Poonam became popular after attaining the Miss India ‘77 Crown. This opened doors for modeling as well as her pretty face being splashed on magazine covers, and also landed her a role in ‘Trishul’, which was a hit at the box office, with the song pictured on her ‘Gapuchi Gapuchi gam gam’ continuing to be popular even today.

Then came ‘Noorie’ in 1979, which made a star overnight.

Subsequent releases ‘Kaala Patthar’, ‘Dard’, ‘Red Rose’, ‘Biwi O Biwi’, ‘Yeh To Kamaal Ho Gaya’, ‘Teri Meharbaniya’, ‘Karma’, ‘Ek Chhadar Mailisi’, ‘Batwara’, ‘Kasam’, ‘Sohni Mahiwal’, ‘Laila’ opposite Bollywood bigwigs such as Shashi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Randhir Kapoor, Kamal Hassan, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Sunny Deol, amongst others added to her fame. She has also acted in regional language movies in Bengali, Tamil, and Kannad. Her movie career as a leading lady spanned from 1978 with ‘Trishul’ through onto 1992 with ‘Virodhi’.

In 1988 she fell in love and married film maker, Ashok Thakeria, and subsequently gave birth to a son, Anmol, and a daughter, Paloma. Her marriage ended in a divorce in 1997.

1. Istam (2001)
2. Mahaanta (1997)
3. Judaai (1997)
4. “Andaz” (1995) TV Series
5. Virodhi (1992)
6. Jhoothi Shaan (1991)
7. Qurbani Rang Layegi (1991)
8. Amiri Garibi (1990)
9. Atishbaaz (1990)
10. Pathar Ke Insan (1990)
11. Police Public (1990)
12. Hisaab Khoon Ka (1989)
13. Batwara (1989)
14. Abhimanyu (1989)
15. Deshwasi (1989)
16. Galiyon Ka Badshah (1989)
17. Saaya (1989)
18. Maalamaal (1988)
19. Kasam (1988)
20. Hum Farishte Nahin (1988)
21. Sone Pe Suhaaga (1988)
22. Himmat Aur Mehanat (1987)
23. Avam (1987)
24. Mard Ki Zabaan (1987)
25. Khel Mohabbat Ka (1986)
26. Samundar (1986)
27. Naam (1986)
28. Ek Chadar Maili Si (1986)
29. Karma (1986)
30. Avinash (1986)
31. Dosti Dushmani (1986)
32. Palay Khan (1986)
33. Saveray Wali Gaadi (1986)
34. Geraftaar (1985)
35. Bepanaah (1985)
36. Baadal (1985)
37. Sitamgar (1985)
38. Zamana (1985)
39. Tawaif (1985)
40. Kabhi Ajnabi The (1985)
41. Nishan (1985)
42. Shiva Ka Insaaf (1985)
43. Teri Meherbaniyan (1985)
44. John Jani Janardhan (1984)
45. Laila (1984)
46. Yaadgaar (1984)
47. Sohni Mahiwal (1984/I)
48. Qayamat (1983)
49. Romance (1983)
50. Teri Kasam (1982)
51. Sawaal (1982)
52. Yeh Vaada Raha (1982)
53. Aapas Ki Baat (1982)
54. Yeh To Kamaal Ho Gaya (1982)
55. Baseraa (1981)
56. Biwi-O-Biwi: The Fun-Film (1981)
57. Dard (1981)
58. Main Aur Mera Haathi (1981)
59. Poonam (1981)
60. Red Rose (1980)
61. Nishana (1980)
62. Kaala Patthar (1979)
63. Noorie (1979)
64. Trishul (1978)