Kirron Anupam Kher (also Kiran[ Indian Express, 12 May 2002.] or, Kiron,[ born 14 June 1952) is an Indian people politician, actress, television personality, singer, and entertainment producer. She is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and in May 2014 was elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indian Parliament, from Chandigarh.]
Early life
Kiran Thakar Singh Sandhu was born on 14 June 1952 in Bangalore, Mysore State, India[ Numerology: Bust or boom? The Times of India, 20 August 2003.] dropped her maiden names, and came to be known as 'Kirron Kher.' She is sometimes known as 'Grandma India.'
Kirron has one brother and two sisters. Her brother, the artist Amardeep Singh Sandhu, died in 2003.[ All love and Kher The Hindu, 19 August 2004.] One of her sisters is the Arjuna Award–winning badminton player, Kanwal Thakar Kaur. Her other sister, Sharanjit Kaur Sandhu, is the wife of a retired senior officer of the Indian Navy.
Kirron went to school in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh,
Career
Kirron made her film debut in 1983 in the Punjabi feature film Aasra Pyar Da[ The Peninsula, 28 April 2008.] Between 1983 and 1996, she appeared in one film, Pestonjee (1987), in which she acted in a small role alongside her second husband Anupam Kher.
Her return to acting came in the mid–1990s, through theatre, with the play Saalgirah written by playwright Javed Siddiqui and directed by Feroz Abbas Khan.[. desimatch.com] She then hosted three television shows, starting with the short–lived Purushkshetra on Zee TV which got attention for bringing out the discussion of alternative sexuality for the first time, while also highlighting women's issues.[ The Making of Neoliberal India: Nationalism, Gender, and the Paradoxes of Globalization, by Rupal Oza, Published by CRC Press, 2006. . Page 63.] Kirron Kher Today and Jagte Raho with Kirron Kher, before doing Hindi films.[ Kirron Kher’s stock zooms higher! Times of India, 22 September 2008.]
Her comeback film was Sardari Begum (1996), directed by Shyam Benegal. Her performance received high critical acclaim and earned her the National Film Award – Special Jury Award (feature film).
She then appeared in film director Rituparno Ghosh's Bengali language film Bariwali (1999), to critical acclaim.[ When she won the National Film Award for Best Actress for the film, a controversy arose as a Bangla film actress, Rita Koiral, claimed that she had dubbed for the character of Kirron, making her an equal claimant to the award. Kirron refuted the charges claiming she spent hours rehearsing for her dialogue delivery, and the award was eventually not shared.][
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In 2002, Kher appeared in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Historical drama romantic drama Devdas (2002), alongside Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit in which her performance received widespread critical acclaim, receiving her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In Khamosh Pani ( Silent Waters) (2003),[ 56th Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland The Tribune, 18 August 2003.] a film that portrays the plight of a woman abducted during partition of India, her character not only refused to kill herself as suggested by her family, but marries her abductor and, after his death, makes an earning teaching Quran to local children. It shows how her life changes dramatically when her son takes up Islamic extremism in 1979 during the rule of Zia–ul–Haq and his process of Islamization of Pakistan.[ Kiron Kher's film releases in New York Rediff.com, 8 October 2004.] She won the Best Actress Award at the Locarno International Film Festival, Switzerland, the Karachi International Film Festival, Karachi, and International Festivals at Ciepie in Argentina,[ Visiting Pakistan was like a pilgrimage: Kiron Kher Times of India, 20 July 2004.] and Cape Town in South Africa[ 'Art knows no boundary' Daily Star, 3 December 2003.][ Mrs Kher comes calling – page 2 Times of India, 16 October 2004.] while the film won the Best Film – Golden Leopard, Festival Grand Prize at Locarno.[ Silent waves, still waters The Hindu, 2 December 2004.]
The 2004 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) paid tribute to Kher during its annual festival.[ IFFLA 2004 Film Schedule, 8:00pm: Tribute to Kirron Kher Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA).][ a tribute to award-winning actress Kiron Kher The Tribune , 22 March 2004.]
In October 2004, Kher made a guest appearance, along with her husband, in the American TV series ER playing Parminder Nagra's mother, Mrs. Rasgotra, in the episode "Damaged".
