Mouni Roy

Mouni Roy (; born 28 September 1985) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi television and films. One of the highest-paid television actresses in India, Roy is widely known for her portrayal of a shape-shifting snake in Naagin (2015–2016) and its sequel Naagin 2 (2016–2017). She then portrayed Sati in Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev and Meera in Junoon – Aisi Nafrat Toh Kaisa Ishq. Roy made her film debut with Hero Hitler in Love. She made her Bollywood film debut with Gold (2018), receiving nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. In 2022, Roy received praise for the fantasy film Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva, which earned her the IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress and a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Early life and education Roy was born in Cooch Behar, West Bengal on 28 September 1985, into a Bengali-speaking Rajbongshi family. Her grandfather, Shekhar Chandra Roy, was a well-known Jatra theatre artist. Her mother Mukti was a theatre artist, and her father Anil Roy was an office superintendent of the Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad, based in Bangchatra Road, Cooch Behar.

She completed her graduation from Miranda House and studied mass communication at Jamia Milia Islamia at her parents' insistence, but left the course midway and went to Mumbai to try her luck in the Hindi film industry. She finished her Part 1 exams and did not return to Delhi after that.

Career Debut and initial career (2006–2010) Roy started her career with the Ekta Kapoor drama Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi in 2006, portraying Krishna Tulsi opposite Pulkit Samrat and Akashdeep Saigal. She then participated in, and won, the first season of dancing competition show Zara Nachke Dikha. Then, she portrayed Shivani Sabharwal in Kasturi. In 2008, she participated in Pati Patni Aur Woh. In 2010, Roy played Roop in Do Saheliyaan opposite Jatin Shah.

Established television actress (2011–2017)

In 2011, Roy starred in the Punjabi film Hero Hitler in Love. She attained fame after portraying Sati in Life OK's mythological series Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev, opposite Mohit Raina, from 2011 to 2014. In 2013, she played the lead as Meera, opposite Aditya Redij, in Life OK's Junoon – Aisi Nafrat Toh Kaisa Ishq. In 2014, Roy participated in the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7 along with Punit Pathak, and she finished in fourth place.

In 2015, Roy returned to television with Ekta Kapoor's supernatural series Naagin, portraying Shivanya opposite Arjun Bijlani. The series topped the TRP charts, making her a household name not only in India but in other countries as well. She became one of the players on Bijlani's team the Mumbai Tigers in Box Cricket League. She hosted the dance show So You Think You Can Dance on &TV.

In 2017, Roy portrayed a dual role in the second season of Naagin, opposite Karanvir Bohra. Her chemistry with Bijlani in season 1, and with Bohra in season 2, was highly appreciated by audiences, and established her as a leading actress in Indian television. In 2016, Roy voiced the role of Sita in the animated film Mahayoddha Rama. In the same year, she appeared in the song "Nachna Aunda Ni" in Tum Bin 2.

Return to Hindi cinema and progression (2018–2022) Roy made her full-fledged Hindi film debut alongside Akshay Kumar as a housewife in Reema Kagti's 2018 period sports film Gold, an Excel Entertainment production revolving around India's struggle for recognition in the Hockey Olympics. Jyoti Sharma Bawa of Hindustan Times noted, "Roy as Akshay's wife Monobina is just the right mixture of crotchety and charming. With her grasp of Bengali, she brings that extra something to the film's milieu." Devesh Sharma of Filmfare stated: "Mouni infuses the film with a dash of sensuality and her stern wife's role adds a bit of a comic touch as well." With global earnings of 1.5 billion, Gold emerged as a commercial success. Roy followed the success of Gold with an item number called "Gali Gali" in the Hindi version of K.G.F: Chapter 1, presented by Gold producers Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar.

In 2019, Roy made a cameo appearance in the final few episodes of Naagin 3 as Mahanaagrani Shivangi. Roy's first release in 2019 was Romeo Akbar Walter alongside John Abraham and Jackie Shroff. For her performance as a RAW agent, Bollywood Hungama wrote, "Mouni Roy has an interesting part to essay. Though she does well, her character gets a raw deal." Romeo Akbar Walter underperformed at the box office. In her next film the same year, Made in China, Roy played a disturbed housewife alongside Rajkummar Rao. Vibha Maru noted: "Mouni is a surprise package. Though given a small role, she comes with much power, owning every bit of the screen time she gets." Made in China proved to be a modest commercial success.

