Archana Puran Singh (born March 26, 1962)  is an Indian television presenter and film actress from India. She is most known for a comedy roles, and as a judge on Comedy shows , like Sony TV India's Comedy Circus.

Personal life and education

Singh was born in a Punjabi family in Dehradun, where she did her schooling.

She left for Mumbai, when she was eighteen, to pursue a career in modeling.

She is married to television actor Parmeet Sethi. They have two sons

Career

In Mumbai, she started doing ad-films, and was successful after her most famous ad for Band-Aid. The ad was produced by Jalal Agha, and noticing her talent he cast her in the lead role in his serial,`Mr and Mrs'. Her next big break came with Pankaj Parasher's Karamchand.

Film career

She made her film debut in the year 1987, in the movie Jalwa opposite Naseeruddin Shah. Although the movie was a big hit, Archana failed to catch the eye of the leading producers and directors, she received offers mainly for B-grade movies most of which were short on content and more of soft porn type. Later, Archana did small roles in big banner Blockbusters like Agneepath (1990), Saudagar (1991), Shola aur Shabnam (1992), and Aashiq Awara (1993); she also did item songs in movies like , the Govinda starrer thriller Baaz, and Suniel Shetty starrer, Judge Mujrim.

Thereafter, she has largely restricted herself to supporting roles in Hindi Films, often in comedies. Some of her recent movies include Love Story 2050, Mohabbatein, Krrish , Kuch Kuch Hota Hai & Masti. Amongst these, she is possibly best remembered for essaying the role of the flirtatious college professor Miss Braganza in the blockbuster Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

TV career

She became a television anchor, with her popular TV show Wah, Kya Scene Hai on Zee TV in 1993 , which was followed by the highly successful, ‘Uncensored’, in which she introduced High Society (HS) and Low Society (LS) concept, and sitcoms like, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Shrimaan Shrimati and Archana Talkies on Sony TV India .

Later in her career she received offers from television producers & most of her Serials were big hits like Junoon & Shriman Shrimati and she became a popular television star. She also started hosting chat shows featuring celebrity guests.

In television, she first entered with her tongue and cheek show, Kya Scene Hai, supplying Bollywood gossip in the 1990s, later in 2005 as a contestant in Dance reality show - Nach Baliye (Season 1), in which she participated along with her husband, Parmeet Sethi, they were eliminated in Episode 6 . There after she appeared as a judge on comedies shows, including the Sony TV India's Comedy Circus, in she appeared as judge in Comedy Circus (season 1) (2007) and Comedy Circus (season 2) (2008) . In January 2008, she hosted 'Kaho Na Yaar Hai' on Star Plus, along with her husband, Parmeet Sethi.

With the end of Comedy Circus (season 2) in September 2008, it was followed by another show, Comedy Circus Kaante ki Takkar .

Filmography

* Tera Mera Ki Rishta (Punjabi)(2009)
* Kal Kisne Dekha (2009)
* Good Luck! (2008)
* Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008)
* Money Hai Toh Honey Hai (2008) - Dolly
* Love Story 2050 (2008)
* Mere Baap Pehle Aap (2008) - Inspector Bhawani
* Kuch Khatta Kuch Meetha (2007)
* Arvind Kandula
* Mera Dil Leke Dekho (2006)
* Krrish (2006)
* The Gold Bracelet (2006) - Baljit Singh
* "Nach Baliye" (2005) (mini) TV series
* Insan (2005)
* Rok Sako To Rok Lo (2004)
* Masti (2004)
* Janasheen (2003)
* Khanjar: The Knife (2003)
* Jhankaar Beats (2003)
* Maine Dil Tujhko Diya (2002)
* Moksha: Salvation (2001)
* Censor (2001)
* Mohabbatein (2000)
* Mela (2000)
* Bade Dilwala (1999)
* Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) - Mrs. Breganza
* Judge Mujrim (1997)
* Share Bazaar (1997)
* Raja Hindustani (1996)
* Aisi Bhi Kya Jaldi Hai (1996)
* Takkar (1995)
* Pyaar Ka Rog (1994)
* Yuhi Kabhi (1994)
* Aashiq Awara (1993)
* Aasoo Bane Angaarey (1993)
* Mahakaal (1993)
* Baaz (1992)
* Shola Aur Shabnam (1992)
* Zulm Ki Hukumat (1992)
* Saudagar (1991)
* Jaan Ki Kasam (1991)
* Hag Toofan (1991)
* Jeena Teri Gali Mein (1991)
* Agneepath (1990)
* Aag Ka Gola (1990)
* Ladaai (1989)
* Shrimaan Shrimati (1989) TV series
* The Perfect Murder (1988)
* Aaj Ke Angaarey (1988)
* Woh Phir Aayegi (1988)
* Jalwa (1987)
* Nikaah (1982)

Awards

* 1999: Star Screen Award for Best Comedian: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai