Monica Bedi (born 18 January 1975) is an Indian actress and television presenter who primarily appears in Hindi films. She has also worked in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Bengali films. Bedi debuted in Hindi films in the mid-1990s, with notable works including "Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat" and "Jodi No.1." She is known for participating in reality TV shows such as "Bigg Boss 2" and "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 3," and for her role as Gumaan Kaur Vyas in Star Plus's "Saraswatichandra." Bedi has received several accolades including Gold Awards, PTC Awards, TSA Awards, Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Award. In 2002, Bedi was convicted for using a forged document.[1]
Early life
Bedi is a Punjabi and was born 18 January 1975[2][3] to Prem Kumar Bedi and Shakuntala Bedi in the village Chabbewal, Hoshiarpur district, Punjab. Her parents moved to Drammen, Norway in 1979. She studied English Literature and completed her education at Oxford University.[2]
Prison Sentence
In September 2002, Bedi and Abu Salem, an Indian gangster were arrested and later served prison sentences in Portugal[4] for entering the country on forged documents.[5][6] In 2006, an Indian Court convicted Bedi for procuring a passport on a fictitious name.[7][8] In November 2010, the Supreme Court of India upheld her conviction but reduced the prison sentence to the period that she had already served.[9][10] Various newspaper including magazines had reported that Abu used his criminal power to get roles for Monica Bedi in Bollywood.
Career
Bedi got her first role in Telugu language film Taj Mahal (1995), produced by D. Ramanaidu. Ramanaidu also cast her in Sivayya and Speed Dancer.[11] She debuted in Bollywood in 1995 with Surakshaa.
Bedi was a participant in Bigg Boss Season 2, a television reality show.[12] She was one of the contestants of the reality shows Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 3 and Desi Girl.
She sang the chants "EkOnkar" for a spiritual music album on Universal Music.[13]
Bedi acted in the Punjabi movie Sirphire (2012), directed by Harjit Singh Ricky.
From 2013 to 2014, Bedi portrayed the negative role of Ghumman in the Star Plus television series Saraswatichandra, produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. [14]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Main Tera Aashiq | Hindi | ||
| 1995 | Taj Mahal | Telugu | ||
| 1995 | Surakshaa | Kiran | Hindi | |
| 1995 | Aashique Mastane | Hindi | ||
| 1996 | Khilona | Kajal | Hindi | |
| 1996 | Soggadi Pellam | Tulasi | Telugu | |
| 1996 | Subash | Anitha | Tamil | |
| 1997 | Ek Phool Teen Kante | Monica Sinha | Hindi | |
| 1997 | Jeeyo Shaan Se | Hindi | ||
| 1997 | Tirchhi Topiwale | Sanam Oberoi | Hindi | |
| 1997 | Circus Sattipandu | Telugu | ||
| 1998 | Jabab Dihi | Bengali | ||
| 1998 | Janto Kobor | Bengali | Bangladeshi Movie | |
| 1998 | Sivayya | Inspector Roja | Telugu | |
| 1998 | Choodalani Vundi | Telugu | ||
| 1998 | Zanjeer | Hindi | ||
| 1999 | Drona | Swetha | Kannada | |
| 1999 | Yamajathakudu | Telugu | ||
| 1999 | Kalicharan | Hindi | ||
| 1999 | Nannaseya Hoove | Lakshmi | Kannada | |
| 1999 | Sikander Sadak Ka | Hindi | ||
| 1999 | Jaanam Samjha Karo | Monica | Hindi | |
| 1999 | Kaala Samrajya | Monica K. Singh | Hindi | |
| 1999 | Speed Dancer | Monika | Telugu | |
| 1999 | Lohpurush | Hindi | ||
| 2001 | Jodi No.1 | Rinky | Hindi | |
| 2001 | Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat | Maya Dhillon | Hindi | |
| 2003 | Tada | Hindi | ||
| 2011 | Devadasiyin Kathai | Swathi Varma | Tamil | |
| 2012 | Parichaya | Rekha | Nepali | |
| 2012 | Hridoye Lekho Naam | Bengali | ||
| 2012 | Sirphire | Simran | Punjabi | |
| 2014 | Romeo Ranjha | Reet Kaur | Punjabi | |
| 2017 | Bandookan | Balwinder | Punjabi |
Television
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Bigg Boss 2 | Contestant |
| 2009 | Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 3 | |
| 2010 | Dil Jeetegi Desi Girl 1 | |
| 2013–14 | Saraswatichandra | Guman Kaur Vyas |
| 2015 | Bandhan | Narayani Deshpande |
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Film/Show | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Gold Awards | Best TV Actor (Female) | Won | |
| PTC awards | Best Debut (Female) | Sirphire | Won | |
| Media excellence Awards | Most Popular Media Face (Female) | Won | ||
| 2014 | Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Award | Outstanding Performer (Female) | Won | |
| TSA Awards | Most Stylish Actor (Female) | Won | ||
| Lions Gold Awards | Best Actor in a Negative Role (Female) | Saraswatichandra | Won | |
| 2023 | International Iconic Awards | The Most Fit Actress | Won |
References
- ^ "Monica Bedi admits her past with Abu Salem has affected her dating and professional prospects". The Times of India. 18 July 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ a b "The tale of Monica Bedi". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 July 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ^ "जेलर पर लगा था इस एक्ट्रेस के बाथरूम में कैमरे लगाने के आरोप, अंडरवर्ल्ड डॉन से भी जुड़ा नाम". Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 19 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Kumar, Vinay (29 November 2003). "Abu Salem, Monica Bedi sentenced to jail in Portugal". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 December 2003. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ^ "Monica Bedi writes pardon letter to PM". The Times of India. Press Trust of India. 7 November 2004. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
- ^ "The tale of Monica Bedi". The Times of India. 10 August 2005. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- ^ "Monica Bedi lives tough life in jail". CNN-IBN. 1 October 2005. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
- ^ "Top 10 Celebrities and Their Run-ins With the Law". The New Indian Express. 25 February 2016. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- ^ "Fake Passport Case: SC Upholds Bedi's Conviction". Outlook. 9 November 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ^ "Supreme Court upholds Monica Bedi's conviction in fake passport case". Daily News and Analysis. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- ^ "Monica Bedi makes Telugu producers wary". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ^ IANS (6 September 2008). "Monica Bedi bids adieu to Bigg Boss". Sify. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ "Monica Bedi turns singer!". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
- ^ "On Sanjay Leela Bhansali's birthday, revisiting his first show Saraswatichandra". The Indian Express. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
External links
- Monica Bedi at IMDb
- Monica Bedi on Facebook
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