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Twinkle Khanna

Twinkle Khanna snapped post an ad shoot in 2016 (cropped)
Twinkle Khanna snapped post an ad shoot in 2016 (cropped) Image: Wikimedia Commons. Bollywood Hungama / CC BY 3.0

Overview

Twinkle Khanna (born 29 December 1973) is an Indian author, former actress, interior designer and newspaper columnist. The daughter of veteran actors Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia, she worked in Hindi cinema during the latter half of the 1990s before transitioning to a career in writing. She is the author of several best-selling books, including Mrs Funnybones (2015), and is married to actor Akshay Kumar.

Key facts

Born 29 December 1973
Occupation Author, columnist, former actress, interior designer
Parents Rajesh Khanna, Dimple Kapadia
Spouse Akshay Kumar
Children 2
Acting debut Barsaat (1995)
Notable award Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut
Literary debut Mrs Funnybones (2015)

Background

Khanna was born into one of Hindi cinema's most prominent families. Her father, Rajesh Khanna, is widely regarded as Indian cinema's first superstar, while her mother, Dimple Kapadia, is an acclaimed actress. Her younger sister, Rinke Khanna, also briefly pursued an acting career.

Acting career

Khanna made her film debut as the leading lady in Barsaat (1995), a performance that won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Through the latter half of the 1990s and the early 2000s, she appeared in a number of mainstream Hindi films, including:

  • Jaan (1996)
  • Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai (1998)
  • International Khiladi (1999)
  • Baadshah (1999)
  • Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (2001)

She subsequently retired from acting.

Post-acting career

After leaving films, Khanna worked for several years as an interior designer. She gradually shifted to writing, contributing opinion columns to Indian newspapers, where her humorous and observational style attracted a wide readership.

Books

  • Mrs Funnybones (2015) – non-fiction
  • The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad (2016) – short story collection
  • Pyjamas Are Forgiving (2018) – novel
  • Welcome to Paradise (2023) – novel
  • Mrs. Funnybones Returns (2025) – sequel to her debut book

Television

In 2025, Khanna co-hosted the celebrity chat show Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle on Amazon Prime Video alongside actress Kajol. The series became the platform's most watched unscripted show.

Personal life

Khanna is married to actor Akshay Kumar, with whom she has two children.

Timeline

  • 1973: Born on 29 December.
  • 1995: Film debut with Barsaat; won Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
  • 1996–2001: Featured in several Hindi films before retiring from acting.
  • 2015: Published Mrs Funnybones.
  • 2016: Released The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad.
  • 2018: Published her debut novel, Pyjamas Are Forgiving.
  • 2023: Released the novel Welcome to Paradise.
  • 2025: Hosted Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle; published Mrs. Funnybones Returns.

Significance

Khanna is among the few Hindi film actresses to have successfully reinvented herself as a popular contemporary author and newspaper columnist. Her writing, characterised by humour and social commentary, has helped broaden the visibility of Indian women writing in popular non-fiction.

References

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