Drashti Dhami is an Indian television actress and dancer who works primarily in Hindi-language television. She rose to prominence with her lead roles in popular daily soaps and is widely recognised for her work in Geet – Hui Sabse Parayi, Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon, and Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil. She also gained popularity as the winner of the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6.
| Full name | Drashti Dhami |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 10 January 1985 |
| Place of birth | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actress, dancer, model |
| Years active | 2006 – present |
| Spouse | Niraj Khemka (m. 2015) |
| Notable work | Geet – Hui Sabse Parayi, Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6 |
Drashti Dhami was born and raised in Mumbai in a Gujarati family. She completed her schooling in Mumbai and pursued higher education before entering the entertainment industry. She began her career in modelling and music videos in the mid-2000s, appearing in advertisements and album videos before transitioning to acting on television.
Dhami started out as a model and featured in several music videos and television commercials. Her first acting assignment of note came with Dill Mill Gayye on Star One in 2007, where she appeared in a supporting capacity. She subsequently played a parallel lead in Tere Liye on Star Plus.
In 2010, Dhami was cast as Geet Handa in Geet – Hui Sabse Parayi, produced by 4 Lions Films and aired on Star One. The show ran until 2011 and established her as a leading actress on Hindi television, earning her several award nominations and wins for Best Actress in a popular category.
From 2012 to 2014, she played the title role of Madhubala in Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon on Colors TV. The show, produced by Saurabh Tewari, was a major commercial success and further cemented her standing in television.
In 2013, Dhami participated in the sixth season of the celebrity dance competition Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, broadcast on Colors TV. She won the season, with Salman Yusuff Khan as her choreographer.
She returned as a lead in Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani (Zee TV, 2015) and Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil (Star Plus, 2016–2017), where she appeared opposite Arjun Bijlani. She has also hosted reality and special-format shows on Indian television.
Dhami expanded into web content with The Empire, a Disney+ Hotstar historical drama released in 2021, in which she played a key supporting role. She has also appeared in Duranga on ZEE5.
Drashti Dhami married Mumbai-based businessman Niraj Khemka on 21 February 2015. The couple resides in Mumbai. She announced the birth of her daughter in 2023.
Dhami is regarded as one of the prominent leading actresses of Hindi general entertainment television in the 2010s. Her performances in family-oriented daily soaps have been commercially successful, and her win on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa highlighted her training and skill as a dancer. She has consistently appeared in industry rankings of popular television actresses and has also been associated with brand endorsements in the fashion and lifestyle segments.
Dhami has received multiple Indian Telly Awards, Star Parivaar Awards, and Colors Golden Petal Awards across the categories of Best Actress and Most Popular Actress for her work in Geet – Hui Sabse Parayi and Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon. She also won the trophy of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6 in 2013.