| Monica Bedi | |
| Birth Place: | Chabbewal, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India |
| Birth Date: | 18 January 1975 |
| Education: | Borresen School, Norway |
| Alma Mater: | University of Oxford |
| Years Active: | 1994- Present |
Monica Bedi (born 18 January 1975) is an Indian actress and television presenter who primarily appears in Hindi films. She has also worked in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Bengali films. Bedi debuted in Hindi films in the mid-1990s, with notable works including "Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat" and "Jodi No.1." She is known for participating in reality TV shows such as "Bigg Boss 2" and "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 3," and for her role as Gumaan Kaur Vyas in Star Plus's "Saraswatichandra." Bedi has received several accolades including Gold Awards, PTC Awards, TSA Awards, Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Award. In 2002, Bedi was convicted for using a forged document.[1]
Bedi is a Punjabi and was born 18 January 1975[2] [3] to Prem Kumar Bedi and Shakuntala Bedi in the village Chabbewal, Hoshiarpur district, Punjab. Her parents moved to Drammen, Norway in 1979. She studied English Literature and completed her education at Oxford University.[2]
In September 2002, Bedi and Abu Salem, an Indian gangster were arrested and later served prison sentences in Portugal[4] for entering the country on forged documents.[5] [6] In 2006, an Indian Court convicted Bedi for procuring a passport on a fictitious name.[7] [8] In November 2010, the Supreme Court of India upheld her conviction but reduced the prison sentence to the period that she had already served.[9] [10]
Monica Bedi began her acting career with the Telugu film Taj Mahal (1995), produced by D. Ramanaidu. She was later cast by Ramanaidu in another Telugu project, Sivayya.[11] That same year, Bedi made her Bollywood debut, starring opposite Saif Ali Khan in Surakshaa.
Throughout her career, Bedi appeared in numerous Hindi films, working alongside notable actors such as Suniel Shetty, Arjun Rampal, Chiranjeevi, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Govinda, and Dharmendra. One of her notable films was the hit comedy Jodi No. 1, directed by David Dhawan. She also ventured into reality television, participating in Bigg Boss 2, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 3, and Desi Girl. Additionally, she contributed to a spiritual music album released by Universal Music, where she sang the chant "Ek Onkar."[12] [13]
In 2012, Bedi appeared in the Punjabi film Sirphire. From 2013 to 2014, she played the role of Ghuman in the Star Plus series Saraswatichandra, produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.[14] In 2014, she portrayed a Punjab DSP in the Punjabi film Romeo Ranjha.
| Year ! Film | Role ! Language | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Main Tera Aashiq | Hindi | ||
| 1995 | Taj Mahal | |||
| 1995 | Surakshaa | Kiran | Hindi | |
| 1995 | Aashique Mastane | Hindi | ||
| 1996 | Khilona | Kajal | Hindi | |
| 1996 | Soggadi Pellam | Tulasi | Telugu | |
| 1996 | Subash | Anitha | ||
| 1997 | Ek Phool Teen Kante | Monica Sinha | Hindi | |
| 1997 | Jeeyo Shaan Se | Hindi | ||
| 1997 | Tirchhi Topiwale | Sanam Oberoi | Hindi | |
| 1997 | Circus Sattipandu | Telugu | ||
| 1998 | Jabab Dihi | Bengali | ||
| 1998 | Janto Kobor | Bengali | Bangladeshi Movie | |
| 1998 | Sivayya | Inspector Roja | Telugu | |
| 1998 | Choodalani Vundi | Telugu | ||
| 1998 | Zanjeer | Hindi | ||
| 1999 | Drona | Swetha | Kannada | |
| 1999 | Yamajathakudu | Telugu | ||
| 1999 | Kalicharan | Hindi | ||
| 1999 | Nannaseya Hoove | Lakshmi | Kannada | |
| 1999 | Sikander Sadak Ka | Hindi | ||
| 1999 | Jaanam Samjha Karo | Monica | Hindi | |
| 1999 | Kaala Samrajya | Monica K. Singh | Hindi | |
| 1999 | Speed Dancer | Monika | Telugu | |
| 1999 | Lohpurush | Hindi | ||
| 2001 | Jodi No.1 | Rinky | ||
| 2001 | Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat | Maya Dhillon | Hindi | |
| 2003 | Tada | Hindi | ||
| 2011 | Devadasiyin Kathai | Swathi Varma | Tamil | |
| 2012 | Parichaya | Rekha | ||
| 2012 | Hridoye Lekho Naam | |||
| 2012 | Sirphire | Simran | ||
| 2014 | Romeo Ranjha | Reet Kaur | Punjabi | |
| 2017 | Bandookan | Balwinder | Punjabi | |
| Year | Title | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Bigg Boss 2 | Contestant | |
| 2009 | Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 3 | ||
| 2010 | Dil Jeetegi Desi Girl 1 | ||
| 2013–14 | Saraswatichandra | Guman Vyas/Roopmati | |
| 2015 | Bandhan | Narayani Deshpande |
| Year | Award | Category | Film/Show | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Gold Awards | Best TV Actor (Female) | |||
| PTC awards | Best Debut (Female) | Sirphire | |||
| Media excellence Awards | Most Popular Media Face (Female) | ||||
| 2014 | Bharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Award | Outstanding Performer (Female) | |||
| TSA Awards | Most Stylish Actor (Female) | ||||
| Lions Gold Awards | Best Actor in a Negative Role (Female) | Saraswatichandra | |||
| 2023 | International Iconic Awards | The Most Fit Actress |