Chitrangada Singh

Chitrangda Singh
Singh in 2019
Born (1976-08-30) 30 August 1976 (age 48)[1]
OccupationActress
Years active2005–present
Spouse
(m. 2001; div. 2014)
Children1
FamilyDigvijay Singh Chahal (brother), Chitra Sarwara (sister in law)

Chitrangda Singh (born 30 August 1976) is an Indian actress who works primarily in Hindi films.[1] She made her acting debut with the crime drama Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2005). Singh went on to star in the crime thriller Yeh Saali Zindagi (2011), the romantic comedies Desi Boyz (2011) and I, Me Aur Main (2013), the financial thriller Baazaar (2018), the crime thriller Bob Biswas (2021) and the mystery thriller Gaslight (2023).[2] She has also produced the sports drama Soorma (2018) and appeared in the romantic anthology series Modern Love Mumbai (2022).

Early life and family

Singh was born on 30 August 1976[1] in Karachi, Pakistan,[3] growing up there as well as in Kota, Rajasthan, and also Bareilly and Sophia Girls' School, Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, the latter city being the last where her father, Col. Niranjan Singh, an ex-Indian Army officer with a transferable job, was posted.[4] Her brother Digvijay Singh Chahal is a golfer. After her schooling in Meerut at Sophia Girls' School, she completed her graduation in Home Science (food and nutrition) from Lady Irwin College, New Delhi.[5]

Career

Breakthrough and struggles (2005-2010)

Singh in 2008 promoting Sorry Bhai!

Singh began her career as a model before making the transition to the silver screen. After completing her graduation, she began modeling.[6] She later drew attention after performing in the music video Sunset Point by Gulzar, followed by a music video with Abhijeet Bhattacharya.[7]

Singh made her film debut with Sudhir Mishra's Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi in 2005.[8] The film received critical acclaim and was a box office average. Singh played Geeta, a college student and social worker opposite Kay Kay Menon.[9] Sukanya Verma stated, "Chitrangada is definitely someone to watch out for. She is a complete natural who zaps the camera with a passionate performance."[10] John Pancake of The Washington Post noted her for giving "her character a deep sense of dignity and decency."[11] Her next release, Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow was a critical and commercial failure.[12]

Following a three year hiatus,[13][14] Singh returned to films opposite Sanjay Suri in Onir's Sorry Bhai!.[15] Its release over the weekend of the Mumbai terror attacks and was a failure at the box office.[16] This failure led to another two years break from acting.[17]

Commercial films and fluctuations (2011–2020)

Singh started 2011 with Sudhir Mishra's Yeh Saali Zindagi, where she played a club singer Priti opposite Irrfan Khan.[18] Despite positive reviews, it emerged an average grosser.[19] Rajeev Masand noted, "Chitrangada uses her smoldering looks to create a mysterious character whose motivations and actions are unclear."[20] Singh then played Tanya, an economics professor opposite Akshay Kumar in Rohit Dhawan's Desi Boyz.[21] Taran Adarsh stated, "Chitrangada looks stunning and acts well, but her character isn't convincing."[22] The film emerged a moderate success.[23] In 2012, she performed a dance number in Shirish Kunder's Joker.[24]

Singh had three releases in 2013. She first appeared as a prostitute in the short film Kirchiyaan.[25] She then played an ambitious Maya opposite Arjun Rampal in Sudhir Mishra's Inkaar, which was box office average despite positive reviews.[26] Rachit Gupta of Filmfare praised her performance and chemistry with Rampal.[27] Singh later played Anushka a career women, in Kapil Sharma's I, Me Aur Main opposite John Abraham, which was a box office failure.[28] This was followed by a dance number in Anjaan (2014) and Gabbar Is Back (2015) and a special appearance in Munna Michael (2018).[29]

Singh at her television show in 2018

Singh turned a producer in 2018, with the biographical sports drama film Soorma, which was released under her banner C.S. Films and received positive response.[30][31] She then played a mistress Suhani in Tigmanshu Dhulia's Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3 opposite Sanjay Dutt, which flopped at the box office.[32] In her last film of the year, Singh played Mandira, a businessman's wife opposite Saif Ali Khan in Gauravv K. Chawla's Baazaar.[33] That year, she also ventured into television as a judge with DID Li'l Masters 4. With no release in 2019, she had a cameo appearance in Ghoomketu in 2020.[34]

Career expansion (2021-present)

In 2021, Singh played Mary, an assassin's wife opposite Abhishek Bachchan in Diya Annapurna Ghosh's Bob Biswas.[35] Anuj Kumar of The Hindu published, "Chitrangada gets a solid part as the ravishing wife of Bob. Though she doesn’t always succeed in shedding the uber-chic baggage, but her Mary shines among the wimpy men around her."[36] In 2022, Singh expanded to web with the anthology series Modern Love Mumbai, playing Latika, an aspiring novelist opposite Arshad Warsi.[37][38]

