Lin Laishram is an Indian model, actress and businesswoman who is popular for being in a relationship with Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda.
Wiki/Biography
Lin Laishram was born Linthoingambi Laishram on Thursday, 19 December 1985 (age 36 years; as of 2022) in Imphal, Manipur. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius. When she was in college, one of her professors changed her name to Lin because some of her non-Manipuri friends found difficulty in pronouncing her full name. She did her initial schooling in Manipur and later moved to Mumbai. She pursued a bachelor’s degree of arts in sociology at Sophia College, Mumbai. She was interested in sports since childhood so she took training in archery at Tata Archery Academy, Jamshedpur. After suffering from an injury for a long time while playing archery, she started modelling and pursued an acting course at Stella Adler Studio of Acting, New York.
Physical Appearance
Height: 5′ 9 ½”
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Body Measurements (approx.): 32-26-32
Family
Parents & Siblings
Lin’s father’s name is Chandrasen Laishram, who is a banker and a sportsperson.
Lin Laishram with her father
Her mother’s name is Sorodhoni Laishram, who works as a doctor.
Lin Laishram with her mother
She has an elder sister whose name is Rita Laishram Lee.
Lin Laishram with her sister
Husband
As of 2022, she is unmarried.
Relationships/Affairs
Lin is in a relationship with Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda. In 2020, there were rumours of Randeep and Lin’s wedding.
Lin Laishram with Randeep Hooda
Ethnicity
Lin belongs to the Mayang group of Manipur.
Signature
Lin Laishram’s signature
Career
Modelling
Lin shifted to New York in 2006 and started working as a print and fashion model. She walked the ramps for various fashion shows like the India Fashion Week and New York Bridal Week. She was also selected as the brand ambassador of the New York-based jewellery brand, Ozoru Jewelry.
A picture of Lin Laishram from a photoshoot in New York
She made her debut in the fashion industry in India when she was selected by a modelling agency during a fest in her college that was looking for girls with long hair for a photo shoot for L’Oreal magazine. In 2007, she got selected by the Elite Modelling Agency which helped her prepare her portfolio.
Lin Laishram’s first picture for her portfolio
In 2008, she became the first runner-up in the Miss North East pageant held in Shillong.
Lin Laishram as Miss North East runner-up
In 2012, she became the first Manipuri model to wear a swimsuit on national television on the television reality show Kingfisher calendar girl.
Lin Laishram’s picture on Kingfisher calendar
Film
Lin made her Bollywood debut in 2007 with the film ‘Om Shanti Om’ where she gave a cameo appearance as Om Kapoor’s friend.
Lin Laishram in the film ‘Om Shanti Om’
She has appeared in other Bollywood films including Mary Kom (2014) as Bem, Umrika (2015) as Udai’s wife, Rangoon (2017) as Mema, Qaidi Band (2017), and Axone (2019) as Chanbi.
Lin Laishram in the film ‘Rangoon’
She has appeared in short films including We Are Mahindra (2017) and Ave Maria (2020). She has given a cameo appearance in the Hindi sport-drama film Hattrick in 2007. She also played a small role in the Bollywood film, Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola in 2013. In 2022, she appeared in the Amazon Prime Video series Modern Love: Mumbai and played the role of Avantika.
Lin Laishram in the film ‘Modern Love Mumbai’
Theatre
In 2011, she came back from New York to Mumbai and joined the theatre group, Motley, by Naseeruddin Shah, Pravah theatre Lab by Neeraj Kabi, and Rangbaaz.
Business
In March 2017, she started her own jewellery brand called Shamooo Sana. In an interview, she talked about her jewellery brand and said,
I first designed an earring for my mom and she was so happy. She pushed me to start my own venture. I experiment a lot and my designs are an amalgamation of different places and time. My designs are ready-to-wear, easy on the pocket and completely funky and stylish.”
Controversy
In 2020, Lin was given a warning by the Kangleipak Kanba Lup (KKL), Manipur for her remarks on racist characteristics of people in the region. The group demanded an apology from her and in a press statement said that they would file a police case against her for demeaning the Meiteis and the people of the entire northeastern region.
Honour
In 2018, she received recognition from United living and Ningol Chakkouba committee as one of the women achievers from Manipur.
Lin Laishram receiving Recognition as one of the women achievers from our state Manipur by United living and Ningol Chakkouba committee
Favourites
Facts/Trivia
- Lin follows a non-vegetarian diet.
Lin Laishram’s Instagram post about her eating habits
- Her hobbies include travelling, playing different sports, and cooking.
- Lin’s parents were not very supportive of her career choices when she was young. As a child, she joined a dance school, but her parents made her quit it and asked her to make studies her priority. While she was growing up, she did not have many actors or models from Manipur to look up to because this profession was not taken seriously by people in her region.
- Her father was the President of the Manipur Archery Association, and he motivated her to play sports. Lin started playing archery and took training at Tata Archery Academy, Jamshedpur. In 1998, she became the Junior National Champion and best sportsperson of the year in the nations held in Chandigarh.
Lin Laishram as a youngster practicing archery
- In 2020, she appeared in the film ‘Axone’ in which all the actors were Northeastern. In an interview, she said that Bollywood does not cast people from the Northeast as the main lead in films. In the interview, she further said,
Till date, Bollywood has not picked up any stories, any project with full cast and team from the north eastern states of India. The mainland people have to know about us. We have to know more about mainland India. Interactions between states and cultural exchange is required. There have been no female actors from Manipur before me who have come out and been part of Bollywood.”
Lin Laishram in the film ‘Axone’
- In 2021, in an interview, she openly said that the role of Mary Kom in the biopic, Mary Kom would have appeared better if the actress in the film was from Manipur or the North East. Later, Priyanka Chopra also agreed in an interview that she does not look like Mary Kom. Lin appreciated Priyanka’s stand and in an interview said,
It’s really gracious and brave of Priyanka to finally accept this and put it out there. My admiration for her has only grown immensely. Inclusivity I feel is very hard to understand unless you are excluded.”
- According to her, the roles offered to Northeastern actors are not very impactful. They are offered roles of a spa girl, prostitute or a waiter.
- In an interview, she said that the fashion industry treated her with more respect and acceptance than Bollywood. In the interview, she talked about this and said,
Working in the fashion industry was much easier but then I stepped into the shocking world of Bollywood. People would call me only if they had a role of a Chinese character. It was a huge contrast compared to the modelling industry. But then you learn with time and move on. I am always looking out for substantial work. It hasn’t been easy at all.”
- In 2017, she referred to human rights activist Irom Sharmila as a superwoman and said that she would love to play her role if a biopic was ever made on her.
- She is often spotted drinking alcohol on various occasions.
Lin Laishram’s Instagram post about her drinking habits