Ahad Sabri at 15:09, 12 February 2026

2026-02-12T15:09:12Z

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{{Short description|Indian actress and singer}}

{{Use Indian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Kunika graces the screening of Sonata.jpg
| caption = Kunickaa at the screening of Sonata, 2017
| birth_name = Kunickaa Sadanand
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|2|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| spouse = Abhay Kothari (Divorced)<br>Vinay Lall (Divorced)<
| children = 2
| yearsactive = 1988–present
| occupation = Actress, singer, lawyer
| relatives = [[Kabir Sadanand]] (brother)<br/>[[Deepak Tijori]] (brother-in-law)
}}

'''Kunickaa Sadanand''' (born 27 February 1964) is an Indian film actress and TV actress, [[advocate]], [[Film producer|producer]] and [[Activism|social activist]] who appeared [[Bigg Boss (Hindi TV series) season 19]] in 2025. She is known for her various characters in many [[Cinema of India|Indian films]] as both a villain and in comedic roles.

Also a singer, she has released three pop albums titled ''Lakhon Mein Ek'' released in 1996, and ''Kunickaa'' which was released in 2002. She released her third album named ''Joombish (A Mystical Journey)'' on 2 May 2006.

==Personal life==
Kunickaa Sadanand has been married twice; her first marriage was with Abhay Kothari from Delhi. She has a son from this marriage. Her second marriage was with Vinay Lall (Mr. Lall) whom she married at the age of 35; together they have a son. She was romantically involved with Sunil Sikand (actor [[Pran (actor)|Pran]]'s son) during the 80s and later with singer [[Kumar Sanu]] in late 90s. She, along with her business partner, created restaurants called "White - the Italian café", "Zingcafe", "Majestica – The Royal Banquet Hall", and a spa called "Exhale" in [[Goregaon]] in suburban [[Mumbai]]. The partnership however ended in 2007.

Kunickaa has conducted, organized and participated in over 100 stage shows in India and around the world. She also runs an event company called Karma Events and Entertainment.

Kunickaa has been actively involved in social activities like [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]] awareness campaigns for the last 20 years.

She launched Tara Charitable Trust on 15 August 2005. This trust aims at rebuilding lives of destitute people, helping the underprivileged and providing medical, educational and emotional succor to the needy. She is a trustee to the NGO CHIP (Children In Progress), [[Mumbai]], which is actively working for child health and education.

==TV and film career==
Since her teenage years, Kunickaa sadanand was keen to join the Indian TV industry as an actress. After doing a few TV serials in [[Delhi]], she went to Mumbai to act in films. [[Manju Asrani]], wife of well known comic actor [[Asrani]] gave Kunickaa the first break as an actress in a TV serial. Her second break was a role in the TV serial ''Adalat'', directed by Dheeraj Kumar. Kunickaa began her film career at the age of 28 in a 1988 horror Hindi movie named ''Kabrastan''. She has acted in many negative roles in movies like ''[[Beta (film)|Beta]]'', ''[[Gumrah (1993 film)|Gumraah]]'' and ''[[Khiladi (1992 film)|Khiladi]]''. Kunickaa has acted in 110 films in 25 years.

''[[Swabhimaan]]'' a TV serial, where she played mother to an 18-year-old breakthrough role that won her many plaudits. She acted in a TV serial called ''Kana Phoosi'' on [[Doordarshan]] and in ''[[Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara]]'' on [[Star Plus]]. She was also seen in the [[reality TV]] show ''Box Cricket League'' on Sony Entertainment as a fielder from the team Pune Anmol Ratn, while most recently she played the character of Rani Durgavati in the TV serial ''Akbar Birbal'' on Big Magic. She is currently seen in [[&TV]] show ''[[Dilli Wali Thakur Gurls]]'' as a loud goan Christian Juliet Bai.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/Kunika-all-set-to-enter-Dilli-Wali-Thakur-Girls-as-a-loud-Goan-Christian/articleshow/47147997.cms |title=Kunika all set to enter 'Dilli Wali Thakur Girls' as a loud Goan Christian - Times of India |website=[[The Times of India]] |date=4 May 2015}}</ref>

