Flora Saini

2021-07-21T21:43:01Z

68.56.187.223:

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Flora Saini
| image = Flora Saini at the special screening of the film Level13.jpg
| caption = Saini at the special screening of the film Level 13
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1978|09|29}}
| birth_place = [[Chandigarh]], India
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|model}}
| years active = 1999–present
}}

'''Flora Kaur Saini''' (born 29 September 1978), also known by her screen name '''Asha Saini''', is an Indian film actress and model.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/metoo-movement-flora-saini-appreciates-the-way-men-are-supporting-the-movement/articleshow/66330782.cms|title=#MeToo Movement: Flora Saini appreciates the way men are supporting the movement}}</ref> She predominantly works in [[Telugu cinema|Tollywood]], and also appeared in a number of Kannada, Tamil and Hindi films. Since her debut in ''Prema Kosam'' (1999), she has acted in over 50 films and co-starred with noted actors including [[Rajinikanth]], [[V. Ravichandran]], [[Sudeep]], [[Shivarajkumar]], [[Vijaykanth]], [[Prabhu (actor)|Prabhu]], [[Karthik (actor)|Karthik]], [[Jagapati Babu]] and [[Rajasekhar (actor)|Rajasekhar]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Vinita Chaturvedi |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-19/news-interviews/30533954_1_hindi-film-mahesh-bhatt-southern-experience |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103101318/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-12-19/news-interviews/30533954_1_hindi-film-mahesh-bhatt-southern-experience |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-03 |title=Flora Saini: Another southern hottie ready to storm Bollywood |date=2011-12-19 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2013-01-11}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Born in [[Chandigarh]] to an army officer, Flora began her schooling in [[Udhampur]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] and continued her education in the Army Public School, [[Dhaula Kuan]], [[Delhi]]. Her family then moved to [[Kolkata]], where she started pursuing a modeling career. She participated in the Miss Kolkata beauty pageant.<ref name="hindu2003">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/08/28/stories/2003082800240200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031024102207/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/08/28/stories/2003082800240200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2003-10-24 |title=Love in Delhi, the Fllora way |date=2003-08-28 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2013-01-11}}</ref>

== Career ==
Flora made her acting debut in the 1999 Telugu film ''Prema Kosam''.<ref name="deccanherald1">{{cite web|author=Deepa Natarajan |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/65109/rising-like-phoenix.html |title=Rising like a phoenix |publisher=Deccanherald.com |date=2010-04-22 |access-date=2013-01-11}}</ref> The producer of the film rechristened her as Asha Saini; some years later she would adopt a new screen name, Mayuri, as per the advice of an [[astrologer]], before eventually reverting to her original name.<ref>{{cite web |author=Y Sunita Chowdhary |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2906858.ece |title=Arts / Cinema : Itsy-Bitsy: Name game |work=The Hindu |date=2012-02-18 |access-date=2013-01-11}}</ref>

The actress subsequently played supporting roles in more than a dozen Telugu-language films in the next three years. She appeared in the film ''[[Narasimha Naidu]]'' (2002), which went on to become highly successful. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/telugu/interview.php?id=6005846&cid=2410 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202070826/http://www.sify.com/movies/telugu/interview.php?id=6005846&cid=2410 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-02 |title=Welcome to|publisher=Sify |access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> It was for some time the most notable film in her filmography, and it led to her being referred to as "Lux Papa" thereafter.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/hyderabadlive/hlive_fullstory.php?id=14620571&cid=14434701&name |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202052524/http://www.sify.com/hyderabadlive/hlive_fullstory.php?id=14620571&cid=14434701&name |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-02 |title=Asha Saini arrested in Chennai |publisher=Sify |access-date=2013-01-11}}</ref> In 2002, Flora made her first Hindi-language film, starring in the T. P. Aggarwal-produced ''Bharat Bhagya Vidhata''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2001/apr/30bharat.htm |title=rediff.com, Movies: Puru, Chandrachur: Face off! |publisher=Rediff|date=2001-04-30 |access-date=2013-01-11}}</ref> Her second Hindi film, ''[[Love in Nepal]]'' (2004), also produced by Agarwal, saw her paired with popular [[playback singer]] [[Sonu Nigam]].<ref name="hindu2003"/>

Flora has appeared in several [[Kannada]]-language films, too, including ''Giri'', starring [[Srinagar Kitty]], and ''Nammannna'', starring [[Sudeep]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/15/stories/2008031554450500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318174714/http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/15/stories/2008031554450500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-03-18 |title=Karnataka / Bangalore News : Flora Shiny had acted in Kannada movies |date=2008-03-15 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2013-01-11}}</ref>

