Poorna Jagannathan

Poorna Jagannathan
Poorna Jagannathan By Amyn Hooda
Born	Tunis, Tunisia
Alma mater	University of Maryland
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2001 - present
Spouse(s)	Azad Oommen (m. 2003)

Poorna Jagannathan (Tamil: பூர்ணா ஜகன்நாதன்) is an American actress and producer who came to prominence after starring in the Bollywood film Delhi Belly opposite Imran Khan. She is also best known for initiating and producing the play "Nirbhaya" by Yael Farber which won the 2013 Amnesty International Award and was called by The Telegraph as the "One of the most powerful pieces of theater you'll ever see".^[1] Jagannathan is considered among the most influential women in India for her work in film, fashion and activism.^[2]

Early life

The daughter of a diplomat, Jagannathan was born in Tunis, Tunisia but grew up in Pakistan, Ireland, Brazil and Argentina.^[3] She began her college education at the University of Brasilia, Brazil but graduated in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park. On scholarship, she started her Master's from The Actor's Studio, one of the world's top drama schools,^[4] but left after the first year.^[5]

Career

Jagannathan has appeared on several TV shows including House of Cards, Royal Pains, Law & Order, Rescue Me, and The Game.^[6] Her film credits include Thanks For Sharing by Stuart Blumburg and In 2013, Jagannathan portrayed Riyana Sarai in the Ranbir Kapoor starrer Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. The movie has become the third highest grossing Bollywood film of all time in India and worldwide.^[7] The film was written and directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Dharma Films.

Jagannathan is an established theater actress and is part of The Barrow Group in New York City. In 2012, Deadline.com reported that Jagannathan had joined the cast of HBO's new show "Crime" as a series regular. The ensemble cast was led by James Gandolfini and was written and directed by Steven Zaillian and Richard Price.^[8] The project was shot end of 2012 but was shelved by HBO. It got revived in May 2013 and was slated to start shooting again with Gandolfini in 2014.^[9] After Gandolfini's death, Oscar winner Robert De Niro initially stepped in to take over the role originally played by the beloved Sopranos star in the pilot.^[10] Due to schedule conflicts, John Turturro replaced De Niro. Filming resumed August 2014 and ended in March 2015 in New York City.

Moved by a sensational gang rape and murder in Delhi on December 16, 2012, Jagannathan initiated and co-produced a testimonial play called Nirbhaya ("Fearless", a pseudonym given to the victim).^[11] The play uses the rape and death of Jyoti Singh Pandey as a catalyst to break the silence around sexual violence. She collaborated with internationally acclaimed playwright and director, Yael Farber.^{[12] [13]} Nirbhaya opened at the Assembly Hall in August 2013 during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.^[14] It won the coveted 2013 Amnesty International Award as well as the Scotsman Fringe First and Herald Angel Awards. It got 5 star reviews from The Independent, The Telegraph and The Herald. It got 4 star reviews from The Times, The Scotsman, the London Evening Standard and Time Out. The Sunday Herald called Nirbhaya "One of the most powerful and urgent pieces of human rights theatre ever made".^{[15][16][17][18][19]} In March 2014, Nirbhaya was the centerpiece performance for Southbank's "Women of the World" festival where it played to sold out houses in the UK. After a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund an India tour, "Nirbhaya" opened to critical acclaim in India on March 17, 2014, playing to sold houses in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.^[20][21] In August 2014, The Guardian audiences voted "Nirbhaya" among the top 10 "best fringe moments" in the Edinburgh Festival's history.^[22]

Jagannathan won critical acclaim for her role as a spunky, irreverent journalist in the film Delhi Belly. The Village Voice said "For all this censor-board razzing, the most enjoyably subversive element is Poorna Jagannathan as the self-sufficient bachelorette who waylays Tashi on his way to the altar. Rangy, corkscrew-haired, with a wary demeanor that can’t long be upset by anything, she’s a happy departure from the usual run of Xeroxed, pedestaled beauties."^[23] Mumbai Mirror said, "Poorna Jagannathan, an offbeat choice, is remarkably subtle and does a brilliant job."^[24] The Daily News and Analysis was of the opinion that Jagannathan shines in the film, and that "her bohemian sex appeal" is "a refreshing change from the prim and proper 'heroine' we are used to watching."^[25] The editor of Outlook Lounge said that Jagannathan's performance was a "masterclass in effortless acting".

For her performance in Delhi Belly, Jagannathan won the Stardust award for Best Supporting Actress ^[26] and the L'Oreal Femina Award for Breakthrough Performance in 2012.^[27]

• Jagannathan has been featured on the cover of Marie Claire, Femina, Jade and Exotica and covered in numerous publications like Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Cosmopolitan and Grazia.

• In 2014, Verve Magazine named her among the top 50 most powerful women in India.^[28]

• She was featured in Vogue‍ '​s October 2012 anniversary issue as one of 8 women who are changing the face of beauty in India.

• Jagannathan was featured among the top 10 in Femina magazine's "India's 50 most beautiful women" in 2012.

• Vogue included her in their list of 50 best red carpet looks for 2012 and included her in their list of "Best dressed: Who to watch in 2014".

• Grazia awarded Jagannathan the "Best Dressed Award" for 2014.

• She was ranked Most Fashionable Indian Woman by Cosmopolitan in their October 2013 and 2012 issues.

• She was included in Verve‍ '​s "2012's Best dressed Women" issue.

• Italian Marie Claire named Jagannathan as one of the 12 women from the East impacting Western cinema in 2012^[29]

• She was included in Elle magazine's hot 100 list for 2011.

• She was voted among the Top 50 Coolest Indians From Around The World for 2013 and 2011 by Desiclub.^[30][31]

She is a brand ambassador for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in India.

Filmography

Awards

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Poorna Jagannathan.

• Poorna Jagannathan at the Internet Movie Database
• Official Site for Actor Poorna Jagannathan