Rashami Desai (born 13 February 1986) is an Indian television and film actress. She made her acting debut with the Hindi film Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke (2004). She made her television debut with Ravan (2006).
She rose to prominence with her portrayal of Tapasya Rathore in Uttaran and Shorvari Parth Bhanushali in Dil Se Dil Tak. In 2020, she played Shalaka in Naagin 4 : Bhagya Ka Zehreela Khel and made her OTT debut with Tamas, a short film.
She has participated in reality shows like Zara Nachke Dikha (2010), Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (2012), Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi and Nach Baliye (2015). In 2019, she participated in the reality show Bigg Boss 13 emerging as the 3rd runner-up.
In 2018, she was among the highest-paid television actresses of India.
Early life
Rashami was born Shivani Desai on 13 February 1986 in Nagaon, Assam. Desai is a Gujarati. She has a brother, Gaurav Desai.
Career
Acting debut in films (2002-2006)
Desai started her career with local films where she appeared in an Assamese film titled Kanyadaan in 2002. In 2003, Desai made her Bollywood debut with the film Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke. In 2005, Desai appeared in a Hindi film Shabnam Mausi. 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.
Television debut and breakthrough role (2006–2014)
Desai made her television debut in 2006 with a mythological drama series Ravan on Zee TV, where she played the role of Queen Mandodari. In 2007, Desai appeared in an English film titled Sambar Salsa. In 2008, she played a double role in Star one’s Pari Hoon Main followed by Meet Mila De Rabba on Sony TV in 2009. In the same year she entered Colors TV’s show, Uttaran where she portrayed the negative role of Tapasya. In March 2012 she opted out of Uttaran. On 7 November 2012, she returned to Uttaran in positive shades, but left the show again in 2014.
In 2012, Desai participated in the dance reality TV show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5 which aired on Colors TV. She emerged as the first runner up. She also appeared on the Shekhar Suman hosted show Movers and Shakers.
Further ventures (2015–present)
In 2015, Desai participated in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 6. She was eliminated, but was brought back on the show as a wild card. She was again eliminated just before the finale along with Sana Khan. She then participated in Nach Baliye 7 with her then spouse Nandish Sandhu and they became 1st runners-up. She later entered Colors TV’s Ishq Ka Rang Safed where she played negative role of Tulsi. She later played a character in &TV’s Adhuri Kahaani Hamari until 2016. She also participated in Box Cricket League in March 2016.
In 2017, she played Shorvori Bhanushali in the drama series Dil Se Dil Tak opposite Sidharth Shukla. The series was loosely based on the Hindi film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke. In the same year, Desai starred in a Gujarati film Superstar.
Desai began 2019 with DD National’s drama series Chalo Saaf Karein where she played the role of Palak. Later in the year, Desai participated in the reality show Bigg Boss 13, where she finished as 3rd runner up.
In 2020, she played the character Shalaka on Colors TV’s Naagin 4. Desai also appeared in a short film titled Tamas and participated in Ladies vs Gentlemen, a reality interactive game show hosted by Ritesh Deshmukh and Genelia D’souza in the same year.
In December 2020, Desai featured in Palash Muchhal’s music video titled Ab Kya Jaan Legi Meri alongside Shaheer Sheikh and Sana Saeed.
Upcoming projects
As of November 2020, Desai is all set to make her digital debut alongside Tanuj Virwani in a web series titled Tandoor, an investigative thriller about a married couple whose lives take an unexpected turn after a murder. She will be essaying the role of Palak, an aspiring politician in the series.
Off-screen work and media image
Desai is a trained classical dancer. Apart from acting, Desai supports various causes. In 2015, Desai walked the ramp at Caring with Style fashion show to raise money for cancer patients. She also walked the ramp of a fashion show to support Smile Foundation, a non-governmental organisation working towards underprivileged children’s education and health. In 2020, Desai became the first Indian Television actor to collaborate with Google for cameos. Desai was ranked 22nd in BizAsia’s list of top 30 TV Personalities in 2020.
Personal life
Desai with her ex-husband Nandish Sandhu
She married her co-star from Uttaran, Nandish Sandhu, on 12 February 2012, in Dholpur. In 2014, they separated, and in 2015, the couple filed for divorce after almost four years of marriage.
In 2018, Desai met Arhaan Khan, they both participated in Bigg Boss 13 in 2019, where Arhaan proposed to Desai, and Desai accepted the proposal. Later, it was revealed by Salman Khan that Arhaan was married before and had a kid which he had kept secret from Desai. In 2020, after coming out from the Bigg Boss house, Desai broke up with Arhaan.
