Rashami Desai is an Indian television actress known primarily for her work in Hindi-language soap operas. She rose to prominence with her portrayal of Tapasya in the Colors TV serial Uttaran and later gained wider public recognition through her participation in reality television, including Bigg Boss 13.
Key Facts
| Full name | Rashami Sharad Desai |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 February 1986 |
| Birthplace | Nagaon, Assam, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actress, model |
| Primary medium | Hindi television |
| Notable role | Tapasya Thakur in Uttaran |
| Years active | 2003 onwards |
Background
Rashami Desai was born in Nagaon, Assam, into a Gujarati family. She spent her early years in the North-East before moving to other parts of India in pursuit of acting opportunities. She began her career as a model and dancer before transitioning to acting in television and films.
Career
Early work
Desai began acting in the early 2000s, taking up roles in regional Indian cinema, including Gujarati and Kannada films, alongside small assignments in Hindi television. Her early television appearances included guest and supporting roles in serials and dance-based reality programmes.
Uttaran
Her breakthrough came with the Colors TV serial Uttaran, produced by Rashmi Sharma Telefilms, which premiered in 2008. She played Tapasya Thakur, the principal antagonist for much of the show's run, opposite Tina Datta who portrayed Ichha. The role established her as a leading face on Hindi general entertainment television and earned her several Indian Television Academy Award and Indian Telly Award nominations.
Later television work
After Uttaran concluded in 2015, Desai appeared in serials including Dil Se Dil Tak on Colors TV, in which she played Shorvori. She has also taken up roles in shows on other Hindi entertainment channels and has appeared in web series on streaming platforms.
Reality television
Desai has been a prominent presence on Indian reality television. She participated in the dance reality show Nach Baliye and later entered Bigg Boss 13, hosted by Salman Khan and broadcast on Colors TV in 2019–2020, where she was among the finalists. She has also appeared as a guest or contestant on a number of celebrity-based formats.
Films
Alongside television, she has acted in a few feature films across Hindi and regional industries, though her principal body of work remains on the small screen.
Personal life
Desai married actor Nandish Singh, her co-star from Uttaran, in 2012. The couple separated subsequently, and the divorce drew attention in the Indian entertainment press.
Significance
Rashami Desai is regarded as one of the recognisable performers of Hindi daily soaps from the late 2000s and 2010s. Her portrayal of a grey-shaded female lead in Uttaran is often cited as among the long-running negative-protagonist roles on Indian general entertainment television, and her later visibility on Bigg Boss 13 contributed to her reach beyond traditional television viewers.