You probably know her from that viral, 30-second kiss on Bigg Boss OTT 2 that basically broke the Indian internet for a week. Or maybe you remember her as the goddess who spent years draped in heavy jewelry on mythological sets. But if you think Akanksha Puri is just another reality TV contestant looking for a quick spotlight, you’re kinda missing the bigger picture. Honestly, her filmography is a wild mix of South Indian action flicks, gritty Bollywood dramas, and a long-standing reign on national television.
She didn't just wake up one day and decide to be famous. Before she was Parvati or a "Calendar Girl," Akanksha was actually flying the skies as an international cabin crew member for Kingfisher Airlines. It’s that classic "spotted in a crowd" story, except it happened while she was working. A few modeling gigs led to a 2013 debut in a Tamil movie called Alex Pandian, and she hasn't really slowed down since.
The Big Break: Akanksha Puri Movies and TV Shows That Put Her on the Map
Most people think Calendar Girls was her first ever appearance, but she had already cut her teeth in the South.
The 2015 Madhur Bhandarkar film Calendar Girls was her big Bollywood entrance. She played Nandita Menon, a girl from Hyderabad navigating the cutthroat world of high-fashion modeling. It’s a heavy movie, honestly. It deals with the "reality" (or at least Bhandarkar’s version of it) behind the glamour. While the film itself got mixed reviews, Akanksha stood out. She brought a certain poise that made people realize she wasn't just there to look pretty.
The Mythological Queen Phase
If the big screen gave her a name, the small screen gave her a permanent home in Indian households. For over three years, she was the face of Goddess Parvati in Vighnaharta Ganesh.
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Think about the stamina that takes.
Daily soaps in India are a grind. Mythological shows? That's a whole other level. You’re talking about hours of makeup, massive headgears that probably weigh five pounds, and dialogue in "Shuddh Hindi" that would make most modern actors trip over their tongues. She played various avatars of the goddess—Kali, Durga, Mahisasuramardini. It was a massive commitment that she eventually walked away from in 2020 because, well, three years is a long time to play one character.
Breaking Down the Filmography
Her career is surprisingly diverse if you actually look at the list of Akanksha Puri movies and TV shows:
- Alex Pandian (2013): Her Tamil debut. It’s a loud, high-energy action masala film. Not exactly Shakespeare, but it got her in the door.
- Praise the Lord (2014): A Malayalam film where she worked alongside Mammootty. Getting a role opposite a legend like him early on is a big deal.
- Samrajyam II: Son of Alexander (2015): Another Malayalam project that leaned into the gangster-drama genre.
- Action (2019): A massive Tamil production starring Vishal and Tamannaah. Akanksha played a character named Kaira. It’s the kind of film where everything is explosive, and the stakes are always life-or-death.
Why Reality TV Changed Everything (For Better or Worse)
It’s impossible to talk about her without mentioning Swayamvar – Mika Di Vohti.
This show was... a lot. Mika Singh, the famous singer, was looking for a "bride." Akanksha entered as a wildcard, which was weird because they had been friends for 13 years. She won, obviously. But then, in true reality TV fashion, they never actually got married. They stayed "best friends." It felt like a fever dream for the viewers, but it kept her name in the headlines for months.
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Then came Bigg Boss OTT 2 in 2023. This is where the "fake" labels started flying. People on the show, including Pooja Bhatt, called her "too perfect" or "rehearsed." It’s an interesting criticism, right? Being too professional is a flaw in the world of reality TV where everyone wants "raw" drama.
Then the Jad Hadid kiss happened. It was for a task. She took it professionally—30 seconds, held her breath, did the job. But the fallout was massive. Salman Khan was furious, the audience was split, and she was evicted shortly after. She later claimed the channel "milked" the controversy for views while throwing her under the bus.
Moving Into the Digital Space: OTT and Web Series
As of 2024 and 2025, she has been leaning heavily into the OTT (Over-The-Top) space. The era of the 3-hour movie is fading, and she knows it.
Projects like Honey Trap Squad and Inspector Avinash (where she had a role alongside Randeep Hooda) show she’s trying to shed the "TV actress" image. These roles are usually grittier. There’s less slow-motion walking and more actual character development. She’s also been part of projects like Simran the Lost Soul, which is a horror-thriller web series.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Her Career
People assume she’s just a "social media influencer" who acts sometimes.
The truth is she has worked in four different languages: Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. That’s not easy. Every industry has a different vibe and a different way of working. Transitioning from a Malayalam drama to a Bollywood glam-fest requires a range that most people don't give her credit for.
The Future: What's Next?
So, where does she go from here?
She’s recently been linked to more reality shows, like rumors about Khatron Ke Khiladi, but her focus seems to be shifting back to acting. There are talks of her appearing in more regional films where she started. She has a massive following (millions on Instagram), which gives her a leverage most traditional actors don't have. She can greenlight projects just by being attached to them.
If you’re looking to catch up on her work, don’t just watch the Bigg Boss clips. Go back and watch Action for the scale, or Vighnaharta Ganesh if you want to see the sheer discipline it takes to lead a show for 700+ episodes.
Next Steps for the Akanksha Fan:
- Watch 'Calendar Girls' on streaming: It’s probably the most "Akanksha" performance out there—glamorous but with an underlying struggle.
- Check out 'Action' (2019): If you like high-octane South Indian cinema, this is a fun watch.
- Follow her YouTube/Socials: She’s very vocal about her fitness and behind-the-scenes life, which gives a much more human perspective than the edited reality TV versions.