Rakhi Sawant

Rakhi was born as Neeru Bheda to Jaya Bheda. Jaya married Anand,[9][10] a police constable at Worli Police Station, and gave the children from her first marriage her second husband's name.

She made her film debut in the 1997 film Agnichakra under the name Ruhi Sawant. She went on to other small roles and dance numbers in Bollywood films Joru Ka Ghulam, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain, and Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke.[11]

Rakhi Sawant performing at Nach Baliye 3 in Madhuri Dixit's famous getup.

In 2003, she auditioned for an item number in the Bollywood film Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne. She auditioned about four times before being selected for her breakthrough item number, "Mohabbat Hai Mirchi", composed by Himesh Reshammiya. Sawant acted in small roles in films including Masti and Main Hoon Na.

In 2005, she appeared in the music video "Pardesiya", from the album D.J. Hot Remix - Vol 3.

In June 2006, Mika Singh attempted to kiss her at his birthday party, which caused a media controversy.[12] A few months later, she appeared in the first season of the reality show Bigg Boss. She got evicted in week 4 but later made a re- entry. She was among the top four finalists but got evicted days before the grand finale (24 January 2007, Day 84).[13]

In 2007, Rakhi made her singing debut in the album Super Girl launched by Venus Records & Tapes Pvt. Ltd. She later participated in the dance reality show Nach Baliye with Abhishek Avasthi and emerged as the first runner up.[14] In 2008, Sawant appeared in the film Krazzy 4 for the item song 'Dekhta Hai Tu Kya'. In 2009, Sawant launched the reality show Rakhi Ka Swayamwar in which she planned to select her future husband by the ancient ritual of Swayamvar. On 2 August 2009 she chose her life partner, a contestant from Toronto, Canada, Elesh Parujanwala. However, several months later, Sawant announced that the couple had separated due to irreconcilable differences.[15] After separation she said on interview that she got engaged to Elesh Parujanwala for money.[16][17][18]

In 2010, Rakhi hosted a talk show Rakhi Ka Insaaf which aired on Imagine TV. The show saw a controversy after the death of a participant who commit suicide after Rakhi used insulting language.[19] In 2011, she participated in Sony TV's Maa Exchange along with mother Jaya Sawant.

Often appearing in reality shows as a host, judge or participant, Sawant is a regular stage performer. In 2012, she did a comedy act with Shahrukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor at the 57th Filmfare Awards[20] and entry dance performance in 2015 with Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor in Malaysia.[21]

In 2013, she participated in Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki along with Anchal Sabharwal, Sangram Singh, Chetan Hansraj & Madhura Naik. The show aired on Life OK. She later was a contestant on Box Cricket League.

Sawant later played the leading role in thriller film Ek Kahani Julie Ki, and was seen in a cameo appearance in comedy fiction television series Bhaag Bakool Bhaag.[22]

On 26 March 2014, she announced her plans to contest 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai North-West as an Independent Candidate.[23] On 28 March, she founded the Rashtriya Aam Party (RAP).[24][25] The party has no symbol assigned by the election commission. However, Sawant said that she's expecting it to be a "green chilli", which she feels resembles her personality.[26] The party's office bearers and fundraisers are local businessmen from Oshiwara.[26]

She received only 15 votes from the Mumbai North-West Constituency and lost her deposit.[27]

Sawant resigned from the Rashtriya Aam Party and joined the RPI (Athavale) party in June 2014 and expressed her desire to work for dalits.[28][29] Rakhi serves as party's state vice-president and president of the woman wing.[30]

In November 2018, Sawant announced that she will marry reality television personality and internet-celebrity Deepak Kalal on 31 December 2018.[31] In December Rakhi Sawant told the media that she has cancelled her marriage with Deepak Kalal, who is engaged to another girl now.[32]

In mid-2019, Sawant married an NRI man named Ritesh.[33]

In November 2018, during The Great Khali's Continental Wrestling Entertainment promotion, American female wrestler Rebel got involved in a dance battle against Sawant, during which Rebel grabbed her in inverse position, circulated her, and threw her on her back. It injured Sawant's back and she fell unconscious, and was later carried to a nearby hospital.[34][35]

On 4 April 2017, she was arrested by Punjab police about her remarks on Rishi Valmiki.[36][37]

• 2003: Carry On Shekhar[51] (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[52] (Colors)
• 2012: Bigg Boss 6 (Colors)
• 2012: Movers & Shakers Masala Markey[53] (SAB TV)
• 2014: Comedy Nights with Kapil (Colors)
• 2015: Comedy Classes (Life OK)
• 2016: Comedy Nights Bachao (Colors)[54]
• 2017: Bhaag Bakool Bhaag (Colors) as Twinkle Maa[55]