In March 2008, she was arrested in [[Chennai]] for supposedly having forged visa documents,<ref name="autogenerated1"/> and was subsequently banned from the [[Tamil cinema|Tamil film industry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/37197.html |title=Aasha Saini aka Mayuri arrested en route to the US |publisher=IndiaGlitz |date=2008-03-12 |access-date=2013-01-11}}</ref> She claimed innocence,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/asha-saini-claims-innocence-news-telugu-kkftHPhbfii.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120133223/http://www.sify.com/movies/asha-saini-claims-innocence-news-telugu-kkftHPhbfii.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2019-01-20 |title=Asha Saini claims innocence|publisher=Sify |date=2008-03-28 |access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> and the ban was lifted a couple of weeks later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/40174.html |title=Actress relieved from ban |publisher=IndiaGlitz |date=2008-07-24 |access-date=2013-01-11}}</ref>

Three films in which Flora Saini stars – the Telugu-language ''Broker'', and two Kannada-language films, ''Vismaya Pramaya'' and ''Vah Re Vah'' – were released on December 31, 2010, a rare occurrence that secured her an entry in the Limca Book of Records for the most film releases on one day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.123telugu.com/mnews/flora-saini-bags-a-place-in-limca-book-of-records.html |title=Flora Saini bags a place in Limca Book of Records |publisher=123telugu.com |date=1998-01-01 |access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> In 2010, Flora Saini was honoured with the Uttarakhand Ratna Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100503/dun.htm |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |access-date=2013-01-11}}</ref> She has also received The Great Daughter of Soil Award in [[Mauritius]] for her anti-[[poverty]] work there.<ref name="deccanherald1"/>

She is last seen in a web-series called Gandi Baat season 2 with Anveshi Jain,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.arms.anveshijain&hl=en_IN|title=Anveshi Jain Plays a role with Flora Saini in Gandi Baat Season 2, Videos Available on App|work=Anveshi Jain Official App|access-date=15 Nov 2019}}</ref> where she played a lead role. Recently, Saini was seen in many web series and notably worked in ''[[Mayanagari-City of Dreams]] of [[Hotstar]].''

In 2015, Flora Saini played the role of ''Muskan'' in [[MSG: The Messenger]] starring [[Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh|Gurmeet Ram Rahim]]. She played the role of a daughter with [[Jayshree Soni]] as ''Kasam'' and Olexandra Semen as ''Alice''.

In October 2019 Flora Saini made her debut in Bengali web series through [[Dupur Thakurpo]] [[hoichoi]] web series. It was the 3rd season of the series and she played the iconinc role of Phulwa boudi.<ref>https://boxofficeindia.co.in/flora-saini-debut-bengali-entertainment-industry-dupur-thakurpo</ref><ref>https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/celebs/2019/oct/31/actor-flora-saini-relates-to-the-character-of-phulwa-boudi-in-the-webseries-dupur-thakurpo-19396.html</ref>

She also was chosen as a face of short video app "Firework" , while being managed by "Celeb Connex"[https://celebconnex.com/].

