Kunika
Kunika Sadanand Lal is an Indian actress, advocate, producer and social activist. She is known for her various characters in many Indian films as a villain and in comic roles.
Kunicka | |
|---|---|
 Kunika at the screening of Sonata | |
| Born | Kunika Sadanand |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer, lawyer |
| Years active | 1988–2018 |
| Relatives | Kabir Sadanand (brother) Deepak Tijori (brother-in-law) |
Also a singer, she has released three pop albums titled Lakhon Mein Ek released in 1996, and Kunika which was released in 2002. She released her third album named Joombish (A Mystical Journey) on 2 May 2006.
Personal life
She, along with her business partner, created restaurants called "White - the Italian café", "Zingcafe", "Majestica – The royal banquet hall" and a spa called "Exhale", in Goregaon in suburban Mumbai. The partnership however ended in 2007.
Kunika has conducted, organized and participated in over 100 stage shows in India and around the world. She is also running an event company called Karma Events and Entertainment.
Kunickaa Sadanand Lal has been actively involved in social activities like AIDS awareness campaigns for last 20 years.
She launched Tara Charitable Trust on 15 August 2005. This trust aims at rebuilding lives of destitute people, helping the underprivileged and providing medical, educational and emotional succor to the needy. She is a trustee to the NGO CHIP (Children In Progress), Mumbai, which is actively working for child health and education.
TV and film career
Since her teenage years, Kunika was keen to join the Indian TV industry as an actress. After doing a few TV serials in Delhi, she went to Mumbai to act in films. Manju Asrani, wife of well known comic actor Asrani gave Kunika a first break as an actress in a TV serial. Her second break was a role in the TV serial Adalat, directed by Dheeraj Kumar. Kunika began her film career at the age of 28 in a 1988 horror Hindi movie named Kabrastan. She was mainly involved in negative roles and bold scenes in the bulk of her movies. Kunika has done 110 films in 25 years.
Swabhimaan a TV serial, where she played an 18-year-old mother was a breakthrough role that won her many plaudits. Then, negative roles in films like Beta, Gumraah and Khiladi followed.
She acted in a TV serial called Kana Phoosi on Doordarshan and in Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara on Star Plus. She was also seen in the reality TV show Box Cricket League on Sony Entertainment as a fielder from the team Pune Anmol Ratn, while most recently she played the character of Rani Durgavati in the TV serial Akbar Birbal on Big Magic. She is currently seen in &TV show Dilli Wali Thakur Gurls as a loud goan Christian Juliet Bai.[1]
Filmography and television
Films
| Year | Film | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 | Celina's mother | Pakistani Film |
| 2016 | Bhouri | Kaki | |
| 2014 | Fugly | Devi's mother | |
| 2011 | Yeh Dooriyan | Mrs. Arora (as Kunickaa S. Lal) | |
| Monica | Judge (as Kunickaa Lal) | ||
| Jihne Mera Dil Luteya | Mrs. Bajwa | Punjabi Film | |
| 2006 | Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar | Rammi | |
| Men Not Allowed | |||
| Tom, Dick, and Harry | Jassi H. Singh | ||
| 2005 | Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav | Pradyuma's mother-in-law | |
| Page 3 | Monaz Modi | ||
| 2004 | Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin | Prakash's wife | |
| Insaaf: The Justice | Minister Rameshwari Verma | ||
| Suno Sasurjee | Mrs. Kiran Kumar | ||
| 2003 | Jodi Kya Banayi Wah Wah Ramji | Bengali lady | |
| Khanjar: The Knife | Pammi's girlfriend | ||
| Andaaz | Engagement party guest | ||
| Talaash: The Hunt Begins... | Prema Malini (as Kunika Lal) | ||
| Kyon? | Mrs. Desai (as Kunika Lal) | ||
| 2002 | Tum Jiyo Hazaron Saal | Mrs. Kapur | |
| 2001 | Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love | Sweety Aunty | |
| Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (2001 film) | Smt. Chopra (Sonia's mother) | ||
| 2000 | Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya | Manjula | |
