Rukmini Mallick, (born on 28 April 1982) known professionally as Koel Mallick (), or mononymously as Koel, is an Indian actress, politician and a member of Rajya Sabha from West Bengal, known for her work primarily in Bengali films. Often referred to as the "Tolly-Queen", she is the recipient numerous accolades, including a Filmfare Awards Bangla, two BFJA Awards, and a Anandalok Puraskar. In 2023, she was honoured with the Mahanayak Samman by the Government of West Bengal.
The daughter of Ranjit Mallick, Koel made her acting debut with Nater Guru (2003), which was a box-office success. She rose to fame starring in commercially successful films Shubhodrishti (2005), Mon Mane Na (2008), Premer Kahini (2008), 100% Love (2012) and Rangbaaz (2013). Starring roles in the top-grossing romances Paglu (2011) and Besh Korechi Prem Korechi (2015), established her as a leading star in Bengali cinema. Her performances in the family drama Bandhan (2004), the political thriller MLA Fatakeshto (2006), the drama Dui Prithibi (2010), the black comedy Hemlock Society (2012), the thriller Mitin Mashi (2019) received critical acclaim.
In addition to acting in films, Koel is a social activist and noted for her work with widows and children. Koel has been married to the producer Nispal Singh since 2013, with whom she has two children.
Early life and education Mallick was born in Kolkata to Bengali film actor Ranjit Mallick and Deepa Mallick, of Kolkata's Mallick Bari of Bhowanipore. Mallick did her schooling at Modern High School for Girls, and completed a BSc (honors) in Psychology from the Gokhale Memorial Girls' College, an affiliated college of the University of Calcutta.
Career
Film Mallick's screen debut was in Nater Guru – opposite Jeet. Nater Guru was a "runaway success" at the box office. The film, released in 2003, marked Mallick's entry into Tollywood. She also won her first award for Best Actor in a Leading Role Female at the 4th Tele Cine Awards (2004) for Nater Guru. In the film, Mallick plays the role of a 23-year-old girl named Monica opposite Jeet. Since the release of Nater Guru the pair has worked together often, appearing in eleven films.
In 2004, she starred in Debipaksha, Shudhu Tumi, Badsha The King and Bandhan. While the first two performed poorly at the box office, Bandhan was a huge success in Bengal and was a blockbuster at the box office. It was also the highest grossing Bengali film of 2004.
In 2005, Mallick appeared in Shubhodrishti, Manik, Yuddho and Chore Chore Mastuto Bhai. In 2005, Koel Mallick entered the Odia film industry for the first time. In her first Odia film, Premi No.1, Mallick acted opposite Anubhav Mohanty. She appeared in Yuddho opposite Mithun Chakraborty and Debashree Roy. The film recorded an initial collection of 12 million (12 million) in its first week. In 2006, she took on a more serious role in MLA Fatakeshto in which she played a reporter. She also starred in the 2008 film Love, the Bengali remake of Love Story.
Television Mallick made her television debut with Zee Bangla's first Mahalaya in the year 2007 as Devi Mahisasuramardini and her various avatars. She also appeared in Didi No. 1 in 2010 as a celebrity contestant. She also hosted her first talk-show Katha O Kahini. The show went on to air on Star Jalsha.
In 2013 Mallick appeared as a celebrity judge in the Bengali version of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa along with Bollywood choreographer Remo D'Souza. The show aired on ETV Bangla. She also starred in Dance Bangla Dance Junior as a Judge and in Season 11 as a celebrity judge. She was also seen in Zee Bangla's various reality shows like Rannaghor, Dadagiri Unlimited, and Didi No. 1.
Mallick and Jeet were also seen as a guests in the Star Jalsha serial Sansar Sukher Hoy Romonir Gune for the promotion of the movie 100% Love. Mallick has also appeared on the popular soap Bojhena Se Bojhena which is also aired on STAR Jalsha.
Brand endorsements Mallick has endorsed a variety of multi-national brands and has done television commercials for TVS Motor Company, glow & Lovely, Panasonic, and Vaseline.
