Kritika Kamra (born 25 October 1988)[1][2] is an Indian actress known for her unconventional choices and portraying strong women on screen. She has carved a niche in the Indian film industry with her roles in Anubhav Sinha’s Bheed and Amazon Prime Video’s series Tandav and Bambai Meri Jaan.[3] Her most recent release, Gyaarah Gyaarah, has been received well, solidifying her reputation as a versatile actress in the digital space. She is currently filming Matka King, directed by Nagraj Manjule, where she stars opposite Vijay Varma.[4]

Kritika Kamra
Kamra in 2024
Born (1988-10-25) 25 October 1988 (age 36)
NationalityIndian
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active2007–present

Kamra began her acting career with television, gaining widespread popularity as Arohi in the show Kitani Mohabbat Hai. Her portrayal of Dr. Nidhi in Kuchh Toh Log Kahenge and Ananya Kashyap in Reporters further cemented her status of as a leading actress in the industry, earning her both critical and popular acclaim.[5]

Early life

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Kritika Kamra was born in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, into a family of doctors and educators, with her father being a doctor and her mother a school principal in Sukhpur, near Ashoknagar, Madhya Pradesh.[6] She attended various schools due to her family's relocations and completed her schooling at Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, in New Delhi.[7] Kamra later enrolled at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in New Delhi to study Fashion Communication. During her time at NIFT, she was discovered by a casting director outside her college. This led to her first television role, which eventually brought her to Mumbai, where she began her acting career.[8]

Career

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Debut and work in television (2007-2017)

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Kamra made her acting debut in 2007, with Yahan Ke Hum Sikandar.[8] In 2009, she played a singer, Arohi in Kitani Mohabbat Hai opposite Karan Kundra. The show was well received and earned her praises.[9] From 2009 to 2010, she played Kajol / Prateeksha in Pyaar Ka Bandhan.[10]

From 2010 to 2011, she reprised Arohi in Kitani Mohabbat Hai 2 opposite Karan Kundra.[11] From 2011 to 2013, Kamra received praises for playing Dr. Nidhi Verma Mathur in Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, opposite Mohnish Bahl and Sharad Kelkar.[12]

In 2015, Kamra played a reporter, Ananya Kashyap opposite Rajeev Khandelwal, in Reporters.[13] In 2017, she played a princess Chandrakanta in Prem Ya Paheli – Chandrakanta, opposite Gaurav Khanna.[14] Chandrakanta marks her final appearance in a fiction television show till date.[15]

Expansion to films and web series (2018-present)

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Kamra in 2022

Kamra made her film debut in 2018, with Mitron, playing Avni opposite Jackky Bhagnani. It became a commercial failure.[16] In 2021, she played a college student Sana in the web series Tandav.[17] Nairita Mukherjee of India Today stated, "Kritika's character populate the screen but fail to claw its way into the audience's mind."[18]

In 2022, Kamra first played a princess Kamini in Kaun Banegi Shikharwati.[19] Saibal Chatterjee noted, "Essaying the liveliest of the four roles, Kritika Kamra makes the strongest impression."[20] Next, she played Dolly, a woman in a troubled marriage in Hush Hush.[21] ThePrint's Tina Das was appreciative of her portrayal of a high society woman.[22]

Kamra played a reporter Vidhi, in the 2023 film Bheed. Yatamanyu Narain of News18 found her to be "convincing".[23] In the same year, she played Habiba (based on Haseena Parkar), in Bambai Meri Jaan.[24] Anuj Kumar of The Hindu noted, "Cast against type, Kritika rises to the occasion as the girl who can shoot and slay with equal felicity."[25]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 Best Girlfriend Sonali Short film [26]
Dry Dreams Herself [27]
2016 White Shirt Vani [28]
2018 Mitron Avni Gandhi [29]
2023 Bheed Vidhi Prabhakar [30]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2007–2008 Yahan Ke Hum Sikandar Arshiya [31]
2009 Kitani Mohabbat Hai Arohi Sharma [32]
2009–2010 Pyaar Ka Bandhan Kajol Das / Prateeksha [10]
2010 Zara Nachke Dikha 2 Contestant [33]
Ganga Kii Dheej Geeta [34]
2010–2011 Kitani Mohabbat Hai 2 Arohi Ahluwalia [35]
2011–2013 Kuch Toh Log Kahenge Dr. Nidhi Verma [36]
2012–2013 V The Serial Herself [37]
2013 Ek Thhi Naayka Veera Episodic role [38]
2014 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7 Contestant 14th place [39]
2015 MTV Webbed 2 Host [40]
Reporters Ananya Kashyap [41]
2017 Prem Ya Paheli – Chandrakanta Princess Chandrakanta / Maharani Chandrika [42]
2019 Khatra Khatra Khatra Herself Guest

