Khushbu Sundar (born Nakhat Khan; 29 September 1970) is an Indian politician, actress, film producer and television presenter. She is known for her works predominantly in Tamil language films and in a few, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films. [4]
Early life
Khushbu was born as Nakhat Khan on 29 September 1970 into a Muslim family in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.[1][5] Her parents gave her the stage name Khushbu when she started her career as a child actress.[5] She has been living in Chennai for nearly 40 years now.[6][7]
Her sensitive performance in the emotional film 1982-Hindi movie, Dard Ka Rishta was appreciated by audiences. The Fairy song "Main Pariyon Ki Shehzaadi" from the movie is still a very popular song at Annual Day School performances, children's parties and Fairy themed parties in India.[9]
She made her adult role acting debut in the much acclaimed 1985 Hindi film Meri Jung in a supporting role as Anil Kapoor's younger sister. In the same year, she got her first lead role in the film Jaanoo cast opposite veteran actor Jackie Shroff. This was followed byTan-Badan (1986) paired with Govinda. Khushbu played a significant supporting role in Deewana Mujh Sa Nahin (1990), alongside Aamir Khan and Madhuri Dixit.
Khushbu was introduced to Australian Rules Football, and nominated for the role of honorary member of Richmond Tigers by former Ministerial Adviser Mr. Nitin Gupta. [16][17][18]
Session at the RMIT University, Melbourne
On 14th Aug 2017, Khushbu was invited by the RMIT University to speak with their Media and Coms Students, about the 'Representation of women in Indian Cinema', at a session moderated by Dr. Vikrant Kishore. She also did a lengthy Q and A with students and guests, and spoke about her own experiences of working in Indian cinema for over 37 years, and 200 films.
Around 200 plus students and guests had turned up to listen and interact with Khushbu. She was given a standing ovation by the audiences, both at the beginning and the end of session.[19]
Indian Independence Day at the Deakin University, Melbourne
On 15th Aug 2017, Khushbu was invited as chief guest at the Deakin University Indian Club’s (DUIC) Indian Independence Day celebrations event by DUIC Founder President Mr Amogh Chakravarthy . Deakin University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement Professor Gary Smith and former ministerial adviser Mr Nitin Gupta were the guests of honour at the celebrations, which were hosted at the University’s Burwood Campus. [20]
Political career
DMK
Khushbu joined the DMK on 14 May 2010. She was welcomed by DMK Leader Karunanidhi at the party headquarters in Chennai.[21][22] Khushbu quit DMK on 16 June 2014.[23]
Congress
Khushbu joined the Indian National Congress on 26 November 2014 after meeting with then Congress President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, and then Vice-president Mr. Rahul Gandhi. She was the National Spokesperson of the INC.[24] Khushbu was very critical of Narendra Modi's policies and has often taken to Twitter to criticise the ruling dispensation.[25]
Khushbu resigned from Congress on 12 October 2020[26][27] ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in 2021.[28] The congress secretary of Media said that Khushbu was being pressurized by her husband Sundar C to join the BJP.[29] Khushbu claimed that her previous party "does not want an intelligent woman" and there is no freedom to speak the truth within the party and called the Congress as "mentally retarded".[30] The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) filed 30 complaints at different police stations in the state over her statements for allegedly making derogatory remarks against people with disabilities.[31]
Khushbu said during a meeting with journalists on November 2023 that she wouldn't apologize for using the term "cheri language". She used the term to highlight the use of foul language against women in a post on social media platform X while responding to a supporter of the DMK who accused her of staying silent during the Manipur violence in social media.[35][36] In Tamil, the term refers to Dalit colonies that are separated from the rest of a village or town, and it is frequently used in a derogatory manner in reference to anything crude or crass.[37] Her use of the term 'cheri' was condemned by activists for its casteist connotations.[35] The Neelam Foundation, an organization fighting for Dalit rights, demanded an unconditional apology.[36] The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi lodged a police complaint about her remarks.[38] The Chennai city police increased security for Khushbu's house after the SC/ST wing of the Congress party announced a protest in front of her house.[39] In her defence, she claimed that she had utilized the French term 'Chéri', which translates to 'beloved', and not the Tamil word 'Cheri'.[36]
During her peak, Khushbu was the leading actress of Tamil cinema. She became the first Indian actress for whom her fans built a dedicated temple.[8][43]
Food dishes, products named after Khushbu
During her peak in Tamil cinema, many dishes in Tamil Nadu were named after Khushbu. Kushboo Idli, a rice cake, was the most popular food item named after the actress.[44] Kushboo Jhumki, Kushboo Sarees, Kushboo Sharbet, Kushboo Coffee, Kushboo Cocktails and various other food items were named after her. Many items still retain those names.[45]
Social issues
Support for Jallikattu
Khushbu has been a very vocal supporter of the bull-taming sport jallikattu, and has voiced her opinion at various national and international platforms. In Aug 2017, she even visited a cattle station in Warrnambool, Australia along with former Ministerial Adviser Mr. Nitin Gupta, and Darpan Mittal to get a better understanding of how cattle is treated, and raised on farms outside India. [46]
Fighting for more recognition of South Indian Cinema on global platforms
Khushbu has been very vocal about getting more recognition for South Indian cinema, and the non-Hindi cinema from India on global platforms and film festivals. She has always maintained that Indian cinema is not just about Bollywood movies. [47]
Personal life
She dated actor Prabhu while filming Chinna Thambi (1991). Khushbu started seeing Prahbu in 1989, and by 1991 she had fallen in love with him.[9] In 1996, Khushbu gave an interview to an English film magazine where she revealed that she and Prabhu had been in a live-in relationship for four and a half years before getting married. Their wedding took place on 12 September 1993, at the house they had bought in Poes Garden.[3]
In 2000, she married film actor, director and producer Sundar C.[48] She has been using the married name Khushbu Sundar since then.[2] They have two daughters, Avantika and Anandita,[9] after whom they named their production house, Avni Cinemax.
