Rakhi Sawant (also known as Fatima Durrani;[1] born Neeru Bheda; 25 November 1978[2][3]) is an Indian dancer, model, actress and television talk show host, who has appeared in many Hindi and a few Kannada, Marathi, Odia, Telugu and Tamil films. She was a contestant on the first season of the Indian reality television series Bigg Boss 1 (2006) and a challenger and finalist in Bigg Boss 14 (2020). She was the prospective bride in Season 1 of the Swayamvar TV series. Sawant has established herself as a sex symbol in Bollywood.[4][5]
Rakhi Sawant, born as Neeru Bheda on 25 November 1978 to Jaya Bheda in Mumbai.[8][9][10][11] After Jaya married Anand Sawant, a police constable at Worli Police Station,[12] Rakhi adopted the surname of her step-father, Anand Sawant.[13] Sawant debuted in the film Agnichakra, using the name Ruhi Sawant, before eventually adopting the name Rakhi Sawant.[2] Her brother is named Rakesh Sawant, and she also has a sister named Usha Sawant.[14][15]
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.[17] Sawant acted in small roles in films including Masti and Main Hoon Na.
In 2004, she appeared in the music video "Pardesiya", from the album D.J. Hot Remix - Vol 3.[18]
Television debut and success (2006–present)
In June 2006, Mika Singh attempted to kiss her at his birthday party, which caused a media controversy.[19] 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).[20]
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.[21] 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.[22] After separation she said on interview that she got engaged to Elesh Parujanwala for money.[23][24][25]
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 after Rakhi had called him impotent.[26] In 2011, she participated in Sony TV's Maa Exchange along with mother Jaya Sawant.
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.[27]
From 2020 to 2021, Sawant appeared as a challenger in Bigg Boss 14. She emerged as a finalist but decided to walk out, opting for the cash prize of 14 lakhs.[28]
Rakhi also participated in Bigg Boss Marathi season 4 as a wild card contestent and became first ever wild-card to reach finals of Bigg boss marathi, and decided to walk-out with 10 lakhs becoming 4th Runner-Up of the show.
Political venture (2014–present)
On 26 March 2014, she announced her plans to contest 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai North-West as an Independent Candidate.[29] On 28 March, she founded the Rashtriya Aam Party (RAP).[30][31] The party has no symbol assigned by the election commission. However, Sawant said that she's expecting[when?] it to be a "green chilli", which she feels resembles her personality.[32] The party's office bearers and fundraisers are local businessmen from Oshiwara.[32]
She received only 15 votes from the Mumbai North-West Constituency and lost her deposit.[33]
Sawant resigned from the Rashtriya Aam Party and joined the RPI (Athawale) party in June 2014 and expressed her desire to work for dalits.[34][35] Rakhi serves as party's state vice-president and president of the woman wing.[36][37]
In 2019, Sawant married an NRI man named Ritesh,[38][39] which ended in divorce in early 2022. In May 2022, she married Adil Khan Durrani.[40]
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 a bear hug and threw her on her back. It injured Sawant's back and she fell unconscious. She was taken to a nearby hospital.[41][42]
On 4 April 2017, she appeared in the Ludhiana court wearing a burqa for making objectionable remarks against Sage Valmiki, at which time she was accompanied by Indian National Congress, National co-ordinator Rahul Jogi (born on 21 August 1990), due to which she was severely criticized.[43][44][45]
Criticism began against Sawant began over her conversion to Islam[46][47] after marrying her boyfriend Adil Durrani, with people even saying that she changed her name to Rakhi Sawant Fatima.[46] However, Adil denied[48] the marriage at first, but soon, after some weeks, he accepted his marriage with Rakhi.[49][50][51] She performed her first Umrah at Mecca in 2023.[52][53]
^McDonald, Hamish (1999). The Polyester Prince: The Rise of Dhirubhai Ambani. Allen & Unwin. ISBN978-1-86448-468-7. Dhirubhai and Kokilaben Ambani invited us to the wedding of their son Anil to Tina Munim in Bombay in January 1991...
^"Rakhi Sawant wants to join RPI". Election Commission of India, General Election to Lok Sabha Trends & Result 2014. 21 June 2014. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
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