Jennifer Winget (born 30 May 1985) is an Indian television actress known for her portrayal of Kumud Desai in Saraswatichandra, Maya Mehrotra in Beyhadh and Zoya Siddiqui in Bepannah. In 2019, Winget played Maya Jaisingh in Sony TV’s Beyhadh 2.
Personal life
Winget and Karan Singh Grover at Zee Rishtey Awards
Winget was born on 30 May 1985 in Bombay, (present-day Mumbai), India. She is the daughter of a Punjabi mother and a Maharashtrian Christian father, and is often mistaken for a person of non-Indian origins due to her western first name.
Winget married Karan Singh Grover on 9 April 2012. In November 2014, Winget stated that she and Grover had separated.
Career
Winget started her career at the age of 12 as a child actor in the film Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya, and then appeared as a child actor in the Indian film Kuch Naa Kaho at the age of 14. Later, as an adult, she went on to work in various Indian TV shows.
Winget’s big break as the lead in television came with the show Karthika, where she played the role of a struggling singer who dreams of making it big.
She later starred in Kasautii Zindagii Kay, where she played Sneha, the daughter of the protagonists.
In 2009, she replaced Shilpa Anand as Riddhima Gupta in the show Dill Mill Gayye.
In 2013 she starred in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s television show Saraswatichandra as Kumud Desai opposite Gautam Rode. For her performance she won the Indian Television Academy Award for Best Actress Critics.
In 2016, Winget portrayed Maya Mehrotra in Sony TV’s Beyhadh. For her performance she won numerous awards and appreciation.
In 2018, she played the role of Zoya Siddiqui in Colors TV’s Bepannaah opposite Harshad Chopda. She also portrayed the role of Maya Jaisingh in Sony TV’s Beyhadh 2 during early 2020’s, opposite Ashish Chaudhary and Shivin Narang. However, the show got an abrupt ending due to coronavirus lockdown. Winget is one of highest paid Indian Television actresses.
Media
UK-based newspaper Eastern Eye placed her in their 50 Sexiest Asian Women list in 2012. In 2013, she was listed in this list by Eastern Eye yet again, this time at the fifteenth position. Winget was also included in the Television’s Top 10 Actresses list by Rediff. She was then listed among the 35 Hottest Actresses in Indian Television by Mens XP. She was ranked first in Times of India’s Top 20 Most Desirable Women on Indian Television 2017 and in 2018 she ranked 2nd in the list. Winget was placed at the 13th position in Eastern Eye‘s Sexiest Asian Women List 2018.
Winget’s chemistry with Harshad Chopda in Bepannah being extremely popular brought them the title of Times of India‘s Most Favourite Onscreen Jodi of 2018.
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Akele Hum Akele Tum | Young Girl | Child actor | |
| 1997 | Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat | School Kid | ||
| 2000 | Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya | Tanu | ||
| 2003 | Kuch Naa Kaho | Pooja | ||
| 2018 | Phir Se… | Kajal Kapoor | Released on Netflix |
Television
| Year | Show | Role | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–2003 | Shaka Laka Boom Boom | Piya | |
| 2003 | Kkusum | Simran | |
| Kkoi Dil Mein Hai | Preeti | ||
| 2004 | Karthika | Karthika | |
| 2005–2007 | Kasautii Zindagii Kay | Sneha Bajaj | |
| 2006 | Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa | Natasha | |
| Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii | Herself | ||
| 2007 | Kahin To Hoga | Svetlana | |
| 2007–2009 | Sangam | Ganga Bhatia | |
| 2007 | Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan | Guest (as Ganga) | |
| 2008 | Zara Nach Ke Dikha 1 | Contestant | |
| 2009 | Dekh India Dekh | Host | |
| Laughter Ke Phatke | |||
| Comedy Circus 3 | Contestant | ||
| Perfect Bride | Finale Performer | ||
| Dill Mill Gayye | Dr. Riddhima Gupta | ||
| 2010 | Zara Nach Ke Dikha 2 | Host | |
| 2011 | Zor Ka Jhatka: Total Wipeout | Contestant | |
| Comedy Ka Maha Muqabala | Host | ||
| Nachle Ve with Saroj Khan | |||
| 2012 | Teri Meri Love Stories | Neeti | |
| 2013–2014 | Saraswatichandra | Kumud Desai | |
| 2013 | Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai | Guest (as Kumud) | |
| 2014 | Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai | ||
| 2015 | Kumkum Bhagya | Guest | |
| 2016 | The Kapil Sharma Show | Guest | |
| 2016–2017 | Beyhadh | Maya Mehrotra | |
| 2018 | Bepannaah | Zoya Siddiqui | |
| Laado 2 – Veerpur Ki Mardani | Guest (as Zoya) | ||
| Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka | |||
| Dev 2 | |||
| Udaan | |||
| Dance Deewane | |||
| 2019–2020 | Beyhadh 2 | Maya Jaisingh | |
| 2020 | Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein | Guest (as Maya) |
Web series
| Year | Show | Role | Platform | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Code M | Monica Mehra | ALT Balaji |
Awards and nominations
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| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work | Results | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Indian Telly Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Kasautii Zindagii Kay | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Gold Awards | Most Fit Actress | N/A | Won | |
| Indian Television Academy Awards | Best Actress (Drama) | Saraswatichandra | Won | ||
| Best Actress (Popular) | Nominated | ||||
| 2014 | Indian Telly Awards | Best Actress (Jury) | Won | ||
| Best Actress in a Lead Role | Nominated | ||||
| 2016 | Asiavision Television Awards | Best Actress | Won | ||
| 2017 | Lions Gold Awards | Best Actress (Jury) | Beyhadh | Won | |
| Indian Television Academy Awards | Won | ||||
| 2018 | Gold Awards | Best Actress (Jury) | Bepannah | Won | |
| Indian Television Academy Awards | Best Actress (Popular) | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress (Drama) | Nominated | ||||
| 2019 | Lions Gold Awards | Best Actress (Popular) | Won | ||
| Indian Telly Awards | Best Actress in Lead Role | Won | |||
| Best Jodi(With Harshad Chopda) | Nominated | ||||
| 2020 | Filmfare OTT Awards | Best Actor Series: Drama (Female) | Code M | Nominated |