Kalpana Iyer (born 26 July 1956) is an Indian actress, singer, and model, who is best known for her works in Hindi cinema throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She appeared in over 100 films, and is accredited for her performances in many popular dance numbers as well as for her supporting and guest roles in many films.
Career
Modelling
After being first runner-up at Miss India in 1978, she went on to represent her country at the Miss World 1978 beauty pageant where she placed as a top 15 semi-finalist.
Acting
Kalpana started making full-fledged appearances as a vamp character in a number of Hindi films, continuing in the tradition of Bindu, Helen and Aruna Irani. Some of her famous dance numbers were to the songs “Hari om Hari” in Pyaara Dushman (1980), “Tu Mujhe Jaan” in Wardat (1981) and “Rambha Ho” in Armaan (1981). Some of her renowned films are Satte Pe Satta (1982), Disco Dancer (1982), Anjaam (1994), Raja Hindustani (1996), and Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999). She was critically acclaimed for her performance as a prison warden in Anjaam (in which she was hanged to death), which also featured Bollywood superstars Madhuri Dixit and Shah Rukh Khan. As of 2019, Iyer has appeared in a variety of films, as well as working on television.
Other ventures
Iyer is also a pop singer, and is best known for her performances in many shows. She is currently managing a restaurant in Dubai called “The Moghul Room” which is owned by former Bollywood actor Rajan Sippy.
Personal life
She was born in a conservative Tamil Brahmin familyDespite being considered one of the more daring actresses in her time, Iyer mentioned how she was rather conservative and misunderstood, and due to this had also never married. Iyer told FirstPost in 2019:
“I was always misunderstood, you know, as the ‘it-girl’ personifying glamour and oomph. A Miss India, a model, an actress. Everyone assumed I was bold but I was actually very simple… God-fearing, always concerned about ruffling the feathers of my conservative Tam Bram family who were quiet and simple, and into Carnatic music… telling too many white lies to protect too many people.”
— Kalpana Iyer
Filmography
Film
Throughout her career, Iyer has appeared in over 100 films.
- Poonam (1981)
- Hum Se Badkar Kaun(1981) as Shalu
- Satte Pe Satta (1982) as Ranjeet Mistress
- Hum Hain Lajawaab (1984) as Alif-Laila , Dancer
- Nallavanukku Nallavan (1984) item number
- Ameer Aadmi Gharib Aadmi (1985)
- Zakhmi Aurat (1988) as Kanta
- Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe(1989) as Kamini
- Abhi To Main Jawan Hoon (1989)
- Laadla (1994 film) as Kamini
- Anjaam (1994) as Jailor Warden
- Gundaraj (1995) as Public Prosecutor
- Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999) as Shobha Mishra
Television
| Year | Serial | Role | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-1993 | Kashish | Mrs. Anand (Rahul’s mother) | DD National |
| 1994 | Junoon | Parvati | |
| Chandrakanta | Dum Dumi Maai | ||
| Farmaan | Tasneem Pasha | ||
| Banegi Apni Baat | Revati | Zee Tv |