Twinkle Khanna
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Twinkle Khanna (born 29 December 1973)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is an Indian author, columnist and former actress. A daughter of actors Dimple Kapadia and Rajesh Khanna, she made her acting debut with a leading role in the film Barsaat (1995). After playing the leading lady in such films as Jaan (1996), Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai (1998), Baadshah (1999), and Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (2001), she quit acting.
Khanna married actor Akshay Kumar in 2001. She worked as an interior designer for a few years, and began writing opinion columns. As an author, she has written the non-fiction book Mrs Funnybones (2015), the short story collection The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad (2016), and the novels Pyjamas Are Forgiving (2018) and Welcome to Paradise (2023).
Early life and familyEdit
Twinkle Khanna was born on 29 December 1973 in Mumbai, the first of two daughters of veteran Hindi film actors Dimple Kapadia and Rajesh Khanna, with whom she shared her birthday.<ref name="HT">Template:Cite news</ref> Her maternal grandfather, Chunnibhai Kapadia was a Gujarati businessman and her father Rajesh Khanna, born in Punjabi family in Amritsar, Punjab, was from a family of railway contractors.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On her mother's side, she is the niece of Simple Kapadia, an actress and costume designer whom she "adored".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Her sister Rinke Khanna and cousin Karan Kapadia have also acted in films.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Khanna attended the New Era High School, Panchgani and the Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="HT" /><ref name="Rediff">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After finishing her Class 12th, she wanted to pursue a career as a chartered accountant and took the entrance examination, but joined the film industry instead due to the insistence of her parents.<ref name="Rediff" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
She later pursued a Master of Arts from Goldsmiths, University of London, graduating in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Acting careerEdit
Khanna made her screen debut opposite Bobby Deol in Rajkumar Santoshi's musical romance Barsaat (1995). She was cast by Dharmendra and before the film's release Khanna signed for two more projects.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It performed well at the box office and became the sixth-highest-grossing film of the year,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and she received the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for her performance.<ref name="Debut">Template:Cite news</ref> The following year she played lead roles in Raj Kanwar's action film Jaan and Lawrence D'Souza's romance Dil Tera Diwana opposite Ajay Devgn and Saif Ali Khan respectively. Jaan was a box office hit and Dil Tera Deewana failed to do well.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> K.N. Vijiyan of the New Straits Times wrote that "Khanna does not look like a typical Hindi actress".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> While reviewing Dil Tera Diwana, Vijiyan wrote about Khanna: "Unlike her previous movies, she looks really good in all her scenes and she can act well."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1997, two films featuring her; Uff! Yeh Mohabbat and Itihaas were released. Both of these films were poor box office performers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Her only release in 1998 was Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, which featured her as Salman Khan's love interest and was a box office success.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Khanna acted opposite Akshay Kumar in two action films: International Khiladi and Zulmi (both 1999). In the former she played a news reporter who falls in love with a criminal whom she interviews. Both performed poorly at the box office.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She was paired with Daggubati Venkatesh in the Telugu film Seenu (1999).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Khanna played the lead role in Baadshah (1999), featuring Shah Rukh Khan as a detective.<ref name="Sen2012">Template:Cite book</ref> In the same year, she acted opposite Saif Ali Khan in Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan, a romantic comedy directed by Mahesh Bhatt. She was paired opposite Aamir Khan in Dharmesh Darshan's Mela (2000). Similar to The Seven Samurai in story,<ref name="Mela">Template:Cite news</ref> it was an average grosser at the box office.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Chal Mere Bhai (2000) featured Khanna in a special appearance beside a leading role in the comedy Joru Ka Ghulam, opposite Govinda. She also acted in the David Dhawan-directed comedy Jodi No.1 (2001).<ref name="Zaidi2014">Template:Cite book</ref> Her acting in the film met with poor reviews.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Film director Karan Johar admitted in an interview that Khanna was in his mind for the role of Tina in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,<ref name="Debut" /> but she refused it, and thus Rani Mukerji was signed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She left the industry after her marriage to Akshay Kumar in 2001, citing that she did not enjoy the acting profession any more.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Her last film was Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (2001), a remake of the Telugu movie Money (1993).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It featured her opposite Fardeen Khan and was an average grosser at the box office.<ref name="Box office">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Off-screen workEdit
In August and October 1999, Khanna performed in the Awesome Foursome concert held at the Shah Alam Outdoor Stadium, Malaysia and the Magnificent Five concert at Birmingham, England. Juhi Chawla, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan accompanied her in the former while in the latter she performed alongside Aamir Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Akshaye Khanna and Rani Mukherjee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The following year, she was part of the judge panel at Femina Miss India.<ref name="Pathak2006">Template:Cite book</ref> She made her theatre debut as the female lead in Feroz Khan's All The Best in February 2001.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2002, Khanna opened her own interior design store in Crawford Market, Mumbai, called The White Window, in partnership with her longtime friend Gurlein Manchanda. Since then, the store has received the Elle Decor International Design Award.<ref name="Galaxy">Template:Cite news</ref> She has opened up another branch of the store elsewhere in Mumbai.<ref name="TKLKF">Template:Cite news</ref> She does not hold a professional degree and worked with an architect for two years to learn the procedures.<ref name="Galaxy" /> During her pregnancy, she practised maps and designs using CAD.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Khanna did the interiors for Rani Mukerji's,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Reemma Sen's<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Tabu's houses,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kareena Kapoor's Bandra flat in 2008<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Poonam Bajaj's design studio.