Early TV Career
Surveen Chawla started her acting journey on Indian television, gaining fame with daily soaps at a time when prime-time serials dominated Indian households. She first appeared in “Kahin To Hoga” (2003–2007) as Charu and later joined “Kasautii Zindagi Kay” as Kasak Bajaj, quickly becoming a familiar face to TV audiences.
During the mid-2000s, she continued to appear in several shows and even took part in the celebrity dance reality show “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa,” which helped her showcase her dancing skills and expand her popularity beyond acting. These TV appearances laid the groundwork for her transition into films and regional cinema.
Transition To Films And Regional Cinema
Surveen’s film career began with roles in South Indian cinema, including the Kannada film “Paramesha Panwala” (2008) and the Telugu film “Raju Maharaju” (2009), where she played pivotal characters opposite established actors. These early roles allowed her to experiment with different languages and genres while proving she could adapt to varied film industries.
She soon became a prominent face in Punjabi cinema with movies like “Dharti” (2011), “Taur Mittran Di” (2012), “Saadi Love Story” (2013), “Singh vs Kaur” (2013), “Lucky Di Unlucky Story” (2013), “Disco Singh” (2014), and “Hero Naam Yaad Rakhi” (2015). In these films, she usually played the female lead or key supporting roles, combining comedy, romance, and drama that resonated well with Punjabi audiences.
Breakthrough In Hindi Films
In Bollywood, Surveen first appeared in supporting and special-appearance roles, such as “Hum Tum Shabana” (2011) and item songs in “Himmatwala” (2013) and “Creature 3D” (2014), which showcased her screen presence and dance abilities. However, her real breakthrough came with Anurag Kashyap’s dark thriller “Ugly” (2013), where she played Rakhi Malhotra in a complex narrative about a missing child.
She cemented her position with the erotic revenge thriller “Hate Story 2” (2014), portraying Sonika Prasad in a bold, central role that demanded both emotional intensity and physical transformation. This film brought her mainstream recognition as a Hindi film lead and opened doors for more nuanced projects, including the critically acclaimed “Parched” (2015), where she played Bijli, a dancer navigating patriarchy and exploitation in rural India.
Notable Movies List
Surveen Chawla’s movie work spans multiple languages and genres. Some of her notable films include:
- Paramesha Panwala (2008, Kannada) – Shruti
- Raju Maharaju (2009, Telugu) – Sneha
- Dharti (2011, Punjabi) – Bani
- Hum Tum Shabana (2011, Hindi) – Shabana
- Taur Mittran Di (2012, Punjabi) – Keerat
- Saadi Love Story (2013, Punjabi) – Preeti Kaur
- Singh vs Kaur (2013, Punjabi) – Jasneet Kaur
- Lucky Di Unlucky Story (2013, Punjabi) – Seerat
- Moondru Per Moondru Kadhal (2013, Tamil) – Divya
- Puthiya Thiruppangal (2013, Tamil) – Anupama
- Ugly (2013, Hindi) – Rakhi Malhotra
- Disco Singh (2014, Punjabi) – Sweety
- Hate Story 2 (2014, Hindi) – Sonika Prasad
- Jaihind 2 / Jai Hind 2 (2014, Tamil) – Nandhini
- Hero Naam Yaad Rakhi (2015, Punjabi) – Hina Kaur
- Welcome Back (2015, Hindi) – special appearance in “Tutti Bole Marriage Di”
- Parched (2015, Hindi) – Bijli
- Chhuri (2017, Hindi short film)
These films illustrate her range—from commercial entertainers to festival-favourite dramas, balancing glamorous roles with intense character-driven performances.
Web Series And Digital Breakout
Surveen embraced the OTT boom early, becoming widely known for her performance as Jojo Mascarenas in the Netflix series “Sacred Games” (2018–2019). Her portrayal of a sharp-tongued talent manager added both vulnerability and grit to the show, leaving a strong impact despite limited screen time.
She continued this momentum with lead roles in web series like “Haq Se” (2018), where she played Dr. Meher Mirza in a Kashmir-set drama, and “Decoupled” (2021), a dark comedy in which she starred as Shruti Sharma Iyer opposite R. Madhavan. These projects helped her reach global audiences and proved her ability to carry complex, modern characters in long-form storytelling.
Recent TV And Streaming Projects
In recent years, Surveen has focused heavily on streaming and high-concept television projects. She appeared in “Rana Naidu” (2023) as Naina, a crime-drama series, and took on crucial roles in “Criminal Justice: A Family Matter” (2025), “Mandala Murders” (2025), and “Andhera” (2025), reflecting her preference for layered, intense narratives.
These series often explore crime, mystery, and family dynamics, giving her space to explore morally grey, emotionally charged characters that differ sharply from her early TV-soap image. Her consistent presence on major platforms keeps her relevant with younger digital-first viewers while retaining her long-time TV and film fan base.
Key TV Shows And Appearances List
Across television and web, Surveen Chawla’s important shows and series include:
- Kahin To Hoga (2003–2007) – Charu
- Kasautii Zindagi Kay – Kasak Bajaj
- Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa – contestant (dance reality show)
- 24: India (Season 2, 2016) – Maya
- Haq Se (2018, web series) – Dr. Meher Mirza
- Sacred Games (2018–2019, web series) – Jojo Mascarenas
- Decoupled (2021, web series) – Shruti Sharma Iyer
- Rana Naidu (2023, web series) – Naina
- Criminal Justice: A Family Matter (2025, web series) – Anju Nagpal
- Mandala Murders (2025, web series) – Ananya Bharadwaj
- Andhera (2025, TV / web series) – Ayesha
This mix of daily soaps, reality TV, and premium web series outlines her journey from traditional television to the heart of India’s streaming revolution.
Legacy And Ongoing Impact
Surveen Chawla’s filmography shows a conscious shift from conventional glam roles to more challenging cinematic and OTT characters, especially after “Ugly,” “Hate Story 2,” and “Parched” established her as a serious actor. Working in multiple languages and mediums, she has created a diverse body of work that appeals to both mass and niche audiences.
As new seasons and projects like “Criminal Justice: A Family Matter,” “Mandala Murders,” and “Andhera” continue to roll out, her list of movies and TV shows keeps growing, reinforcing her place as one of the more adaptable and evolving performers in contemporary Indian entertainment. For viewers discovering her today, this catalogue offers everything from light-hearted Punjabi comedies to hard-hitting dramas and edgy thrillers on major streaming platforms.
