Archana Chandhoke (popularly known as VJ Archana) is an Indian television host, actress, and radio jockey born on 2 July 1982 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She lost her father Rakesh Lal at a young age and was raised by her mother Nirmala Lal (who worked at Indian Overseas Bank). Her sister Anita Chandhoke is a fitness instructor. She studied at SBOA School and Junior College, Chennai, and graduated from Ethiraj College for Women. She began her career at age 17 as a newsreader at Jaya TV (1999) before moving to Sun TV, where she hosted Comedy Time and Ilamai Pudhumai. After a break for family, she joined Star Vijay in 2008 and hosted Namma Veetu Kalyanam till 2014. She subsequently hosted Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs, Super Mom, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Seniors (Zee Tamil), and Kollywood Top 10 on Big FM. She has appeared in Tamil films including Vaigai Express (2017), Yenda Thalayila Yenna Vekkala (2018), Naan Sirithal (2020), and Doctor (2021). She has won several awards including Zee Kudumbam Viruthugal Best Host (2018), Ananda Vikatan Nambikkai Viruthugal (2019), and Behindwood Gold Medal Best Anchor (2020). She is married to Vineet Muthukrishnan (Indian Navy) and has a daughter Zaara. In 2020, she entered Bigg Boss Tamil Season 4 as a wildcard contestant in Week 2 and was evicted in Week 11, finishing 10th.
Hosting popular Star Vijay shows Namma Veetu Kalyanam and Kalakka Povathu Yaaru; hosting Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Seniors (Zee Tamil); Tamil films including Naan Sirithal (2020) and Doctor (2021); Zee Kudumbam Viruthugal Best Host Award (2018); Behindwood Gold Medal Best Anchor - Television (2020).