In 2023, Singh played Rukmani, a royal queen alongside Vikrant Massey in Gaslight.[39] Saibal Chatterjee stated, "Chitrangada plays a woman whose allure lies in her ability to mask her desires and secrets behind a benign facade. She pulls it off for the most part."[40] Following this, Singh appeared as Kadambari, in a cameo appearance in Khel Khel Mein.[41]

Personal life

After a five-year-long courtship, Singh married golfer Jyoti Randhawa in 2001. They have a son Zorawar, born in 2008.[42][43] The couple got separated in 2013 and were formally divorced in April 2015. The custody of their son was granted to Singh.[44]

In the media

Singh in 2018

For her performance in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Singh was placed in Rediff.com's "Best Bollywood Debut Ever" list.[45] In the Times Most Desirable Women list, Singh was placed 11th in 2011 and 4th in 2012.[46][47] Singh is a celebrity endorser for several brands such as Airtel, Parachute, Puma, Garnier,[48] Tanishq, Titan Eye Plus, Taj Mahal Tea, Dollar Missy[49] and Joyalukkas.[50]

Filmography

Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released

Films

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2005 Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi Geeta Rao
Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow Bhavana Dayal
2008 Sorry Bhai! Aaliyah
2011 Yeh Saali Zindagi Priti Shirodkar
Desi Boyz Tanya Sharma
2012 Joker Herself Special appearance in song "Kafirana"
2013 Kirchiyaan Ritu Short film
Inkaar Maya Luthra
I, Me Aur Main Anushka Lal
2014 Anjaan Herself Tamil film; special appearance in song "Sirippu En"
2015 Gabbar Is Back Herself Special appearance in song "Aao Raja"
2017 Munna Michael Judge of Dancing Star Cameo appearance
2018 Soorma Producer
Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3 Suhani
Baazaar Mandira Kothari
2020 Ghoomketu Herself Cameo appearance
2021 Bob Biswas Mary Biswas [51]
2023 Gaslight Rukmani Singh Gaikwad [52]
2024 Khel Khel Mein Kadambari Kapoor Cameo appearance [53]
2025 Housefull 5 TBA Filming [54]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2018 DID Li'l Masters 4 Judge [55]
2022 Modern Love Mumbai Latika Episode: "Cutting Chai" [56]
TBA Khakee: The Bengal Chapter TBA Filming [57]

