Gauri Karnik – Bollywood and Television actress best known for playing lead role in ‘Sur: The Melody of Love’

Gauri Karnik is a retired actress associated with Hindi entertainment industry. She appeared in a few movies and TV shows, and is best known for playing the lead role of a singer in Tanuja Chandra’s ‘Sur: The Melody of Love’ released in 2002. The movie marked her screen debut. Though the musical was a flop at box office, its melodious songs are still popular. She appears in the popular tracks – Aa Bhi Jaa aside her co-star Lucky Ali, and as a performer in the climax song, Kabhi Shyam Dale To Mere Dil Mein Aaja Na. She is listed among the lost heroines of Bollywood.

Gauri Karnik hails from Maharashtra, and was born in 1977. As an actress she got her first break in late 1990s through TV shows. 1999 show Rishtey on ZEE TV marked her acting debut, where she played Maria in an episode – Khel Khel Mein. Later she appeared in the series, Sukanya. In 2002 she got her first major break through ‘Sur: The Melody of Love’, which included some of the finest songs of the year. The movie beautifully depicted the silent love between a teacher and his student, played by Lucky Ali and Gauri onscreen. Kabhi Shyam Dale To sung by Mahalakshmi Iyer and Aa Bhi Jaa, Tu Dil Ki Khushi and Dil Mein Jagi Dhadkan Aise sung by Sunidhi Chauhan were well received.

Though her lead role in Sur got noticed, she couldn’t get good roles from television and films. A few of her signed films got delayed and a few others got shelved. Her movies – Prarambh and Stop went unnoticed. She appeared in TV show – Tum Se Jo Na Keh Paaye in 2005. After staying in the entertainment industry for a while, she married Sarim Momin and said good bye to acting. Overtime (2012) was her last release, where she played a supporting role.

Gauri Karnik – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. She is married to Bollywood lyricist and filmmaker Sarim Momin, best known for his association with RGV. After her marriage in 2010, she retired from acting.

2. Her husband (born in 1978) is one year younger to her, and both were born in the month of December.

3. In 2009 she played lead role in a Kannada movie, Karanji. She also appeared in a couple of Bengali films – Grohon: The Eclipse and Pa Ma Ga Re Sa.

4. She received Star Screen Award Most Promising Newcomer – Female 2003 for her impressive performance in Sur. Unfortunately she couldn’t make it big in Bollywood.

Kabhi Shyam Dale To Mere Dil Mein Aaja Na song from Sur

5. She is interested in music, and learnt to play violin for three months before the beginning of shooting of her debut flick, Sur. She did the movie soon after completing college studies.

6. She has also studied Hindustani music for a brief period, and did playback singing for her Bengali film, Grohan. The recorded song belonged to Rabindra Sangeet genre.