Munmun Dutta is one of the most renowned faces in the realm of television. She is famously known to us as Babita Iyer from the long-running television series Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Dutta is an established Indian model and television actress who rose to prominence due to her role in Zee TV’s Hum Sab Baraati. 

Born on September 28, 1987, Munmun Dutta continued to mesmerize her with her zeal for acting and talent. Moreover, she is one of the very few actresses who has kept surprising us with her flexibility in her career prospects. Before becoming an actress, she tried modeling. Moreover, she is one talented person who has taken to different realms of art by storm. This article focuses on Munmun Dutta and her journey in showbiz so far.

Who is Munmun Dutta?

Munmun Dutta is an actress who is known to us for her role in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Though she rose to fame because of landing the role in Zee TV’s Hum Sab Baraati in 2004, she became familiar with the showbiz industry through her gig as a model. In addition to being a part of the television industry, she has also appeared in many films, Kamal Hasan’s Mumbai Express being one of them. 

Munmun Dutta was born in Kolkata in 1987. She was culturally diverse and wanted to explore what art had to offer. Therefore she not only performed as a child singer in Doordarshan in Kolkata but also in Akashvani. She harbored the talent of singing from both her mother and father. Both her parents were singers who mastered this art with years of practice.

Before she tried her hands at acting, she took part in fashion shows and appeared as an active model while living in Pune. After understanding how the industry works, she moved to Mumbai and made her acting debut through the series called Hum Sab Baraati in 2004.  

Personal information about Munmun Dutta

Born in 1987, Munmun is now 35 years old. She was born in September, which means her zodiac sign is Libra. She is from Kolkata, West Bengal, India. A Bengali from the heart, Dutta remained very close to her heritage and showed appreciation through the demonstration of woven culture that many Bengalis passionately display through singing, acting, and writing. She is now a celebrated actor, model, and passionate singer who continues to grow in whichever realm she puts herself in. Let’s go in-depth to learn more about her personal life.

Education

Munmun Dutta was born in a small town called Durgapur, in West Bengal. She received her primary education at Oxford Model Senior Secondary School in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Even though she was trying to pursue her career in showbiz, she wanted to get a higher degree. She enrolled at the University of Mumbai. Sources have revealed that she has a master’s degree in English literature.

Family 

Munmun Dutta comes from a nuclear family. Her father was Shyam Dutta and her mother was Aaruni Dutta. Both of them had an affinity towards music which instilled in her the love towards singing. She learnt to sing which later helped her get a job in Doordarshan and Akashvani. Sources close to her have revealed that her father passed away due to illness. We don’t know whether Munmun has siblings or not. However, if we come to know anything regarding her siblings, we will update accordingly.

Relationship

A source closer to the actress has revealed that Munmun Dutta was in fact in a serious relationship with Armaan Kohli. Kohli is an actor best known for his role in Jaani Dushman. They were together for a short period before splitting. Dutta kept the relationship under the veil for the sake of maintaining her privacy. However, their breakup raised a storm in the industry. 

Munmun and Armaan were deeply in love. Sources close to them have also revealed that they were close to taking a plunge towards getting married. However, both of them decided to part ways amicably due to irreconcilable reasons. When asked about the relationship she shared with the actor, sources have claimed that she suffered, both mentally and physically while being with him.

There had also been a rumor going around regarding Dutta and Kohli’s breakup. Sources believe that Dutta was physically abused by her alleged boyfriend which led her to part ways. Although there was no concrete proof to support such claims, such a rumor soon got dismissed. Not only that, neither Armaan nor Munmun said anything about such an accusation making it rather pointless.

Currently, Dutta is dating Raj Anandkat. Although it is rumored, sources have strongly showcased the closeness both the co-stars share. Raj and Munmun are both working together in the set of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. However, such a rumor has called upon a social war on Dutta. Both the actors were trolled. However, Dutta took to social media to respond to all the internet bullying. The actress has strongly condemned how the backlash from the fans has caused her and her partner mental anguish. In addition to this, she also called out for people trolling her and slut shaming her.

