Chitrangada Singh

Chitrangada Singh (born 30 August 1976) is an Indian film actress who works primarily in Bollywood. She has starred in films like Yeh Saali Zindagi, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Desi Boyz, Inkaar, and I, Me Aur Main.

Chitrangada Singh was born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan in to a Hindu family. Her father, Col. Niranjan Singh, is an Indian Army officer. Her brother Digvijay Singh is a golfer. After her schooling in Meerut at Sophia Girls' School, she completed her graduation in Home Science (food and nutrition) from Lady Irwin College, New Delhi. She has received formal training in Kathak.

Debut and sabbatical (2003 to 2010)

Singh began her career as a model before making the transition to the silver screen. After completing her college education she began modeling with brands like ICICI bank and Alukkas Jewellery among others.

She drew attention after performing in a music video Sunset Point by Gulzar.

A music video of singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya followed. Subsequently, she made her much acclaimed debut with Sudhir Mishra's film Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi in 2003. The role got her wide acclaim: a Washington Post review noted her for giving "her character a deep sense of dignity and decency." After that Chitrangada acted in the 2005 film Kal: Yesterday and Tomorrow. Chitrangada made her debut as a special song girl in Shirish Kunder's Joker. Also she is to lend her voice to a score in the movie.

She took a break from acting from 2005 to 2008. In 2008, she made her comeback with the leading role opposite Sanjay Suri in the director Onir's romantic-comedy, Sorry Bhai!. Its release over the weekend of the Mumbai terror attacks proved disastrous at the box office.

Success and stardom (2011–present)

In Sudhir Mishra's movie Yeh Saali Zindagi (2011), Singh played the role of an aspiring singer from Delhi who goes to Mumbai to get fame and money.

John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Chitrangada Singh and Akshay Kumar during their film Desi Boyz Promotions in 2011.

She then starred in Rohit Dhawan's Desi Boyz, where she played the role of an economics teacher opposite Akshay Kumar. Desi Boyz also starred John Abraham and Deepika Padukone.

In 2012, she then appeared in a special song along with Akshay Kumar in his movie Joker.

In 2013, her next movie was I, Me Aur Main with John Abraham . In 2014, She then appeared in a special song with Suriya in Tamil film Anjaan

She got together again with her mentor Sudhir Mishra for a short movie Kirchiyaan in 2013.

In 2015, She again performed a special song with Akshay Kumar for the second time in his film Gabbar is Back.

Brand endorsement

Chitrangada Singh is a brand ambassador for Airtel, Parachute, Puma, Borges Olive Oil, Garnier, Aliva Crackers, Taj Mahal Tea and Joyalukkas Jewellers. She also endorses Tata Group's Tanishq and Titan Eye Plus.

Chitrangada Singh was married to golfer Jyoti Randhawa.

Chitrangada and her husband separated in 2013 and then formally got divorced in April 2014. The couple has a son named Zorawar; his custody has been granted to Chitrangada.

• Won: Bollywood Movie Award - Best Female Debut (2006)
• Nominated: Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Female (2006)
• Nominated: Zee Cine Award for Most Promising Debut – Female (2005)
• Nominated: Apsara Award for Best Actress (2005)
• Won: Young Women Achiever Award by FICCI (2009)