Navnindra Behl

Biography:

Behl was born into a Jatt Sikh household on October 30, 1949, in Delhi, India. At the age of three, she began performing on stage. In addition to participating in plays at school and college, she studied Punjabi literature after graduation and became interested in amateur theater in Patiala, a former Indian princely state. Navnindra Behl became a lecturer at Punjabi University, Patiala’s Drama Department shortly after graduating. Throughout her 37-year career as a lecturer, reader, professor, and department head, Navnindra is credited with educating and developing numerous theater, television, and cinema artists in addition to composing and directing several stage plays.

She had 25 years of experience teaching production, direction, and acting for television at Patiala University and as visiting professor at several institutions. She served as Director of the Audio-Visual Research Center for three years, with funding from the CEC (University Grants Commission, Delhi). She performed in several theatrical productions.

Behl worked in the television industry for thirty years as a writer, performer, and director. She authored scripts for television shows for Doordarshan, directed films and television serials, and produced documentaries and instructional programs for the Audio-Visual Research Centre, CEC, Delhi, the Films Division, and the Central and Punjab Government Departments.

She worked as a writer and performer in the film industry for 15 years, working with well-known directors including Gulzar (Maachis, 1996), Dibakar Banerjee (Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!), Vishal Bhardwaj (Gubaare), and Hollywood productions like The Pride and The Guru.