Political career On 27 February 2026, Mallick was announced as the Trinamool Congress party candidate from West Bengal for the 2026 Rajya Sabha elections to be held on 16 March. She was sworn in as the Member of Parliament of Rajya Sabha on 6 April 2026. On 3 June 2026, she was appointed as a member of the Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development. On July 16, 2026, she resigned from her Rajya Sabha membership.
On 4 October 2026, Mallick was re-nominated again for the Rajya Sabha membership she had vacated after the 2026 elections. The following day, she officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, and filed her nomination.
Personal life Mallick married Nispal Singh (Rane) on 1 February 2013. They had been in a relationship for seven years before that, but both of them had decided to keep their relationship away from the glamour world of Tollywood. On 1 February 2020 she announced on Instagram that she was expecting her first child. On 5 May 2020, Mallick gave birth to a boy. The couple named their son Kabir Singh. On 3 October 2024 she announced the news of her second pregnancy via social media. On 14 December 2024 she gave birth to a baby girl.
Filmography Films Denotes films that have not yet been released
All films are in Bengali unless otherwise noted.
+YearFilmsRole(s)Notes2003Nater GuruManisha MukherjeeDebut film; based on Samaresh Basu's novel of the same name; Winner, Tele Cine Awards for Best Actress; Winner, Kalakar Awards for Best Debutant Actress2004Badsha The KingTitliBandhanDual Roles; Meena and Reena ChowdhuryShudhu TumiNandini aka BublyDebipakshaJayanti2005ManikRiya MajumderYuddhoBarshaShubhodrishtiSonaliBased on Jashwant Gangani's Gujarati story; Winner, Kalakar Awards for Best Rising Star; Winner, Anandalok Puraskar for Best Upcoming StarChore Chore Mastuto BhaiMalati2006HeroPuja SenEri Naam PremReenaGhatakPuja RoyShikarSeemaMLA FatakeshtoChaitali Roy2007Nabab NandiniNandiniMinister FatakeshtoChaitali RoyChander BariNandita SanyalMahanayakPritiOdia film; Dubbed in Bengali as Premi No. 12008Premer KahiniBarshaMon Mane NaRiya SenChirosathiRiyaLoveRiyaBased on Erich Segal's 1970 novel Love StoryBor Asbe EkhuniMitil2009Saat Paake BandhaPallabi SanyalJackpotPiuNeel Akasher ChadniChandniHitlistAnindita2010Bolo Na Tumi AamarDr. Madhurima ChatterjeePrem By ChanceAnnapurnaDui PrithibiDr. Nandini SenInspired from Motorcycle Diaries (2004)Mon Je Kore Uru UruDiya2011PagluRimi Sen2012100% LoveAnuradha SenJaanemanRiyaHemlock SocietyMeghnaPaglu 2RiyaDawshomiTuli2013RangbaazMadhurima2014ArundhatiDual roles; Rani Arundhati and MishtiChaarMonika NandiAnthology filmHighwaySohini Dasgupta2015HerogiriMariaBangal Ghoti FatafatiJayantiBesh Korechi Prem KorechiRai Roy2017Chaya O ChobiRaiCockpitRiya2018Ghare & BaireLabanya2019Shesh Theke ShuruPujariniBased on the 2005 English novel Water & FireMitin MashiPragyaparamita Mukherjee alias Mitin MashiBased on Suchitra Bhattacharya's story Haatey Matro Tintey DinSagardwipey Jawker DhanDr. Ruby ChatterjeeSequel to Jawker Dhan (2017)2020Rawkto RawhoshyoSwarnaja2021FlyoverBidishaBonyPratibha MukherjeeBased on Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay's novel of the same name2023Jongole Mitin MashiPragyaparamita Mukherjee alias Mitin MashiSequel to Mitin Mashi (2019); based on Suchitra Bhattacharya's novel Saranday Shoytan2025 Sonar Kellay Jawker DhanDr. Ruby Chatterjee Sharthopor Aparna Ghoshal Mitin: Ekti Khunir SandhaneyPragyaparamita Mukherjee alias Mitin MashiThird instalment of the Mitin Mashi franchise
