Sakshi Tanwar

Sakshi Tanwar (pronounced [ˈsaːkʂi ˈt̪əɳʋəɾ]; born 12 January 1973) is an Indian actress and presenter, who primarily works in Hindi films and television. Known for her portrayals of strong-willed, unconventional women in Indian television, Tanwar is considered among the highest-paid television actresses in India. She is a recipient of several awards including two ITA Awards and one Filmfare OTT Award. She has appeared in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list of 2012.

Tanwar is widely recognised for her portrayal of Parvati Agarwal in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii (2000-2008) and Priya Sharma Kapoor in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain (2011-2014), both these performances earned her two Indian Television Academy Awards. Tanwar made her film debut in 2006 with O re Manva and has since appeared in the biographical sports drama Dangal (2016) and the historical drama Samrat Prithviraj (2022). Alongside her work in television, Tanwar received praises for the series — Karrle Tu Bhi Mohabbat (2017-2019), Mission Over Mars (2019) and Mai: A Mother's Rage (2022), the latter won her the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Actress Critics – Drama Series.

Tanwar was born on 12 January 1973 to Rajendra Singh Tanwar, a retired CBI officer, in a middle-class Rajput family from Alwar, Rajasthan, India. She was educated in many Kendriya Vidyalayas before graduating from Lady Shri Ram College in New Delhi. Prior to this, in 1990, after completing her pre-university course, she worked as a sales trainee at a five-star hotel. In college, she was the secretary and president of the dramatic society.^{[citation needed]} After graduation, while preparing for the entrance tests to the administrative services and mass communications, she gave an audition for the national broadcaster Doordarshan's film songs based program Albela Sur Mela in 1998; she was selected as the presenter.^{[citation needed]}

After her television debut in 1998 with Albela Sur Mela, Tanwar rose to fame with Ekta Kapoor's Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii (2000–2008). The series based on joint family, saw her portray Parvati Agarwal opposite Kiran Karmarkar. The series was a major success and earned her recognition. Her performance was also praised by several critics. The series earned her several nominations including ITA Award for Best Actress – Popular and won her the Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Lead Role.

Tanwar then played Maya Mittal in Kutumb, the lead Gayatri Sharma in Devi, Advocate Indira Bhargav in Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin and Ganga in Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki. In 2010, she hosted the second season of Crime Patrol.

Tanwar later established herself with Ekta Kapoor's Bade Achhe Lagte Hain (2011–2014). She portrayed Priya Sharma Kapoor, a woman who marries in her late 30s opposite Ram Kapoor. The series was a massive success and her performance earned her critical acclaim. The series won her several awards including ITA Award for Best Actress – Jury and Indian Telly Award for Best Actress – Jury. In 2012, she made an appearance on the reality show Kaun Banega Crorepati.

In 2015, Tanwar made her Marathi film debut with Katyar Kaljat Ghusali, which was a critical and commercial success.

Tanwar returned to Hindi films with Dangal (2016), where she portrayed Daya Kaur, wife of former wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat opposite Aamir Khan. Anupama Chopra said in her review that Tanwar provides "strong support" to the story. While, Sukanya Verma found her to be terrific. The film was a major commercial success with an estimated gross of ₹2,000 crore and became the highest-grossing Indian film ever.