Archana Puran Singh was born on September 26, 1962, in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
She completed her education at Lady Sri Ram College for Women in Delhi with English honors.
She married actor Parmeet Singh, who is her second husband. She got divorced from her first husband before entering the industry, she is seven years older than her husband.
She made her debut with NIra Hira's TV movie Abhishek opposite Aditya Pancholi in 1987.
Her most famous role in Bollywood is of Miss Braganza from the movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. The other movies in which she was famous are Love Story 2050, Mohabbatein, Krrish, Masti, De Dana Dan, and Bol Bachchan
Apart from acting and hosting the shows, she tried her hands at direction. She directed sitcoms like Jaane Bhi Do Paaro and Nehle Pe Dehla, and also produced Samne Wali Khidki.
The Kapil Sharma Show brought her back into the limelight when she featured as a judge in a comedy show.