Khushbu added her husband's name Sundar to her name after marriage. [49][50]
Although she married a Hindu, she still follows Islam and said she hasn't converted to Hinduism and neither has she been asked to convert by her husband.[51]
Khushbu has been very vocal about getting more recognition for South Indian cinema, and the non-Hindi cinema from India on global platforms and film festivals. She has always maintained that Indian cinema is not just about Bollywood movies. [52][53]
Sheba Nandkeolyar, and Rashi Kapoor Sharma (Known in school days as Rashi Saxena/Pinka) of the Australia India Business Council (AIBC) had conspired along with Mitu Bhowmick Lange of Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) to deny, and block the invitation for Khushbu. This was done without even putting the resolution for any sort of voting from either of the AIBC Boards, or discussions with broader AIBC members. Rashi and Sheba also denied AIBC membership, and voting rights to dozens of applicants including women, and those from backward castes, and tribes.
Sheba had unethically hidden her clear 'Conflict of Interest' of being the sponsor provider for the IFFM, when blocking the invite for Khushbu. While Rashi Kapoor Sharma (nee Saxena/Pinka/Motto) was later found accused in a real estate fraud in Melbourne, along with her boyfriend Amit Miglani. [54]
Opposition by Hindutva groups
Kushbu stirred controversy in December 2012 when she wore a saree that had images of the Hindu gods Rama, Krishna and Hanuman. The Hindu Makkal Katchi demanded an apology from her and threatened to start agitations. She responded by saying that "I am not going to answer every Tom, Dick and Harry. Why should I? There is no need at all. Why are they worried about what a woman sports. Don't they have any other worthwhile work?".[55]
The Hindu Munnani and the Hindu Makkal Katchi filed several cases against Khushbu, accusing the actress that she had disrespected Hindu gods by sitting cross-legged with her slippers in front of the idols of the goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Parvati during a puja for the muhurta at Chennai on 22 November 2007.[56]
Maxim morphed photo case
In January 2006, in their first Indian edition,[57]Maxim magazine featured a full-page composite photograph with her head pasted onto the body of a model wearing a bikini. Khushbu filed two complaints: defamation and the indecent representation of women against the editor and four others involved with the magazine.[58][59][60] The proceedings were later stayed by the Madras High Court in December 2007 based on a plea filed by one of those charged.[61]
Comments on pre-marital sex
In 2005, she said in an interview it was fine for girls to indulge in pre-marital sex if they safeguard themselves and take precautions to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Later, she justified her statement by saying no educated man could expect his partner to be a virgin. Dalit Panthers of India stormed the office of the South India Film Artistes' Association in Chennai demanding an apology from her. The Pattali Makkal Katchi said it will protest outside her house.[62] 22 complaints that she was "defaming Tamil womanhood and chastity" were brought against her, but in 2010 the Supreme Court dismissed all cases.[63][64]
She is known for the TV game show Jackpot[65] and the serials Kalki, JananiKungumam, Nandini and Lakshmi Stores.[66] Khushbu has also appeared as a judge on the reality shows, Maanada Mayilada, Azhagiya Thamizh Maghan and Junior Super Stars.
^Prabhu and Khushbu rocked as the most loved pair in Tamil cinema during the nineties and almost all their films together were blockbuster hits including 'Dharmathin Thalaivan', 'Vettri Vizha', 'Chinna Thambi', 'Maravan', 'Chinna Vaathiyaar', 'Paandi Durai', 'Uttama Raasa' and 'My Dear Marthandan'.
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