Mouni Roy (born 28 September 1985) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi films and television. She made her acting debut in 2006, with the TV show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Roy became one of the highest-paid Hindi television actresses after portraying a shape-shifting serpent in the supernatural thriller Naagin and its sequel Naagin 2. She has received several awards including an IIFA Award and two ITA Awards with nominations for two Filmfare Awards.
Roy made her film debut with the Punjabi romantic film Hero Hitler in Love (2011). She made her Hindi film debut with the period sport film Gold (2018), receiving a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut nomination. Roy received high critical acclaim for her performance as Junoon in the fantasy action-adventure Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva (2022), 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 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. She did her schooling till class 12th from Kendriya Vidyalaya in Baburhat, Cooch Behar and then went to Delhi.
She took up 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. Mouni had an interest in acting since her childhood and cited actresses Madhubala, Madhuri Dixit and Waheeda Rehman as her acting idols.
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 and won the first season of 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.
Breakthrough, success and stardom in television (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. During that time she also played the lead as Meera opposite Aditya Redij in Life OK's Junoon – Aisi Nafrat Toh Kaisa Ishq in 2013. In 2014, Roy participated in the dance reality show on Colors Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7 along with Punit Pathak, where she finished at 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 of Bijlani's team Mumbai Tigers in Box Cricket League. She hosted the dance show So You Think You Can Dance on &TV.
In 2017, Roy portrayed 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 audience 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 recent work (2018–present) Roy made her full-fledged Hindi film debut alongside Akshay Kumar as a housewife in the 2018 period sport film Gold. 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." India Today stated, "Mouni crosses over from the small screen to the big with elan and matches Akshay in every scene that she is with him in." With global earnings of 1.5 billion, Gold emerged as a commercial success. Roy followed the success of Gold with an item number named "Gali Gali" in the Hindi version of K.G.F: Chapter 1.