Kirron Kher

Kirron Kher
MP
Member of Parliament
for Chandigarh
Assumed office
16 May 2014
Preceded by Pawan Kumar Bansal
Majority 69,642 (15.40%)
Personal details
Born Kiran Thakar Singh
(1955-06-14) 14 June 1955
Botad Punjab, India
Nationality Indian
Political party Bharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s) Gautam Berry (divorced)
Anupam Kher (1985–present)
Children Sikandar Berry Kher (with Gautam Berry)
Occupation Actress, Politician

Kirron Anupam Kher (also Kiran[1] or, Kiron[2][3][4] born 14 June 1955) is an Indian theatre, film and television actress, a TV talk show host and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. In May 2014, she was elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indian Parliament from Chandigarh.

Family

Kirron Kher was born on 14 June 1955 in a Jat Sikh family and grew up in Chandigarh.[5][6] She was named 'Kiran' by her parents and her full name was 'Kiran Thakar Singh.' During the period of her first marriage to Gautam Berry, she was known as 'Kiran Berry.' When she married Anupam Kher, she resumed her maiden name and also added her latest husband's surname, being known as 'Kiran Thakar Singh Kher.' In later life, she developed a firm belief in numerology, and in 2003 (aged 48), she changed her name from "Kiran" to "Kirron" based on numerological calculations,[7] dropped her maiden names, and came to be known as 'Kirron Kher.'

Kirron has one brother and two sisters. Her brother, the artist Amardeep Singh, died in 2003.[8] 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.

Marriages

Kirron completed her school education in Chandigarh, and then graduated from the Department of Indian Theatre of Panjab University, Chandigarh. She then married Gautam Berry, a rich Mumbai-based businessman, and had a son, Sikandar Kher.[9]

In Mumbai, Kiran 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.Moving in the same theatre circles, they worked together in a play called Chandpuri Ki Champabai. In 1985, after Anupam had secured a break in films with Saaransh, Kirron divorced her husband, and they were married to each other the same year. They now run a production house together.[8][10]

Career

Kiran Kher made her film debut in 1983 in the Punjabi feature film Aasra Pyar Da, a non-descript production which sank without a trace. After this, she took a hiatus from films.[11] Between 1983 and 1996, she appeared in exactly one film, Pestonjee (1987), wherein she acted in a bit 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.[2] 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.[12] Kiron Kher Today and Jagte Raho with Kiron Kher, before doing Hindi films.[13]

Her comeback film was by Shyam Benegal, Sardari Begum (1996), which won her the Special Jury Award at the 1997 National Film Awards.

She then appeared in film director Rituparno Ghosh's Bengali film Bariwali (1999), to critical acclaim.[3] 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 Kiron, 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.[3][4]

In 2002, Kirron appeared in Devdas (2002), alongside Shahrukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai, and was nominated for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award.

In Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) (2003),[14] 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.[15] She won the Best Actress Award, at Locarno International Film Festival, Switzerland, the Karachi International Film Festival, Karachi, and International Festivals at Ciepie in Argentina,[16] and Cape Town in South Africa [3][17] while the film won the Best Film – Golden Leopard, Festival Grand Prize at Locarno.[18]

The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) 2004 paid tribute to Kirron during its annual festival.[19][20]

In October 2004 Kirron made a guest appearance, along with her husband, in the American TV series ER playing Parminder Nagra's mother, Mrs. Rasgotra, in episode "Damaged."[21]

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.[22]

Despite playing mostly supporting roles, her successful movies include Main Hoon Na (2004), Hum Tum (2004), Veer-Zaara (2004), and Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005), where her performance drew rave reviews.[23] Her work in Rang De Basanti (2006) was a huge hit and her performance got her second nomination for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award. Her role in Fanaa (2006) and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) also received appreciation. Adding to her list of comical roles in 2008 she appeared in Singh is Kinng, Saas bahu aur Sensex and Dostana. In 2009, she appeared as judge on India's Got Talent, the Indian franchise of the Got Talent series.

Kirron with husband Anupam in 2012.

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).[24][25] She joined the Bhartiya Janata Party in 2009.[26] She campaigned for the party in across the country during the elections, including in Chandigarh for the 2011 municipal corporation elections.[27] She has been a vocal admirer of BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi since long before his candidature was announced.[28] Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) declared her as the Lok Sabha candidate from Chandigarh for General Elections, 2014. Subsequently, in May 2014, she won the seat with 1,91,362 votes, defeating sitting MP, Congress leader Pawan Bansal who received 1,21,720 votes, while AAP’s Gul Panag came in third position with 1,08,679 votes.[29][30]

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.[31] However, her proposal was accepted by the Chandigarh Administration and the film city is proposed to be set up in Sarangpur, Chandigarh.[32]

Controversy

After a woman was gang raped by an auto rickshaw driver and his accomplices in Chandigarh, she suggested that women should avoid traveling with strangers, inviting criticism from the opposition and social media.[33][34]

