Shivani Desai, which is known as Rashmi Desai is an Indian actress and dancer. She has earned numerous honours, including two Indian Television Academy Awards and Gold Awards, and she is well known in India for playing grey characters on television. She has made a name for herself as one of the most well-liked and lucrative television actors.

Before playing two roles in Pari Hoon Main and Ravan on Hindi television, Desai began her acting career in Indian films. Her notable portrayal of Tapasya Thakur in the illustrious soap opera Uttaran on Colors TV (2009–2014), contributed to her vast recognition and earned her multiple awards.

Desai has appeared on several Fear Factor reality competition shows, including Khatron Ke Khiladi 6, Nach Baliye 7, Zara Nachke Dikha 2, and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5. She also made a brief appearance in the 2012 film Dabangg 2. Her stand-up comedy experiments were aided by reality programmes, including Comedy Circus Mahasangram (2010), Comedy Ka Maha Muqabala (2011), Kahaani Comedy Circus Ki (2012), and Comedy Nights Live (2016). Later, Desai made a comeback to fiction television, participating in Bigg Boss 13 (2019–2020) and Bigg Boss 15, while Shorvori was a part of the love triangle in Dil Se Dil Tak (2017–2018). (2021–2022) She made her OTT debut with the short film Tamas and the Veer. She also had supporting roles in Naagin 4 and Naagin 6.

Early Life & Childhood:

Rashami Desai was born on February 13, 1986, in Nagaon, Assam, India. She is the daughter of Ajay Desai and Rasila Ajay Desai. She grew up alongside her brother, Gaurav Desai, and her family was of Gujarati ancestry. Desai was brought up in Mumbai, where she also went to school and finished college studies. Rashami studied at Mumbai's Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics to earn a certificate in tours and travel.

When Rashami was still a young child, her father passed away. Her mother, an Assamese government teacher, was thus left with the burden of parenting the two kids. Her mother had a meagre income and was in financial difficulty. In numerous interviews, Rashami stated that her mother had made great sacrifices to provide both daughters with the most excellent upbringing possible. Young Rashami was under a lot of pressure to do well in school because her mother was a teacher, but she had other interests.

Since she was a young girl, she has longed to work in the entertainment world. Nevertheless, she persuaded her mother to enrol her in dance classes. Bharatnatyam, a traditional Indian dance style, was where she started her training. She eventually also took instruction in modern Bollywood dance. She initially desired to work as an air hostess. After enrolling in dance classes, her career objectives shifted, and she started fantasising about choreographing Hindi movies and TV series. When Rashami Desai told her mother about her desire to become an actor, her mother was shocked. Her mother objected since she was aware of the risks and demands facing film industry workers. But ultimately, she caved. Shivani had been Rashami's last name; now it was "Divya". Rashami sought advice from an astrologer before entering the field and decided on the word "Rashami."

Career:

Acting in films as a debut (2002–2006):

Desai started in regional cinema, appearing in the Assamese-language movie Kanyadaan in 2002. Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke, a 2004 movie directed by Birendra Nath Tiwari and starring Shah Rukh Khan and Raveena Tandon, marked Desai's Bollywood debut.

Alongside Ashutosh Rana and Vijay Raaz, Desai portrayed the part of Naina in the 2005 Hindi movie Shabnam Mausi. Later, she became well-known in the Bhojpuri film business, where she appeared in numerous positions in movies, including Gabbar Singh and Balma Bada Nadaan. Kab Hoi Gauna Hammar, which received the National Award for Best Feature Film in Bhojpuri in 2005, starred Desai in the title character.

Breakthrough and debut on television (2006–2008):

Desai made her television debut in 2006 in the mythological drama series Ravan on Zee TV, where she played the role of Queen Mandodari. Jay Soni's replacement in the series was Desai. Desai made an appearance in the 2007 English movie Sambar Salsa.

Desai received her first significant break in daily operas and shot to fame in 2008 when she played the twin characters of Nikki Shrivastav and Pari Rai Choudhary in Star One's Pari Hoon Main. Ravi Chopra was the series' director and producer, and Mohit Malik and Karan Veer Mehra played significant roles. The programme told the tale of two identical twins—Pari, an actress, and Nikki, a regular girl who cross paths, switch identities and start living each other's lives. Then, opposite Manish Paul, Desai played Priya in the horror thriller anthology series Phir Koi Hai on Star One.

