Overview
Khushbu Sundar (also spelt Khushboo Sundar) is an Indian actress, television presenter, producer and politician. She had a prolific acting career in Tamil and Telugu cinema during the late 1980s and 1990s, and was among the highest-paid leading actresses in South Indian cinema during that period. In later years she transitioned to television hosting, film production and active political work, serving in the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Indian National Congress, and subsequently the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Key facts
| Born | Nakhat Khan, 29 September 1970, Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra |
|---|---|
| Other names | Khushbu, Khushboo |
| Spouse | Sundar C. (film director), married 2000 |
| Children | Two daughters |
| Primary languages of work | Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam |
| Notable Tamil films | Chinna Thambi (1991), Kizhakku Vasal (1990), Annaamalai (1992), Singaravelan (1992) |
| Television | Host of Jackpot, Khushi Yaar Khushi and several Tamil reality shows |
| Production house | Avni Cinemax (with Sundar C.) |
| Political affiliations | DMK (briefly), Indian National Congress (2014–2020), BJP (2020–present) |
| Public office | Member, National Commission for Women (appointed 2021) |
Background and early life
Khushbu was born in Bombay into a Muslim family. She entered films as a child artiste in Hindi cinema, appearing in productions such as The Burning Train (1980) and Naseeb (1981), and worked in films directed by Manmohan Desai during her early years. She made her debut as a leading actress in Hindi with Janoo (1985).
Film career
Hindi cinema
Although her work in Hindi films was limited, she was paired opposite leading actors of the 1980s before shifting her focus to South Indian cinema, where she found wider success.
Tamil and Telugu cinema
Khushbu became a major star in Tamil cinema after the success of Dharma Devathai (1986) and Kizhakku Vasal (1990). Her pairing with Prabhu in Chinna Thambi (1991), directed by P. Vasu, established her as one of the leading heroines of the decade. She subsequently acted opposite Rajinikanth in Annaamalai (1992) and Kamal Haasan in Singaravelan (1992) and Maharasan (1993). In Telugu cinema she worked with stars such as Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna and Venkatesh in films including Kondaveeti Donga (1990) and Coolie No. 1 (1991).
At the height of her popularity in Tamil Nadu, fans constructed temples in her honour in towns including Tiruchirappalli, an unusual mark of cinema-related devotion noted in regional cultural commentary.
Production
Together with her husband, director Sundar C., she co-runs the production banner Avni Cinemax, which has produced several Tamil films including Aranmanai (2014) and its sequels.
Television
From the mid-2000s, Khushbu became a prominent face of Tamil television. She hosted talk and reality programmes on Sun TV, Vijay TV and Star Vijay, and judged dance and talent shows. She also hosted the Tamil version of the game show format Jackpot.
Political career
Khushbu was associated with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for a brief period in the early 2010s. In November 2014, she joined the Indian National Congress and was appointed a national spokesperson of the party, representing it on television panels and in election campaigns in Tamil Nadu and other states.
In October 2020, she resigned from the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), citing differences with the Congress leadership. She campaigned for the BJP in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, contesting unsuccessfully from the Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai.
In 2021, she was appointed a member of the National Commission for Women (NCW), the statutory body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Public controversies and legal cases
In 2005, Khushbu was the subject of widespread controversy in Tamil Nadu after remarks attributed to her in a magazine interview on pre-marital relations and safe sex led to multiple criminal complaints being filed against her in various districts. The matter eventually reached the Supreme Court of India, which in 2010 quashed the cases against her, observing that her statements did not amount to obscenity or an offence against public morality. The judgment is frequently cited in discussions of free speech in India.
Awards and recognition
Khushbu has received several Filmfare Awards South nominations and Tamil Nadu State Film Awards over the course of her acting career, and has been honoured by the Government of Tamil Nadu with the title Kalaimamani.
Significance
Khushbu's career represents a notable trajectory across Indian popular culture and public life: from a leading commercial actress of South Indian cinema in the 1990s, to a mainstream television personality, to an active participant in national politics. Her involvement in the 2005 free-speech case is regarded as an important reference point in Indian jurisprudence on women's rights of expression.
Related topics
- Tamil Cinema
- Sundar C.
- Rajinikanth
- Kamal Haasan
- Bharatiya Janata Party
- Indian National Congress
- National Commission for Women
- Filmfare Awards South
- Kalaimamani
References
- Supreme Court of India, S. Khushboo v. Kanniammal & Anr., judgment dated 28 April 2010.
- Government of Tamil Nadu, Department of Information and Public Relations, Kalaimamani awardees lists.
- Press releases of the Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party regarding party appointments and resignations.
- Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, notifications on appointments to the National Commission for Women.