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2016 Friend Zoned Company Boss [43]
I Don't Watch TV Herself [44]
2021 Tandav Sana Mir [45]
2022 Kaun Banegi Shikharwati Kaamini Shikharwat [46]
Hush Hush Dolly Dalal [47]
2023 Bambai Meri Jaan Habiba Kadri [48]
2024 Gyaarah Gyaarah Vamika Rawat [49]
Matka King TBA Filming [50]

Music videos

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Year Title Singer Ref.
2017 Mera Jahan Gajendra Verma [51]
2019 Hai Pyaar Kya Jubin Nautiyal

Awards and nominations

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Kamra at the Bollywood Hungama OTT India Fest, in 2023
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2009 Indian Telly Awards Fresh New Face - Female Kitani Mohabbat Hai Nominated [52]
2012 Best Actress in a Lead Role - Jury Kuch Toh Log Kahenge Nominated [53]
2017 Best Actress in a Lead Role Prem Ya Paheli – Chandrakanta Nominated [54]
2023 Bollywood Hungama OTT India Fest Most Dazzling Performer - OTT Bambai Meri Jaan Won [55]
2024 Iconic Gold Awards Best Supporting Actress - Web Series Won [56]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "TV actors and their birthday bash pictures". The Times of India. 17 August 2015.
  2. ^ "Kritika Kamra chooses Game Of Thrones cosplay for her birthday bash". 27 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Bambai Meri Jaan: Kay Kay Menon, Avinash Tiwary, Kritika Kamra To Star In Crime-Thriller". Zee News. 22 August 2023.
  4. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Kritika Kamra confirms playing lead in Vijay Varma's Matka King; more details inside". Hindustan Times. 23 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Kritika Kamra: I'm not a damsel in distress, but a strong, opinionated woman". The Times of India. 13 April 2015. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Teacher's Day special: I'd make sure I never cross paths with my mum at school, says Kritika Kamra". Hindustan Times. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Born in Uttar Pradesh, Kritika completed her High school and higher secondary schooling from Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi".
  8. ^ a b "You can call it my first major show". Hindustan Times. 4 February 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Bandini, Kitani Mohabbat Hai launched". Hindustan Times.
  10. ^ a b "Balaji Telefilms Limited : Television, Motion Pictures".
  11. ^ ‘Kitani Mohabbat Hai 2 is not a sequel’ — Kritika Kamra Archived 14 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Kuch Toh Log Kahenge". The Indian Express. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  13. ^ "'Reporters' Review: The desi newsroom". 20 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Kritika Kamra looks stunning in this promo of Chandrakanta". India Today. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  15. ^ "'Chandrakanta' actors shoot at Golconda Fort". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  16. ^ "Mitron Box Office". Bollywood Hungama. 14 September 2018. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  17. ^ Shivam Parashar (18 January 2021). "The real stories Saif Ali Khan's Tandav reminds us of". India Today. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  18. ^ Nairita Mukherjee (15 January 2021). "Tandav Review: Saif Ali Khan and Dimple Kapadia show falls like a house of cards". India Today. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Kaun Banegi Shikharwati trailer: This dysfunctional royal family is a hoot". The Indian Express. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  20. ^ Chatterjee, Saibal (7 January 2022). "Kaun Banegi Shikharwati Review: A Patchy Dramedy, Starring Naseeruddin Shah, Lara Dutta And Soha Ali Khan". NDTV.com. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Juhi Chawla, Ayesha Jhulka's Amazon Prime show Hush Hush's first look, release date revealed". Hindustan Times. 7 September 2022.
  22. ^ Das, Tina (22 September 2022). "Juhi Chawla to Soha Ali Khan, 'Hush Hush' has a stellar cast. But a sketchy murder plot". ThePrint.
  23. ^ "Bheed Review: Anubhav Sinha's Movie Will Make You Uncomfortable But For All The Right Reasons". news18.com. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  24. ^ "Bambai Meri Jaan: Mumbai has a new king in Kay Kay Menon's new crime drama, Farhan Akhtar shares glimpse". 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  25. ^ Kumar, Anuj (15 September 2023). "'Bambai Meri Jaan' series review: An uneasy take on Mumbai mafia that blurs the line between the good and the evil". The Hindu.
