Ankita Lokhande Jain (born Tanuja Lokhande; 19 December 1984) is an Indian actress known for her work in Hindi films and television. She made her acting debut with the role of Archana in Pavitra Rishta (2009-2014) and is the recipient of 3 Gold Awards, 1 ITA Award, and 1 Indian Telly Award.[4][5][6] She also appeared in the films Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019), Baaghi 3 (2020) and Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (2024).[7][8] In 2023, she participated in the reality show Bigg Boss 17.[9]

Ankita Lokhande
Lokhande in 2020
Born
Tanuja Lokhande[1]

(1984-12-19) 19 December 1984 (age 39)
Other namesAnkita Lokhande Jain[2]
OccupationActress
Years active2009–present[3]
Notable workPavitra Rishta
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Bigg Boss 17
Spouse
Vikas Jain
(m. 2021)

Early life

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Lokhande was born as Tanuja Lokhande, on 19 December 1984 in Indore[10] She was born in a Marathi family, to Shashikant Lokhande and Vandana Phadnis Lokhande, a teacher.[1][11] She also has two brothers Sooraj and Arun, and a sister Jyoti. After graduating she moved to Mumbai in 2005 to pursue a career in acting. She has been a badminton champion, during her early days.[10][1]

Career

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Debut and establishment (2009–2018)

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Lokhande on the sets of Pavitra Rishta in 2013

After participating in India's Best Cinestars Ki Khoj (2007–09), Lokhande bagged the lead role of Archana Deshmukh in Ekta Kapoor's daily soap Pavitra Rishta. She portrayed Archana opposite Sushant Singh Rajput and Hiten Tejwani from 2009 to 2014.[12][13] Pavitra Rishta took a generation leap in 2013 and Lokhande also began playing Archana's granddaughter Ankita Karmarkar, opposite Karan Veer Mehra, until the series ended in 2014.[14][15]

Lokhande participated in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4, where she was ranked 5th[16] and Comedy Circus ka Naya Daur. She did two episodes for Ek Thhi Naayka, opposite Sachin Shroff.[17][18]

After a two-year hiatus from acting and her separation from Rajput, there were reports that Lokhande was set to make her film debut in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama Padmaavat (2018).[19] However, she left the film, stating that she was not ready for films at that time.[20] The following year, speculation spread that she had been signed for Girish Malik's film Torbaaz along with Sanjay Dutt.[21] However, rumours proved to be untrue after Malik stated that Lokhande was not going to be involved with the film.[22]

Expansion to films (2019–2022)

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In 2018, Lokhande announced that she would make her film debut in the role of Jhalkaribai, a warrior in Krish and Kangana Ranaut's joint directorial venture Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, an epic drama based on the life of Rani Lakshmi Bai. The film was released on the eve of Republic Day 2019 and emerged as a hit at the box office.[23][7] Bollywood Hungama noted, "Lokhande as Jhalkari Bai is excellent and leaves a tremendous mark in her limited screen time."[24]

Lokhande next starred in Sajid Nadiadwala's action thriller film Baaghi 3 in 2020, the third part of the Baaghi trilogy, alongside Tiger Shroff, Shraddha Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh. She played the role of Kapoor's elder sister married to Deshmukh's character.[25][26] The film was released prior to the shutdown of theatres owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in India, which affected the box office performance. Filmfare stated, "The two girls Shraddha and Ankita, despite the build-up about them both being fiery characters, have nothing to do really in the film."[27]

Lokhande reprised her role as Archana Deshmukh in the web series Pavitra Rishta: It's Never Too Late along with Shaheer Sheikh from 2021 to 2022.[28] In her review, Archika Khurana said, "As Archana, Ankita gives a well-balanced and likeable performance. She makes us believe that this role was custom-made for her."[29] In February 2022, Lokhande participated in StarPlus' Smart Jodi with her husband, Vicky Jain, subsequently becoming the winner of the season.[30][31]

Further career and recent work (2023-present)

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Lokhande with Mannara Chopra in Bigg Boss 17