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On the request of one of her clients, she ordered a company to make a golden toilet seat.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Khanna is the Indian brand ambassador for L'Oréal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Khanna has also endorsed for and designed Supertech's ORB project in Noida and another residential project in Pune.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, Khanna filed a case against Supertech for failing to pay Template:INRConvert as endorsement fees.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She also mentors International Institute of Fashion Designing's Academy of Interiors.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Khanna is the co-founder of Grazing Goat Pictures and has co-produced the films Tees Maar Khan (2010) and Patiala House (2011).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She also did a cameo appearance in the former film.<ref name="TMK">Template:Cite news</ref> Khanna has also co-produced Thank You (2011), Khiladi 786 (2012), 72 Miles (2013).She has also been the brand ambassador for the watch brand Movado and endorsed Coca-Cola and Micromax Mobile.<ref name="MAJUMDAR2007">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In December 2016, Khanna launched her production house Mrs. Funnybones Movies which eventually co-produced Pad Man.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The film went on to win the 2018 National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Khanna is a columnist at Daily News and Analysis after hours and The Times of India.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Penguin Random House have announced that Khanna's book Mrs Funnybones hit the Nielsen bestseller list at number 2 in its first week of sales. Launched in Mumbai on 18 August 2015, the book reached number 1 on the bestseller chart of Crossword's Kemps Corner store and received praise from readers and press, eventually making Khanna the highest-selling female author in India for that year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Khanna's second book The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad, a collection of four short stories, launched in November 2016 sold more than 100,000 copies.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Her latest book, Pyjamas Are Forgiving (Juggernaut Books, 2018) was released in September 2018 and has made her the highest-selling female author in India in the year 2018, according to Nielsen BookScan India.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The publisher reported that the book debuted at number 1 on the Nielsen Bookscan All-India Bestseller List and sold over 100,000 copies.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>
Khanna has been actively advocating the cause of menstrual hygiene. She joined hands with Save the Children to promote the right to menstrual hygiene among children and slum communities.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She was invited to speak at the University of Oxford in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She was also invited to be a part of an eminent panel at the United Nations, New York and also appeared on BBC world Impact show to talk about menstrual hygiene and sanitation globally.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2019, Khanna also launched Tweak, a bilingual digital media platform for women.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2022, Khanna went onto pursue her master's in fiction writing at Goldsmiths, University of London.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She received a distinction for her final dissertation, and was one of the shortlistees for the Pat Kavanagh Prize.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> [1]
Personal lifeEdit
In 2001, Khanna campaigned for her father's election in New Delhi.<ref name="Roy1996">Template:Cite book</ref> She met Akshay Kumar, for the first time during a photo session for Filmfare magazine.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They got married on 17 January 2001 and together have a son, Aarav and a daughter, Nitara.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kumar often credits Khanna for his success.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2009, People magazine listed her as the fourth-best-dressed celebrity in India.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In February 2014, she was operated on at the Breach Candy hospital to remove a kidney stone.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2014, Khanna and her sister sold their father's house for 85 crores.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She has maintained a Twitter account since November 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
FilmographyEdit
As actressEdit
As producerEdit
| Year | Title | Notes | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Tees Maar Khan | <ref name="TMK" /> | |
| 2011 | Thank You | Template:Citation needed | |
| 2011 | Patiala House | Template:Citation needed | |
| 2012 | Khiladi 786 | Template:Citation needed | |
| 2013 | 72 Miles | Marathi language film | <ref>Template:Cite news</ref> |
| 2018 | Pad Man | <ref>Template:Cite news</ref> |
AwardsEdit
| Year | Award | For | Notes | Template:Abbr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut | Barsaat | <ref name="Debut" /> | ||
| 2010 | Hello! Hall of Fame Award for Most Stylish Couple of the Year | — | Along with Akshay Kumar | <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 2016 | Outlook Social Media Award | Inspiring Woman of the Year | <ref name="IWOTY">Template:Cite journal</ref> | ||
| 2016 | Crossword Popular Non-Fiction Award | Mrs Funnybones | <ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | ||
| 2017 | Hello! Hall of Fame Award for Visionary Woman of the Year | — | <ref name="HHOF">Template:Cite news</ref> | ||
| 2017 | India Today Woman Writer of the Year | The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad | <ref name="ITWS">Template:Cite news</ref> | ||
| 2017 | Vogue Opinion Maker of the Year | — | <ref name="OMOTY">Template:Cite news</ref> | ||
| 2017 | Bangalore Literature Festival—Popular Choice Award | The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad | <ref name="BLF">Template:Cite news</ref> | ||
| 2017 | Women's Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Award | Celebrity Pioneer Award | <ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | ||
| 2019 | National Film Award for Best Film on Social Issues | Pad Man | Akshay Kumar, who is the starrer of the film accepted on her behalf | <ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | |
| 2019 | Crossword Book Award(Popular) For Fiction | Pyjamas Are Forgiving | <ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | ||
| 2024 | Crossword Book Award(Popular) For Fiction | Welcome To Paradise | <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
BibliographyEdit
ReferencesEdit
Further readingEdit
External linksEdit
- [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0007012
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- Template:Bollywood Hungama person
- Collected News and commentary at The Times of India
- The Legend of Laxmi Prasad by Twinkle Khanna
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