Film career

She made her film debut with Nari Hira's TV movie Abhishek opposite Aditya Pancholi in 1987. Later that year, she starred in Jalwa opposite Naseeruddin Shah, which turned out to be her biggest hit. Later, she did small roles in big banner 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 Suniel Shetty starrer Judge Mujrim.

Thereafter, she has largely restricted herself to supporting roles in Hindi films, often in comedies. Some of her recent films include Love Story 2050, Mohabbatein, Krrish, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Masti and Bol Bachchan. Amongst these, she is possibly best remembered for playing the role of the flirtatious college professor Miss Braganza in the blockbuster Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Preeto from the blockbuster movie Mohabbatein . In 2009, she starred in the Punjabi film Tera Mera Ki Rishta.

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 Paro, Shrimaan Shrimati and Archana Talkies on Sony TV India.

Later in her career, she received offers from television producers and most of her serials were successful like Junoon and Shriman Shrimati. She started hosting chat shows featuring celebrity guests.

In 2005, she was a contestant in the dance reality show, Nach Baliye (Season 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).

In 2015, she was casted as the lead in The Great Indian Family Drama in SAB TV

Thereafter, she appeared as a judge on comedy shows, including Sony TV India's Comedy Circus. She appeared as a judge in Comedy Circus (season 1) (2006) 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. After Comedy Circus - Kaante Ki Takkar, she was the judge of Comedy Circus - Teen Ka Tadka, Comedy Circus Ke Superstar, Comedy Circus Ka Jaddo, Jubilee Comedy Circus and Comedy Circus Ke Taansen. Comedy Ka Naya Daur-Tabla toad, Kahaani Comedy Circus Ki and the current "Comedy Circus Ke Ajoobe" and Comedy Circus Ke Mahabali. She currently appears in SAB TV's The Great Indian Family Drama as Begum Paro.

Personal life

She was born in a Punjabi family in Dehradun, where she did her schooling. Singh left for Mumbai, when she was eighteen, to pursue a career in modeling. 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 casted her in the lead role in his serial,`Mr and Mrs'. Her next big break came with Pankaj Parasher's Karamchand. 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.

She has acted in films, mostly supporting roles, mostly funny. Some of her recent movies are Love Story 2050, Mohabbatein, Krrish, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Masti to name a few.

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 Paaron, Shriman Shrimati (1989) 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.

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

Awards

• 1999: Star Screen Award for Best Comedian: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
• 1999: Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (Nomination)
• 1997: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress: Raja Hindustani (Nomination)

Filmography

• Dolly Ki Doli (2015) as Manjot's mother
• Kick 2014
• Bol Bachchan 2012
• Haat-The Weekly Bazaar 2011
• Luv Ka The End 2011 -
• De Dana Dan 2009 - Kuljeet Kaur
• 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
• 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)
• Aabra Ka Daabra (2004)
• Enakku 20 Unakku 18 (2003) (Tamil)
• 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) - Miss 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)
• Pandiyan (1992) (Tamil)
• Naalaya Seidhi (1992) (Tamil)
• 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)
• Abhishek (1987) (TV Movie) - Malvika
• Karamchand (1985-1988) - Kitty
• Nikaah (1982)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]