Rakhi Sawant, formerly known as Neeru Bheda, is an Indian dancer, model, actress, and television talk show host who has appeared in many Hindi films as well as a few Kannada, Telugu, Marathi, Odia, and Tamil films. She was a contestant on the first season of the Indian reality television series Bigg Boss 1 (2006) and a challenger and finalist in Bigg Boss 14 (2020).

Sawant has made a name for herself as a sex symbol in Bollywood. Sawant formed her political party, the Rashtriya Aam Party, led by Jai Shah, to run in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. She did, however, join the Republican Party of India following the election.

Birth and Family

Rakhi was born to Maya Bheda as Neeru Bheda on 25 November 1978, Maya wedded Anand Sawant, a police constable at Worli Police Station, and gave her children their stepfather's identity. She is from a traditional Hindu household. She has two siblings Rakesh Sawant and Usha Sawant. Rakhi was always captivated by the glamour world and aspired to work in cinema, but her parents were opposed to her decision. Sawant later attended a Dandiya function when she was 11 years old. When her mother found out that Rakhi had performed at a Dandiya function, she not only beat her but also chopped off her hair. Rakhi Sawant became rebellious as her parents disapproved of her professional choice. Soon after, she began approaching producers and demonstrating her dance skills to them, but she was turned down. Rakhi sought cosmetic surgery to improve her appearance after a string of rejections.

Love Life

Ritesh mentioned in Bigg Boss 15 how he met Rakhi on WhatsApp while preparing an event and her PA provided him with her phone number. He went on to say that the first time he messaged her, she blocked his number, but she responded the second time. Rakhi discovered that her ex-boyfriend was a don and a loan shark. She recalled seeking support from Ritesh after being afraid for her life, and the two gradually fell in love.

Education

She graduated from Goklibai High School in Vile Parle, Mumbai, and went on to Mithibai College to study arts.

Career Path

She made her cinematic debut as Ruhi Sawant in the 1997 film Agnichakra.
She went on to appear in Bollywood films such as Joru Ka Ghulam, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain, and Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke, where she played minor roles and performed dance routines.
She tried out for an item number in the Bollywood film Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne in 2003.
She went through four auditions before being chosen for her breakout item number, "Mohabbat Hai Mirchi," written by Himesh Reshammiya.
Sawant appeared in minor roles in several films, including Masti and Main Hoon Na. She had an appearance in the music video "Pardesiya" from the album D.J. Hot Remix - Vol 3 in 2005.
A few months later, she starred in the first season of the reality show Bigg Boss. She was ousted in week 4 but eventually returned. She was one of the top four finalists but was ousted just days before the grand finale (24 January 2007, Day 84).
Rakhi made her singing debut in the album Super Girl released by Venus Records & Tapes Pvt. Ltd. in 2007.
She later competed in the dancing reality show Nach Baliye with Abhishek Awasthi, finishing as the first runner-up.
Sawant had an appearance in the film Krazzy 4 in 2008 for the item song 'Dekhta Hai Tu Kya.'
Sawant debuted the reality show Rakhi Ka Swayamwar in 2009, in which she planned to choose her future husband using the traditional practice of Swayamvar. Elesh Parujanwala, a competitor from Toronto, Canada, was chosen as her life partner on August 2, 2009. However, Sawant declared many months later that the pair had divorced due to irreconcilable disagreements. After her divorce, she stated in an interview that she got engaged to Elesh Parujanwala for financial reasons.
Sawant is a regular stage performer who frequently appears as a host, judge, or participant in reality shows.
In 2011, she and her mother, Jaya Sawant, took part in Sony TV's Maa Exchange.
She performed a comedic act with Shahrukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor at the 57th Filmfare Awards in 2012, and an entry dance performance with Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor in Malaysia in 2015.
She appeared in Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawaz Ki-in 2013, alongside Anchal Sabharwal, Sangram Singh, Chetan Hansraj, and Madhura Naik. Life OK aired the show. She later competed in the Box Cricket League.
Sawant later starred in the thriller film Ek Kahani Julie Ki and made a guest appearance in the comedic fiction television series Bhaag Bakool Bhaag.
Sawant was a Bigg Boss 14 competitor from 2020 to 2021.