She is currently participating as a contestant in [[Bigg Boss (Hindi TV series) season 19|''Bigg Boss 19'']].<ref name="ndtv">{{cite web | last=Chowdhury | first=Madhumanti Pait | title=Kunickaa Sadanand's Son Ayaan Reveals Her Elder Son Was Kidnapped, "To Fight His Case, She Got Into Film Industry" | website=NDTV | date=2025-09-08 | url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/kunickaa-sadanands-son-ayaan-reveals-her-elder-son-was-kidnapped-to-fight-his-case-she-got-into-film-industry-9234860 | access-date=2025-09-09}}</ref>

== Social Media Incident ==
In February 2026, actress '''Kunickaa Sadanand''' criticized a social media troll who compared her son to singer '''Kumar Sanu''' using an AI-generated image.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-02-10 |title=Kunickaa Sadanand slams troll for comparing her son with Kumar Sanu; says, “This is getting out of hand now” |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/kunickaa-sadanand-slams-troll-for-comparing-her-son-with-kumar-sanu-says-this-is-getting-out-of-hand-now/articleshow/128145786.cms |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> She condemned the comparison as inappropriate, calling it “out of hand” and defending her family’s privacy.

==Filmography==

=== Films ===
{{BLP unsourced section|date=May 2019}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! Year
! Film
! Role
! Notes
|-
|2018
|''[[Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2]]''
|Celina's mother
|[[Pakistani]] Film
|-
|2016
|''[[Bhouri]]''
|Kaki
|
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Fugly (film)|Fugly]]''
| Devi's mother
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2011
| ''[[Yeh Dooriyan]]''
| Mrs. Arora
|
|-
| ''[[Monica (2011 film)|Monica]]''
| Judge
|
|-
| ''[[Jihne Mera Dil Luteya]]''
| Mrs. Bajwa
| Punjabi Film
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2006
| ''[[Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar]]''
| Rammi
|
|-
| ''[[Men Not Allowed]]''
|
|
|-
| ''[[Tom, Dick, and Harry (2006 film)|Tom, Dick, and Harry]]''
| Jassi Singh
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2005
| ''[[Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav]]''
| Pradyuma's mother-in-law
|
|-
| ''[[Page 3 (film)|Page 3]]''
|Monaz Modi
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2004
| ''[[Meri Biwi Ka Jawaab Nahin|Meri Biwi Ka Jawab Nahin]]''
| Prakash's wife
|
|-
| ''[[Insaaf: The Justice]]''
| Minister Rameshwari Verma
|
|-
| ''[[Suno Sasurjee]]''
| Mrs. Kiran Kumar
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 2003
| ''[[Jodi Kya Banayi Wah Wah Ramji]]''
| Bengali lady
|
|-
| ''[[Khanjar: The Knife]]''
| Pammi's girlfriend
|
|-
| ''[[Andaaz]]''
| Party guest
|
|-
| ''[[Talaash: The Hunt Begins...]]''
| Prema Malini
|
|-
| ''[[Kyon?]]''
| Mrs. Desai
|
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Tum Jiyo Hazaron Saal]]''
| Mrs. Kapur
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2001
| ''[[Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love]]''
| Sweety Aunty
|
|-
|''[[Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (2001 film)]]''
| Smt. Chopra
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2000
| ''[[Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya]]''
| Manjula
|
|-
| ''[[Woh Bewafa Thi]]''
|
|
|-
| ''[[Shikaar (2000 film)|Shikaar]]''
| Nurse
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1999
| ''[[Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United]]''<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.india.com/showbiz/salman-khans-hum-saath-saath-hain-co-actor-kunika-gets-death-threats-from-bishnoi-community-for-her-comments-in-the-blackbuck-poaching-case-2992717/ |title=Salman Khan's Hum Saath Saath Hain Co-Actor Threatened By Bishnoi Community |date=10 April 2018 |work=India.com}}</ref>
| Shanti
|
|-
| ''[[Daag: The Fire]]''
| Nurse Lily
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 1998
| ''[[Wajood (1998 film)|Wajood]]''
| Mrs. Chawla
|
|-