== Filmography ==

=== Films ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Film !! Role !! Language !! Notes
|-
| 1999 || ''Prema Kosam'' || Aishwarya || rowspan="2" | Telugu ||
|-
| 2000 || ''[[Antha Mana Manchike]]'' || Nisha ||
|-
| 2000 || ''[[Sabse Bada Beiman]]'' || || rowspan="2"|Hindi ||
|-
| 2000 || ''Yeh Hai Green Signal'' || ||
|-
| 2000 || ''Manasunna Maraju'' || || rowspan="14" | Telugu ||
|-
| 2000 || ''[[Chala Bagundi]]'' || Ganga ||
|-
| 2001 || ''Cheppalani Vundi'' || ||
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Sardukupodaam Randi]]'' || Nisha ||
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Timepass (film)|Timepass]]'' || ||
|-
| 2001 || ''Akka Bavekkada'' || Shilpa ||
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Navvuthu Bathakalira]]'' || ||
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Narasimha Naidu]]'' || Sandhya ||
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Prematho Raa]]'' || Anitha ||
|-
| 2001 || ''Rowdysheeter'' || ||
|-
| 2001 || ''Subhakaryam'' || ||
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Nuvvu Naaku Nachav]]'' || Asha ||
|-
| 2002 || ''O Chinnadana'' || Asha ||
|-
| 2002 || ''[[Adrustam (2002 film)|Adrustam]]'' || Smita / Pinky ||
|-
| 2002 || ''[[Kodanda Rama]]''|| Sangeetha || Kannada ||
|-
| 2002 || ''[[Sontham]]'' || Asha || Telugu || Cameo appearance
|-
| 2002 || ''Bharat Bhagya Vidhata'' || Shabnam || Hindi ||
|-
| 2003 || ''Ottesi Cheputhunna'' || || Telugu ||
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Love in Nepal]]'' || Maxi || Hindi ||
|-
| 2004 || ''[[143 (film)|143]]'' || || rowspan="2" | Telugu ||
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Swamy (film)|Swamy]]'' || || Special appearance
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Gajendra (film)|Gajendra]]'' || Kausalya || Tamil ||
|-
| 2005 || ''Giri'' || || Kannada ||
|-
| 2005 || ''Mr. Errababu'' || || Telugu || Special appearance
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Nammanna]]'' || || Kannada ||
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Sorry Enaku Kalyanamayidichu]]'' || Manju || rowspan="2" | Tamil ||
|-
| 2006 || ''[[Kusthi]]'' || Abhi ||
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Michael Madana Kamaraju]]'' || Mandira || Telugu ||
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Swagatham]]'' || Deepthi || Telugu ||
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Kuselan]]'' || || Tamil || Special appearance
|-
| 2008 || ''Dheemaku'' || Indira Devi || Kannada ||
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Chedugudu]]'' || || Telugu ||
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Dindigul Sarathy]]'' || || Tamil || Special appearance
|-
| 2009 || ''Aa Intlo'' || Pallavi || rowspan="3" | Telugu ||
|-
| 2009 || ''[[Junction (film)|Junction]]'' || || Special appearance
|-
| 2010 || ''Comedy Express'' || ||
|-
| 2010 || ''[[Naane Ennul Illai]]'' || || rowspan="2" | Tamil ||
|-
| 2010 || ''Kanagavel Kakka'' || || Special appearance
|-
| 2010 || ''[[Broker (film)|Broker]]'' || Ganapathi's wife || Telugu ||
|-
| 2010 || ''Vismaya Pramaya'' || Meera || rowspan="2" | Kannada ||
|-
| 2010 || ''Vah Re Vah'' || ||
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Chattam]]'' || || rowspan="2" | Telugu || Special appearance
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Money Money, More Money]]'' || ||
|-
| 2012 || ''[[Dabangg 2]]'' || || Hindi || Cameo appearance as reporter
|-
| 2013 || ''CID Eesha'' || || Kannada ||
|-
| 2013 || ''Aakasamlo Sagam'' || Vasu || rowspan="2" | Telugu ||
|-
| 2013 || ''Sahasra'' || || Special appearance
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Paisa Yaar N Panga]]'' || Meera || Punjabi ||
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Ya Rab]]'' || || rowspan="10" | Hindi ||
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Lakshmi (2014 film)|Lakshmi]]'' || Swarna ||
|-
| 2015 || ''[[MSG: The Messenger of God|MSG:The Messenger]]'' || Muskan ||
|-
| 2015 || ''[[Dhanak]]'' ||Gypsy Woman ||
|-
| 2015 || ''[[Guddu Ki Gun]]'' ||Nurse ||
|-
|2016 || ''[[Do Lafzon Ki Kahani (film)|Do Lafzon Ki Kahani]]'' || ||
|-
| 2017 || ''[[Begum Jaan]]'' ||Maina ||
|-
| 2018 || ''[[Stree (2018 film)|Stree]]''
||Stree ||
|-
| 2019 || ''[[Fraud Saiyaan]]''
||Shraddha ||
|-
| 2020 || ''[[Bahut Hua Samman]]''|| Sapna Rani || Hindi
|-
| 2020 || ''[[Darbaan]]''
||Anukul's wife ||
|-
| 2021 || ''[[Geher|12 o'clock]]'' || || Hindi / Telugu || Earlier titled as ''Geher''
|-
| 2021 || ''Chaddi'' || Mrs.Chaddha || Hindi ||
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Series !! Role !! Language !! Notes
|-
|2019 || ''Apna News Aayega''|| || Hindi ||
|-
|2020 || ''Mere Sai – Shraddha Aur Saburi''|| Suvarna Bai, a female singer and dancer || Hindi ||A mythological tv serial , show premiered in Sony Entertainment Television.<ref>{{cite web|date=2020-06-27|title=Flora Saini: Things you may not know about her|url=https://bollywood-junction.com/flora-saini-things-you-may-not-know-about-her/|access-date=2020-06-27|publisher=Bollywood-Junction}}</ref>
|}

