.com". mypoojagandhi.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ↑ "Actor Pooja Gandhi breaks up with fiance". 19 December 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
- ↑ Super Admin (29 July 2009). "Pooja Gandhi debuting in Bollywood movie". Entertainment.oneindia.in. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ↑ "'Mungaru Male' National record". Correspondent. IndiaGlitz. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
- ↑ Mungaru Male in Telugu. Idleburra.com. Retrieved on 2016-02-15.
- ↑ "Premer Kahini - ScreenIndia.Com". www.screenindia.com. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
- ↑ Imran, Ranbir in 'Mungaru Male' Bolly remake. Movies.indiatimes.com (1970-01-01). Retrieved on 2016-02-15.
- ↑ Gokula is a treat to watch. Rediff.com (2009-11-27). Retrieved on 2016-02-15.
- ↑ Malani, Gaurav (29 April 2011). "I AM: Movie Review". Times of India. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
- ↑ "Review Of I Am". Film Street Journal. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
- ↑ "Vidya Balan wins National Award for 'The Dirty Picture'". The Times Of India.
- ↑ "Dandupalya dubbed version a hit". The Times of India. 31 January 2013.
- ↑ "Pooja Gandhi's Dandupalya is now Karimedu in Tamil". kollytalk.com. 9 May 2013.
- ↑ "Movie review: 'Karimedu' – spine chilling, realistic". Indo-Asian News Service. 24 May 2013.
- ↑ "Pooja Gandhi to make Tulu movie debut". The Hindu. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- ↑ "Actress Pooja Gandhi joins JDS". Mangalore Today. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
- ↑ "Karnataka polls: Actress Pooja Gandhi badly flops in Raichur". 8 May 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ↑ Srinidhi, Sharadha (26 July 2009). "Looking forward to meet Ramya: Radhika". Times of India. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- ↑ "Pooja Gandhi turns patriotic in 'Jai Hind' | Film Reviews". Filmreviews.bizhat.com. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ↑ "The rise and fall of an actress". 1 February 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.