Dutta and MeToo Movement 

Dutta, like many women, was no stranger to harassment. So when the MeToo movement was going up, she mustered the courage to open up about the pain she also faced. She took to Instagram to express her feelings about women who also went through such nightmares to stand in solidarity with them. In the post, she drew a similar picture of how she was abused by the people she trusted the most, and were supposed to protect her, in this case, her teachers.

She faced abuse that she didn’t think was possible to happen, starting from fleeting places such as a station to the place where she is supposed to be protected, a hospital. Wherever she went, she faced harassment of some sort. She brought up all the incidents she went through by addressing how she could feel the pain of other victims to her core. She also addressed that she could relate to the perplexity a woman feels while explaining such phenomena to their parents.

She went on to write an immersive and emotional post explaining that she was happy that she was adjoined in this struggle along with other women in the MeToo movement. Moreover, Dutta also addressed that she, like many others, had been a victim of abuse in places she didn’t think would happen. Then she declared that she was proud of herself for coming up with the courage to overcome such a situation. In the post, she also stated that she now holds the power to ‘rip apart any man who even tries to harm her’.

Dutta’s Ascension Towards Her Career

As we have already mentioned, Munmun was a singer for Akashvani and Doordarshan in Kolkata. Nonetheless, she took part in modeling in Pune as well. However, she found acting to be her rock. She tested a variant of artistic mediums to settle on one. Starting from singing professionally to debuting as a model, it is acting that she found her respite. Dutta moved to Mumbai to start her journey as an actor. Her struggle in the industry paid off as she debuted in Zee TV’s Hum Sab Baraati in 2004.

Since then, there has been no going back. She bagged one role after another until she bagged another big role on the big screen in 2006. She got her first role in the movie called Mumbai Xpress, which was directed by Kamal Haasan. Although she made a cameo and appeared in many different series and movies in her whole career, it is for the role of Babita Ji from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah that we know her as.

Mumbai Xpress (2005)

The movie revolves around a biker and three small-time crooks who kidnap a wealthy man’s son in exchange for a large ransom. But soon they realize that the boy they kidnapped is wrong, and in fact, is the illegitimate son of a police officer. Dutta had a small role in this movie which was worthwhile.

Holiday (2006) 

This particular movie was produced and directed by Pooja Bhatt. Dutta worked against big names from the industry, including Gulshan Grover, Onjolee Nair, and Dino Morea. Holiday was inspired by the American hit Dirty Dancing. The plot solely revolves around a young woman who struggles with her appearance while seeking success, happiness, and meaning in her life.

Dhinchak Enterprise (2015)

Dhinchak Enterprise is one of those movies that hasn’t been heard of for long. However, Dutta performed very well in this movie, no matter how short. It is a coming-of-age story about a boy named Vishal. Generally, the story revolves around his life and the lives of two friends. The movie showcases the drive towards setting up one’s career, the path one chooses, and the realization of their wrongdoing. The film comes with a social message that has been addressed many times.

The Little Goddess (2018; Short film) 

The movie revolves around a twelve-year-old girl and her family who rely on dying folk art to survive in rural India. It holds a very significant and ironic theme as this movie presents itself as a coming-of-age portrait of rural India. In short, the movie represents the portrait of dreams and reality.

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah

The program showcases the multiple social issues in India through the lens of a small setting. It is Gokuldham Co-operative Housing Society, located in Mumbai. The reason why this location was chosen was because of the diversity. The series showcases a diverse population through its residents. Gokuldham refers to the diverse residents as ‘mini India’ that depicts dealing with a variety of issues that our society in general posts. Not only that, it focuses on how to resolve those issues. In the series, Dutta played the role of Babita which was much appreciated by the viewers. The series is all about extending a supportive backbone to our neighbors and helping them in their time of need.