| ''[[Maharaja (1998 film)|Maharaja]]''
| Mrs. Singh
|
|-
| ''[[Qila (film)|Qila]]''
| Neelam Daniel
|
|-
| ''[[Jaane Jigar]]''
|
|
|-
|[[Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998 film)|''Pyaar Kiya to darna kya'']]
| Mrs. Khanna
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 1997
| ''[[Dil Kitna Nadan Hai]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dil Kitna Nadan Hai |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/dil-kitna-nadan-hai/cast/2030175704/ |access-date=4 January 2025 |website=TV Guide |language=en}}</ref>
|
|
|-
| ''[[Koyla]]''
| Rasili
|
|-
| ''[[Judge Mujrim]]''
| Dancer (in song "Khatra Shabnam Ka")
|
|-
| ''[[Tamanna (1997 film)|Tamanna]]''
| Actress
|
|-
| ''[[Dhaal]]''
| Mrs. Deodhar
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 1996
| ''[[Shastra]]''
| Sonia
|
|-
| ''[[Fareb (1996 film)|Fareb]]''
| Brinda
|
|-
| ''[[Loafer (1996 film)|Loafer]]''
|
|
|-
|''[[Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat]]''
|Sharda Devi
|
|-
| ''[[Apne Dam Par]]''
| Mamiji
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 1995
| ''[[Takkar (1995 film)|Takkar]]''
| Sheena Vasudev
|
|-
| ''[[The Don (1995 film)|The Don]]''
| College professor
|
|-
| ''[[Baazi (1995 film)|Baazi]]''
| Rani
|
|-
| ''[[Jawab (1995 film)|Jawab]]''
|
|
|-
| ''[[Kismat (1995 film)|Kismat]]''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | 1994
| ''[[Hum Hain Bemisaal]]''
|
|
|-
| ''[[Mohra]]''
| Flora
|
|-
| ''[[Chhoti Bahoo]]''
| Shobha
|
|-
| ''[[Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1994 film)|Aa Gale Lag Jaa]]''
| Mrs. Jagatpal Sharma
|
|-
| [[Andaz (1994 film)|''Andaz'' (1994 film)]]
| Shobha (uncredited)
|
|-
| rowspan="12" | 1993
| ''[[15th August (1993 film)]]''|| Phulwa||
|-
| ''[[Kasam Teri Kasam]]''
|
|
|-
| ''[[Tadipaar]]''
| Mohinidevi's secretary
|
|-
|''[[Gardish]]''
|Shiva's Elder Sister
|
|-
| ''[[Chandra Mukhi]]''
| Lily
|
|-
| ''[[Khoon Ka Sindoor]]''
|
|
|-
| ''[[Gumrah (1993 film)|Gumrah]]''
| Female cop in Hong Kong
|
|-
| ''[[Kohra (1993 film)|Kohra]]''
| Kitty
|
|-
| ''[[Meri Aan]]''
| Nagina Bai
|
|-
| ''[[Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi]]''
|
|
|-
| ''The Monster''
| Konica
|
|-
| ''[[King Uncle]]''
| Kamla (Guest appearance)
|
|-
| rowspan="9" | 1992
| ''[[Dil Hi To Hai (1992 film)]]''
|Flower seller
|
|-
| ''[[Heer Ranjha]]''
| Bigo
|
|-
| ''[[Aaj Ka Goonda Raj]]''
| Chanda
|
|-
| ''[[Khiladi (1992 film)|Khiladi]]''
| Julie
|
|-
| ''[[Zakhmi Sipahi]]''
| Cameo, in song "O Chaila"
|
|-
| ''[[Meera Ka Mohan]]''
|
|
|-
| ''[[Siyasat]]''
|
|
|-
| ''[[Bewaffa Se Waffa]]''
| Nagma's aunt
|
|-
| ''[[Beta (film)|Beta]]''
| Kunika
|
|-
| rowspan="10" | 1991
| ''[[Kaun Kare Kurbanie]]''
|
|
|-
| ''[[Kurbaan (1991 film)|Kurbaan]]''
| Gayatri
|
|-
| ''[[Do Matwale]]''
|
|
|-
| ''[[Ayee Milan Ki Raat]]''
|
|
|-
| ''[[Dushman Devta]]''
| Kamli
|
|-
| ''[[Parakrami (film)|Parakrami]]''
|
| '''Unreleased movie'''
|-
| ''[[Vishnu-Devaa]]''
|
|
|-
| ''[[Jeena Teri Gali Mein]]''
|
|
|-
| ''[[Jungle Beauty]]''
|
|
|-
| ''[[Haque]]''
| Asha
|
|-
| rowspan="7" | 1990
| ''[[Majboor (1990 film)|Majboor]]''
|Sushila
|
|-
| ''[[Baaghi: A Rebel for Love]]''
| Dhanraj's girlfriend
|
|-
| ''[[Thanedaar]]''
| Munni
|
|-
| ''[[Agneekaal]]''
| Madhu Saxena
|
|-
| ''[[Doodh Ka Karz]]''
| Munnijaan
|
|-
| ''[[Bandh Darwaza]]''
| Kamya Singh
|
|-
| ''[[Amavas Ki Raat]]''
|
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |1989
|''Paanch Paapi''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paanch Paapi (1989) - BollywoodMDB |url=https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/movies/paanch-paapi/2560 |access-date=7 April 2023 |website=bollywoodmdb.com}}</ref>
|
|
|-
| ''[[Sachai Ki Taqat]]''
| Laxmi
|
|-
|''[[Kahan Hai Kanoon]]''
|Rita
|
|-
| ''[[Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii|Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharni]]''
| Pyarelal's wife
|
|-
| ''[[Mujrim]]''
|Maria (uncredited)
|
|-
| 1988
| ''[[Kabrastan]]''
| Kitty
|
|}

