Rashami Desai

Shivani Desai (born 13 February 1986), professionally known as Rashami Desai, is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Hindi television.

She is the recipient of several accolades including two Indian Television Academy Awards and Gold Awards.

She has established herself as one of the most popular and highest-paid actresses on television.

Rashami Desai was born Shivani Desai on 13 February 1986 in Nagaon town of Assam.

She is a Gujarati by origin.

She has a brother, Gaurav Desai.

Desai was brought up in Mumbai and did her schooling and undergraduation there.

Rashami pursued a diploma degree in Tours and Travels from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai.

Desai began her acting career with regional films where she appeared in an Assamese-language film titled Kanyadaan in 2002.

Desai made her Bollywood debut with Birendra Nath Tiwari-directed 2004 romantic mystery Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Raveena Tandon.

She essayed the role of Sheetal, a college student whose elder sister (played by Tandon) is murdered.

In 2005, Desai appeared in the Hindi film Shabnam Mausi, where she played the role of Naina alongside Ashutosh Rana and Vijay Raaz.

She later earned fame in the Bhojpuri film industry where she played many roles in the films like Balma Bada Nadaan and Gabbar Singh.

In 2005, Desai starred in the film Kab Hoi Gauna Hammar, that went on to win the National Award for Best Feature Film in Bhojpuri.

After starting her acting career working in regional language films, Desai made her Hindi television debut with Ravan (2006) and then had a dual role in Pari Hoon Main (2008).

Desai made her television debut in 2006 with the mythological drama series Ravan on Zee TV, where she played the role of Queen Mandodari.

Desai was cast opposite Jay Soni in the series.

In 2007, Desai appeared in the English film titled Sambar Salsa.

In 2008, Desai got her first big break in daily soaps that fetched her the limelight with her portrayal of the dual role of Nikki Shrivastav and Pari Rai Choudhary in Star One's Pari Hoon Main.

Directed and produced by Ravi Chopra, the series also featured Mohit Malik and Karan Veer Mehra in pivotal roles.

The show followed the story of two look-alikes; Pari (an actress) and Nikki (a simple girl) who bump into each other, exchange their identities, and begin living each other's lives.

Desai then appeared as Priya in Star One's horror thriller anthology series Ssshhhh...Phir Koi Hai alongside Manish Paul.

She earned massive popularity with her notable work as Tapasya Thakur in Colors TV's long-running soap opera Uttaran (2009-2014), winning various accolades.

In 2009, Desai briefly appeared in Meet Mila De Rabba aired on Sony TV where she played the role of Dr. Meher Datta alongside Surilie Gautam and Piyush Sahdev.

Desai earned widespread acclaim and recognition upon entering Colors TV's long-running soap opera Uttaran in 2009, where she played the parallel lead alongside Tina Datta and Nandish Sandhu.

The series followed the story of two friends, Ichcha and Tapasya, who hail from different strata of the society.

Desai replaced Ishita Panchal to play the role of adult Tapasya Thakur, a rich girl who gets manipulated by her maternal grandmother upon feeling less loved than her friend by her own parents.

Uttaran opened up newer international markets for Indian Television, making Desai a household name beyond the country's shores.

Desai also took part in the reality shows Zara Nachke Dikha 2 (2010), Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5 (2012), Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 6 (2015) and Nach Baliye 7 (2015) and had a cameo in the 2012 film Dabangg 2.

She ventured into stand-up comedy with reality shows like Comedy Circus Mahasangram (2010), Comedy Ka Maha Muqabala (2011), Kahaani Comedy Circus Ki (2012) and Comedy Nights Live (2016).

For Uttaran, Desai received numerous accolades and nominations including the ITA Award for Best Actress Popular and Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Negative Role Popular in 2010.

In 2010, Desai participated in Sony TV's comedy reality TV show Comedy Circus 3 Ka Tadka as a wildcard entrant with Vikrant Massey.

Desai then participated as a member of the team "Massakalli Girls" in season 2 of the dance reality television show Zara Nachke Dikha which aired on Star Plus.

Her team emerged as winners.

In the same year, Desai also appeared as panellist in Imagine TV's reality show Meethi Choori No 1 and participated in Sony TV's comedy reality show Comedy Circus Mahasangram.

In 2011, Desai participated in StarPlus's comedy reality TV show Comedy Ka Maha Muqabala, where her team emerged as runner-ups.

In January 2012 she opted out of the show.

On 7 November 2012, she returned to Uttaran with positive shades, and left the show again in 2014 citing creative differences.

Desai later returned to fiction television with the love triangle Dil Se Dil Tak (2017-2018) portraying the role of Shorvori, after which she participated in Bigg Boss 13 (2019–2020) and Bigg Boss 15 (2021–2022).

In this period, she also played brief roles in Naagin 4 and Naagin 6, and made her OTT debut with the short film Tamas and web debut with Tandoor.