Antara Biswas, popularly known by her stage name Monalisa, is an Indian actress and model who works predominantly in Bhojpuri cinema, with additional credits in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Odia and Malayalam films. She gained nationwide recognition in 2016–2017 as a contestant on the reality television series Bigg Boss, and has since featured prominently in Hindi general entertainment television.
| Name | Antara Biswas |
|---|---|
| Stage name | Monalisa |
| Profession | Actress, model, television personality |
| Primary industry | Bhojpuri cinema |
| Other industries | Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Odia, Malayalam films |
| Origin | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Notable television | Bigg Boss 10, Nazar |
Antara Biswas was born and raised in Kolkata, West Bengal. She entered the entertainment industry as a model before transitioning to films in the early 2000s. While she debuted in Hindi-language productions, her sustained commercial success has been in Bhojpuri-language cinema, where she became one of the most recognised leading actresses of her generation.
Biswas has worked across multiple Indian film industries, taking on lead and supporting roles. Her filmography spans Hindi productions, several Bhojpuri-language hits, and appearances in regional cinema including Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Odia and Malayalam films. She is regarded as one of the most prolific female stars of the Bhojpuri industry, known for both dramatic and dance-led performances.
She participated in the tenth season of the Hindi reality show Bigg Boss, broadcast on Colors TV in 2016–2017, where she married actor Vikrant Singh Rajpoot inside the house in a televised ceremony. The appearance significantly broadened her recognition with Hindi-speaking audiences. She subsequently played the lead role of Mohana in the supernatural drama series Nazar on Star Plus, which began airing in 2018.
Biswas is among the few actresses to have moved fluidly between Bhojpuri cinema, regional film industries and mainstream Hindi television. Her career trajectory illustrates the growing crossover between regional film stardom and pan-Indian visibility through reality and prime-time television.