Hidden Facts

Rakhi was born into a traditional Marathi household. Her father is from Maharashtra, and her mother is from Gujarat.
According to her, she was a victim of child maltreatment and had to deal with many gender-based taboos such as standing out on balconies, visiting beauty parlors, dancing at public gatherings, and so on.
She worked as a caterer for Tina Ambani's wedding when she was ten years old.
Her mother thrashed her and even cut her long hair when she was 11 years old because she went to a Dandia event and danced there.
Because her family forbade her from entering the entertainment industry, she got defiant and began approaching many producers, exhibiting her dance and aptitude.
Rakhi Sawant made news when she stated that she admires yoga teacher Baba Ramdev and wishes to marry him.
According to her, her husband Ritesh works with Donald Trump and is nearly the ex-president’s right hand.

Controversies

Rakhi is referred to as the Queen of Controversy.

Her lip-lock with co-star Kainaaz Pervez at the launch of Khamoshh khauff ki Raat in 2005 caused quite a stir.
At Mikha Singh's 35th birthday party, he kissed her forcibly. He was then charged with molestation by the actress.
Rakhi made headlines once more when she publicly slapped her ex-boyfriend Abhishek Awasthi when he attempted to reunite with her after calling her names.
Lakshman Prasad, an SC teenager from Jhansi, committed suicide because he was humiliated after being labeled an"impotent" on her show. In conjunction with this, an F.I.R. was issued against her and four others.
In 2016, Rakhi Sawant was charged with making derogatory remarks against Valmiki on national television.
Rakhi made waves once more when she wore a garment with an unflattering image of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi printed on it. The incident occurred in 2016 when she was invited to commemorate India's 70th anniversary of independence in Illinois, USA.
Rakhi Sawant put herself in hot water after making false accusations against Tanushree Dutta and referring to her as a drug addict and a liar. Sawant responded to Tanushree's charges of sexual harassment against Nana Patekar during India's #Metoo campaign as a publicity stunt. Tanushree sued Rakhi for ten crores after she accused him of raping her many times. Rakhi responded by threatening her with a Fifty crore countersuit.

Net Worth

Rakhi has a net worth of approximately 14 crores and makes approximately 10-12 lakhs every month.

Appearance

Rakhi's hair is black in tone. She's got black eyes. She stands 5 feet 3 inches tall. She is 60 kg in weight. Her measurements are 36-28-36.

Favorites

Grilled chicken and salad are Rakhi's favorite foods.
Shah Rukh Khan and Ranveer Singh are her favorite actors.
Priyanka Chopra, Sonakshi Sinha, and Deepika Padukone are among the top favorite actresses.
White is her favorite color.
Dancing is her favorite hobby.
"Main Tenu Samjhawan Ki" is her favorite song.
Switzerland is her favorite destination.
The delicacy of China in Mumbai is her favorite restaurant.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Satyajit Ray are two of her favorite film directors.
Riviera Wine, Tea, and Coconut Water are among her favorite beverages.
Diamonds are her favorite type of jewelry.
Monkey is her favorite animal.

TV Appearance

2003: Carry On Shekhar (SAB TV)
2006: Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai (Zee TV)
2007: Let's Talk... (Zoom TV)
2007: Aap Ki Adalat (India TV) (later in 2008 and 2009) (Star Plus)
2007: Baa Bahoo Aur Baby (Season 1) (Star Plus)
2007: Koffee with Karan (Season 2) (STAR One)
2008: Bigg Boss 2 (Colors)
2008: 10 Ka Dum (season 1) (Sony TV)
2009: Nach Baliye 4 (STAR Plus)
2009: Boogie Woogie (Sony TV) (later in 2011)
2009: Lux Perfect Bride (STAR Plus)
2010: Bigg Boss 4 (Colors)
2010: Jubilee Comedy Circus (Sony TV)
2011: Comedy Circus 3 Ka Tadka (Sony TV)
2011: Ratan Ka Rishta (NDTV Imagine)
2011: Sheela, Shagun, and Meenakshi (STAR News)
2011: Shaadi 3 Crore Ki (NDTV Imagine)
2012: Bigg Boss 5 (Colors)
2012: All Most Famous (Zoom TV)
2012: Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5[57] (Colors)
2012: Bigg Boss 6 (Colors)
2012: Movers & Shakers Masala Markey[58] (SAB TV)
2014: Comedy Nights with Kapil (Colors)
2015: Comedy Classes (Life OK)
2015: Chidiya Ghar(SAB TV)
2016: Comedy Nights Bachao (Colors)[59]
2017: Bhaag Bakool Bhaag (Colors) as Twinkle Maa[60]
2019: Kanala Khada (Zee Marathi) as Guest
2021: Indian Idol 12 (Sony TV) as Guest
2021: Bigg Boss OTT (Colors) as Guest
2021: Bigg Boss 15 (Colors) as Guest

Biography