Antara Biswas (born 21 November 1982), known professionally as Monalisa, is an Indian actress who primarily works in Bhojpuri films and Hindi television. She participated as a contestant on Bigg Boss 10 in 2016 and is best known for portraying Mohana Rathod in the supernatural drama Nazar. Monalisa is considered as one of the highest paid Bhojpuri actress.
Early life Antara Biswas was born on 21 November 1982, to a Bengali Hindu family on 21 November. She adopted the stage name of Monalisa at the behest of her uncle. She studied at Julien Day School in Elgin Road, South Kolkata, and graduated from Ashutosh College of the University of Calcutta, earning a BA degree in Sanskrit before starting out a few years ago as a small-time TV actress and model in Odia video albums.
Career
Monalisa acted in several low-budget films before making her debut in Bollywood with Blackmail, starring Ajay Devgn and Suniel Shetty. She then acted in South Indian films before coming to notice through her role in Tauba Tauba opposite Amin Gazi. She acted in a Kannada film titled Jackpot.
Monalisa made her Bhojpuri film debut with Bhole Shankar alongside Mithun Chakraborty and Manoj Tiwari. The film was a major commercial success and broke the standing record for biggest opening for a Bhojpuri film. She further established herself as a leading actress in Bhojpuri cinema with successful films such as Hum Bahubali, Saat Saheliyan, Devra Bada Satawela and Devra Bhail Deewana among others.
Monalisa's most notable role on television include her playing Mohana Mehta Rathod in Nazar, Iravati Verma in Namak Issk Ka and Yamini Raichand in Bekaboo. In 2022, she participated in Smart Jodi with her husband, Vikrant Singh Rajpoot and later played Rama in Favvara Chowk.
Personal life She married Bhojpuri actor Vikrant Singh Rajpoot in the Bigg Boss house on 17 January 2017.
Media image
Monalisa is considered in the media as one of the most popular and highest paid Bhojpuri actress. She is also one of the most followed Bhojpuri actress on Instagram with over 5.8 million followers. In 2010, The Hindu stated that Monalisa (along with Rinku Ghosh) was the most sought after actress in the Bhojpuri film industry.
Filmography Bhojpuri films Year Title Role NotesRef. 2007/ 2008 Bidhatar Lekha(2007) Bhole Shankar DebutBengali Khatailal Mithailal Kaha Jaiba Raja Najariya Ladaike Tu Babua Hamaar Shrimaan Driver Babu 2009 Ho Gaini Deewana Tohra Pyar Me Kahan Jaiba Raja Nazariya Ladai Ke Hum Bahubali Radhika Dulha Albela Dulhan Ranbhoomi Pratigya Dancer Special appearance in song "Lehariya Luta Ae Raja" Hum Hai Khalnayak Sindur Daan Jade Mein Balma Pyara Lage Sahar Wali Jaan Mareli 2010 Ek Aur Kurukshetra Tu Jaan Hau Hamaar Dharmatma Nathuniya Pe Goli Maare Bhojpuriya Don Don's lover Rangbaz Daroga Aanchal Nainihal Saat Saheliyan Mona Devra Bada Satawela Mona Mrityunjay Special appearance Loafer Kanoon Hamra Mutthi Mein Daraar 2011 Mora Balma Chail Chabila Apne Begaane Aakhri Rasta Bindu Barood The Great Hero Hiralal Hiralal's lover Gundairaj Ladaai La Ankhiyan Ae Lounde Raja Kartavya Hamaar Devdas Paro 2012 Bhaiya Hamar Dayavan Mehraru Bina Ratiya Kaise Kati Dacait Khuddar Sunita Naagin Khoon Pasina Rama Elan E Jung 2013 Bhaiya Hamar Dayavan Rang De Pyar Ke Rang Mein Jaan Lebu Ka Ho Banaraswali Pratibandh Desh Pardesh Kasam Wardi Ke