Indian actress, television personality, and former Member of Parliament
🌍 Indian · Born June 14, 1952
About
Kirron Kher is an acclaimed Indian actress, television host, and politician who has left an indelible mark on Indian entertainment and public service. Renowned for her versatile performances across mainstream Bollywood, parallel cinema, and television, she has built a massive cultural footprint over a multi-decade career. Kher initially made a splash on the small screen in the 1990s hosting progressive chat shows like Purushkshetra, which was notable for addressing alternative sexuality and women's issues. She transitioned to powerful cinematic performances, earning a National Film Award - Special Jury Award for Sardari Begum in 1996 and the prestigious National Film Award for Best Actress for the Bengali art film Bariwali in 2000. Widely loved for portraying iconic matriarchal roles, she delivered definitive performances in generation-defining blockbusters such as Devdas, Main Hoon Na, Dostana, and Rang De Basanti. Beyond fiction, she achieved long-standing television prominence as a chief resident judge on India's Got Talent. In 2009, Kher pivoted into active politics by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Her political career peaked when she served two terms as a Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Chandigarh Lok Sabha constituency from 2014 to 2024. In recent years, she stepped back from active electoral commitments due to a hard-fought battle with multiple myeloma, but she continues to make key national cultural appearances.
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Made her professional acting debut in the critically received Punjabi feature film Aasra Pyaar Da.
Won the National Film Award – Special Jury Award for her performance in Shyam Benegal's musical drama.
Clinched the National Film Award for Best Actress for her lead performance in Rituparno Ghosh's Bengali film Bariwali.
Gained massive commercial recognition for her iconic performance as Sumitra Chakraborty in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas.
Officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and premiered as a core panel judge on the talent competition series India's Got Talent.
Successfully contested the general elections from Chandigarh to enter the 16th Lok Sabha.
Secured a second term as the representative MP for the Chandigarh constituency by defeating Pawan Kumar Bansal.
Opted out of contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to focus on her health and recovery from cancer treatment.
All data sourced from verified public references.
Hindustan Times
https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/kirron-kher-makes-rare-appearance-with-anupam-kher-at-tanvi-the-great-premiere-watch-101752811717679.html →