Archana Puran Singh

In films

She made her film debut with Nikaah in 1982 at the age of 20.^[8][7] In 1987, she starred in Jalwa opposite Naseeruddin Shah. Later, she did roles in films like Agneepath (1990), Saudagar (1991), Shola aur Shabnam (1992), Aashiq Awara (1993), and Raja Hindustani (1996); she did item songs in films like the Govinda-starrer thriller Baaz and the Suniel Shetty starrer Judge Mujrim.

Thereafter, the industry has largely relegated her to supporting roles in Hindi films, often in comedies. Some of her films are Love Story 2050, Mohabbatein, Krrish,^[9] Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Masti, De Dana Dan and Bol Bachchan.

In television

Archana's first TV show was the weekly sitcom Mr Ya Mrs, aired on Sundays in the year 1985 on the government-owned channel Doordarshan. She played a working woman in it, with Jayant Kriplani playing a House-husband (so to speak) who doesn't work a job but stays at home to take care of it.

She became a television anchor, with Wah, Kya Scene Hai on Zee TV in 1993, which was followed by Uncensored. She later acted in Shrimaan Shrimati, Junoon and hosted Archana Talkies on Sony Entertainment Television.^[10][11] She also acted in the TV show Zee Horror Show.

She also directed sitcoms like Jaane Bhi Do Paaro and Nehle Pe Dehla and produced Samne Wali Khidki.^[12][13]

In 2005, she was a contestant in the dance reality show Nach Baliye 1, in which she participated with her husband, Parmeet Sethi; they were eliminated in the sixth episode. In 2006, she and her husband hosted another dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (season 1).

Thereafter, she appeared as a judge on comedy shows, including Sony Entertainment Television's Comedy Circus. In 2015, she appeared in SAB TV's The Great Indian Family Drama as Begum Paro.

In 2019, she entered as the judge/permanent guest in The Kapil Sharma Show replacing Navjot Singh Sidhu, and reprised her role in The Great Indian Kapil Show on Netflix in 2024.^[14] In 2019, she acted as Lakhan's mother, Paramjeet, in SAB TV serial, My Name Ijj Lakhan opposite her real life husband, Parmeet Sethi.

Dubbing career

In 2010, she entered the dubbing industry with an Indian animated film, Pangaa Gang, and voiced the antagonist of the film. 9 years later, she returned to the industry to voice Zeta, the leader of Eagle Island in the Hindi version of The Angry Birds Movie 2.

Films

Television