=== Television shows ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="text-align:center;"
!Year
!Show
!Role
|-
|2025
|[[Bigg Boss (Hindi TV series) season 19|''Bigg Boss 19'']]
|Contestant
|-
|2015–2016
|''[[Akbar Birbal]]''
|Rani Durgavati
|-
|2015
|''[[Dilli Wali Thakur Gurls]]''<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/Kunika-all-set-to-enter-Dilli-Wali-Thakur-Girls-as-a-loud-Goan-Christian/articleshow/47147997.cms |title=Kunika all set to enter 'Dilli Wali Thakur Girls' as a loud |date=4 May 2015 |work=The Times of India}}</ref>
|Mrs. Juliet
|-
|2015
|''[[Sasural Simar Ka]]''{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}
|Thakurayan / Thakurain
|-
|2014–2015
|''Box Cricket League''
|Contestant
|-
|2014
|''[[Pyaar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha Pyaara Pyaara]]''
|Anisha James Waterson
|-
|2012
|''Kanaphusi''
|Mother in law
|-
|2010–2011
|''[[Sanjog Se Bani Sangini]]''
|Naani
|-
|2007
|''[[Kahani Ghar Ghar ki]]''
|Garima Garg
|-
|2003
|''Strivers & Achievers''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030504/spectrum/tv.htm |title=The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Television |website=The Tribune}}</ref>
|Anchor
|-
|-
|2003
|''[[Ssshhhh...Koi Hai]]''
|Mrs. Malini (Models Judge)
|-
|2001
|''[[C.I.D. (India TV series)|CID]]''
|Rakhi
|-
|2001
|''[[Aashirwad (TV series)|Aashirwad]]''
|
|-
|2001
|''[[Dollar Bahu]]''
|Charu's friend
|-
|2002
|''[[Kittie Party]]''
|Vasundhara
|-
|1998-2000
|''Sparsh''
|
|-
|1995
|''[[Swabhimaan]]''
|Nishi Malhotra
|-
|1990
|''[[The Sword of Tipu Sultan]]''
|Yasmin Khan
|}

=== Web series ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Title
!Role
!Platform
!Year
|-
|[[Taish]]
|Beeji
|[[ZEE5]]
|2020
|}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.kunickaa.com/ Official Website]
* {{iMDb name|0969505}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Actresses from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Singers from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Indian women pop singers]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Indian television actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi television]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:Women musicians from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Participants in Indian reality television series]]

Kunickaa Sadanand - Revision history

Ahad Sabri at 15:09, 12 February 2026