Filmography
Films
| Year | Movie | Role | Language | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Kanyadaan | Assamese | Cameo | ||
| 2004 | Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke | Sheetal | Hindi | ||
| Balma Bada Nadaan | Bhojpuri | ||||
| Hum Balbrahma Chaari Tu Kanya Kumari | |||||
| 2005 | Gazab Bhail Rama | ||||
| Kab Hoi Gauna Hammar | Gauri | National Award for Best Feature Film in Bhojpuri | |||
| Nadiya Ke Teer | |||||
| Shabnam Mausi | Naina | Hindi | |||
| 2006 | Bambai Ki Laila Chapra Ka Chaila | Bhojpuri | |||
| Gabbar Singh | |||||
| Kable Aayee Bahaar | |||||
| Kangna Khanke Piya Ke Angna | |||||
| Pappu Ke Pyar Ho Gail | |||||
| Sathi Sanghati | |||||
| Tohse Pyar Ba | |||||
| 2007 | Dulha Babu | ||||
| Sambar Salsa | English | ||||
| 2008 | Bandan Toote Na | Bhojpuri | |||
| Pyar Jab Kehu Se Hoi Jala | |||||
| Shahar Wali Jaan Mareli | |||||
| 2009 | Hum Hai Gawaar | ||||
| 2010 | Sohagan Bana Da Sajana Hamaar | ||||
| Umariya Kaili Tohre Naam | |||||
| 2012 | Dabangg 2 | Bride | Hindi | Cameo appearance in the song “Dagabaaz Re” | |
| 2017 | Superstar | Anjali Kapadia | Gujarati | ||
| 2017 | Six X | Shweta Bhardwaj | Unreleased |
Web originals
| Year | Movie | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Tamas | Saina/Sania | Hindi/Urdu | Released on YouTube & Hotstar |
| 2021 | Tandoor  |
Palak | Hindi | Completed |
Television
| Year | Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–2008 | Raavan | Mandodari |
| 2008 | Pari Hoon Main | Nikki/Pari |
| Ssshhhh…Phir Koi Hai | Priya | |
| 2009 | Meet Mila De Rabba | Dr. Meher Datta |
| 2009–2014 | Uttaran | Tapasya |
| 2010 | Meethi Choori No 1 | Contestant |
| Zara Nachke Dikha | ||
| 2011 | Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4 | Guest Contestant |
| Dance India Dance 3 | Guest | |
| Comedy Ka Maha Muqabala | Participant | |
| Ratan Ka Rishta | Herself | |
| 2012 | Bigg Boss 5 | Dance performance |
| Kahani Comedy Circus Ki | Participant | |
| Haunted Nights | Shivani | |
| Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5 | Contestant (1st runner-up) | |
| 2013 | Bigg Boss 6 | Herself |
| Comedy Nights with Kapil | Participant | |
| 2014 | Savdhaan India | Mata |
| CID | Sakshi (Episode: “Naari Shakti Part I-II”) | |
| 2015 | Farah Ki Daawat | Participant |
| Nach Baliye 7 | Contestant (1st runner-up) | |
| Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 6 | Contestant (eliminated on 5 April 2015) | |
| Ishq Ka Rang Safed | Tulsi | |
| 2016 | Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani | Herself |
| Adhuri Kahaani Hamari | Preeti | |
| Box Cricket League 2 | Contestant | |
| Comedy Nights Live | Participant | |
| 2017 | Bigg Boss 10 | Guest |
| 2017–2018 | Dil Se Dil Tak | Shorvari Bhanushali/Bhattacharya |
| 2017 | Ek Shringaar-Swabhiman | Guest (as Shorvari) |
| Shakti – Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki | ||
| Bigg Boss 11 | ||
| Rasoi Ki Jung Mummyon Ke Sung | Participant | |
| Entertainment Ki Raat | Guest | |
| 2018 | Tu Aashiqui | Guest (as Shorvori) |
| Belan Wali Bahu | ||
| MTV Ace Of Space 1 | Guest | |
| Naagin 3 | ||
| 2019 | Chalo Saaf Karein | Palak |
| Kitchen Champion 5 | Contestant | |
| Khatra Khatra Khatra | ||
| 2019–2020 | Bigg Boss 13 | Contestant (3rd runner-up) |
| 2020 | Mujhse Shaadi Karoge | Guest |
| Naagin: Bhagya Ka Zehreela Khel | Shalakha Dev Parekh/Nayantara | |
| Ladies vs Gentlemen | Participant | |
| 2021 | Bigg Boss 14 | To meet Vikas Gupta as a Friend in Family Round and for Talk Time Task |
Album songs
| Year | Song | Singer | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Teri Ek Hassi | Jubin Nautiyal | |
| 2016 | Sajna Ve | Monali Thakur and Dilip Soni | |
| 2020 | Ab Kya Jaan Legi Meri | Palash Muchhal and Amit Mishra |
Awards and nominations
Desai at Indian Telly Awards in 2010
| Year | Award | Category | Film/Show | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Indian Telly Awards | Popular Actor in Negative Role (Female) | Uttaran | Nominated |
| 2010 | Indian Television Academy Awards | Best Actress (Popular) | Won | |
| Indian Telly Awards | Most Popular Actor in a Negative Role (Female) | Won | ||
| 2011 | Star Guild Awards | Best Actor-Female in a Drama Series | Won | |
| 2012 | Apsara Awards | Best Actress in Drama Series | Nominated | |
| 2017 | Golden Petal Awards | Favourite Jodi (with Sidharth Shukla) | Dil Se Dil Tak | Won |
| Best Actress | Nominated |