Awards and nominations

Year Film Award Category Result
2006 Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi Bollywood Movie Awards Best Female Debut Won
2006 Zee Cine Awards Best Female Debut Nominated
2006 Star Screen Awards Best Female Debut Nominated
2006 Apsara Film Producers Guild Awards Best Actress Nominated
2009 Sorry Bhai! Stardust Awards Superstar of Tomorrow - Female Nominated
2013 Inkaar Star Screen Awards Best Actress Nominated
2022 Bob Biswas Hit List OTT Awards Best Supporting Actor - Female Nominated[58]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Personal Agenda: Chitrangda Singh". Hindustan Times. 16 March 2012. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Chitrangda Singh Mini Biography". Perfectpeople.net. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  3. ^ "Why did Chitrangda Singh get nostalgic on the sets of Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster 3?" Archived 6 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine (14 November 2017), Mid-Day. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  4. ^ "'Chitrangda likes black. She thinks she looks thin in it'" Archived 6 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine (6 March 2013), Rediff. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Lady Irwin was strict: Chitrangda Singh". Hindustan Times. 3 July 2009. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Chitrangda Singh reveals she lost modelling assignments because of dusky complexion". Hindustan Times. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  7. ^ "The next Smita Patil". The Telegraph (Calcutta). Calcutta, India. 14 April 2005. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  8. ^ The Comeback Girl Archived 11 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine Indian Express, 11 November 2008.
  9. ^ "Bollywood loves politics". India Today. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  10. ^ Verma, Sukanya (15 April 2005). "Hazaaron Khwaishein is overwhelming!". Rediff.com. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  11. ^ 'A Thousand Dreams': Impassioned in India Archived 17 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine by John Pancake, The Washington Post. 21 April 2005
  12. ^ "Dawn of a new Kal?". Hindustan Times. 26 July 2005. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  13. ^ 'Chitrangada is just taking a break' Archived 8 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Ashok Chatterjee, TNN, The Times of India, 8 November 2005.
  14. ^ "Chitrangada not in golfing news". The Times of India. 6 September 2009. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
  15. ^ "Chitrangada is back!". Rediff. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  16. ^ Sorry Bhai is new beginning for me, says Chitrangada Singh Archived 29 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine IANS, Sify.com, Wednesday, 29 October 2008.
  17. ^ Me and slapstick humor? Not sure: Chitrangda Singh Archived 25 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine Indian Express, 19 December 2008.
  18. ^ "It's Yeh Saali Zindagi". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 21 October 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  19. ^ "Box Office 2011". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  20. ^ "Masand: 'Yeh Saali Zindagi' surprises you". IBN Live. 3 February 2011. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011.
  21. ^ "Chitrangada Singh excited about her Desi Boyz". 25 November 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  22. ^ Adarsh, Taran. "Desi Boyz : Movie Review by Taran Adarsh". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 15 June 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  23. ^ "2011 Worldwide Figures: Twenty Films Cross 50 Crore". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  24. ^ "Chitrangda turns playback singer". The Times of India. 23 July 2012. Archived from the original on 10 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  25. ^ "Sudhir Mishra, Chitrangada Singh team up again in Kirchiyaan". First Post. 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  26. ^ Jogindar Tuteja (16 February 2011). "Arjun & Chitrangda pair up for Sudhir's next on sexual exploitation". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  27. ^ "Movie Review: Inkaar". Filmfare. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  28. ^ "Chitrangada: I wasn't taken seriously as an actor". Archived from the original on 1 March 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  29. ^ "Big plans for Akshay Kumar's 'Gabbar Is Back'". The Indian Express. 11 March 2015.
  30. ^ "Now a film on hockey player Sandeep Singh". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  31. ^ "Chitrangada to produce a biopic on hockey player Sandeep Singh". The Indian Express. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  32. ^ Jhunjhunwala, Udita (27 July 2018). "Film Review: Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3". Mint. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  33. ^ "Chitrangda Singh opposite Saif Ali Khan in Baazaar!". DNA. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  34. ^ "Nawazuddin Siddiqui's film Ghoomketu to premiere on ZEE5 on May 22". Hindustan Times. 9 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  35. ^ "Abhishek Bachchan-starrer Bob Biswas wraps shoot". Outlook India. 10 December 2020. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  36. ^ Kumar, Anuj (3 December 2021). "'Bob Biswas' movie review: Misses the target, but just by a whisker". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  37. ^ "Modern Love Mumbai: Chitrangda Singh and Arshad Warsi capture bittersweet effects of love, marriage in just one scene". Indian Express. 19 May 2022. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  38. ^ "Modern Love Mumbai: Amazon Prime series makes you fall in love with the city, all over again". Indian Express. 14 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  39. ^ "Gaslight teaser: Sara Ali Khan, Vikrant Massey and Chitrangda Singh team up for a murder mystery". Hindustan Times. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  40. ^ "Gaslight Review: Sara Ali Khan's Earnest Performance Is Uneven - Like The Film". NDTV. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  41. ^ "Chitrangda Singh has this to say about her cameo in 'Khel Khel Mein'". The Print. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  42. ^ "I was there for my hubby then, he's there for me now: Chitrangda". Hindustan Times. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  43. ^ "The Jyoti Randhawa and Chitrangda Singh love story: Wedding to divorce". India Today. 26 December 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  44. ^ "Chitrangda Singh, Jyoti Randhawa granted divorce". Archived from the original on 3 October 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  45. ^ "Best Bollywood Debutants Ever". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  46. ^ "Times 50 Most Desirable Women 2011". Times of India. 9 January 2011. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  47. ^ "Times top 50 Most Desirable Women of 2012". Times of India. 14 May 2013. Archived from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  48. ^ "Chitrangda Singh is now Garnier's brand ambassador". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  49. ^ "Dollar Missy ropes in Chitrangada Singh as Brand Ambassador". Economic Times. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  50. ^ "Chitrangada bags another brand" Archived 3 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 26 March 2015
  51. ^ "Chitrangda Singh cast as leading lady for Bob Biswas starring Abhishek Bachchan". News18. 7 February 2020. Archived from the original on 8 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  52. ^ "Gaslight: Chitrangda Singh to play parallel lead alongside Vikrant Massey and Sara Ali Khan". The Tribune India. 11 September 2021.
  53. ^ "'Desi Boyz Era Is Back!' Netizens laud Akshay Kumar and Chitrangda Singh's reunion in Khel Khel Mein". Firstpost. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  54. ^ "Housefull 5: Chunky Panday shares stunning pics from France; Dino Morea, Chitrangda Singh and Nargis Fakhri join him". The Times of India. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  55. ^ "Chitrangda Singh to debut on TV as a Judge with DID Li'l Masters Season 4". Bollywood Hungama. 13 February 2018.
  56. ^ "Modern Love Mumbai trailer: From millennial love to same-sex love, a show on different shades of love". The Indian Express. 28 April 2022.
  57. ^ "Chitrangda Singh returns to OTT with Neeraj Pandey's Khakee: The Bengal Chapter". Hindustan Times. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  58. ^ Chakrabarty, Madhushree (8 December 2020). "Winners of the Hitlist Web Awards 2019-2020 were announced". Media Infoline. Retrieved 25 August 2021.