Filmography

Year Film Role Language Notes
2014Punjab 1984Satwant Kaur (Shiva's mother)Punjabi
KhoobsuratManju (Mili's mother)Hindi
Total SiyapaaAsha's MotherHindi
2012Ajab Gazabb LoveRashmi GrewalHindi
2011Mummy PunjabiBaby R. AroraHindi
2010Action ReplayyBholi DeviHindi
Milenge MilengeTarot Card ReaderHindi
Alexander the GreatMalayalam
2009KurbaanNasreen AapaHindi
Kambakkht IshqAunt DollyHindi
2008DostanaMrs. Acharya / Seema (Sam's mother)Hindi
Saas bahu aur SensexBinita SenHindi
Singh Is KinngRose Lady (Sonia's mother)Hindi
2007Om Shanti OmBela Makhija (Om's mother)Hindi
ApneRaavi B. ChoudharyHindi
Just MarriedShobha ChaturvediHindi
I See YouMrs. DuttHindi
2006Kabhi Alvida Naa KehnaKamaljeet 'Kamal' SaranHindi
FanaaNafisa Ali Begum (Zooni's mother)Hindi
Rang De BasantiMitro (DJ's Mother)Hindi
2005Mangal Pandey: The RisingLol BibiHindi
It Could Be YouMrs. DhillonEnglish
2004Veer-ZaaraMariam Hayaat Khan (Zaara's mother)Hindi
Hum TumParminder 'Bobby' Prakash (Rhea's mother)Hindi
Main Hoon NaMadhu SharmaHindi
Khamosh PaniVeero/Ayesha KhanPunjabi, UrduLux Style Award for Best Actress
2002Karz: The Burden of TruthSavitri DeviHindi
DevdasSumitra ChakrabortyHindi
2001Ehsaas: The FeelingAntra's motherHindi
1999Bariwali/The Lady of the HouseBanalataBengaliNational Film Award for Best Actress
1997Darmiyaan: In BetweenZeenat BegumHindi / Assamese
1996Sardari BegumSardari BegumHindi National Film Award Special Jury Awards
1988PestonjeeSoona MistryHindicredited as Kiron Thakursingh-Kher
1983Aasra Pyaar DaSheelaPunjabi

Television

Year Program Language Role Notes
2014Kitni Girhain Baaki HainUrduHerselfNarrator[35]
2009-India's Got TalentHindiJudgeAll seasons
2004EREnglishMrs. RasgotraEpisode: Damaged
PrratimaHindi
1999GubbareHindi
1988Isi BahaneHindi

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Always there, from tiny steps to big leaps". Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-29. Indian Express, 12 May 2002.
  2. 1 2 "Once more, with feeling". Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 2009-09-20. . desimatch.com
  3. 1 2 3 4 'Art knows no boundary' Daily Star, 3 December 2003.
  4. 1 2 Kiron Kher in the middle of controversy Archived 10 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine. apunkachoice.com. 12 August 2000 .
  5. ↑ "Sikandar is blessed to have Anupam as his stepfather: Kiran Kher". The Times of India. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "Distinguished Alumni". Panjab University. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  7. ↑ Numerology: Bust or boom? Times of India, 20 August 2003.
  8. 1 2 All love and Kher The Hindu, 19 August 2004.
  9. ↑ Kiran Kher on her son, Sikander Rediff.com, 2 June 2008.
  10. ↑ Relative Values Times of India, 20 July 2003.
  11. ↑ "Films are to entertain, not preach: Kirron Kher". Archived from the original on 30 March 2009. Retrieved 2008-11-29. The Peninsula, 28 April 2008.
  12. ↑ The Making of Neoliberal India: Nationalism, Gender, and the Paradoxes of Globalization, by Rupal Oza, Published by CRC Press, 2006. ISBN 0-415-95186-0. Page 63.
  13. ↑ Kirron Kher’s stock zooms higher! Times of India, 22 September 2008.
  14. ↑ 56th Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland The Tribune, 18 August 2003.
  15. ↑ Kiron Kher's film releases in New York Rediff.com, 8 October 2004.
  16. ↑ Visiting Pakistan was like a pilgrimage: Kiron Kher Times of India, 20 July 2004.
  17. ↑ Mrs Kher comes calling – page 2 Times of India, 16 October 2004.
  18. ↑ Silent waves, still waters The Hindu, 2 December 2004.
  19. ↑ IFFLA 2004 Film Schedule, 8:00pm: Tribute to Kirron Kher Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA).
  20. ↑ a tribute to award-winning actress Kiron Kher Tribune , 22 March 2004.
  21. ↑ "ER" Damaged (2004) on IMDb Anupam Kher played her husband in the episode, as Ajay Rasgotra.
  22. ↑ Many shades, same delight The Hindu, 31 January 2005.
  23. ↑ Kiron Kher at Rotten Tomatoes.
  24. ↑ "Kirron Kher prefers social work to politics". DNA. 2007-10-10.
  25. ↑ "A walk against cancer". The Times of India. 2012-03-06.
  26. ↑ "Kiran Kher joins BJP". The Times of India. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  27. ↑ Surender Sharma (2014-01-30). "BJP to take partymen's view on Kirron Kher's Chandigarh ticket". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014.
  28. ↑ "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-12-01.
  29. ↑ "Kirron Kher wins Chandigarh". The Indian Express. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  30. ↑ "Election results: BJP's Kirron Kher wins from Chandigarh, Naveen Jindal finishes third". The Times of India. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  31. ↑ "Trying to get Film City for Chandigarh soon: Kirron Kher | Business Standard News". Business-standard.com. 2014-08-25. Retrieved 2014-12-01.
  32. ↑ "Official Website of Chandigarh Administration". Chandigarh.gov.in. Retrieved 2014-12-01.
  33. ↑ "Never Blamed Or Shamed Gang-Rape Survivor, Says Kirron Kher After Outrage". Archived from the original on 10 December 2017.
  34. ↑ "Kirron Kher shames Chandigarh rape victim, enraged Twitterati erupt". Archived from the original on 9 December 2017.
  35. ↑ "Kirron Kher to be the sutradhar in Zindagi's Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain". Tellychakkar. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  36. ↑ awards Internet Movie Database.
  37. ↑ Award Citations – 2003 Kara Awards Karachi International Film Festival Official website.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.