Akanksha Puri is an Indian actress and model, who predominantly works in Hindi TV shows and South Indian films. She is known for playing the role of Nandita Menon in the Hindi film Calendar Girls (2015).
Wiki/Biography
Akanksha Puri was born on Tuesday, 26 July 1988 (age 34 years; as of 2022) in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Her zodiac sign is Leo.
Akanksha Puri’s childhood picture
Akanksha received her primary education from a village school. In an interview, while sharing her childhood memories, she said,
I come from a small town and I completed my primary education in a village, my favourite childhood memory till date is going to the government school on a horse cart and sitting under a tree, using a chalk and slate! I am an animal lover and meeting the horse who took us to the school use to get me all excited and playful.”
She pursued her secondary schooling at Carmel Convent School, Bhopal. Active in sports since childhood, Akanksha took part in various sports like tennis and basketball in her school days. In an interview, Akanksha shared that people often called her a monkey in childhood as she was playful all the time. She said,
I have always been very active in sports. I loved to play all the time and as a child, I use to climb trees and pluck mangoes. Though I used to get scolded for this but that never stopped me. I was called a monkey as no one could match my speed, wish I could time travel and go back to those stress-free joyful days.”
After pursuing her graduation, Akanksha started working as an international cabin crew for Vijay Mallya‘s Kingfisher Airlines.
Akanksha Puri as a cabin crew
During her off days, she shot for TV commercials and print advertisements. In 2012, she got noticed in a TV commercial by a big production house of Tamil cinema, which offered her a role in a Tamil film. Although she desired to pursue a career in hospitality, Akanksha grabbed the offer as Kingfisher Airlines was about to shut down at that time.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 5″
Weight (approx.): 55 Kg
Hair Colour: Brown
Eye Colour: Brown
Figure Measurements (approx.): 34-28-34
Family
Parents & Siblings
Akanksha Puri’s father, R.K. Puri, is a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), and her mother, Chitra Puri, is an astrologer. She has a brother named Amitesh Puri, who is a businessman.
Akanksha Puri with her father
Akanksha Puri’s mother
Akanksha Puri and her brother
Husband
She is unmarried.
Affairs/Boyfriends
Akanksha Puri was once rumoured to be in a relationship with the television actor Sidharth Shukla. However, during an interview, Akanksha denied dating Sidharth and maintained that they were just friends. She said,
I feel any girl who will date Sidharth will be really lucky. He is a very intelligent, sorted and sensible man. Sidharth is also very straightforward. He has the guts to say what is in his mind, and stand by that. He has immense knowledge and loves to share that with people.
She further said,
Things between us did not progress till the level of dating or a relationship. I began seeing someone else and it kind of ended. I do not regret it, though.”
Akanksha Puri with Sidharth Shukla
Akanksha began dating Paras Chhabra in 2017. However, they both started facing compatibility issues after a while, due to which, they took a break from their relationship. After parting ways with Akanksha, Paras briefly dated the television actress Pavitra Punia. Later, Akanksha and Paras got back together as Puri realised that she missed being with Paras. Later, during an interview, Akanksha revealed that Paras dated Pavitra only to make Akanksha jealous. Their relationship came to an end in 2019, after Paras participated in the reality TV game show Bigg Boss 13. Apparently, Paras’ closeness with co-contestant Mahira Sharma was the reason behind their breakup. On being asked about her break-up with Paras during an interview, she said,
I moved out way before..the day he disrespected me and lied about things in our relationship..for me it was over ..but I am not someone who will ever talk s**t about someone I have been with for so long because for me relationships don’t happen every day. I give my heart and soul and value every relationship in my life.”