Long-standing achievement with Uttaran (2009–2016):

Alongside Surilie Gautam and Piyush Sahdev, Desai made a brief appearance in Meet Mila De Rabba, which was broadcast on Sony TV in 2009. In this episode, she portrayed the part of Dr Meher Datta. Desai gained considerable popularity and notoriety after making her debut in 2009 on Colors TV's venerable soap opera Uttaran, where she shared the lead role with Tina Datta and Nandish Sandhu. Ichcha and Tapasya, two friends from various social classes, were the subjects of the television show that followed their lives. Desai replaced Ishita Panchal in the part of adult Tapasya Thakur, a wealthy woman whose maternal grandmother dupes after feeling inferior to her friend by her parents. Because Uttaran aided Indian Television in breaking into more recent international markets, Desai became well-known outside India. She returned to Uttaran with cheerful shades on November 7, 2012, and she quit the show once more in 2014, this time claiming creative issues.

As a wildcard entry alongside Vikrant Massey in 2010, Desai took part in the comic reality TV series Comedy Circus 3 Ka Tadka on Sony TV. Desai then participated in Zara Nachke Dikha season 2 as a member of the group "Massakalli Girls," a dance reality TV show that aired on Star Plus. Her team triumphed in the end. Desai also featured in Comedy Circus Mahasangram on Sony TV and acted as a panellist in the reality series Meethi Choori No. 1 on Imagine TV in the same year.

Desai took part in Comedy Ka Maha Muqabala, a comedy reality TV programme on Star Plus, in 2011, and her team finished in second place. In the Sahara One horror anthology series Haunted Nights from 2012, directed by Vikram Bhatt, Desai played the character Shivani. She later participated in the Colors TV dance reality competition Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5, where she ultimately finished as the first runner-up. She also appeared on the Movers & Shakers talk programme Shekhar Suman hosted. Desai appeared in the Hindi movie Dabangg 2 later in 2012, which again starred Salman Khan.

In the stand-up comedy series Nautanki: The Comedy Theatre on Colors TV in 2013, Desai portrayed Natkhat Sali. Desai made appearances in the episode-based television programmes Savdhaan India and CID in 2014 as a lady tortured by her family and a blind faith victim, respectively.

Despite being eliminated, she was reinstated as a wild card contestant. Just before the grand finale, she was eliminated alongside Sana Khan. She competed in Nach Baliye 7 alongside her then-husband Nandish Sandhu, and the two finished as first runners-up. Desai and Nandish Sandhu starred in the music video Teri Ek Hassi for Palash Muchhal in October 2015 as a deaf and mute girl. Jubin Nautiyal performed the song. Later in the year, Desai had a brief appearance in Colors TV's Ishq Ka Rang Safed, playing the complex role of Tulsi, a widow with hidden agendas.

In &TV's Adhuri Kahaani Hamari, Desai played the evil, supernatural character Preeti in 2016. In March 2016, she also took part in the Box Cricket League. Then, alongside Salman Yusuff Khan, Desai participated in Palash Muchhal's dance-based music video Sajna Ve. Dilip Soni and Monali Thakur sang it. Desai later took part in the comic reality series Mazaak Mazaak Mein from Balaji Telefilms, which aired on Life OK. Rituparna Sengupta and Shweta Tiwari co-starred in Desai's anthology drama film Rare & Dare Six-X from 2016. Desai also completed the critical roles in that movie.

Beyond Dil Se Dil Tak (2017–2020):

Desai co-starred with Sidharth Shukla and Jasmin Bhasin in the drama series Dil Se Dil Tak on Colors TV in 2017. Desai was chosen to play Shorvari Bhanushali, a character torn between her desire to be a mother and her love for her husband. The Hindi movie Chori Chori Chupke Chupke was a loose inspiration for the series (2001). Desai defined her position as one who "doesn't communicate via words. She conveys her feelings through gestures, eyes, and facial expressions. That's fascinating. She received a nomination for Best Actress at the 2017 Golden Petal Awards for her performance in the television series.

