Kalki Koechlin, a French actress and writer, has made a significant impact in the Hindi film industry. The Bollywood Actress known for her unconventional body of work, she has received accolades such as a National Film Award, a Filmfare Award, and two Screen Awards.
Despite being a French citizen, she has spent most of her life in India.
Early Life and Upbringing
orn in Pondicherry, India, on 10 January 1984 to French parents, Joel Koechlin and Francoise Armandie, Kalki was raised in Auroville. She studied drama at Goldsmiths, University of London, and worked simultaneously with a local theatre company.
Kalki is a multilinguist, fluent in English, French, Hindi, and Tamil.
Personal Life – Age, Zodiac Sign
| Personal Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kalki Koechlin |
| Nickname | Kalki |
| Alternative Names(s) (also known as) | Kalki Koechlin |
| Date of Birth | 10 January 1984 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 39 years |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Nationality | French |
| Birthplace | Pondicherry, India |
| Hometown | Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Current Address | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Education Qualification | Studied Drama and Theatre at Goldsmiths, University of London |
| Hobbies and Interests | Dancing, reading, yoga, traveling |
| Languages Known | English, French, Hindi, Tamil |
| Social Media Profiles link (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter |
| Wikipedia Profile link | Kalki Koechlin |
| IMDb Profile link | Kalki Koechlin |
| Website link | None |
Physical Appearance – Height, Weight, Body Measurements
| Physical Stats | Information |
|---|---|
| Body Type | Slim |
| Body Measurements (Chest – Waist – Hips) | 33-25-33 inches |
| Height in feet, inches, cm | 5 ft 4 in or 162.5 cm |
| Weight in kg, lbs | 53 kg or 117 lbs |
| Chest | 33 inches |
| Waist | 25 inches |
| Biceps | N/A |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Light Brown |
| Hairstyle | Often sports forehead bangs |
| Distinctive Features | Lean frame, amber eyes |
| Tattoos | N/A |
Family and Relationships – Boyfriend/Husband, Affairs
Kalki’s parents divorced when she was fifteen. She has a half-brother from her mother’s previous marriage, and a half-brother from her father’s subsequent marriage. Kalki was married to Anurag Kashyap, a renowned film director, from 2011 to 2015.
She is currently in a relationship with Guy Hershberg, an Israeli classical pianist. They have a daughter named Sappho.
| Relationships Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Spouse – Husband | Anurag Kashyap (Ex-husband) |
| Father | Joel Koechlin |
| Mother | Françoise Armandie |
| Children | Sappho (Daughter) |
| Siblings | Oriel Koechlin (Brother) |
| Affairs – Boyfriend(s) | Anurag Kashyap (Director) , Guy Hershberg (an Israeli classical pianist) |
| Significant Relationships | Guy Hershberg (Current partner and father of her daughter) |
Rise to Stardom
Kalki made her lead screen debut as Chanda in the drama Dev.D in 2009, and won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
She starred in two of the highest-grossing Hindi films of their respective release years—the romantic comedy-dramas Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), both of which garnered her nominations for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Kalki Koechlin – Debut Film – Dev.D (2009)
Kalki Koechlin – Successful Film – Ribbon (2017)
Career, Awards, and Achievements
Kalki expanded her career into screenwriting with the 2011 crime thriller That Girl in Yellow Boots, in which she also played the lead role. She won further acclaim and a National Film Award – Special Jury Award for her role of a young woman with cerebral palsy in the coming-of-age drama Margarita with a Straw (2014).