Although Akanksha maintained that everything was well between them before Paras entered Bigg Boss 13, Paras said that their relationship was already on a brink before he entered the show. While talking about her relationship with Paras during an interview, Akanksha said,
I am surprised that for something like this he has to lie, that he has to say outside that our relationship was toxic. Yes, he is hyper and gets into arguments but nothing major happened as I’m somebody who has lot of patience and I never used to react much. Also, I have concluded that he might want to portray this way to look more genuine in his next relationship, but like I always said, if it was bad and we were not happy I could have never stretched it for so long. I would always accept that he was good with me and we had very nice memories of our relationship so I don’t want to portray it as toxic or bad. I had a wonderful time with him and will always cherish it.”
Akanksha Puri with Paras Chhabra
In 2021, Akanksha Puri and Mika Singh were rumoured to be dating each other after they shared pictures from a path that was kept at Mika’s residence. Apparently, people also believed that the two were engaged and started congratulating the two. Later, during an interview, Akanksha clarified that She was not dating Mika. She said,
So this was a paath (pooja) that he (Mika Singh) kept at his residence, it’s done for positivity and good luck for future! I just went there to seek blessings but looks like people are assuming something else!! And coincidentally this was on April fool’s day so people thought it’s some prank but these are genuine pictures and videos from his house !! Mika and I know each other for more than 12 years now, he is more like a family, he has always been there for me and we share a very strong bond !! But definitely, we are not engaged nor do we have any such plans!”
Akanksha Puri with Mika Singh
Career
Modelling
Akanksha Puri began her career as a model in 2010 by appearing in the print shoots of various jewellery and ethnic wear brands.
Akanksha Puri during a print shoot
She has also appeared in the TV commercials of many popular brands. Akanksha has promoted several food, beauty, and clothing brands on her Instagram account like Sunfeast Dark Fantasy, mCaffeine, and Naari Collection.
Akanksha Puri promoting Sunfeast Dark Fantasy on Instagram
Television
Akanksha made her TV debut in 2015 with the Indian police procedural television series CID, which airs on Sony Entertainment Television. She played a small role in one of the episodes of the show. In 2017, she bagged the role of Goddess Parvati in the Hindi TV series Vighnaharta Ganesha aired on Sony Entertainment Television. Akanksha quit the show in 2020.
Akanksha Puri as Goddess Parvati in Vighnaharta Ganesha
Reality TV Shows
In 2019, she appeared as a guest in the reality TV game show Bigg Boss 13 aired on Colors TV. She also appeared as a guest in Season 15 of the show Bigg Boss.
Akanksha Puri in Bigg Boss 15
In 2022, Akanksha appeared as a wild card contestant in the reality TV show Swayamvar – Mika Di Vohti. Aired on Star Bharat, the show revolves around the Indian singer Mika Singh, who tries to find a suitable match for himself from among the contestants of the show.
Akanksha Puri with Mika Singh in Swayamvar- Mika Di Vohti
Music Videos
Akanksha has been featured in the music videos of many Hindi songs including Jahaan Tum Ho by Shrey Singhal, Chitthi by Jubin Nautiyal, Main Jis Din Bhula Doon by Jubin Nautiyal and Tulsi Kumar, Bewafa Tera Muskurana by Jubin Nautiyal, and Jaa Rahe Ho by Yasser Desai.
Akanksha Puri in the music video Bewafa Tera Muskurana
Films
Akanksha made her Tamil film debut in 2013 with the film Alex Pandian. She played the role of Divya in the film. Next, she appeared in the Tamil film Tihar (2014) as Shalini. In the same year, she made her Malayalam film debut with the film Praise the Lord in which she played the role of Annie.
Akanksha Puri in Praise the Lord
Her Kannada film debut came in the year 2015 with the film Lodde. She starred in the film as Akanksha.
Akanksha Puri as Akanksha in Lodde
Subsequently, she played the role of Saira in the Malayalam film Samrajyam II: Son of Alexander (2015). In the same year, she played the lead role of Nandita Menon in the Hindi film Calendar Girls, which marked her Hindi film debut.
Akanksha Puri as Nandita Menon in Calendar Girls
In 2019, she appeared in the Tamil-language action film Action as Kaira.
