Born on September 28, 1984, to a Bengali family, Mouni Roy's birthplace is Cooch Behar, West Bengal. She grew up in her hometown and did her schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya in Baburhat, Cooch Behar till class 12. Mouni then moved to Delhi to study mass communications. However, she quit studies to come to Mumbai to pursue a career in acting. (All pictures/Mouni Roy's Instagram account)

Mouni now one of the most popular actresses on Television as well as in Bollywood. She rose to fame with her performances in serials like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Naagin, Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev and Kasturi, but did you know she started off as background dancer in films?

Do you recognise this woman in the picture? Well, she is none other than Mouni Roy. In 2004, the actress appeared as a background dancer in Abhishek Bachchan and Bhumika Chawla starrer Run's song Nahi Hona. Mouni was just 19 when she appeared in the song.

Mouni Roy started her career with Ekta Kapoor's popular serial 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' in 2007. But she gained popularity from dance reality shows like 'Zara Nachke Dikha', 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' and mythological TV serials like 'Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev'.

With 2015's Naagin, Mouni Roy rose to fame and became one of the highest paid actresses in the Television industry.

In 2018, almost after 15 years, Mouni Roy made her Bollywood debut with Gold, where she played Akshay Kumar's wife in the film. She bagged the role on the basis of her talent and not on anyone's recommendation. She auditioned for the part and impressed the makers by her performance to bag the film.

Mouni Roy thinks that foraying in Bollywood after carving a successful career in the television world was like leaving home and entering new territory. She was quoted by mid-day saying, 'My transition to big screen happened very organically, but yes I do feel a loss because it was like leaving your home and entering a new territory as it was my first film, and there were a lot of personal struggles involved.'

At the same time, Mouni Roy feels she belongs to the film world since a very long time. 'While doing TV show 'Naagin', I performed at the IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) Awards. And I have done many award shows. So, I have many friends in the industry and knew almost everybody as I was a part of many reality shows. I have never felt that I am new to this industry. I have always felt welcomed and loved,' she said.

Despite playing the leading lady in Gold, a few people and critics pointed out that Mouni Roy's role had less screen time. On the same, Mouni told mid-day, 'I think people liked me, and that's why they felt that my role is less in the film. I will consider it as a back-handed compliment. If people didn't like my role or didn't notice me, then they would not have been talking about it. I feel if you like something, then you want more of it. So, I see this thing as a compliment.'

After playing the sharp-tongued Bengali wife to Akshay Kumar's character in Gold (2018) and a spy in Romeo Akbar Walter, the actor's next Bollywood venture Made In China had her slipping into the part of a Gujarati homemaker.

Mouni Roy shared screen space with Rajkummar Rao in Made In China and she confessed that she felt lucky to have had got the chance so early on in her film career. "I have learned everything from Raj on this film and for my role. He helped me endlessly during our rehearsals, not only for the scenes that we had together but also for my solo sequences. His inputs were valuable and helped me become a better actor," says Roy. 

Mouni Roy is concentrating on Hindi cinema completely after dominating the telly world for more than a decade. She will also be seen in Brahmastra, which stars Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna.

Asked if she will return to small screen, Mouni Roy said, 'I have not left TV. Right now, I am just busy with films. But if time permits, definitely I will do TV shows.'

What's life after entering Bollywood for Mouni? 'Life is pretty much the same. People who like me still like me, people who dislike me still dislike me. Nothing much has changed. But, I am completely enjoying the current phase of my career,' said Roy.

Did you know Mouni Roy is a trained Kathak dancer? The actress even has a dream of portraying a classical dancer in a film.

'I want to do all kinds of roles and genres. I want to become a versatile actor. But talking about any specific role, I would love to portray a classical dancer. Since childhood, playing the role of a classical dancer in a film has always been my dream,' said Mouni Roy.

Mouni Roy also did an item song 'Ki kariye nachna aaonda nahin' in the film Tum Bin 2. She also did a sensuous act in KGF's Gali Gali song.

Mouni Roy was also seen in the spy thriller London Confidential. The film is set amid a series of brutal killings of Indian agents in London, and shows how Uma, a RAW officer, must expose a mole within the ranks. The film released on the OTT platform Zee5 on September 18, 2020 and also stars Purab Kohli, Kulraj Randhawa, Sagar Arya, Parvesh Rana, Jas Binag, Diljohn Singh and Kiren Jogi.

We take a look at some of Mouni's candid pictures from her personal album:

Mouni Roy doesn't shy away from flaunting her hot body in pictures posted on Instagram

From sexy bikini pics to gorgeous selfies, Mouni Roy regularly posts photos on Instagram that set the temperature soaring

Mouni Roy in her vanity van, getting ready for the shoot of Naagin.

Mouni Roy looks sensuous in this see-through black saree

This picture of Mouni Roy's pictures sent her fans into tizzy!

Mouni Roy looks gorgeous partying with her friend

Mouni Roy is quite a leggy lass!

Mouni Roy enjoys a sunny day by the beach