  26. ^ "The Internet success of Kritika-Vikrant's Best Girlfriend to set a series rolling". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  27. ^ "Watch: Kritika Kamra kills Barun Sobti for water". India Today. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  28. ^ "Kunal Kapoor and Kritika Kamra to feature in Short film 'White Shirt'". Mid Day. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  29. ^ "Kritika Kamra on Mitron: Couldn't have hoped for a better Bollywood debut". The Indian Express. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  30. ^ "Rajkummar Rao, Bhumi Pednekar Starrer Bheed Gets New Release Date". Zee News. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  31. ^ "I hardly get time for myself: Kritika Kamra - Times of India". The Times of India. 30 December 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  32. ^ "It's showtime, folks!". The Times of India. 13 January 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  33. ^ "I'm On A Break From Fiction: Kritika". The Times of India. 15 April 2014.
  34. ^ ""Faced Prejudice And Still Do": Tandav Actress Kritika Kamra On Her Transition From TV To Bollywood". NDTV.com. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  35. ^ "Imagine to bring season 2 of Kitani Mohabbat Hai".
  36. ^ "Meet Kuch Toh Log Kahenge's Dr Nidhi Varma". Rediff. 5 October 2011.
  37. ^ Desai, Purva (20 November 2012). "Chose to stay away from The Serial: Kritika Kamra". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  38. ^ "'Ek Thi Daayan' scared 'nayika' Kritika Kamra". Zee News. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  39. ^ "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7 to be tougher this season". DNA India. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  40. ^ Adivarekar, Priya; Kanabar, Ankita R (4 April 2014). "Kritika Kamra will anchor MTV Webbed". The Indian Express. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  41. ^ Olivera, Roshni (13 April 2015). "Kritika Kamra: I'm not a damsel in distress, but a strong, opinionated woman". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  42. ^ "Kritika Kamra: My role in Chandrakanta is neither spineless nor 'a bechari'". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  43. ^ "A twisted tale". The Hindu. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  44. ^ "Trailer of 'I Don't Watch TV' web series launched – Watch it here". Zee News. 15 February 2016.
  45. ^ "'Tandav': Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Kritika Kamra's character posters out". DNA India. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  46. ^ "What Made Kritika Kamra Say Yes To 'Kaun Banega Shikharwati'". Outlook India. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  47. ^ "Hush Hush: Suffocated Dolly Dalal aka Kritika Kamra fears grave consequences of her actions'". ZEENews India. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  48. ^ "Bambai Meri Jaan trailer: Kay Kay Menon, Avinash Tiwary series drops us into Mumbai underworld of the 70s". The Indian Express. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  49. ^ "Kritika Kamra shares EXCLUSIVE updates on Gyaarah Gyaarah and For Your Eyes Only; calls upcoming Netflix show "immersive"". Bollywood Hungama. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  50. ^ "Kritika Kamra to play leading lady in the upcoming series Matka King starring Vijay Varma". Bollywood Hungama. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  51. ^ "Watch: Chandrakanta actress Kritika Kamra stars in a music video". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  52. ^ "2009 nominations". Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  53. ^ "Telly awards 2012 Jury Awards winners". Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  54. ^ "ITA Nominations". Indian Telly Awards. Archived from the original on 8 November 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  55. ^ "From Fatima Sana Shaikh to Mouni Roy, stars descend at OTT India Fest". The Indian Express. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  56. ^ "From Kartik Aaryan to Manoj Bajpayee: The winners of Iconic Gold Awards 2024". Times Now News. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
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