Kalki Koechlin

Kalki Koechlin

Actor, Writer

Pondicherry, India

Kalki Koechlin (ˈkælki_ˈkeɪklã; born 10 January 1984) is an Indian actress and writer of French descent. Apart from acting in films, Koechlin is also a regular presence in theatre productions in the country. An acclaimed actress in the Indian film industry for her unconventional body of work, she is the recipient of a National Film Award, a Filmfare Award and two Screen Awards, among other accolades. Drawn to theatre at a young age, Koechlin studied drama at Goldsmiths, University of London, and worked simultaneously with a local theatre company. After returning to India, she made her screen debut with a supporting role in the drama Dev.D in 2009and won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Subsequently, she starred in two of the highest-grossing films of their respective release yearsthe comedy-dramas Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), both of which garnered her Best Supporting Actress nominations at Filmfare. Koechlin then co-wrote the screenplay for the crime thriller That Girl in Yellow Boots (2011), in which she also played the lead role. Koechlin's continued association with such commercial films as the political drama Shanghai (2012) and the supernatural thriller Ek Thi Daayan (2013) sustained her success, as she continued to draw praise for her performances in independent films, including the comedy drama Waiting (2015) and the thriller A Death in the Gunj (2016). She won universal acclaim and a National Film Award – Special Jury Award for her performance as a young woman with cerebral palsy in the coming of age drama Margarita with a Straw (2014). Koechlin also uses YouTube as a platform or forum for issues for which she advocates, appearing in videos including AIB's It's Your Fault, Culture Machine's Printing Machine and Noise and Y-Films's web-series entitled Man's World. In addition to her film career, Koechlin has written, produced, and acted in several stage plays in India. She co-wrote the dramas Skeleton Woman (2009), which won her The MetroPlus Playwright Award, and Colour Blind (2014), and made her directorial debut on stage with the tragicomedy Living Room (2015). Koechlin hosted a travel show entitled Kalki's Great Escape, which premiered on Fox Life in September 2016. She is also an activist and promotes various causes ranging from health and education to women's empowerment and gender equality. Koechlin was married to filmmaker Anurag Kashyap from 2011 to 2015.
Kalki Koechlin (ˈkælki_ˈkeɪklã; born 10 January 1984) is an Indian actress and writer of French descent. Apart from acting in films, Koechlin is also a regular presence in theatre productions in the country. An acclaimed actress in the Indian film industry for her unconventional body of work, she is the recipient of a National Film Award, a Filmfare Award and two Screen Awards, among other accolades. Drawn to theatre at a young age, Koechlin studied drama at Goldsmiths, University of London, and worked simultaneously with a local theatre company. After returning to India, she made her screen debut with a supporting role in the drama Dev.D in 2009and won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Subsequently, she starred in two of the highest-grossing films of their respective release yearsthe comedy-dramas Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), both of which garnered her Best Supporting Actress nominations at Filmfare. Koechlin then co-wrote the screenplay for the crime thriller That Girl in Yellow Boots (2011), in which she also played the lead role. Koechlin's continued association with such commercial films as the political drama Shanghai (2012) and the supernatural thriller Ek Thi Daayan (2013) sustained her success, as she continued to draw praise for her performances in independent films, including the comedy drama Waiting (2015) and the thriller A Death in the Gunj (2016). She won universal acclaim and a National Film Award – Special Jury Award for her performance as a young woman with cerebral palsy in the coming of age drama Margarita with a Straw (2014). Koechlin also uses YouTube as a platform or forum for issues for which she advocates, appearing in videos including AIB's It's Your Fault, Culture Machine's Printing Machine and Noise and Y-Films's web-series entitled Man's World. In addition to her film career, Koechlin has written, produced, and acted in several stage plays in India. She co-wrote the dramas Skeleton Woman (2009), which won her The MetroPlus Playwright Award, and Colour Blind (2014), and made her directorial debut on stage with the tragicomedy Living Room (2015). Koechlin hosted a travel show entitled Kalki's Great Escape, which premiered on Fox Life in September 2016. She is also an activist and promotes various causes ranging from health and education to women's empowerment and gender equality. Koechlin was married to filmmaker Anurag Kashyap from 2011 to 2015.