Nargis Fakhri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nargis Fakhri
Fakhri at an event in 2013
Born	Nargis Fakhri (1979-10-20) October 20, 1979 (age 45) Queens, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2006–2020; 2023-present
Spouse(s)	Tony Beig ​ (m. 2025)​

Nargis Fakhri (born October 20, 1979) is an American actress. She is well-known for her work in Hindi-language films made in India. Before becoming famous in India, Nargis worked as a model in America. She gained a lot of attention with the romantic drama film Rockstar in 2011.

Later, she played a war reporter in the movie Madras Cafe (2013). She also starred in popular comedies like Main Tera Hero (2014) and Housefull 3 (2016). Nargis Fakhri has also appeared in the Hollywood action comedy Spy (2015).

Early Life and Modeling Career

Nargis Fakhri was born on October 20, 1979, in Queens, New York City. Her father was Pakistani, and her mother was Czech. Her parents divorced when she was six years old. Her father passed away a few years later. Because of her mixed background and American nationality, Nargis calls herself a "global citizen." She grew up in Mohegan Lake, New York.

Nargis started modeling when she was 16. She appeared on the TV show America's Next Top Model in 2004. Even though she did well in the first few challenges, she didn't make it to the final group of contestants. After that, she continued modeling professionally in America. She worked for different agencies and often appeared in fashion shows.

Her fame grew when she was featured in a popular Indian calendar in 2009. This appearance caught the eye of Indian filmmaker Imtiaz Ali. He chose her for a role in the Hindi romantic drama Rockstar. Nargis later shared that she wanted to work in India to connect with her cultural background.

Acting Career

First Films and Big Success (2011–2015)

Fakhri promoting Rockstar in 2011

Nargis Fakhri made her acting debut in 2011 with the movie Rockstar. She played the main female role in this musical romantic drama. The film tells the story of a musician who becomes famous after his passionate lover passes away. In Rockstar, Nargis played a free-spirited rich girl. Because her Hindi wasn't very strong, another voice artist spoke her lines in the movie.

Critics had mixed opinions about her acting in Rockstar, but many praised her beautiful looks. Some critics noted her good on-screen chemistry with her co-star Ranbir Kapoor. The movie was a big success, earning a lot of money and becoming one of the top Hindi films of that year. Nargis was nominated for several awards for her first role, including a Filmfare nomination.

Her next film was Madras Cafe (2013), a political thriller where she starred alongside John Abraham. This movie was set during the Indian involvement in the Sri Lankan civil war. Nargis played a British war reporter in Sri Lanka. For this film, she spoke her own lines, unlike her first movie. Critics really liked Madras Cafe and praised the actors' performances. Many said Nargis did a good job and showed she was more than just a pretty face. Later that year, she had a special dance appearance in the action comedy Phata Poster Nikhla Hero.

In 2014, Nargis worked with Varun Dhawan and Ileana D'Cruz in the romantic comedy Main Tera Hero. This movie was a remake of a Telugu film. Nargis played Ayesha, a Don's daughter who falls in love with a lively young man. The film did well financially, but critics had mixed feelings about it. Some said Nargis fit well into the comedy, while others thought she needed to improve her acting. She then appeared in a popular song called "Yaar Naa Miley" with Salman Khan for the action thriller Kick. This song became very popular with audiences.

Later in 2015, Nargis starred in her first Hollywood movie, the action comedy Spy. She played Lia, a secret agent and her first villain role. The film also starred Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, and Jude Law. Both the movie and Nargis's performance received good reviews from critics. She was even nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Fight. Spy was a huge success, earning over $235 million worldwide.

Later Roles and Recent Work (2016–Present)

Nargis Fakhri started 2016 with a special dance appearance in the Tamil film Saagasam. She then appeared in the biographical sports drama Azhar. In this film, she played Sangeeta Bijlani, an actress and the second wife of cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin. Critics had different opinions about her performance, but some found her "likeable." The film was moderately successful at the box office.

Next, she had a supporting role in Housefull 3, a comedy film. She played a rich girl who falls in love with a con-man. While the film was a major commercial success, critics generally didn't like her performance. Some felt she was mostly there for her looks. Nargis then had a small role in the adventure comedy Dishoom.

Her last role in 2016 was in the musical Banjo. She played Christina, an American looking for a musician who could play the banjo. The film received mixed reviews and didn't do very well at the box office. In October 2017, Nargis was chosen to be a counselor for One Young World, an event where young leaders discuss global issues.

In 2018, Nargis starred in her second Hollywood movie, the romantic comedy 5 Weddings, opposite Rajkumar Rao. Critics felt that her chemistry with Rao wasn't strong. In 2019, she appeared in the horror thriller Amavas, which also received mixed reviews and didn't perform well.

In 2020, Nargis was seen in Torbaaz. In 2023, she appeared in Shiv Shastri Balboa. In 2025, Nargis Fakhri appeared alongside Akshay Kumar in Housefull 5. This film was released in two versions with different endings. She also appeared in the Telugu film Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1.

Personal Life

Nargis Fakhri dated actor Uday Chopra starting in 2013. Their relationship was often talked about in the media. They broke up in late 2017. In May 2018, Nargis confirmed her relationship with filmmaker Matt Alonzo on Instagram, but this relationship ended in 2019. She is a vegetarian who also eats eggs. In 2024, Nargis stated that marriage does not define her. On February 16, 2025, Nargis married Tony Beig, a businessman from Los Angeles, after they had been dating for three years.

Filmography

Film

Key

Denotes films that have not yet been released

• All films are in Hindi unless otherwise noted

Television

Music video

Discography

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Nargis Fakhri para niños

• List of Hindi film actresses