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Nirmal Rishi Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 12, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth27 August 1943

Age80 Years (as of 2023)

BirthplaceKhiva Kalan, Bathinda (now Mansa), Punjab, British India

ProfessionActress, Theatre Artist, Retired Lecturer

NationalityBritish Indian (27 August 1943 - 15 August 1947); Indian (15 August 1947 - present)

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyParents: Baldev Krishan Rishi and Bachni Devi; siblings include elder sisters and two younger brothers (one named Roshan Lal Rishi)

Nirmal Rishi Biography

Veteran Punjabi actress and theatre artist Nirmal Rishi built a long career on stage and screen after beginning in regional theatre in the 1960s. Bestknown

Early life and background

Nirmal Rishi was born on 27 August 1943 in the village of Khiva Kalan in what was then Bathinda, Punjab (now Mansa, Punjab, India). Raised in a middle‑class Sikh family, she spent her childhood in the Mansa region and attended school in Ganganagar, Rajasthan. From an early age she took part in school plays and a variety of co‑curricular activities: sports, singing, shooting and dancing. Her school record included numerous certificates for extracurricular achievement, and she also served in the NCC during her studies.

Rishi trained in physical education at the Government College for Physical Education in Patiala, ultimately earning an M.Phil. in Physical Education. Before turning to acting full time she worked as a lecturer at the Government College Patiala.

Career

Rishi’s stage career began in the mid‑1960s when she joined the Punjab Kala Manch theatre group, formed by Harpal Tiwana and his wife Neena. Her first performance with the company was in the play Aduhre Sapne, and she went on to appear in many regional productions including Kanak Di Bali, Loha Kut, Hind di Chaadar and the Punjabi version of And in the Dry Mountains. The company later relocated to Ludhiana, where she acted in productions such as Diwa Bale Sari Raat, Chandigarh Musibet Da Ghar, Garam Bazaar and Behrupiya.

Her work in theatre also included writing; she authored a short play titled Maa Menu Mari Naa that expanded from a ten‑minute piece into a two‑hour production after a strong audience response. During the early 1990s she toured internationally with her theatre group, performing in London, Canada and the United States.

Rishi’s breakthrough into films came with the popular stage play Long Da Lishkara, which was adapted for the screen. In the 1983 film version she portrayed Gulabo Maasi, a role that brought her wide recognition. She made her film debut in that production and subsequently built a steady career in Punjabi cinema.

Across decades she has appeared in a range of Punjabi films, including Ucha Dar Babe Nanak Da (1985), Qurbani Jatt Di (1990), Mela (1997), Akhiyaan Udeekdian (2009) and Oh My Pyo! (2014). Her later filmography features well‑known regional titles such as Angrej (2015), Love Punjab (2016), Nikka Zaildar (2016), Lahoriye (2017), Rabb Da Radio (2017), Guddiyan Patole (2019) and Godday Godday Chaa (2023). She also appeared in a small role in the mainstream Bollywood film Dangal (2016).

Awards and recognition

Her work has been honored with several awards. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the PTC Film Awards in 2017. She won the Filmfare Award (Punjabi) for Best Supporting Actress for Nikka Zaildar in 2017 and again for Nikka Zaildar 2 in 2018. In 2024 she was a recipient of the Padma Shri from the Government of India.

Public profile

Known to friends and fans by the nickname Munni, Rishi has distinctive dark brown eyes and a height listed at approximately 5'4" (163 cm). Her hair is described as salt‑and‑pepper (dyed black). She has maintained a long association with Punjabi theatre alongside her film career and remains a respected figure in regional performing arts.

Personal life

Nirmal Rishi never married. She is one of several siblings; her parents were Baldev Krishan Rishi and Bachni Devi. The family includes elder sisters and two younger brothers; one brother is named Roshan Lal Rishi. Nirmal grew up in a household where relatives supported her ambition to study and pursue athletics and performance.

In later years she was involved in a property dispute concerning a house she said had been gifted to her by an uncle; a judicial decision in 2023 was reported to have gone in her favor.

Latest updates

In recognition of a long career spanning theatre and film, Rishi received the Padma Shri in 2024. Her most recent screen appearances include the 2023 Punjabi film Godday Godday Chaa. She continues to be celebrated for the character work and stage roots that shaped her decades of performances.
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Recent Work

Godday Godday Chaa

Role in the 2023 Punjabi film

2023
Appearance in Dangal

Small role in the 2016 Bollywood film

2016
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Career Highlights

  1. Debut film role as Gulabo Maasi in Long Da Lishkara (1983)
  2. Lifetime Achievement Award at the PTC Film Awards (2017)
  3. Filmfare Award (Punjabi) for Best Supporting Actress for Nikka Zaildar (2017) and Nikka Zaildar 2 (2018)
  4. Padma Shri by the Government of India (2024)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Nirmal Rishi born?

27 August 1943

What is Nirmal Rishi known for?

Actress, Theatre Artist, Retired Lecturer

What is Nirmal Rishi’s marital status?

Unmarried