Monica Castelino is an Indian former actress, who has primarily appeared in the Hindi film industry. After portraying the lead role in the Tamil film Minsara Kanna (1999), Castelino appeared in glamorous roles in Hindi films throughout the 2000s. In the 2010s, she worked on several Hindi television shows including The Kapil Sharma Show (2017).
After portraying a supporting role as the protagonist's sister in the Hindi film Kaalia (1997), Castelino made her debut in a lead role through K. S. Ravikumar's 1999 Tamil romantic thriller film Minsara Kanna, appearing opposite Vijay in a leading role. Simran was the first choice to play as lady lead, but due to her other commitments she opted out and Castelino was subsequently signed on. She shot with the team in Chennai, Switzerland and Germany, notably filming the "Un Per Solla" song in the Alps.[1][2] The film opened to average reviews and collections at the box office, with the actress gaining mixed reviews for her work.[3] She briefly changed her stage name to Anjani/Madhuri for numerological reasons, before reverting to Monica.[4]
Her last successful movie, "Mo mana khali tori paen", was opposite Sidhant Mohapatra. Failure to get further opportunities saw Castelino play a glamorous lead role in a low budget Hindi adult film Kama Sundari, before playing a similar supporting role in Meri Partigya, which had Mithun Chakraborty in the lead role. She was later seen in an item number in Shikaar (2004), performing a club dance song in the climax of the film. In 2004, she signed on to work on Men Not Allowed, where she portrayed a lesbian woman in love with a woman portrayed by Payal Rohatgi.[5][6] She then continued to play glamorous roles in Hindi films in the late 2000s.[7]
In the 2010s, Castelino moved on to portray roles in television serials and notably featured in Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai (2014), Dr. Madhumati On Duty (2016) and Gupp Chupp (2016) in lead roles. She regularly also worked on shows produced by Optimystix Entertainment.[8][9] In 2017, she joined the Hindi comedy programme, The Kapil Sharma Show, as a regular cast member.[10][11]
Castelino was married to an assistant director, Satyaprakash Singh, in 2010. The pair separated within a year after she complained of his adultery and harassment.[12]
| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Kaalia | Kala | Hindi | |
| 1999 | Minsara Kanna | Aishwarya | Tamil | |
| 2000 | Madhuri | Madhuri | Telugu | credited as Anjana |
| 2001 | Kama Sundari | Sundari | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Meri Partigya | Herself | Hindi | Special appearance in item song |
| 2004 | Shikaar | Herself | Hindi | Special appearance in item song |
| 2005 | Mo Mana Khali Tori Paene | Herself | Odia | Special appearance in item song |
| 2006 | Men Not Allowed | Urmila | Hindi | |
| 2006 | Rafta Rafta – The Speed | Shilpa | Hindi | |
| 2007 | Undertrial | Sameena Hussain | Hindi |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya | ||
| 2009 | Maniben.com | ||
| 2010 | Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani | Miss Shanaya | |
| 2011 | R. K. Laxman Ki Duniya | ||
| 2011 | Rishton Ke Bhanwar Mein Uljhi Niyati | Sharmila | |
| 2012 | Haunted Nights | ||
| 2014 | Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai | Victoria Bai | |
| 2014 | Comedy Classes | ||
| 2014 | Akbar Birbal | Rupali / Roop | |
| 2015 | The Great Indian Family Drama | ||
| 2015 | 2025 Jaane Kya Hoga Aage | Monica | |
| 2016 | Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle | ||
| 2016 | Dr. Madhumati On Duty | ||
| 2016 | Gupp Chupp | Lovely Kohli | |
| 2017 | Har Mard Ka Dard | Mallika | |
| 2017 | The Kapil Sharma Show | Various roles | |
| 2017 | Y.A.R.O Ka Tashan | Sushmitha Kapoor | |
| 2017 | Aadat Se Majboor (TV series) | Ranjan's fake wife | |
| 2017 | Partners | Phullorani | |
| 2018 | Khichdi | Premavarsha | |
| 2020 | Maharaj Ki Jai Ho! | Gandhari |
