Archana Panjabi was born on the 31st May 1972, in Edgware, Middlesex, England, and is an actress who is probably best known for her role of Kalinda Sharma in the American political and legal drama TV series “The Good Wife”, which brought her a prestigious Primetime Emmy Award. Besides this, Archie is also widely known for her memorable performances in movies “Bend It Like Beckham” (2002), “Yasmin” (2004), “The Constant Gardener” (2005) and “San Adreas” (2015).
Have you ever wondered how much wealth this critically acclaimed actress has accumulated so far? How rich Archie Panjabi is? According to sources, it is estimated that the total of Archie Panjabi’s net worth, as of early 2017, is over $3 million, acquired through her acting career which began in 1995.
Archie Panjabi Net Worth $3 million
Archie was born to Padma and Govind Panjabi, and is of Sindhi Hindu and British ancestry. She spent the majority of her childhood in Mumbai, India, but attended London’s Brunel University from which she graduated with a degree in Management Studies in 1996. She debuted as an actress in 1993 when she appeared in one episode of the “London’s Burning” TV series, followed by several other TV series appearances before she debuted on the big screen with the role of Meenah Khan in the 1999 comedy movie “East Is East”. These ventures provided the basis for Archie Panjabi’s current net worth.
Throughout the early 2000s, Archie managed to maintain a continuous streak of acting engagements, appearing primarily in TV series such as “In the Beginning”, “Murder in Mind” and “The Secret”. In 2002 she starred as Pinky Bhamra in the comedy movie “Bend It Like Beckham”, while in 2004 Panjabi appeared in the title role of the movie drama “Yasmin”, which earned her rewards such as Mons International Festival of Love Films Award and Reims International Television Days Award. However, the real breakthrough in her career occurred in 2005 when she starred in the Oscar-winning political thriller “The Constant Gardener” opposite Ralph Fiennes in the male role. This was followed by a notable role in Ridley Scott’s 2006 romantic comedy with Marion Cotillard and Russell Crowe in the leading roles – “A Good Year”. All these engagements helped Archie Panjabi to gain global popularity and fame as well to increase her wealth.
In 2007, Panjabi starred alongside Angelina Jolie in “A Mighty Heart”, a movie adaptation of Mariane Pearl’s eponymous memoirs. She also made a notable voice acting contribution to the British animated TV series “Postman Pat”, and in 2009 she portrayed an MI5 agent in the French thriller “Espion(s)” (“Spy(ies)”). She came into international prominence later that year, when she landed a role in “The Good Wife” TV series, a seven season-long engagement portraying of Kalinda Sharma, being honored with a Primetime Emmy Award and nomination for a Golden Globe Award. To this day, it is still one of her most memorable roles which contributed to the total of Archie Panjabi’s revenues big time.
Additionally, Archie Panjabi also appeared in the comedy movie “The Infidel” (2010) as well as in TV series such as “Personal Affairs”, “The Fall”, “Shetland”, “Power Monkeys” and most recently NBC’s drama series “Blindspot”. Doubtlessly, all these appearances have impacted Archie Panjabi’s wealth.
When it comes to her personal life, Archie Panjabi has been married since 1998 to Rajesh Nihalani, who is a tailor and with whom she resides in New York City.
Apart from acting, Archie is very active as a philanthropist – she was named as the first Pratham US Ambassador, and is a regular celebrity participant at the Rotary International’s public service campaign “This Close”. She was also featured within Stop Violence Against Women campaigns, as well as Harvard Foundation’s Artist in Residence Program.
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, more
Nominations
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture Made for Television, Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, Satellite Award for B...
Movies
The Good Wife 2009 – 2016 San Andreas 2015 East Is East 1999 Bend It Like Beckham 2002 A Mighty Heart 2007
TV Shows
The Good Wife 2009 – 2016 San Andreas 2015 East Is East 1999 Bend It Like Beckham 2002 A Mighty Heart 2007
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Quote
1
When I was younger I was fat. I was never conscious of it and was content with who I was because I was so loved. My mother never told me to lose weight and my father doted on me, but my agent told me. I tried, but I loved Indian food too much.
2
You have this impression from England that New Yorkers can be quite aggressive, but certainly the people that I've bumped into and the friends I've made here don't seem that way. Just walking down the street and asking for directions, people seem to be very helpful and happy to help.
3
I went out for a film where they wanted seven brothers and one sister, so I was there for half a day while they were waiting for 'Archie' to read for a boy... I've had drivers come to pick me up in England looking for a blond, blue-eyed Scottish boy.
4
I went to Brunel University and very much wanted to go on to do a PhD in management, but then my acting career started to take off. In those days when you switched on the box there were hardly any brown or black faces.
5
The generation that migrated to the West in the 1970s or 1960s has now lived more in the West than India, and India has changed so much. My parents fall into that category.
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My mother wanted to be a teacher when she was young, and my father didn't approve of it, so she fought very hard to become one. And she did it. So when I said I wanted to become an actress, my mother was very supportive. She always said to me, 'There's no such thing as 'can't.'
7
I'd love to say I made the smart decision of picking projects that became hits, but with 'The Good Wife,' I read the script and something inside me said, 'I love this, I want to do this.'
8
Coming to New York is like a big hug, everyone is so welcoming. There's something about here, everyone makes you feel so at home. I miss my family of course, but I don't miss London that much. I was worried, but I feel really at home. Everyone says that who comes here from London, but I didn't believe them.
9
I had a dialect coach to get an American accent, and then another dialect coach to come off it a bit. There is something deep and mysterious in the voice when it isn't too high-pitched American.
10
I have always let the lack of Indian actors in the industry drive me, not hold me back. I remember an agent in L.A. telling me a few years ago that an Indian actor wouldn't ever make it in Hollywood, but my ethnicity has helped me.
11
I knew from a young age that I wanted to be an actor. I never even thought about other careers. The acting field is certainly not the path many Indian parents encourage their children to take, but mine were very supportive. They wanted me to have an education, but understood that this is what I wanted to do.
12
Luckily my parents were not against my ambition, they've always been very supportive. But they were adamant that I went to university first.
13
I knew what I wanted to do for my entire life, from nursery to university. I've always been geared towards wanting to act. I've stuck with it, dedicated time to it.
14
I love roles where I have to transform myself.
15
I remember sitting in school and thinking, 'I don't know why I'm here, because I know I'm going to act and I know I'm going to America.'
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I like to do new things, so I always take on roles that I feel will keep me on my toes. I never want to pigeon myself, so I always like to surprise myself. I believe in versatility and so I would play anything as long as it was a challenge.
17
I'd love to do a romantic comedy. And perhaps, if the character was right and I had a good gut instinct, a Bollywood movie. And I'd love to direct. One day. I'm learning a lot on the set of 'The Good Wife.'
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Fact
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Both of her parents were schoolteachers.
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For her role on The Good Wife (2009), she was named one of the "Eight Actors Who Turn Television into Art", in the cover story of The New York Times Magazine (9/11/11). Also named as one of the Top 10 Faces on TV to Watch. (Variety, 2009).
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Won Best Actress for her role in Yasmin (2004) at the Reims Festival in 2006.
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Awarded the Shooting Star Award at the Berlin International Film Festival 2005 for Yasmin (2004). She was selected from hundreds of actors to represent the UK.
5
She spent part of her childhood in Mumbai (Bombay), which is why she considers herself "Part Bombayite, part British." She based the character Gemma/Jessminder in Ridley Scott's A Good Year (2006) on someone she knew in Mumbai.