Chum Darang
FinalistChum Darang
Bio
Chum Darang is an Indian actress, model, entrepreneur, and social activist born on 16 October 1991 in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, to Tajeep Darang and Yamik Dulom Darang. She follows Donyi-Polo, the indigenous Arunachal faith. She attended D'Ering Memorial Higher Secondary School in Pasighat and is the elder sister of Mitu Darang and brothers Tabit and Ninong. She began her pageant journey in 2007 and won Miss AAPSU (All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union) in 2010. She subsequently competed in Miss North East Diva 2014 (finalist), Miss Himalaya 2015 (2nd runner-up), Miss Earth India 2016 (Water sub-title), Miss Asia World 2017 (Miss Internet sub-title), and Miss Tiara India International 2017. She made her screen debut as the infomercial girl in the Amazon Prime series Paatal Lok (2020), directed by Avinash Arun. Her breakout came in 2022 with Badhaai Do - directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni and starring Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar - in which her sensitive portrayal of Rimjhim, a same-sex partner, received widespread critical praise. That same year she appeared in a supporting role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's blockbuster Gangubai Kathiawadi starring Alia Bhatt. Beyond entertainment, she owns Cafe Chu in Pasighat and runs an NGO focused on women's empowerment and environmental conservation, for which she has been recognised by the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. She entered Bigg Boss 18 in October 2024 - becoming the first Arunachali contestant of the show - and finished as fifth runner-up on 19 January 2025.
Acclaimed role as Rimjhim Jongkey (Bhumi Pednekar's same-sex partner) in Badhaai Do (2022); appearance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022); Miss AAPSU 2010; Miss Tiara India International 2017; founder of Cafe Chu, Pasighat; Bigg Boss 18 fifth-place finalist.