Akanksha Puri as Kaira in Action
Favourites
- Cartoon Character: Cinderella
- Holiday Destination: Paris
Facts/Trivia
- Akanksha Puri loves travelling and dancing in her leisure time.
- Reportedly, Akanksha was not the first choice for Madhur Bhandarkar’s Hindi film Calendar Girls; Her role in the film was first offered to the Indian actress Meghana Raj.
- Akanksha has got three tattoos inked on her body. She had a lotus inked on her lower back which she later re-framed and redesigned into wings.
Akanksha Puri’s lower back tattoo
Talking about lotus tattoo in an interview, Akanksha revealed that she had gone to a tattoo studio for a touch-up, and there she decided to redesign it. Sharing her joy about the same, she said,
I’ve added wings to the lotus because it’s my time to fly.”
Akanksha inked her ex-boyfriend Paras Chhabra‘s name on her left wrist while she was dating him. Post their breakup, she modified the tattoo into a barcode with ‘BEING ME’ written along with it. During an interview, while talking about her modified tattoo, Akanksha said,
It’s my time. I am dating my work and loving myself like never before. I am just #beingme in a world where everyone is trying to be fake and something else. Because you can never fail at being yourself so I am #beingme. I have got my name with the bar code. The below that I have written being me has been my hashtag for years.”
Akanksha Puri’s left wrist tattoos- before and after
Puri also has got ‘Ahamasmi Yodha’ tattoo inked on the side of her left hand; Ahamasmi Yodha is a Sanskrit quote which means I am a warrior.
Akanksha Puri’s Sanskrit tattoo
- Paras Chhabra got Akanksha’s name inked on his left wrist in February 2019. While Paras was a contestant on the reality TV show Bigg Boss 13, he revealed that he was asked to get Akanksha’s name tattooed on her body by Puri. However, in an interview, Akanksha revealed that Paras was lying. She said that she never forced him to get her name tattooed on his body, and it was Paras who asked her many times to get a tattoo of his name inked on her body. Post their breakup, Paras converted the tattoo into an eye, symbolic of the reality TV show Bigg Boss.
Paras Chhabra’s tattoo before and after
- Akanksha has been featured on the covers of many popular magazines like The Wedding Maantra, Fab Lifestyyle, Fashion Herald, and Be Attractive.
Akanksha Puri on the cover of The Wedding Maantra magazine
- She is often spotted consuming alcohol on various occasions.
Akanksha Puri at a restaurant
- A fitness enthusiast, Akanksha follows a strict workout regimen.
Akanksha Puri in a gym
- As a child, she was a huge fan of WWF and WWE and has several posters of wrestlers in her room. In an interview, she shared that she once desired to become a wrestler and eventually marry a wrestler.
- Akanksha is an avid dog lover. She owned a pet dog named Donut, who died in 2021.
Akanksha Puri with her pet dog
- She is an ardent follower of Lord Ganesha.
Akanksha Puri with the idol of Lord Ganesha
- Akanksha Puri owns a Mercedes-Benz car.
Akanksha Puri sitting on her car
- Akanksha Puri is a die-hard fan of the Indian actor Salman Khan. In an interview, she disclosed that as a child, she always dreamt of dancing with Salman Khan. She said,
Salman Khan is my first choice. He is the reason I am into this industry, so it has to be him. I have grown up watching his movies and I always dreamt of dancing with him and would envy his female co-stars. First, like me, he is also from Indore, so there is an instant connect.”
- Reportedly, Akanksha was offered to play a lead role in the Colors TV serial Choti Sarrdaarni in 2022. However, she refused the offer as she was not ready for it.
- Akanksha follows a vegetarian diet.
- Reportedly, Akanksha received an offer to participate in Bigg Boss 13 as a wild card contestant. However, she chose not to accept it. Talking about it in an interview, she said,
Yes I was offered a good offer from the makers to enter as a wild-card and things could have worked according to me. But I did not take up thinking that it might hamper his strategy and his game would get weaken. There was another reason that I am already doing a regular show. I am a very strong individual and would have come out as a strong competition.”