In 2023, she played a woman going through a divorce in the film The Last Coffee. Times of India wrote, "Lokhande looks stunning and shines brightly in emotional scenes."[32] From 2023 to 2024, Lokhande appeared as a contestant on the reality TV show Bigg Boss 17. She joined the show alongside her husband, Vicky Jain. Lokhande was placed as the 3rd runner-up of the show.[33][34]

In 2024, Lokhande appeared in Swatantrya Veer Savarkar , playing Yamunabai Savarkar opposite Randeep Hooda.[35] Sana Farzeen of India Today stated, "Ankita Lokhande gives an honest performance even though she doesn't have much to do."[36]

Personal life

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Lokhande co-starred with Sushant Singh Rajput in Pavitra Rishta, and they began dating in 2010. Rajput proposed to her on the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4. In a 2016 interview, the couple spoke of marrying each other. But the same year, the couple parted their ways.[37] She later said in an interview that Rajput wanted to focus on his career and hence they parted ways.[38]

In 2019, Lokhande revealed her relationship with Vikas Jain, a businessman.[39] Lokhande married Jain on 14 December 2021 in a traditional ceremony in Mumbai.[40][41]

Media image

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Lokhande at an event in 2018

Lokhande has established herself as one of the most popular and highest-paid television actresses in India.[4][5] She was placed 7th in Rediff.com's "Top 10 Television Actresses" list of 2014.[42] In UK-based newspaper Eastern Eye's "50 Sexiest Asian Women" list, Lokhande was placed 29th in 2013.[43] In 2024, she was featured on the Times Square's billboard.[44]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Ref.
2019 Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi Jhalkaribai [45]
2020 Baaghi 3 Ruchi Chaturvedi
2023 The Last Coffee Iram Qureshi [46]
2024 Swatantrya Veer Savarkar Yamunabai Savarkar [47]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2004 India's Best Cinestars Ki Khoj Contestant
2009–2014 Pavitra Rishta Archana Karanjkar Deshmukh / Ankita Deshmukh Karmarkar [48][49]
2011 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4 Contestant 5th place [16]
Comedy Circus Ka Naya Daur
2013 Ek Thhi Naayka Pragya
2022 Smart Jodi Contestant Winner
2023–2024 Bigg Boss 17 4th place
2024 Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment

Special appearances

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Year Title Role Ref.
2009 Saat Phere – Saloni Ka Safar Archana [50]
Chotti Bahu
2020 The Kapil Sharma Show Herself
2023
2022 Lock Upp
2024 Dance Deewane 4
Bigg Boss 18

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2021–2022 Pavitra Rishta: It's Never Too Late Archana Deshmukh [51]
2024 Amrapali Amrapali Filming [52]

Music videos

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Year Title Singer Ref.
2024 Laa Pila De Sharaab Vishal Mishra [53]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2009 Indian Television Academy Awards Best Actress (Popular) Pavitra Rishta Nominated [54]
Indian Telly Awards Fresh New Face - Female Nominated [55]
2010 Best Actress in a Lead Role Nominated [56]
Gold Awards Debut in a Lead Role - Female Won [57]
Best Actress in a Lead Role Nominated
Indian Television Academy Awards GR8! Face of The Year Won [58]
Best Actress (Popular) Nominated
2011 Nominated [59]
Gold Awards Best Actress in a Lead Role Won [60]
Producers Guild Film Awards Best Actress in Drama Series Won [61]
2012 Indian Telly Awards Best Actress in a Lead Role Nominated [62]
Best Onscreen Couple (with Sushant Singh Rajput) Nominated
Best Television Personality of the Year Won
Gold Awards Best Actress in a Lead Role Won [63]
2013 Producers Guild Film Awards Best Actress in Drama Series Nominated [64]
2014 Won [65]
2020 Zee Cine Awards Best Female Debut Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi Nominated [66]
2024 Pinkvilla Screen and Style Icons Awards Most Stylish TV Actress Won [67]

References

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  4. ^ a b "Jennifer Winget to Ankita Lokhande: TV's highest paid actors". The Times of India. 14 July 2017. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  5. ^ a b "11 television stars who earn more than Bollywood actors per month!". The Indian Express. 18 September 2016. Archived from the original on 25 September 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
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