Navnindra Behl

Behl was born in a Jatt Sikh family.[1] She started stage acting when she was just three years old. Besides participation in plays at school and college, she got involved in amateur theatre at Patiala a former princely state in India, and did her post graduation in Punjabi literature.

Shortly after her graduation, Navnindra Behl joined Drama Department of Punjabi University, Patiala as a lecturer. Besides writing and directing a number of stage plays, Navnindra owns the credit for training and grooming many stage, television and film artists during her career of 37 years as lecturer, reader, professor and head of department. She was Director, Audio Visual Research Centre funded by CEC (University Grants Commission, Delhi) for 3 years and has 25 years' experience of teaching production, direction and acting for television at Patiala University and as visiting faculty in various institutes. She has acted in numerous stage plays.

She has an experience of 30 years as writer, actress and director in television industry. She has directed films and serials for television, written scripts for television programmes for Doordarshan, documentaries for Central and Punjab Government Departments, documentaries and educational programmes for Audio Visual Research Centre, CEC, Delhi and Films Division.

She has 15 years' experience as writer and actress in film industry and has acted with film makers of high repute such as Gulzar (Maachis, 1996), Dibakar Banerjee (Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!), Vishal Bhardwaj (Gubaare) and Hollywood projects like The Pride and The Guru.

She has been member on the selection panels of UPSC (for theatre & media), Rabindra Bharti University & has been on the list of board of experts and advisors of Indian Theatre Deptt., Punjab University, Chandigarh, Doordarshan Kendra, Jullundur & Deptt. of Cultural Affairs Ministry, Delhi Govt. In addition to being Member Syndicate and Member Academic Council, Punjabi University, Patiala, she has been on the panel as eminent visiting faculty of Punjab University, Jaipur University, Garhwal University, GNDU University, Amritsar, Film & Television Institute Kolkata, Mumbai University, etc. Author of ten books, as creative writer, research related subjects on theatre and media studies, she has made significant contribution as resource person and keynote speaker at many conferences, seminars and workshops on cinema, television and theatre.

• Aawan, Punjabi Translation of Chitra Mudgal's Hindi novel
• Miss Julie, Stage Play (Translation of Strindberg's play)
• Mahamarg, Stage Play (Translation of Strindberg's The Great Highway)
• Takdi Dhir, (Translation of Strindberg's The Stronger)
• Abhinay Kala, Book on Art of Acting
• Nataki Sahit, Book on Dramatic Literature
• Bharti Theatre, Book on Indian Literature
• Rangmanch Ate Television Natak , Book on Theatre & Television*

• Awarded as producer and director at first Indo-Soviet Russian Film Festival in 1989–90 for the video film "Chirion Ka Chamba" produced for Delhi Doordarshan.
• Awarded as best writer by Sahitya Kala Parishad, Delhi Administration in 1984 for the script "Kumarswamy".
• “Akashwani Award" for best writer by M/o Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India.
• “Rashtriya Ratan Award" for contribution to film and television industry by International Friendship Forum, New Delhi.
• Honoured for contribution to cinema by Human Rights Organisation for the film Maachis directed by Gulzar.
• Awarded and honoured by Manch – Rangmanch, Amritsar for achievements in the field of theatre and media.

Behl is the eldest daughter of dramatist and theatre personality Kapoor Singh Ghuman.[4] Her husband Lalit Behl was a theatre and television director-actor. Her son Kanu Behl is a film writer and director.[5][6]

• Navnindra Behl at IMDb
• Books