PANAJI: Film and television actor Poonam Dasgupta, who is also a finalist in the VelixaVerse Mrs Universe 2026 pageant, has announced that she will represent Goa’s rich cultural heritage by wearing a traditional Kunbi outfit during the grand international finale, scheduled to take place in Goa this August-end. The event, which will be hosted at a luxury resort in South Goa, is expected to attract several Bollywood personalities along with contestants from across the world, according to the organisers.
Preserving the Legacy of the Kunbi Fabric
Goa’s traditional Kunbi weaving, one of the state’s oldest textile crafts, is today at a critical stage, with only a small number of master weavers still practicing the art. Concerned about the gradual disappearance of this centuries-old tradition, Poonam Dasgupta has partnered with the NGO Goemcho Goenkar to help safeguard and revive the craft.
Dedicated to preserving Goa’s indigenous occupations and cultural traditions, the organisation has brought together skilled artisans from the regions of Canacona, Sattari, and Sanguem to participate in the revival initiative. Financial support for the project is being provided by Poonam Dasgupta, with the objective of ensuring that this unique weaving heritage is passed on to future generations rather than fading into history.
Who is Poonam Dasgupta?
Poonam Dasgupta is an Indian actress, model and fashionista who has appeared in more than 100 projects. She is known for her roles in Bollywood and South Indian films. She has also acted in Hindi television serials and in plays. After taking a break from the film industry, she made a comeback with the play Begum Sahiba co-starring Rahul Roy. She has acted in series of Zee Horror Show episodes between 1993 and 1999. She is also an entrepreneur and business woman.
She is best known for her work in Bollywood cinema during the 1990s and early 2000s. She appeared across multiple genres in films, including thrillers and horror titles as well as Zee Cinema’s project Dil Ka Doctor.
Filmography: She made her acting debut in regional cinema before transitioning to Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada films.
Some of Poonam Dasgupta’s notable projects include Mr Bond opposite Akshay Kumar, Meena Bazaar with Om Puri and Roopa Ganguly. She was the first jungle queen of Bollywood and was seen in Aakrosh with Victor Banerjee, Amar Shapath opposite Parsonjeet aka Bomba. In the Malayalam industry her first was Goodnight R Mohan’s movie Rosa I Love You. It was such a big hit that a mandir was built in her name in Kerala.
In Kannada, she has done Aryanadali Abhimanyu opposite superstar Ambarish and Minister Karnataka Mandu, again a blockbuster, where she played a double role as a Naagin. She has also featured in Kataboman opposite Sharath Kumar and done hit Tv serials like Swabhiman, Kismat, Kya Baat Hai, Betaal Pachisi and was the face of Zee for more than three years. Dil ka doctor with Anupam Kher was another one of her outstanding projects.
Aside from her film roles, she acted in TV serials, episodic anthologies like the Zee Horror Show, and theater productions such as the play Begum Sahiba, which was a super-duper hit.