Farah Khan Kunder is an Indian film director, choreographer, writer, film producer, and actress with an extensive career in Hindi films. Khan studied at St. Teresa's Convent School, Mumbai, and then later studied sociology at St. Xavier's College, Bombay.
Khan's first movie as a choreographer was
Kahan Kahan Se Guzar Gaya (1981). She entered mainstream Hindi cinema as a choreographer in
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992) and gained fame with her choreographed song in the movie
Virasat (1997), for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Choreography for the song Dhol Bajne Laga.
Her next two Filmfare Awards for Best Choreography were for
Dil Se.. (1998) and Ek Pal Ka Jeena from the film
Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000).
Some of her other award-winning choreographed songs include
Bombay Dreams (2004), for which she got nominated for Tony Awards for best choreography, Idhar Chala Main Udhar Chala from the movie
Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) for which she won the National Film Award for Best Choreography and Filmfare Award for Best Choreography,
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) in
Tees Maar Khan (2022) for which she won another Filmfare Award for Best Choreography.
As an actress, she starred in
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), and appeared in a small role in
Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) and
Om Shanti Om (2007). After doing a few cameo roles, she was seen as the lead actor in
Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi (2012).
Her directorial debut was
Main Hoon Na (2004), starring
Shah Rukh Khan and
Zayed Khan. She then directed
Om Shanti Om (2007),
Tees Maar Khan (2010), and
Happy New Year (2014).
She has appeared as a judge and co-host in several TV serials. She started with
Indian Idol (2004), where she was the Judge in Seasons 1, 2, and 7. In 2006, she judged
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (2006) Season 1.
Then in 2008 and 2015, she also judged another dance show,
Nach Baliye (2005) Season 4 and 7. In 2010, she was one of the judges for
Dance India Dance: Li'l Masters (2010). In 2012, she did the show
India's Got Talent (2009) Season 4 as a Judge.
In 2015, she co-hosted
Bigg Boss Halla Bol: Farah Khan Replaces Salman (2015). In 2020, she was the interim host of
Khatron Ke Khiladi - Made in India (2020). In 2022, she also hosted
The Khatra Show (2019).