Known in the industry as the Khallas girl, Isha Koppikar was born on September 19th 1976 in Mumbai to a doctor family. Isha studied Life Sciences at the SIES College in Mumbai. While studying in college, Isha started modeling and participated in the Miss India contest; she didn’t win the title, but won the Miss Talent Crown.

Isha was active with modeling campaigns for big brands Coco- Cola, Camay, Rexona and also became the brand ambassadress for L’ Oreal. Isha started her acting career in Tamil movies and was a star in the south.

Isha started her Bollywood career by doing small roles in ‘Fiza’ and ‘Pyar Ishq Mohabbat’. Isha became famous after her item number ‘Khallas’ which gave her the tag of a sexy actress. Isha Koppikar career’s biggest movie is ‘Shabri’ in which she plays the lead as a female Don.

Ishaa Koppikar’s career started in Kollywood, where she was paired opposite Prashanth in Kaadhal Kavidai. A lot of the film was shot in London and became a blockbuster following its release, winning the lead actors rave reviews and Koppikar winning the Filmfare Best Female Debut (Tamil). With this, Ishaa was touted to be the next non-Tamil girl after Simran Bagga,who would take over the Tamil film industry. Her second movie was the highly-anticipated Tamil film, En Swasa Katre opposite Arvind Swamy, one of the most successful actors at that time. The film was a musical hit, rendered by A. R. Rahman, and a good grosser at the box-office. She then played a cameo in Prashanth’s Jodi as a prospective bride. She received positive reviews for her role and decided to pursue a career in Bollywood: Her first Hindi movie was Ek Tha Dil Ek Thi Dhadkan (1997), directed by Shah Rukh Sultan, and yet to be released.

Koppikar appeared in minor roles in Fiza (2000), Pyaar Ishq aur Mohabbat and Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya (2001). In 2002, she appeared in Ram Gopal Varmas Company as an Item girl in the song Khallas!. The number created her nickname Khallas-girl and caused her breakthrough. In 2003 she won ‘Most Exciting New Face’ for Khallas at the Stardust Awards.

In 2005 she played Arshad Warsi’s girlfriend in the Salman Khan starrer Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya. In the same year she appeared opposite Anupam Kher and Tusshar Kapoor in the comedy Kyaa Kool Hai Hum. For her role as policewoman Urmila Martodkar she received three award nominations for best comedy

Koppikar has two films under production in 2007 in which she has replaced actresses withdrawing from the roles. Bipasha Basu was replaced in Darling, directed by Ram Gopal Varma and co-starring Fardeen Khan and Esha Deol. And Celina Jaitley was replaced in Atil Agnihotri’s Hello, co-starring Sohail Khan. After a three year wait Haseena Smart Sexy and Dangerous was finally released with Ishaa in the title role.

Films Done By Isha Kappikar

1998 Chandralekha Lekha Telugu
1998 Kaadhal Kavithai Jothi Tamil Filmfare Best Female Debut (Tamil)
1999 En Swasa Kaatre Madhu
2000 Surya Vamsha Padma Kannada
2000 Hoo Anthiya Uhoo Anthiya
2000 O Nanna Nalle Rangu
2000 Fiza Gitanjali Hindi
2001 Prematho Raa Swetha Telugu
2001 Narasimha Vaanmathi Tamil
2002 Company Special appearance
2003 Pinjar Rajjo
2004 Rudraksh Lali
2005 Kyaa Kool Hai Hum Urmila Martodkar
2005 D Gunjan
2005 Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya Nishika (Vicky’s girlfriend)
2006 Darna Zaroori Hai Appears in a Darna Mana Hai flashback
2006 36 China Town Sonia Chang
2006 Don Anita
2006 Haseena Haseena
2007 Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute to Love Phoolwati
2007 Darling Ashwini
2008 Hello Esha
2008 Ek Vivaah… Aisa Bhi Chandini Shrivastava
2008 Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi Dance Master Special Appearance
2010 Right Yaaa Wrong Anshita
2010 Hello Darling Satvati Chaudary
2011 Shabri Shabri
2013 Maat Marathi Debut Marathi movie
2017 Keshava Sharmila Mishra Telugu
2017 FU: Friendship Unlimited Sheena Mam Marathi
2018 Looty ACP Bhavani Kannada
2019 Kavacha Gowri
2020 | Assi Nabbe Poorey Sau Films that have not yet been released Sangli Hindi Post-production

Television Done By Isha Kappikar

Peshwa Bajirao as Mastani

Web Series Done By Isha Kappikar

Fixerr 2019 Alt Balaji & ZEE5

Awards and nominations Received By Isha Kappikar

1998 Kaadhal Kavithai Filmfare Awards Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu Won
1998 Chandralekha Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Best Female Debut (Tamil) Nominated
2003 Company Stardust Award Stardust Award for Most Exciting New Face Won
2004 Dil Ka Rishta Asian Network Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated
2005 Kyaa Kool Hai Hum Annual Central European Bollywood Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated
2006 Kyaa Kool Hai Hum Zee Cine Award Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role Nominated
2006 Kyaa Kool Hai Hum IIFA Award IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role Nominated
2006 Kyaa Kool Hai Hum Screen Award Screen Award for Best Comedian Nominated

Music videos Done By Isha Kappikar

2002 Bandish Projekt Bhor Remix Bandish Projekt
2004 Sweet Honey Mix Bhor Remix Smita