Hum Sab Baraati 

It is the debut series for Munmun Dutta. Well, Hum Sab Baraati is a Hindi-language sitcom that used to premiere on Zee TV in 2004. The show was written and directed by Sanjay Chhel. It was a comedy series that made many feel lighter with its story. To make it more credible, this series received numerous awards, including the Indian Telly Award for ‘Promo for a Sitcom’ in 2004. The plot of the series revolves around a family that specializes in wedding planning. Each of the family members is talented in handling a specific task.

Covering the Career Timeline

Munmun Dutta started her journey as an actor with Hum Sab Baraati as the character of Meethi in 2004. The series was released on Zee TV. Next, she appeared as Babita in the series of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah in 2008. Dutta also made a guest appearance in CID in 2008. Not only this, but she also made an appearance as a guest in Indian Idol 10 in 2020, India’s Best Dancer in 2020, Kaun Banega Crorepati 13 in 2021, and The Khatra Khatra Show in 2022. Lastly, she appeared as a guest in Big Boss 15 in 2022.

Controversies Revolving Around Munmun Dutta

The most recent controversy that Munmun Dutta got roped in was when she was heard stating in one of her videos that she would rather look good than low life ( ‘muze acha lagna hai bhangi ki taraha nahi lagna.’). The netizen deemed the remark to be casteist followed by which the diva had to issue an apology. The statement, which was a discriminatory slur, read, ‘This is in response to a video I posted yesterday in which one of my words was misinterpreted. It was never intended to intimate, humiliate, offend, or hurt anyone’s feelings. 

Dutta’s Net Worth and Income 

Currently, with all the projects that Munmun Dutta has, her net worth is estimated to be around $5 million or 41 crosses in Indian rupees value. As she was associated with Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah the longest, most of her income came from that. Each of her episodes earned her 50,000 rupees. Any additional income that she garnered must have come from her guest appearances from different series and shows, and social media platforms.

So, all in all, according to the reports, her estimated monthly income is expected to be around 40 lakhs. Dutta is not only a successful actor but also a very famous social media personality whose presence is sought after. She earns a lot of money by garnering traffic to her accounts. She has up to 11 million YouTube subscribers and over 7.5 million Instagram followers.

Awards and Accolades 

The awards won by Munmun Dutta are mentioned below,

• Indian Television Academy Awards, India, where she was a Nominee for Indian Television Academy Award Best Actress in a Comic Role Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
• Best Actress in a Comic Role, for her role in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
• Indian Television Academy Award Best Actress in a Comic Role (Popular) for her role of Babita in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
• She was the winner of the Indian Television Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
• She received Indian Telly Awards in 2019 in Indian Telly Award Best Ensemble (Fiction) for her role in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (2008)
• She won the YouTube Creator Award in 2021. It was the Silver Creator Award Youtube Creator Reward.

Facts about Munmun Dutta 

• She is an avid fan of classical music which can be shown through her knack for singing. There are very few people who are aware of this, but she has learned singing through her parents. It has been complimented on for a long time.
• Her parents are famously known in the regional music industry as well-known singers. This is where she got her knowledge of classical music.
• She, like many, wanted to be a doctor. However, she discovered her love for acting and decided to pursue a career in the showbiz field.
• The first movie that she acted in was Mumbai Xpress in 2005.
• Dutta was crowned as a beauty pageant winner in many local beauty patent competitions. It boosted her confidence which prompted her to come to the showbiz industry and try her hand at acting.
• Dutta has been with the cast of ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ for 15 years.

Profile Summary 

Munmun Dutta FAQs

Is Munmun Dutta on Twitter / X?  

Yes, Munmun Dutta is on Twitter. Her ID is @Moonstar4.

What role does Munmun Dutta play in TMKOC? 

She plays the role of Babita Iyer.

Who is her favorite actress?  

Her favorite actresses are Rani Mukerji, Madhuri Dixit, and Anushka Sharma. 

Who is her favorite actor?

Her favorite actors are Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan.

What is her destination gateway?

Her destination gateways include Goa and Paris.

Ending note 

Munmun Dutta is one remarkable actress working in the television industry for over fifteen years. Appearing as Babita Iyer in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, she continues to win hearts with her spending skills as an actor and a charmer. We will surely see more of her in due time.