Biwi No. 1 Lagal Sanheiya Ke Dor Saala Main To Sahib Ban Gaya Ziddi Aashiq Saawariyan Tose Laagi Kaisi Lagan Mati Preet Jagawale Zanzeer Ishq Ka Manjan Ghise Hai Piya Gumrah Ijjat Chhamia Bhelwali Jeevan Yudhh Saiyan Bhailan Pardesiyaa Jodi No. 1 Ghulam Mita Deb Raavanraaj Budhwa Tamtamwala Lagal Ba Pyar Ke Bukhar Tulsi Bin Suna Anganwa Tulsi Ganga Putra Chedi Ganga Kinarewala Natawar Lal Ek Nihattha 2014 Devra Bhail Deewana Mona Khoon Bhari Hamaar Maang Mona Adalat Tere Naam Kare La Kamaal Dharti Ke Laal 2015 Raja Babu Dolly Singh Prem Leela Saiyan Toofani Suhag Rakhtbhoomi 2017 Sarkar Raj Jai Shree Ram Pawan Raja Mona 2018 Jeena Marna Tere Sang Sita Dulhan Chahi Pakistan Se 2 Dancer Special appearance in song "Susuk Susuk Ke Royi Thi" Dabangg Mora Balma Mafia
Other language films Year Title Role Language NotesRef. 1997 Jayate Aarti Hindi 1998 Hamam fi Amsterdam Odia 1999 Jai Sriram Rima Das 2001 Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence Dancer Hindi Special appearance in song 2002 Wrong Number Odia 2003 Top Somrat Bengali Bangladeshi film 2004 Adhikar Barood Item girl Special appearance in song "Kanta Futeche" Tauba Tauba Rubina Hindi Ab Bas! Special appearance 2005 Ek Hi Bhool Tanvi Jalwa: Fun in Love Manisha Tripathi / Tanya "Chinky" 2005 Bunty Aur Babli Dancer Special appearance in song "Bunty Aur Babli"Blackmail Dancer Bobby: Love and Lust Bobby D'Costa 2006 Jackpot Laila Kannada Half Fry Hyderabadi Hindi 2007 Love Guru Kaafila Niharika Jagadam Dancer Telugu Special appearance in song "36-24-36" 2008 Encounter Dayanayak Kannada Money Hai Toh Honey Hai Manish Sarraf’s wife Hindi Vathiyar Tamil Cameo appearance Nagaram Telugu Silambattam Herself Tamil Cameo appearance 2009 Boni Dancer Telugu Special appearance in song 2010 To The London Calling Sonia / Urvashi Hindi Ek Chatur Naar Royal Utsav Hamilton Palace Khoobsurat – The Beauty Meri Life Mein Uski Wife Dipal 2011 Khubsurat Naukrani Bablu Telugu Kadhalukku Maranamillai Tamil 2012 En Peyar Kumarasamy 2016 Saugandh Chee Maa Baap Na Kajal Gujarati
Television Year Title Role NotesRef. 2016–2017 Bigg Boss 10 Contestant 6th place 2017 Nach Baliye 8 8th place 2018–2020 Nazar Mohana Mehta Rathod 2019 Kitchen Champion Contestant 2020 Nazar 2 Madhulika Chaudhary 2020–2021 Namak Issk Ka Iravati Verma 2021 Ankahee Dastaan: Nazar Mohana Rathod Telefilm 2022 Smart Jodi Contestant 2022–2023 Favvara Chowk Rama 2023 Bekaboo Yamini Raichand2024 Laal Banarasi Nayantara Sinha Mata Ki Mahima Indrayani Shamshaan Champa Mohini 2024–2025 Prem Leela Rudrakshi 2025Jaadu Teri Nazar – Daayan Ka MausamMohana2026The 50ContestantEliminated day 12
Special appearances Year Title Role Ref. 2012 Bigg Boss 6Herself 2016 Comedy Nights Bachao 2017 Comedy Dangal 2019 Divya Drishti Mohana Mehta Rathod 2020 Bigg Boss 14 Herself 2022 Good Night India
Web series Year Title Role NotesRef. 2018 Dupur Thakurpo: 2 Jhuma Boudi 2020-2022 Ratri Ke Yatri Prostitute 2 seasons 2022 Dhappa Meera Episode: "Raat Ki Baat" Hasratein Shararat Bai Episode: "Shararat Bai" 2023 Bajao Tanvi Choudhary 2025Zindagi Ka U-TurnSonamMicrodrama
Award and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref. 2015 Bhojpuri Film Awards Best Actor – Female Adalat 2019 Indian Telly Awards Best Actress in a Negative RoleNazar
See also List of Bhojpuri actresses
References
External links