Kalki has written, produced, and acted in several stage productions. She co-wrote the drama Skeleton Woman (2009), which won her The MetroPlus Playwright Award.
| Career Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Profession(s) | Actress, writer |
| Debut Film | Dev.D (2009) |
| Notable Roles | Chanda in Dev.D, Laila in Margarita with a Straw, Aditi in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Natasha in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Faiza in Made in Heaven |
| Recent Films – New Movies | Gully Boy (2019), Bhram (2019), Cargo (2019), Scholarship (2020), Kaadan (2021) |
| Upcoming Films | Goldfish (2021), Scholarship (2021), Dibakar Banerjee’s next film (TBA) |
| Popular Television Series | Sacred Games (2019), Made in Heaven (2019), Bhram (2019) |
| Awards and Achievements | National Film Award – Special Jury Award for Margarita with a Straw, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Dev.D, Screen Awards for Best Actress (Jury) and Best Ensemble Cast for Margarita with a Straw and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara respectively, The Hindu Metroplus Playwright Award for Skeleton Woman, Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government |
| Endorsements/Brand Collaborations | Coca-Cola, Olay, Vogue Eyewear, Titan Raga, Micromax Canvas Knight, Wildcraft |
| Philanthropy/Charity Work | UN Women’s HeForShe campaign, Aarohan NGO for street children, P&G Shiksha campaign for education, Save the Children India campaign for child rights |
| Professional Associations | N/A |
| Training and Education | Studied drama and theatre at Goldsmiths, University of London |
| Production Company | N/A |
| Box Office Success – Hit Movies | Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Gully Boy |
| Critical Acclaim Movies | Dev.D, That Girl in Yellow Boots, Margarita with a Straw, Waiting |
Assets and Finances – Net Worth
| Financial Profile | Information |
|---|---|
| Net Worth in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 20 crore or $2.7 million |
| Per Movie Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs. 50 lakh or $67,000 |
| Per Endorsement Charges in Rs. and Dollars | Rs 50-60 Lakhs |
| Sponsorship Deals | Pilgrim, Hidesign, The Moms Co., Oriflame, IICE Vodka, AOC TV, Huggies, Micromax, Coca Cola |
| Business Ventures | N/A |
| Investments | N/A |
| Real Estate Holdings | A flat in Mumbai |
| Luxury Items/Properties Owned | A collection of sustainable handbags , a vintage car |
| Cars Collection | Rang ovar,BMW |
Favourite Things, Likes and Dislikes
| Favorite Things | Information |
|---|---|
| Favorite Actor | Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Boman Irani and Abhishek Bachchan |
| Favorite Actress | Deepika Padukone |
| Favorite Film | Dev D, Water, Dweepa |
| Favorite Music Bands | U2, Coldplay, The Killers |
| Favorite Sport | N/A |
| Favorite Books | Fiction and sports autobiographies |
| Favorite Color | Black, Pink, Red |
| Favorite Food | Chocolates, rice-dal, chicken curry and maggi |
| Things s/he likes | Dancing, reading, yoga, traveling, cats, adventure sports |
| Things s/he dislikes | N/A |
Top 5 Best Films – Kalki Koechlin
| Film Name | Year of Release | Character Played |
|---|---|---|
| Dev.D | 2009 | Chanda |
| Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara | 2011 | Natasha Arora |
| Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani | 2013 | Aditi |
| Margarita with a Straw | 2014 | Laila |
| Gully Boy | 2019 | Sky |
Controversies – Kalki Koechlin
- Kalki faced criticism for a semi-nude photograph posted on Instagram.
- Her marriage with Anurag Kashyap ended in divorce, sparking rumors.
- Kalki’s French descent has often been a point of discussion in the media.
- She faced challenges in her early days of struggle in Mumbai.
- Kalki’s decision to have a water birth for her baby was met with mixed reactions.
Interesting Facts – Kalki Koechlin
- Kalki is a multilinguist, fluent in English, French, Hindi, and Tamil.
- Her great-grandfather, Maurice Koechlin, was the chief engineer of the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.
- She co-wrote the movie That Girl In Yellow Boots with Anurag Kashyap.
- Kalki’s parents are devotees of Sri Aurobindo.
- She studied drama at Goldsmiths, University of London.
- Kalki has a half-brother from her mother’s previous marriage, and a half-brother from her father’s subsequent marriage.
Kalki Koechlin’s journey from a small village in Pondicherry to the glitz and glamour of Bollywood is truly inspiring. Her talent, determination, and versatility make her a unique presence in the Indian film industry.
As she continues to break barriers and redefine norms, Kalki Koechlin remains a symbol of change and progress in Bollywood.
