Biography
Kalki Kouechlin was born on 10 January 1984 in Pondicherry, India to French parents who had settled in the country. Growing up in India and educated in drama at Goldsmiths, University of London, she developed an early interest in theatre and writing. Her upbringing combined French heritage and Indian cultural immersion, which shaped her unique identity in the Indian film industry.

Career Life
Kalki made her cinematic debut in the Hindi film Dev.D (2009), earning acclaim for her performance. Her career spans a variety of roles in mainstream and independent cinema, including notable films such as Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaara (2011) and Margarita, With a Straw (2014), for which she won the National Film Award – Special Jury Award. Beyond films, she has acted, written, and produced stage plays, and has become known for taking unconventional and challenging roles.

Personal Life
Kalki has been open about her identity as a person of mixed French and Indian backgrounds, and the challenges that posed. She was married to filmmaker Anurag Kashyap in 2011; they separated in 2013 and subsequently divorced. In recent years she has embraced motherhood and shares her personal journey with authenticity, including natural birthing and active involvement in social causes such as gender equality and child-abuse awareness.