| Woh Bewafa Thi | |||
| Shikaar | Sree's nurse | ||
| 1999 | Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United[2] | Shanti | |
| Daag: The Fire | Nurse Lily | ||
| 1998 | Wajood | Mrs. Chawla | |
| Maharaja | Mrs. Singh | ||
| Tamanna | Actress | ||
| Qila | Neelam Daniel | ||
| Jaane Jigar | Lady in the beach | ||
| Pyaar Kiya to darna kya | Mrs. Khanna | ||
| 1997 | Dil Kitna Nadan hai | Guest appearance | |
| Koyla | Rasili | ||
| Judge Mujrim | Dancer (in song "Khatra Shabnam Ka") | ||
| Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat | Sharda Devi | ||
| Dhaal | Mrs. Deodhar | ||
| 1996 | Shastra | Sonia | |
| Fareb | Brinda (prostitute) | ||
| Loafer | Woman who flirts with Bhiku | ||
| Apne Dam Par | Mamiji | ||
| 1995 | Takkar | Sheena Vasudev | |
| The Don | College professor | ||
| Baazi | Rani | ||
| Jawab | Sobhraj's mistress (uncredited) | ||
| Kismat | Banhke's wife | ||
| 1994 | Hum Hain Bemisaal | Tutisha's girl | |
| Mohra | Flora | ||
| Chhoti Bahoo | Shobha | ||
| Aa Gale Lag Jaa | Mrs. Jagatpal Sharma | ||
| Andaz (1994 film) | Shobha (uncredited) | ||
| 1993 | 15th August (1993 film) | Phulwa | |
| Kasam Teri Kasam | |||
| Tadipaar | Mohinidevi's secretary | ||
| Gardish | Shiva's Elder Sister | ||
| Chandra Mukhi | Lily | ||
| Khoon Ka Sindoor | |||
| Gumrah | Female cop in Hong Kong | ||
| Kohra | Kitty | ||
| Meri Aan | Nagina Bai | ||
| Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi | |||
| The Monster | Konica | ||
| King Uncle | Kamla, Ashok's mother (Guest appearance) | ||
| 1992 | Dil Hi To Hai (1992 film) | Flower seller | |
| Heer Ranjha | Bigo | ||
| Aaj Ka Goonda Raj | Chanda | ||
| Khiladi | Julie | ||
| Zakhmi Sipahi | Cameo, in song "O Chaila" | ||
| Meera Ka Mohan | |||
| Siyasat | |||
| Bewaffa Se Waffa | Nagma's aunt | ||
| Beta | Kunika | ||
| 1991 | Kaun Kare Kurbanie | Rape Victim | |
| Kurbaan | Gayatri | ||
| Do Matwale | Kunika (Pyare's fiancée) (as Kunica) | ||
| Ayee Milan Ki Raat | |||
| Dushman Devta | Kamli (as Kunica) | ||
| Parakrami | Unreleased movie | ||
| Vishnu-Devaa | Samppat's mistress | ||
| Jeena Teri Gali Mein | |||
| Jungle Beauty | |||
| Haque | Asha – Bittu's mistress | ||
| 1990 | Majboor | Sushila | |
| Baaghi: A Rebel for Love | Dhanraj's girlfriend (as Kunica) | ||
| Thanedaar | Munni (as Kunica) | ||
| Agneekaal | Madhu A. Saxena | ||
| Doodh Ka Karz | Munnijaan | ||
| Bandh Darwaza | Kamya P. Singh | ||
| Amavas Ki Raat | |||
| 1989 | Paanch Paapi[3] | ||
| Sachai Ki Taqat | Laxmi | ||
| Kahan Hai Kanoon | Rita | ||
| Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharni | Pyarelal's wife | ||
| Mujrim | Maria (uncredited) | ||
| 1988 | Kabrastan | Kitty |
Television shows
| Year | Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | Akbar Birbal | Rani Durgavati |
| 2015 | Dilli Wali Thakur Gurls[4] | Mrs. Juliet |
| 2015 | Sasural Simar Ka | Thakurayan / Thakurain |
| 2014-15 | Box Cricket League | Contestant |
| 2014 | Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara | Anisha James Waterson |
| 2012 | Kanaphusi | Mother in law |
| 2010-11 | Sanjog Se Bani Sangini | Naani |
| 2003 | Strivers & Achievers[5] | Anchor |
| 2003 | Ssshhhh...Koi Hai | Mrs. Malini (Models Judge) |
| 2001 | CID | Rakhi |
| 2001 | Aashirwad | |
| 2001 | Dollar Bahu | Charu's friend |
| 2002 | Kittie Party | Vasundhara |
| 1998-2000 | Sparsh | |
| 1995 | Swabhimaan | Nishi Malhotra |
| 1990 | The Sword of Tipu Sultan | Yasmin Khan |
Web series
| Title | Role | Platform | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taish | Beeji | ZEE5 | 2020 |
References
- "Kunika all set to enter 'Dilli Wali Thakur Girls' as a loud Goan Christian - Times of India". The Times of India.
- "Salman Khan's Hum Saath Saath Hain Co-Actor Threatened By Bishnoi Community". India.com. 10 April 2018.
- "Paanch Paapi (1989) - BollywoodMDB". bollywoodmdb.com. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- "Kunika all set to enter 'Dilli Wali Thakur Girls' as a loud". The Times of India. 4 May 2015.
- "The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Television". The Tribune.