Monica Dogra

Monica Dogra
Monica Dogra in 2016
Born	Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Citizenship	American
Occupation	Film actor, Singer
Years active	2006–present
Website	www.shaairandfunc.com

Monica Dogra is an American singer and actress of Indian origin. She is one half of the Mumbai-based electronic rock duo Shaa'ir and Func. She made her acting debut in the Bollywood film Dhobi Ghat (2011).

Monica Dogra is the daughter of Indian immigrants. Her maternal uncle is Dogri folk music singer Prakash Sharma. She grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and attended Oakleigh Elementary School, Montessori, Dulaney High School, and NYU. She attended NYU from 2000–2004, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Music.

In 2005, she formed< the electronic rock group "Shaa'ir+Func", along with guitarist Randolph Correia. In 2007, they released their first album New Day: The Love Album, followed by Light Tribe in 2008 and Mantis in 2010. She also sang a song "Dooriyan Bhi Hai Zaroori" with Vishal Dadlani in the film Break Ke Baad and the theme song in English (with Shahid Mallya) for the film Inkaar.

She has made a guest appearance in Rock On!!. In 2008, she was approached by Kiran Rao for the lead role in Rao's directorial debut film Dhobi Ghat - a role Dogra initially turned down, but eventually accepted. In December 2011, she served as a judge for Rolling Stone's Never Hide Sounds musical talent contest. She is the host of The Dewarists, a musical collaborative show on STAR World India. In 2013, she performed with award-winning violinist Scott Tixier, for a series of shows sponsored by Dos Equis around the US.