Roy played a pregnant RAW agent in her first OTT feature film, London Confidential. Joginder Tuteja from Rediff.com stated, "Mouni Roy shows conviction in playing her part and is in a different avatar from her earlier performances." In 2021, she played an actress in Velle alongside Abhay Deol. Hiren Kotwani of Times of India wrote, "Mouni has limited scope to perform. Nonetheless, she lights up the screen every time she appears in the film." Roy appeared as the judge in Dance India Dance Li'l Masters 5 in 2022.

The same year, Roy played the main antagonist Junoon in Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva. Roy received rave reviews from critics and audience alike. Tushar Joshi of India Today noted, "Roy as the villain is terrific and breaks the Naagin stigma with this career-altering performance." Prateek Sur from News18 wrote, "The real find of the film, Roy is simply terrific and really holds herself in this elaborate cast and effortlessly shines as the nemesis." The film became the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2022. Her performance in the film earned her the IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress and a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Further work and streaming projects (2023present) In 2023, Roy made her web debut with Milan Luthria's Sultan of Delhi opposite Tahir Raj Bhasin and Anjum Sharma. She played a cabaret dancer, Nayanthara in the series. Saibal Chatterjee stated that the script doesn't allow her to perform.

In her first release of 2024, Roy played Yasmine Ali, an actress opposite Emraan Hashmi in the series Showtime. Writing for Hindustan Times, Devansh Sharma stated, "Mouni does get some moments to shine, especially a close-up shot where reel life echoes the real, but her arc is strictly work-in-progress." Later the year, she appeared as a TV host in Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2. Ganesh Aaglave of Firstpost was appreciative of her cameo. She then played Shruti, a woman-on-the-run alongside Vikrant Massey in Blackout. The film received negative reviews and Sukanya Verma opined that Roy's character was "reduced to chumps".

In 2025, Roy first played a ghost in The Bhootnii opposite Sunny Singh. Rishabh Suri stated that she "fares well" in her role due to her experience with such supernatural roles. Following this, she played an Indian undercover agent in Pakistan in the series Salakaar alongside Naveen Kasturia. Vinamra Mathur was appreciative of her "nuanced character" and performance.

Personal life Roy has been awarded the UAE Golden Visa, attributed to her frequent visits to the country. On 27 January 2022, she married Dubai-based Malayali businessman Suraj Nambiar in traditional Bengali and Malayali ceremonies in Panaji, Goa, following a three-year relationship. They divorced in 2026.

Other work and media image

Roy has established herself as one of the most prominent television actresses in India. Times of India labelled Naagin a "game-changer" for Roy. After the release of Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva, Mayukh Majumdar of Filmfare termed her "the undisputed star of the film". Financial Express stated that Roy's Junoon will be the "best antagonist Bollywood has seen in a while". Roy has frequently featured on Times of India's "50 Most Desirable Women" list. She ranked 35th in 2017, 32nd in 2018, 41st in 2019 and 44th in 2020. She placed 3rd in the same publication's "20 Most Desirable Women on TV" list in 2017. In 2018, same publication also ranked her 4th in the Top 10 Popular Actress in Television. In 2023, she ranked 8th in Times Now "Popular Actresses" list.

Roy is a prominent celebrity endorser for brands and products including Bryan & Candy, Joy and Spawake. In March 2023, Roy performed in various cities in the United States for "The Entertainers" tour, alongside Akshay Kumar, Disha Patani, Nora Fatehi, Sonam Bajwa, Aparshakti Khurana, Stebin Ben and Zahrah S Khan. Roy also supports a number of social causes. During the COVID-19 crisis, she donated a sum for people in need. In 2020, after the cyclone Amphan, she joined with an NGO and auctioned her paintings in order to raise funds for victims. Roy also donated to the Iskcon Foundation for medical facilities in Mayapur in 2021. Roy and her husband Suraj Nambiar launched "Ultimate Gurus", a global education platform, in 2022. In May 2023, Roy opened a restaurant named "Badmaash" in Mumbai. Roy is the most-followed Indian television actresses in Instagram.