With the comedy series Chalo Saaf Karein on DD National, Desai kicked off 2019 as the title character. The show, launched by Doordarshan and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, focused on hygiene and sanitation with a lighthearted touch. Desai portrayed Palak, a recent driven graduate of Delhi University and ardent advocate of Gandhian philosophy and Swachhta, who wants to start a residential English-medium school in her hometown. Additionally, Ashish Lal, Aruna Irani, and Anita Raj played significant roles in the series.

In the 2020 television series Naagin 4: Bhagya Ka Zehreela Khel on Colors TV, Desai co-starred as Shalaka opposite Nia Sharma, Anita Hassanandani, and Vijayendra Kumeria. The following year, Desai co-starred in the short film Tamas alongside Adhvik Mahajan as Sania and appeared on the reality game programme Ladies vs Gentlemen, which Ritesh Deshmukh and Genelia D'souza hosted. Alongside Shaheer Sheikh and Sana Saeed, Desai makes a cameo in the dance-oriented music video Ab Kya Jaan Legi Meri by Palash Muchhal.

Professional Development (2021–present):

Tandoor, a crime thriller web series directed by Nivedita Basu, marked Desai's online debut in 2021 opposite Tanuj Virwani. Desai played Palak Sahni, an aspirant politician whose husband was killed in a loosely based on the notorious Tandoor case in Delhi (played by Virwani). It was announced in May 2021 that Desai would work on a music cover with vocalist Rahul Vaidya. Desai appeared in the September 2021 music video for "Subhan Allah" by Altamash Faridi. Later in the year, Desai and Rahul Vaidya once more worked together on a music video for Zindagi Khafa Khafa. Desai appeared in three music videos in March 2022, including Tere Pind, Biraj Mein Jhoom, and Qatilana. She then appeared in Naagin 6 for a cameo to play two roles: a new character named Shanglira and a reprise of Shalaka from season 4 as shape-shifting serpents. In April 2022, Desai and Neha Bhasin collaborated on the song video Parwah.

Desai will appear in the second season of Anil V. Kumar's popular anthology series Ratri Ke Yatri, which seeks to humanise women from underserved communities. Additionally, Mohit Abrol and Abigail Pande play significant parts in her portion. The programme will debut on MX Player and Hungama Play.

Off-screen Activity and Media Representation:

Desai has received formal dance training. Sana Farzeen, a journalist for The Indian Express, wrote: "Rashami has experimented with her parts and played powerful characters. Desai walked the runway for designers Shaina NC in 2015 and Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla in 2018 at the Caring with Style fashion event to benefit cancer patients. She participated in a fashion show in 2015 to raise money for the non-profit Smile Foundation, which works to improve the health and education of disadvantaged children. Desai has walked the ramp for Maheka Mirpuri and the Terry Fox Foundation. Desai participated in Swachh Survekshan 2017, a campaign for a more environmentally friendly India (Swachh Bharat Abhiyan).

At Bombay Times Fashion Week in 2020 and 2021, Desai strutted her stuff for Rohit Verma and Anu Mehra. She was one of the highest-paid television actresses in India in 2013, 2014, and 2018. According to sources, Desai was the participant who earned the most money on Bigg Boss 13 and Bigg Boss 15. Desai made history in 2020 by working with Google for cameos as the first actor from Indian television. Among the top 30 TV personalities in 2020, Desai ranked number 22 on BizAsia's ranking. In 2010, Salman Khan and Desai both sponsored Wheel. Desai took up the role of JioMart brand ambassador in 2021. Desai is a supporter of Hangyo.

Private life:

On February 12, 2011, in Ghaziabad, she wed Nandish Sandhu, her co-star from the Uttaran region. The pair separated in 2014 after almost four years of marriage, and in 2015 they sought a divorce.

After meeting in 2018, Desai and Arhaan Khan fought on Bigg Boss 13, in which Arhaan proposed to Desai, and she accepted. Salman Khan then admitted that he had kept a secret from Desai that Arhaan had previously been married and had a child. After leaving Bigg Boss' house in 2020, Desai ended her relationship with Arhaan.

AWARDS:

Best Actress in a Negative Role at the Indian Telly Awards (2010).
Best Actress in a Lead Role winner of the Indian Television Academy Award (2010).

A Producers Guild award for Best Actress in a drama series (2011)

Biography