Nikita Thukral
Nikita Thukral | |
|---|---|
 Nikita Thukral in 2010 | |
| Born | 6 July 1981 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Other names | Nikitha, Nikhita, Nikki |
| Occupation(s) | Film actress, model |
| Years active | 2002 – present |
Nikita Thukral (born July 6, 1981) is an Indian film actress and model, who has acted in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam films. She is best known for her item number "Kodana Kodi" in Tamil film Saroja.
Early life
Thukral was born into a Punjabi family and was raised in Mumbai. She completed her M.A in Economics from Kishinchand Chellaram College.[1][2] She was spotted by producer D. Ramanaidu while dining at a hotel in Juhu. He offered her a role in his upcoming film Hai (2002).
Career
After appearing in Hai, Thukral starred opposite Fahad Fazil (Fazil's son, who then known as Shanu) in his film debut Kaiyethum Doorath. The Malayalam film was not a box office success, but she was able to find additional roles in Tamil and Telugu films like Kurumbu and Sambaram.[3] In 2005, she entered Kannada cinema with S S Niwas's Maharaja. Thukral then returned to star in a Tamil film and featured in Venkat Prabhu's multistarrer Saroja as Kalyani, the muse of a gangster portrayed by Sampath Raj, and won critical acclaim for her performance. Her appearance in the song "Kodana Kodi" was appreciated as the song became popular, while her role in the film also led to her winning the ITFA Best Supporting Actress Award.[2] The success led her to sign on to appear in a big film production, Gautham Menon's Chennaiyil Oru Mazhaikaalam in a role alongside Trisha Krishnan, but the film was shelved after two schedules.[4] In addition to acting, Thukral has also done modelling work for designer Roopa Vohra.[5]
In 2011, she has appeared in the Tamil thriller film Muran as Indhu, alongside actors Cheran and Prasanna.
Controversy
Nikita Thukral was reportedly banned from Kannada films for three years starting from 10 September 2011 by the Kannada Film Producers' Association (KFPA) for an alleged illicit relationship with actor Darshan. The ban was implemented after Darshan's wife accused that he had assaulted her and in her complaint, she suggested that Thukral had been responsible for his violence.[6][7][8] Consequently, Nikita denied the claims calling it "ridiculous" and asked for proof, announcing a voluntary break from Kannada films for trying to slur her image.[9][10] Since the announcement of her ban, fellow film personalities have rallied in support of Thukral, who had been in hospital at the time due to low blood pressure and stress.[11][12] Subsequently, the ban was revoked after five days of extensive campaigning against the KFPA's original decision.[13][14][15][16][17]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Hai | Kripa | Telugu | |
| 2002 | Kaiyethum Doorath | Sushama Babunath | Malayalam | |
| 2003 | Kurumbu | Aparna | Tamil | |
| 2003 | Kalyana Ramudu | Kalyani | Telugu | |
| 2003 | Sambaram | Geeta | Telugu | |
| 2004 | Chatrapathi | Priya | Tamil | |
| 2004 | Kushi Kushiga | Sandhya | Telugu | |
| 2005 | Bus Conductor | Noorjahan | Malayalam | |
| 2005 | Bhargava Charitham Moonam Khandam | Anupama | Malayalam | |
| 2005 | Vetrivel Sakthivel | Manju | Tamil | |
| 2005 | Maharaja | Kannada | ||
| 2006 | Evandoi Sreevaru | Swapna | Telugu | |
| 2006 | Aganthakudu | Bhanumathi | Telugu | |
| 2007 | Maharajsri | Neelima | Telugu | |
| 2007 | Don | Nandini | Telugu | Special Appearance |
| 2007 | Anasuya | Pooja | Telugu | |
| 2008 | Bhadradri | Anu | Telugu | |
| 2008 | Nee Tata Naa Birla | Kannada | ||
| 2008 | Saroja | Kalyani | Tamil | ITFA Best Supporting Actress Award |
| 2008 | Vamshi | Sharadha | Kannada | |
| 2008 | Chintakayala Ravi | Telugu | Special Appearance | |
| 2009 | Rajakumari | Bubbly | Kannada | |
| 2009 | Dubai Babu | Vasundhara | Kannada | |
| 2009 | Yodha | Asha | Kannada | |
| 2009 | Daddy Cool | Malayalam | Special appearance | |
| 2010 | Naariya Seere Kadda | Radha | Kannada | |
| 2011 | Gun | Vandana | Kannada | |
| 2011 | Muran | Indhu | Tamil | |
| 2011 | Hanebareha | Kannada | Delayed | |
| 2011 | Prince | Kannada | ||
| 2012 | MLA Mani: Patham Classum Gusthiyum | Malayalam | ||
| 2012 | Snehitaru | Dancer | Kannada | Special Appearance in a Song |
| 2012 | Kranthiveera Sangolli Rayanna | Mallamma | Kannada | |
| 2013 | Alex Pandian | Gayathri | Tamil | |
| 2013 | Apartment | Telugu | Filming | |
| 2013 | Cottonpet | Kannada | Filming | |
| 2013 | Priyasakha | Kannada | Filming |
References
- ^ "Full of beans". The Hindu. Chennai, India. April 2, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
- ^ a b "A Chat with Saroja Star Nikita". Rediff. February 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- ^ "Star kids shine in Malayalam cinema". Hindustan Times. Indo-Asian News Service. August 27, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- ^ "Nikita is on a roll". Rediff. October 2008. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- ^ "Jewellery for that royal touch..." DNA. December 10, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
- ^ "Darshan bail rejected, actor still in hospital". NDTV. September 13, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- ^ "Ban for actress Nikhita Thukral over Darshan 'affair'". BBC News. September 12, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- ^ "Darshan spat exposes moviedom's male bias". Yahoo News India. September 13, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
- ^ "Nikita banned from Kannada cinema". Sify. September 13, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
- ^ Daithota, Madhu; Mahesh H (September 13, 2011). "Nikita banned!". Times of India. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- ^ "Growing support for Nikhita after ban". The Hindu. Chennai, India. PTI. September 13, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- ^ "Kannada actress Nikitha's ban sparks anger". India Today. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
- ^ "Ban on Kannada actress Nikita Thukral lifted!". The Times Of India. September 15, 2011.
- ^ "Ban for India 'affair' actress Nikhita Thukral reversed". BBC News. September 15, 2011.
- ^ "Kannada film association lifts ban on actress Nikita". Yahoo News India. September 15, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
- ^ "'Shut up or face the music'". MID - DAY. September 14, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- ^ "I'm relieved, says Nikita after ban is lifted". MID - DAY. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2011.