Filmography

Films All films are in Hindi unless otherwise noted. Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2004 Run Dancer in song "Nahin Hona Nahin Hona" 2011 Hero Hitler in Love Sahiban Punjabi film 2016 Mahayoddha Rama Sita Animated film; Voice only Tum Bin 2 Herself Special appearance in song "Nachna Aaonda Nahin"2018 Gold Monobina Das KGF: Chapter 1 Lucy Kannada film; Special appearance in song "Gali Gali" 2019 Romeo Akbar Walter Shraddha Sharma / Parul Made in China Rukmini Mehta 2020 London Confidential Uma Kulkarni 2021 Velle Rohini Roy 2022 Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva Junoon 2024 Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2 Soni Cameo appearance Blackout Shruti Mehra Vedaa Herself Special appearance in song "Mummy Ji" 2025 The Bhootnii Mohabbat 2026Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai Rasmalai Telugu film; Special appearance; Post-production TBA Filming Completed

Television Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2006–2008 Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Krishna Tulsi 2008 Kaho Na Yaar Hai Contestant Episode 5 Kasturi Shivani Sabbarwal Zara Nachke Dikha 1 Contestant Winner 2009 Pati Patni Aur Woh 2010 Do Saheliyaan Roop Sshhh... Phir Koi Hai- Trittya Koena 2011–2014 Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev Sati Main role 2012–2013 Junoon – Aisi Nafrat Toh Kaisa Ishq Meera Main role 2014 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7 Contestant 4th place 2015–2016 Naagin 1 Shivanya Singh Main role 2016–2017 Naagin 2 Shivangi Pratap Singh / Shivanya Singh Main role 2018; 2019 Naagin 3 Extended Cameo 2018 Lip Sing Battle Contestant 2022 Dance India Dance Li'l Masters 5 Judge 2023 Dance Bangla Dance 12 Temptation Island India Host Sultan of Delhi Nayantara Gangopadhya 2024 Showtime Yasmine Ali 2025 Salakaar Srishti Chaturvedi / Mariam

Music videos Year Title Singer(s) Ref. 2020 Holi Mein Rangeele Mika Singh, Abhinav Shekhar Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein Nakash Aziz, Mouni Roy 2021 Patli KamariyaTanishk Bagchi, Sukhe, Parampara Tandon Baithe Baithe Stebin Ben, Danish Sabri, Aishwarya Pandit Disco Balma Asees Kaur, Mellow D Dil Galti Kar Baitha Hai Jubin Nautiyal Jodaa Afsana Khan 2022 Poori Gal Baat Tiger Shroff Gatividhi Yo Yo Honey Singh Fakeeran Zahrah S Khan 2023 DotaraPayal Dev, Jubin Nautiyal 2024 Love YaDiljit Dosanjh ZaalimaShreya Ghoshal, Dystinct

Accolades Roy has received two Filmfare Awards nominations: Best Female Debut for Gold and Best Supporting Actress for Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva. Roy also won the ITA Award for Best Actress Popular for Naagin.

Year Award Category Work Result Ref. 2006 6th Indian Telly Awards Fresh New Face – Female Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2016 16th Indian Television Academy Awards Best Actress – PopularNaagin 10th Gold Awards Best Actress in a Lead Role BIG Star Entertainment Awards Most Entertaining Television Actress 2017 11th Gold Awards Best Actress in a Lead Role (Jury)Naagin 2 Face of the Year – Female 17th Indian Television Academy Awards Best Actress – Popular 2018 64th Filmfare Awards Best Female DebutGold Star Screen Awards Best Ethnic Style (Female) 12th Gold Awards Rising Film Star From Television 2019 Zee Cine Awards Best Female DebutGold ETC Bollywood Business Awards Highest Grossing Female Debut 2023Bollywood Hungama Style Icons Most Stylish Mould Breaking Star (Female) Most Stylish Haute Stepper Pinkvilla Style Icons Awards Mould-Breaker – Female 68th Filmfare Awards Best Supporting Actress Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva 23rd IIFA Awards Best Supporting Actress