Television Year Serial Character Channel 2011Sansar Sukher Hoy Romonir Gune Guest Appearance Star Jalsha2013Dadagiri Unlimited Season 4Guest Appearance for Promoting Rangbaaz; with DevZee Bangla Jhalak Dikla Jaa Judge ETV Bangla Didi No.1 Season 4 Guest Zee Bangla 2014 Bojhena Se Bojhena Guest Appearance for Promoting Arundhati Star Jalsha 2018 Dance Bangla Dance Season 10 Guest-Judge Zee Bangla 2018 Didi No 1 Season 7 Guest Zee Bangla 2020 Super Singer Grand Finale Guest-Judge Star Jalsha 2021 Dance Bangla Dance Season 11 Guest-Judge Zee Bangla 2025 Star Jalsha Parivaar Awards Special guest Star Jalsha 2026 Star Jalsha Parivaar Awards Special guest Star Jalsha 2026 Dadagiri Unlimited Special Guest Zee Bangla
Mahalaya Year Mahalaya Title Character Channel Ref. 10 October 2007Mahishasurmardini Devi Mahishasurmardini and her various avatars Zee Bangla 27 September 2011 Durga Durgatinashini Devi Mahishasurmardini Star Jalsha 12 October 2015 Mahishasurmardini Nabarupe Nabadurga Devi Sati, Devi Mahishasurmardini and her 9 avatars (Devi Shailaputri, Devi Brahmacharini, Devi Chandraghanta, Devi Kushmanda, Devi Skandamata, Devi Katyayani, Devi Kaalratri, Devi Mahagauri, Devi Siddhidatri) Zee Bangla 6 October 2021 Nabarupe Mahadurga Devi Parvati, Devi Mahamaya, Devi Uma, & Devi Mahadurga/Mahishasurmardini Colors Bangla 14 October 2023 Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Devi Parvati, Devi Sati and Devi Mahishasurmardini Star Jalsha 2 October 2024 Ranong Dehi Bhairavi Maa, & Devi Mahishasurmardini Star Jalsha 21 September 2025Matrirupeno Sanosthita Devi Mahamaya, Devi Parvati & Devi Mahishasurmardini Star Jalsha
Awards Year Award Category Character Film/TV show 2004Kalakar Awards Best Debudant Actress ManishaNater GuruTele Cine Awards Best Actress ManishaNater Guru BFJA AwardsMost Promising Actress ManishaNater Guru 2005Kalakar Awards Best Rising Star SonaliShubhodrishtiAnandalok Awards Best Upcoming Star SonaliShubhodrishti 2010Zee Bangla Gourav Samman Award Best Actress MadhurimaBolo Na Tumi AamarStar Jalsa Entertainment Award Best Actress NandiniDui PrithibiStar Jalsa Entertainment Award Best Actress MadhurimaBolo Na Tumi Aamar 2011Star Jalsa Entertainment Award Best Actress NandiniDui PrithibiBFJA AwardsBest Actress CriticsNandiniDui Prithibi 2012Zee Bangla Gourav Samman Award Best Actress MeghnaHemlock Society 2013BFJA Awards Best Actress MeghnaHemlock Society 2014Star Jalsa Entertainment Award Best Actress ArundhuriArundhati (2014 film) 2019Films and Frames Digital Film Awards Best Actress Critics Mitin MashiMitin MashiZee 24 Ghanta Swayang-Shiddha Awards The Telegraph SHE Awards WBFJA AwardsMost Popular ActorLabanyaGhare & Baire2020WBFJA AwardsMost Popular ActorMitin MashiMitin Mashi 2022Anandalok Impact Award 2023Mahanayok Samman 2024Star Jalsa Parivar Award Best Entertainment Show Goddess Sati, Parvati and Mahisasurmardini Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Filmfare Awards Bangla Best Film Producer Ardhangini2025Star Jalsa Parivar Award Best Entertainment Show Goddess Mahamaya and Mahisasurmardini Ranong DehiJoy Filmfare Glamour and Style Awards Bengal Most Glamorous Star (Female) Herself TV 9 Bangla Ghorer Bioscope Award Best Actress in a Leading Role Mitin Mashi Jongole Mitin Mashi2026Zee 24 Ghanta Binodoner Sera 24 Best Actor-Female Aparna Sharthopor
References
External links
Rukmini Mallik – Sansad profile Rukmini Mallik – PRS profile