Archana Puran Singh is an Indian actor and television presenter. She is best remembered for her comic roles of Miss Briganza in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Preeto in Mohabbatein and as a judge on comedy shows, like Sony TV India`s Comedy Circus. She has been judging Comedy Circus since 2006 and is the only judge to have appeared in all episodes. Presently, she appears in SAB TV`s "The Great Indian Family Drama" as Begum Paro.
Early Life of Archana Puran Singh
She was born on 26 September 1962 in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India into a Punjabi family. She did her schooling from Dehradun and at the age of eighteen moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in modeling.
Film Career of Archana Puran Singh
Archana made her debut in the tinsel town with the thriller Bollywood film Jalwa in 1987 opposite Naseeruddin Shah. The film received good response from the audiences but Archana"s performance failed to catch the eye of the leading producers and directors. After this, she mostly landed herself in B-grade movies. She also bagged small roles in big banner films like Agneepath (1990), Saudagar (1991), Shola aur Shabnam (1992), Aashiq Awara (1993), and Raja Hindustani (1996) and did item songs in films like Baaz and Judge Mujrim.
She has also done supporting roles in a number of films, often in comedies, some of which are Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Mohabbatein (2000), Masti (2004), Krrish (2006), Love Story 2050 (2008), and Bol Bachchan (2012). Her performances in the blockbuster Kuch Kuch Hota Hai as flirtatious college professor Miss Braganza and in Mohabbatein as Preeto were highly appreciated. In 2009 she worked in a Punjabi film titled Tera Mera Ki Rishta.
Television Career of Archana Puran Singh
She started her television career with ad films and it was her most famous ad for Band-Aid which brought her into limelight. The ad was produced by Jalal Agha and noticing her talent he offered her the lead role in his serial, Mr and Mrs. Her next big break came with Pankaj Parasher`s Karamchand. She also became a television anchor and hosted shows like Wah, Kya Scene Hai; Uncensored and also did sitcoms like, Jaane Bhi Do Paro, Shrimaan Shrimati and Archana Talkies on Sony TV India. Later, she received offers to work in serials like Junoon and Shriman Shrimati which received good response from the audiences.
She has also done some reality shows. In 2005 she participated in the dance reality show, Nach Baliye (Season 1), with her husband, Parmeet Sethi and in 2006, she and her husband hosted another dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (season 1). Thereafter, she went on to appear as a judge on a number of comedy shows including Sony TV India`s Comedy Circus. She appeared as a judge in Comedy Circus (season 1) (2006) and Comedy Circus (season 2) (2008); Comedy Circus - Kaante Ki Takkar; Comedy Circus - Teen Ka Tadka; Comedy Circus Ke Superstar; Comedy Circus Ka Jaddo; Jubilee Comedy Circus and Comedy Circus Ke Taansen; Comedy Ka Naya Daur-Tabla toad; Kahaani Comedy Circus Ki and the current "Comedy Circus Ke Ajoobe" and Comedy Circus Ke Mahabali. Presently, she appears in SAB TV`s "The Great Indian Family Drama" as Begum Paro.
Personal Life of Archana Puran Singh
She tied the knot with actor Parmeet Sethi. The couple is blessed with two children, Aaryamann and Ayushmaan.
Achievements of Archana Puran Singh
•She won Star Screen Award for Best Comedian for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1999.
•She was also nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1999.
•She was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Raja Hindustani 1997.