Monica Castelino

Monica Castelino
Years active1997–2020
Spouse
Satyaprakash Singh
​
​
(m. 2010, divorced)​

Monica Castelino is an Indian former actress, who has primarily appeared in the Hindi film industry. After portraying the lead role in the Tamil film Minsara Kanna (1999), Castelino appeared in glamorous roles in Hindi films throughout the 2000s. In the 2010s, she worked on several Hindi television shows including on The Kapil Sharma Show (2017).

Career

After portraying a supporting role as the protagonist's sister in the Hindi film Kaalia (1997), Castelino made her debut in a lead role through K. S. Ravikumar's 1999 Tamil romantic thriller film Minsara Kanna, appearing opposite Vijay in a leading role. Simran was the first choice to play as lady lead, but due to her other commitments she opted out and Monica was subsequently signed on. She shot with the team in Chennai, Switzerland and Germany, notably filming the "Un Per Solla" song in the Alps.[1][2] The film opened to average reviews and collections at the box office, with the actress gaining mixed reviews for her work.[3] She briefly changed her stage name to Anjani/Madhuri for numerological reasons, before reverting to Monica.[4]

Her last successful movie, "Mo mana khali tori paen", was opposite Sidhant Mohapatra. Failure to get further opportunities saw Monica play a glamorous lead role in a low budget Hindi adult film Kama Sundari, before playing a similar supporting role in Meri Partigya, which had Mithun Chakraborty in the lead role. She was later seen in an item number in Shikaar (2004), performing a club dance song in the climax of the film. In 2004, she signed on to work on Men Not Allowed where she portrayed a lesbian woman in love with a woman portrayed by Payal Rohatgi.[5][6] She then continued to play glamorous roles in Hindi films in the late 2000s.[7]

In the 2010s, Castelino moved on to portray roles in television serials and notably featured in Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai (2014), Dr. Madhumati On Duty (2016) and Gupp Chupp (2016) in lead roles. She regularly also worked on shows produced by Optimystix Entertainment.[8][9] In 2017, she joined the Hindi comedy programme, The Kapil Sharma Show, as a regular cast member.[10][11]

Personal life

Castelino was married to an assistant director, Satyaprakash Singh in 2010. The pair separated within a year after Monica complained of his adultery and harassment.[12]

Filmography

Feature films
List of feature film credits
Year Title Role Language Notes
1997 Kaalia Kala Hindi
1999 Minsara Kanna Aishwarya Tamil
2001 Kama Sundari Sundari Hindi
2002 Meri Partigya Herself Hindi Special appearance in item song
2004 Shikaar Herself Hindi Special appearance in item song
2005 Mo Mana Khali Tori Paene Herself Odia Special appearance in item song
2006 Men Not Allowed Urmila Hindi
2006 Rafta Rafta – The Speed Shilpa Hindi
2007 Undertrial Sameena Hussain Hindi
Television
List of television credits
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya
2009 Maniben.com
2010 Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Miss Shanaya
2011 R. K. Laxman Ki Duniya
2011 Rishton Ke Bhanwar Mein Uljhi Niyati Sharmila
2012 Haunted Nights
2014 Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai Victoria Bai
2014 Comedy Classes
2014 Akbar Birbal Rupali / Roop
2015 The Great Indian Family Drama
2015 2025 Jaane Kya Hoga Aage Monica
2016 Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle
2016 Dr. Madhumati On Duty
2016 Gupp Chupp Lovely Kohli
2017 Har Mard Ka Dard Mallika
2017 The Kapil Sharma Show Various roles
2017 Y.A.R.O Ka Tashan Sushmitha Kapoor
2017 Aadat Se Majboor (TV series) Ranjan's fake wife
2017 Partners Phullorani
2018 Khichdi Premavarsha
2020 Maharaj Ki Jai Ho! Gandhari

References

  1. ^ Aishwarya, S. (19 July 2010). "Beckoning Indian film-makers". The Hindu.
  2. ^ "Rediff On The NeT, Movies: Gossip from the southern film industry". Rediff.com.
  3. ^ Balasubramaniam, Balaji. "Minsaara Kannaa". bbthots.com. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  4. ^ "New Life with Numbers". chennaionline.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Bollywood needs to brush up its explicit scenes act".
  6. ^ "Lesbians in 'Men Not Allowed'". Archived from the original on 11 July 2017.
  7. ^ "The Tribune – Magazine section – Saturday Extra". The Tribune.
  8. ^ "Monica Castelino to enter 'The Great Indian Family Drama'". 10 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Monica joins Optimystix's futuristic show". The Times of India.
  10. ^ "Adult film actor, Monica Castelino, to join as a permanent member in The Kapil Sharma Show?". 5 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Who is Monica Castelino ? The adult film actress who may become a permanent member of 'The Kapil Sharma Show'". 26 July 2022.
  12. ^ "TV actress Monica Castelino's marriage takes a vulgar turn". 20 October 2011.