Sumbul Touqeer

Sumbul Touqeer (born 15 November 2003) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi television. She is best known for her portrayal of Imlie Chaturvedi Rathore, in StarPlus's TV series Imlie (2020) and IAS Kavya Bansal Pradhan in Sony Entertainment Television's TV series Kavya – Ek Jazbaa, Ek Junoon (2023).

In 2022, she participated in Colors TV's reality TV show Bigg Boss (Hindi season 16) and finished in 7th place. Sumbul made her silver screen debut with Anubhav Sinha's Hindi film Article 15 (2019), where she played the role of Amali.

Early life
Sumbul Touqeer was born in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh and lived in Katni, Madhya Pradesh until she was six. At age six, her parents separated and her father Touqeer Hasan Khan brought Sumbul and her younger sister Saniya to Delhi, where they spent the next 5–6 years. Sumbul and Saniya were raised by their father as a single parent. Sumbul's father was a dance choreographer in Delhi, with the siblings performing in their father's choreographed Krishna and Ram Leela plays, which sparked their interest in dance, and later acting.

Sumbul's father took notice of his daughters' keen interest and talent for dancing, so moved the family to Mumbai in pursuit of opportunities in the entertainment industry.

Sumbul completed High School at NTCC High School in Malad West, Mumbai and 12th standard from a private school. She was briefly enrolled in a commerce course, but decided to withdraw upon realisation of her deep passion for cinematography which she intends to pursue in the near future.

Sumbul has trained as an actor with the Sehejmoodra Acting Academy, run by Monika Verma.

Sumbul had previously mentioned her disinterest in acting during the initial years of her career and preferred to pursue a career in the field of dancing instead. Her father's reassurance of her talent for acting inspired her to make a name for herself as an actor.

Career
She started her acting career with supporting roles as a child in Har Mushkil Ka Hal Akbar Birbal and Jodha Akbar, aired on Big Magic and Zee TV respectively in 2014. Sumbul participated in dance reality shows such as India's Dancing Superstars, aired on StarPlus in 2013 and Hindustan Ka Big Star, aired on Big Magic in 2014.

From 2014 to 2016, she played child artist roles in TV series such as Aahat, ''Gangaa, Baalveer, and Mann Mein Vishwaas Hai. From 2016 to 2019, she appeared in TV series such as Waaris, Chakradhari Ajay Krishna, Chandragupta Maurya, and Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein. ''

In 2020, she starred in the popular Hindi TV show Imlie that aired on StarPlus, where she played the lead character of Imlie, a young and smart village belle, opposite Gashmeer Mahajani, Fahmaan Khan and Mayuri Deshmukh.

Before Imlie, Sumbul made her Bollywood debut with Article 15 (film) in 2019 where she played the role of Amali. In the same year she appeared in the music video for the song Vaaste, playing the role of the lead's friend.

In 2022, she participated in the Game show Ravivaar With Star Parivaar as a StarPlus's show Imlie contestant. In the same year, she appeared in the Ishq Ho Gaya music video with Fahmaan Khan, her co-star from the Imlie TV series.

In addition to her acting career, Sumbul also participated in the reality show Bigg Boss (Hindi season 16) in 2022 and became the youngest contestant in the history of Bigg Boss to spend more than 100 days in the house.

In 2023, she participated in the game show Entertainment Ki Raat Housefull which aired on Colors TV. In the same year she appeared in the Sazishen music video.

In 2023, she returned to television with Kavya – Ek Jazbaa, Ek Junoon that aired on Sony Entertainment Television where she played the lead character of IAS Kavya Bansal, opposite Mishkat Varma.