Kunika is a notable film actress, she was especially involved in a lot of films in villain and comic roles. She also is a singer and launched two albums, the first being mitti. She has two sons.

Personal life

Kunika has carved out a niche for herself in the hearts of her publics. Since her teenage years, this versatile actress decided to make it a big on the TV screen. At the age of 16, she challenged her parents to get her married to her Prince Charming, but later she realized that it was a disaster and the marriage came to an end within two years. Then she took a job in Delhi but her friends and relatives advised her to shift to Mumbai. After doing a few serials, she came to Mumbai. She wanted to act in films and had fared well in a screen test. However, actor Hemant Birje (of Tarzan fame) refused to act with a rank newcomer like her. She went back to Delhi teary-eyed but fully determined that she would not let any one man rule her destiny. After working in sales at the Grand Intercontinental, Delhi, for about six months, she started to feel stagnated. A failed marriage at the age of 20, and going through a bitter custody battle for her son Arihant of age 6 (in 1984), she thought that she should make a fresh start and so returned to Mumbai. On the flight, she met Asrani and complimented his wife's serial Kashmakash. Soon after when she called up Manju Asrani to praise her work in Kashmakash she offered her a role in her serial. He encouraged her to speak his wife and it was Manju Asrani who gave Kunika a break. It was from here that her acting career began and she never had to look back after this. She got her portfolio done, did some PR with letters and soon began the rounds to serial makers and film producers.

Her second break also came from television when Dheeraj Kumar offered her a role in Adalat. Kunika Lal has not only displayed her talents in her acting career but has also been actively involved in social activities like AIDS awareness campaigns for almost 10 years. After that, films followed. People said she would be a great vamp because she was tall, thin and sexy. They told her that Bindu's role, Aruna Irani's role can be replaced by her in their absences. She has done 90 films in 16 years. Her 'Mona darling' role was in Mohra. That's when she decided to change her image drastically. Swabhimaan, where she played an 18-year-old mother was a breakthrough role that won her many plaudits. What she didn't get in seven years of films, she achieved a lot of popularity within three months of Swabhimaan. Then, negative roles in films like Beta, Gumraah and Khiladi followed. But then she tried to play it understated, not the typical loud dialogues. She liked to be realistic. Sometimes there are differences of opinion with Zee," says the spunky woman. She had changed her name to Mallika some time ago because someone told her she wouldn't be able to get married if she didn't. Ironically, her husband didn't really like the name Mallika, but after sometime she reverted it back to "Kunika". She along with her business partner cum architect friend Shekhar Dadarkar opened a chain of restaurants called "Ten-The Happy Bistro" in Goregaon, in suburban Mumbai. She has only two dreams in her life, the first one is to be Oprah Winfrey and the other is to become a playback singer. Her fans are sure that this gifted actress will go a long way and fulfill her long-cherished dreams in the near future. Kunika Lal is one actress who doesn’t run away from reality. She has acted in more than 80 Hindi films and was a prominent face in the popular television shows like Swabhimaan and Kittie Party. She was last seen in Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar (2006).

Filmography

Kunika began her film career at the age of 24 in a 1988 horror movie named Kabrastan along with notable actors Raja Murad and "TARZAN" hero Hemant Birje. She is mainly involved in negative roles and bold scenes in bulk of her movies, the hot scene with Milind Gunaji in Fareb

Fareb (1996 film)

Fareb is a 1996 Bollywood thriller film directed by Vikram Bhatt. The film marks the debut of actors Faraaz Khan and Suman Ranganathan and also stars Milind Gunaji. It was released on 28 June 1996. The film is a remake of the 1992 thriller Unlawful Entry. The film was successful at the box office...

, as lady cop with Bob Christo in Gumrah

Gumrah (1993 film)

Gumrah is a 1993 Bollywood action drama and crime thriller feature film written by Robin Bhatt and Sujit Senand. It was directed by Mahesh Bhatt as a remake of the Australian mini-series Bangkok Hilton.-Background:...

, against Sunil Shetty in a song with green saree in film Judge Mujrim (1997), and in a very big shot with Tarun Arora in Men Not Allowed. She has acted in about 50 Hindi films. She danced with Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar is an Indian film actor, producer and martial artist who has appeared in over a hundred Hindi films. When he began his acting career in the 1990s, he primarily starred in action films and was particularly known for his appearances in feature films commonly called the "Khiladi series",...

 in Khiladi

Khiladi

Khiladi is a 1992 Bollywood suspense thriller film directed by Abbas Mustan. The film was Akshay Kumar's breakthrough role and also stars Ayesha Jhulka, Prem Chopra, Deepak Tijori and Sabeeha. Khiladi was the first in a series of films which had Khiladi in the title and Akshay Kumar in the...

 in the song tu shama main parwana tera

Partial filmography

• Kabrastan (1988) - Kitty as debutant
• Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharni (1989) - Pyarelal's wife
• Mujrim (1989)
• Bandh Darwaza (1990)
• Amawas Ki Raat (1990)
• Agneekal (1990)
• Doodh Ka Karz (1990) - Munnijaan
• Thanedaar (1990) - Munni (as Kunika)
• Ayee Milan Ki Raat (1991)
• Do Matwale (1991) - Kunika (as Pyare's Fiancee Kunika)
• Dushman Devta (1991) - Maya
• Jeena Teri Gali Mein (1991)
• Kurbaan (1991) - Mrs. Gayatri Prithvi Singh
• Vishnu-Devaa (1991) - Samppat's Mistress
• Aaj Ka Goonda Raj (1992)
• Beta (1992) - Kunika
• Heer Ranjha (1992) - Bhigo
• Khiladi (1992) - Julie
• Siyasat (1992)
• Zakhmi Sipahi (1992) - Cameo, in song "O Chaila"
• Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi (1993)
• Gumrah (1993) - Female cop in Mauritius
• Kasam Teri Kasam (1993)
• Khoon Ka Sindoor (1993)
• King Uncle (1993) - Kamla, Ashok's mother (Guest Appearance)
• Mahakaal (1993)
• Aaj ka Goondaraj (1994)
• Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1994)
• Hum Hain Bemisaal (1994) - Tutisha's girl
• Mohra (1994) - Flora
• Baazi (1995)
• Kismat (1995) - Banhke's wife
• Swabhimaan (1995)
• Takkar (1995) - Sheena Vasudev
• The Don (1995) - College Professor
• Judge Mujrim (1996) - "teri ada" song's first dancer
• Fareb (1996) - Milind Gunaji's Girl Friend
• Apne Dam Par (1996) - Mamiji
• Shastra (1996)
• Dhaal: The Battle of Law Against Law (1997) - Mrs. Deodhar
• Koyla (1997) - Bindya
• Tamanna (1997)
• Maharaja (1998) - Mrs. Singh
• Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998) - Mrs. Khanna
• Qila (1998) - Neelam Daniel
• Wajood (1998) - Mrs. Chawla
• Shikaar (2000) - Sree's Nurse
• Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya (2000) - Manjula
• Woh Bewafa Thi (2000)
• Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (2001) - Smt. Chopra (Sonia's mom)
• Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love (2001) - Sweety Aunty
• Tum Jiyo Hazaron Saal (2002) - Mrs. Kapur
• Andaaz (2003)
• Insaaf: The Justice (2004) - Minister Rameshwari Verma
• Page 3 (2005)
• Hot Money (2006) - Simran's mother
• Men Not Allowed (2006)
• Shaadi karke Phas Gaya Yaar (2006)
• Jihne Mera Dil Lutya (2011) - Mrs. Bajwa

External links

• biography of kunika
• kunika history