In 2005, she played the role of Sunanda in the tele-serial Prratima on Sahara One channel, before which she had appeared in TV series like Dil Na Jaane Kyon (Zee TV), Isi Bahane, and Chausath Panne.[ Many shades, same delight The Hindu, 31 January 2005.]
Despite playing mostly supporting roles, her successful films include Main Hoon Na (2004), Hum Tum (2004), Veer-Zaara (2004), and (2005), where her performance drew rave reviews.[ Kiron Kher at Rotten Tomatoes.] Her work in Rang De Basanti (2006) was also acclaimed with her performance earning her a second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her role in Fanaa (2006) and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) also received appreciation, receiving her third nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the latter.
Adding to her list of comical roles in 2008 she appeared in Singh Is Kinng, Saas Bahu Aur Sensex and Dostana, receiving her fourth nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the lattermost. In 2009, she appeared as judge on India's Got Talent, the Indian franchise of the Got Talent series.
Socio-political activism
Kirron Kher has been involved with non-profit movements such as Laadli (a campaign against female infanticide) and Roko Cancer (a campaign for awareness of cancer).
As a Member of parliament from Chandigarh and having connection with the film industry, Kirron promised a film city for Chandigarh. After winning the seat, she said that she had difficulty in acquiring land in Chandigarh.
Kirron Kher, BJP candidate, won in 2019 Indian general election Chandigarh constituency by a margin of 46,970 votes.
Controversy
After a woman was gang raped by an auto rickshaw driver and his accomplices in Chandigarh in 2017, she suggested that women should avoid traveling with strangers, earning widespread criticism from the opposition and social media.
Personal life
Kirron married Gautam Berry, a Mumbai–based businessman, in first week of March 1979, and had a son, Sikandar Kher.[ Kiran Kher on her son, Sikander Rediff.com, 2 June 2008.]
In Mumbai, Kirron tried throughout the 1980s to get a foothold in the film industry, but without success. While visiting producer after producer seeking a role in films, Kirron renewed her acquaintance with Anupam Kher, who was also a similarly struggling actor, and whom she had known slightly at university in Chandigarh.
Filmography
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| Tarot Card Reader | |
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| Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress |
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| Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress |
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| Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress |
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| Lux Style Award for Best Film Actress |
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| Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress |
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| National Film Award for Best Actress |
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| Hindi language | National Film Award – Special Jury Award (feature film) |
| credited as Kirron Thakursingh–Kher |
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Television
Awards and nominations
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1997: National Film Award – Special Jury Award (feature film): Sardari Begum
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2000: National Film Award for Best Actress: Bariwali
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2003: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress: Devdas (Nominated)
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2003: IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress: Devdas
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2003: Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress: Devdas (Nominated)
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2003: Bollywood Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress: Devdas
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2003: Sansui Viewers' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress: Devdas (Nominated)
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2003: Locarno Festival: Best Actress: Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters)
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2003: Karachi International Film Festival: Best Female Actor in a Leading Role: Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters)
[ Award Citations – 2003 Kara Awards Karachi International Film Festival Official website.]
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2003: Lux Style Award for Best Film Actress: Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters)
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2005: Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress: Hum Tum (Nominated)
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2005: Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Female: Hum Tum (Nominated)
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2005: Producers Guild Film Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Hum Tum (Nominated)
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2005: Stardust Award for Best Supporting Actress: Veer-Zaara
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2007: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress: Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (Nominated)
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2007: IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress: Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (Nominated)
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2007: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress: Rang De Basanti (Nominated)
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2007: IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress: Rang De Basanti (Nominated)
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2007: Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress: Rang De Basanti
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2007: Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Female: Rang De Basanti (Nominated)
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2007: Stardust Award for Best Supporting Actress: Rang De Basanti (Nominated)
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2007: Bollywood Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress: Rang De Basanti
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2009: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress: Dostana (Nominated)
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2009: IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress: Dostana (Nominated)
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2010: Stardust Award for Best Supporting Actress: Dostana (Nominated)
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2010: Stardust Award for Best Supporting Actress: Kurbaan
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2010: Producers Guild Film Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Kurbaan
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2015: PTC Punjabi Film Awards: Best Actress (Critics): Punjab 1984
External links
