Archana Puran Singh (born 26 September 1962)[1][2] is an Indian actress and television personality. She is known for her comedy roles in several Bollywood movies and as a judge in the comedy shows[3] The Kapil Sharma Show and Comedy Circus. She is widely remembered for her supporting role in the film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Archana Puran Singh has been featured in more than 100 films and television series.

Archana Puran Singh
Archana in 2024
Born (1962-09-26) 26 September 1962 (age 62)
NationalityIndian
Occupations
Years active1982–present
Spouse
(m. 1992)
Children2

Personal life

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Singh is a Rajput.[4] Her first marriage did not work and ended in a divorce.[5] She later married actor Parmeet Sethi on 30 June 1992. They have two sons, Aryamann and Ayushmaan.[6]

Career

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In films

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She made her film debut with Nari Hira's TV movie Abhishek opposite Aditya Pancholi in 1987. Later that year, she starred in Jalwa opposite Naseeruddin Shah. Later, she did small roles in big banner films like Agneepath (1990), Saudagar (1991), Shola aur Shabnam (1992), Aashiq Awara (1993), and Raja Hindustani (1996); she did item songs in films like the Govinda-starrer thriller Baaz and the Suniel Shetty starrer Judge Mujrim.

Thereafter, she has largely restricted herself to supporting roles in Hindi films, often in comedies. Some of her films are Love Story 2050, Mohabbatein, Krrish,[7] Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Masti, De Dana Dan and Bol Bachchan.

In television

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She became a television anchor, with Wah, Kya Scene Hai on Zee TV in 1993 which was followed by Uncensored. She later acted in Shrimaan Shrimati, Junoon and hosted Archana Talkies on Sony Entertainment Television.[8][9] She also acted in the TV show Zee Horror Show.

She also directed sitcoms like Jaane Bhi Do Paaro and Nehle Pe Dehla and produced Samne Wali Khidki.[10][11][12]

In 2005, she was a contestant in the dance reality show Nach Baliye 1, in which she participated with her husband, Parmeet Sethi; they were eliminated in the sixth episode. In 2006, she and her husband hosted another dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (season 1).

Thereafter, she appeared as a judge on comedy shows, including Sony Entertainment Television's Comedy Circus. In 2015, she appeared in SAB TV's The Great Indian Family Drama as Begum Paro.

In 2019, she entered as the judge in The Kapil Sharma Show. In 2019, she acted as Lakhan's mother, Paramjeet, in SAB TV serial, My Name Ijj Lakhan opposite her real life husband, Parmeet Sethi.

Filmography

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Films

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1987–1988 Mr Ya Mrs Seema[14]
1993–1997 Wah, Kya Scene Hai Host [15]
1993 Zee Horror Show Julie
1994–1999 Shrimaan Shrimati Prema Shalini
1994 Junoon Rekha
1998–1999 Jaane Bhi Do Paaro[16] Paaro Also director
Uncensored Host/presenter[17]
1999 Nehle Pe Dehla Various characters Also director[11]
2000 Archana Talkies Host/presenter [17]
2001 Aasman Say Tapki[18] Also producer
2002–2003 Archana Aaa-Haa Host/presenter [19]
2003 Samnewali Khidki[20] Sanjana Also producer
2005 Nach Baliye 1 Contestant
2006 Kandy Floss Host
2006 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 1 Host
2007–2018 Comedy Circus Judge
2008 Sun Yaar Chill Maar Miss Briganza Guest[21]
2015 The Great Indian Family Drama Begum Paro
2015–2016 Comedy Classes Judge [22]
2018 Aunty Boli Lagao Boli Aunty [23]
2019 My Name Ijj Lakhan Paramjeet
2019–2023 The Kapil Sharma Show Permanent Guest
2022 India's Laughter Champion Judge
2024 The Great Indian Kapil Show Permanent Guest

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
1997 Filmfare Awards Best Supporting Actress Raja Hindustani Nominated
1999 Best Comedian Kuch Kuch Hota Hai Nominated
Screen Awards Won
Best Anchor Archana Talkies Nominated
Asian Television Awards Best Entertainment Presenter/Host Uncensored Won [24]
2000 IIFA Awards Best Comedian Mohabbatein Nominated
2001 Indian Television Academy Awards Aasman Se Tapki Won
2006 Method Fest Independent Film Festival Best Ensemble Cast The Gold Bracelet Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Face Off – Archana Puran Singh". The Indian Express. 7 July 1998. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011.
  2. ^ "Archana Puran Singh: I don't believe in hiding my age, if kids are 25, will people think you're 16?". Hindustan Times. 25 September 2021. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  3. ^ Archana Puran Singh – filmography Archived 10 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine, The New York Times.
  4. ^ ""I AM SINDHI!" Clarifies Tamanna Bhatia in the Kapil Sharma Show". 17 November 2024 – via YouTube. At 1:22, Archana Puran Singh clarifies in Hindi that she is not Punjabi, she is a Rajput.
  5. ^ ABP News (1 October 2021). "After a failed marriage Archana never wanted any man in her life till she met Parmeet at a party". ABP Live. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Archana Puran Singh says her elder son has given 'many auditions': 'He is struggling to get good work'". Hindustan Times. 30 June 2021. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  7. ^ Alive and kicking Archived 13 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine The Tribune, 6 May 2006.
  8. ^ "Archana uncensored". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Rashami-Shilpa to reprise Reema and Archana's roles from Shriman Shrimati". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  10. ^ "Tribuneindia... Film and tv". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Tribuneindia... Film and tv". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  12. ^ "DD rewinds to old hit shows on its Metro channel as Nine Gold shuts off | Indian Television Dot Com". Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  13. ^ "TV star Archana Puran Singh to play serious role in Kavi Raz's 'The Gold Bracelet'". India Today.
  14. ^ Singh, Archana Puran (1 July 2020). "Archana Puran Singh revisits Mr Ya Mrs". First of Many (Interview). Interviewed by Mimansa Shekhar. New Delhi. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  15. ^ Anupama Chopra (31 January 1994). "Young, gifted and brash". India Today. Living Media India Limited. Archived from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Tribuneindia... Bollywood Bhelpuri". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  17. ^ a b "The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Television". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Zee introduces 'Break-Free' programming as brand positioning excercise [sic]". Indian Television Dot Com. 9 August 2001. Archived from the original on 25 December 2001.
  19. ^ "The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Television". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  20. ^ "The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Television". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  21. ^ Shyam, Kavita (14 February 2008). "Miss Briganza is back!". Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023 – via The Economic Times - The Times of India.
  22. ^ "'Bhaag Johnny' cast in Comedy Classes". Archived from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via The Economic Times - The Times of India.
  23. ^ Karki, Tripti (20 September 2017). "SBAS: Archana Puran Singh to host game show Aunty Boli Lagao Boli". India TV. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  24. ^ "A checklist of who won what at the year-end Asian TV awards". India Today.
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