=== Web series ===
''All web series are in Hindi Language, otherwise noted the language''.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Series !! Role !! Platform!! Notes
|-
|2016
|''[[Maid in India]]''
|Maid
|Webtalkies
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/flora-saini-look-at-me-beyond-just-a-bold-actress/20859187|title=Flora Saini: Look at me beyond just a bold actress|date=2019-05-02|website=mid-day|language=en|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2|2018 || ''[[Gandi Baat]]'' || Sajelli
|ALTBalaji || S02E01<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/gandii-baat-2-actor-flora-saini-5543140/|title=I never felt objectified on Gandii Baat 2 set: Flora Saini|date=2019-01-17|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/television/web-series/story/gandi-baat-actress-flora-saini-look-at-me-beyond-just-a-bold-actress-1515096-2019-05-02|title=Gandi Baat actress Flora Saini: Look at me beyond just a bold actress|last1=MumbaiMay 2|first1=Indo-Asian News Service|last2=May 2|first2=2019UPDATED|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-07-10|last3=Ist|first3=2019 12:20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whyit.in/5-bold-and-sexy-actresses-in-web-series/|title=5 Indian Bold and Sexy Actresses in Web Series|date=2019-10-03|website=whyit.in|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whyit.in/gandii-baat-season-3-web-series/|title=Gandii Baat Season 3 : release date, download and watch online|date=2019-07-26|website=whyit.in|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref>
|-
|''[[XXX (web series)|X.X.X]]''
|Rukmani Lalwani
|[[ALTBalaji]]
|S01E01<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/rithvik-dhanjani-asha-negi-reaction-xxx-uncensored-5368100/|title=Rithvik Dhanjani on Asha Negi's reaction to XXX Uncensored: She is completely fine with it|date=2018-09-21|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/television/report-altbalaji-s-xxx-rithvik-dhanjani-and-kyra-dutt-s-midnight-tidbits-are-nsfw-2667491|title=ALTBalaji's X.X.X: Rithvik Dhanjani and Kyra Dutt's midnight tidbits are NSFW!|date=2018-09-25|website=DNA India|language=en|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref>
|-
|2018- 2019
|[[Inside Edge (TV series)|Inside Edge]]
|Ayesha Dewan
|[[Amazon Prime]]
|Season 1 Recurring ; Season 2 Main<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whyit.in/inside-edge-season-2/|title=Inside Edge Season 2 (2019) {{!}} Amazon Prime Video|date=2019-11-18|website=whyit.in|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=4|2019
|''Wanna Have A Good Time''
|
| Ullu
|
|-
|''[[Bombers (web series)|Bombers]]''
|Minister's Wife
|[[ZEE5]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.peepingmoon.com/webcast-news/news/29740/Flora-Saini-to-essay-the-role-of-a-ministers-wife-in-ZEE-s-football-based-show-Bombers.html|title=Flora Saini to essay the role of a minister's wife in ZEE 5's football based show Bombers|website=Peepingmoon.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsstock.in/2019/06/01/on-set-interview-with-flora-saini-for-her-upcoming-web-series-bombers-with-zee5/|title=On set interview with flora saini for her upcoming web series 'Bombers' with ZEE5" – News Stock Live|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whyit.in/zee5-series-bombers/|title=Bombers Web Series (TV Series) Review {{!}} Zee5|date=2019-06-29|website=whyit.in|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref>
|-
|''[[Dupur Thakurpo]]''
|Phulwa Boudi
|[[hoichoi]]
|Bengali webseries<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.co.in/flora-saini-debut-bengali-entertainment-industry-dupur-thakurpo|title=Flora Saini made her debut in Bengali web series|date=30 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
|''[[City of Dreams (TV series)|Mayanagari: City of Dreams]]''
|Mystery Woman
|[[Hotstar]]
|<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.scroll.in/article/878681/nagesh-kukunoor-to-direct-web-series-mayanagari-cityofdreams| title=Nagesh Kukunoor to direct web series 'Mayanagari #CityOfDreams'|website=Scroll.in| date=11 May 2018| access-date=29 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/start-ups/hotstar-ties-up-with-applause-entertainment-for-first-set-of-originals/amp-1551701974563.html|title=Hotstar ties up with Applause Entertainment for first set of originals| date=4 March 2019| website=live Mint|access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref>
|-
|2020
|[[Aarya (Indian TV series)|''Aarya'']]
|Radhika "Rads"
|Hotstar
|-
|2020
|''[[Paurashpur]]''
|Nayantara
|[[ZEE5]], [[ALTBalaji]]
|
|-
|2020
|''Darbaan''
|
|ZEE5
|
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{commons}}
* {{IMDb name|2750007}}
* {{Bollywood Hungama person|flora-saini}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saini, Flora}}
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:Female models from Chandigarh]]
[[Category:Actresses from Chandigarh]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Punjabi cinema]]
[[Category:1978 births]]

IndianPedia - User contributions [en]

Flora Saini