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Ankita Lokhande, or more popularly known as Archana from Pavitra Rishta, did his Bollywood debut with the 2019 film Manikarnika: the queen of Jhansi. However, her debit in silver-screen with Ekta Kapoor’s Pavitra Rishta, as Archana-a simple Indian woman, was a massive hit. The character building and the actresses’ acting skills were so good that it won a place in our hearts. Today, the gorgeous lady has gained a lot of fame and has a huge fan following. The most critically and widely appreciated starlet has earned this position through her hard work.
We have dug deep enough to find out 15 lesser knows fast about this beautiful actress:
1. Ankita Lokhande’s real name is Tanuja
Ankita is popular in Indian households as Archana, the role that changed her life forever and gave her an ultimate fandom. But did you know her real name is Tanuja Lokhande?
2. Ankita is from Indore
She was born on December 19th, 1984, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
3. She belongs from a simple Indian middle-class family
She might be a famous television actress and now a popular movie actress, but she belongs from a typical Indian middle-class family. Her father, Shashikant Lokhande, is a news reporter, and mother, Vandana Phadnis Lokhande, is a school teacher. Coming from a very modest background, Ankita is like a girl next door.
4. Before Pavitra Rishta, she was to cast in a high-school drama
Pavitra Rishta would not have been her debut in television as she was initially supposed to debut in a romantic high-school drama ‘Baali Umar Ko Salaam.’ However, that project did not work out, and the show never came on-air. In 2009 she bagged the lead role as Archana in Ekta Kapoor’s daily soap Pavitra Rishta. It was her small screen debut and the role she got her several awards, making her an every household name.
5. She was one of the highest-paid television actresses until her retirement
Pavitra Rishta ran for 6 years. Her character and performance drastically evolved, and we can see how skillful of an actor she is. She was the highest-paid television actress until she retired from the small screen in 2018. After that, she perused her dream of movies.
6. Ankita was at loggerheads with Sushant
Recently the actress popped up in many news interviews after the death of her ex-boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput, supporting his ideology and philosophies. She completely denied all the depression theories that were spreading against Sushant’s death mystery. Even though he was her ex-boyfriend but, she was heart-broken and also demanded a CBI inquiry. However, their love story started from the sets of Pavitra Rishta. They had a long 6 years relationship, after which they finally broke up in 2016 and parted ways. She once got involved in a controversy for slapping Sushant Singh Rajput publicly when the later was dancing with other girls.
But the fact that before they got into a relationship, she was at loggerheads with Sushant, is rarely known. It was only when they initially started shooting for Pavitra Rishta, but their equation changed over time, and they went on to become one of the most loved couples in the industry.
7. Ankita was a state-level badminton player
Other than acting and studies, she was also very good at sports. She was very active in sports from her childhood, but her favorite was badminton. It was not just another hobby for her as she was a state-level badminton player.
8. Ankita relocated to Mumbai after her graduation in 2005
She shifted to Mumbai in 2005 to pursue her dream as an actress. She was then only 21 years old and had recently completed her graduation. She participated in ‘India’s Best Cinestar Ki Khoj’ in 2007 as a contestant. From there, she got into the limelight, and Ekta Kapoor spotted her.
9. A fetish for Indian food
As I said earlier, she is just like any other Indian girl next door. So unlike any other Indian, she loves Indian food. Her favorite food is bhindi with ghee and roti. Her favorite non-veg food is butter chicken.
10. A great dancer and a bathroom singer
We all know what a great dancer Ankita is. She participated in ‘Jhalak Dikhla Ja 4’ along with Sushant Singh Rajput. She did some incredible performances there. Other than a great dancer in one of her interviews, Ankita mentioned that she is a bathroom singer too.
Not only singing in her free time, but she also prefers listening to soft melodies, romantic songs, and ghazals.
11. Did a part in Ekta Kapoor’s mini-series, “Ek Thi Naayka.”
After the completion of the blog-buster show Pavitra Rishta, she was also in another of Ekta Kapoor’s mini-series “Ek Thi Naayka” as Pragya. That was a promotional episode for Ekta Kapoor’s movie ‘Ek Thi Dayan.’
12. Ankita got many films offers before her debut in Manikarnika: the queen of Jhansi.
In 2019 she debuted on big-screen with the movie Manikarnika: the queen of Jhansi. But before her debut, she was offered many roles in several big films. There were reports that Ankita is in sets of Padmavaat to debut on the big screen with a supporting actress role. However, she left the movie as she said that she was not ready for her film debut yet.
She also gave audition for Salman Khan’s movie sultan but did not get selected. They approached her for shah rukh khan’s happy new year but later got replaced by Deepika Padukone.
13. Her favorite color
Her favorite color is white as she says she looks best in white, and could not agree any less.
14. Ankita’s favorite restaurant
Ankita’s favorite restaurant to eat is Urban Tadka in Mumbai.
15. Favorite actress
Unlike any other Indian, she idolizes Madhuri Dixit and Shilpa Shetty. She says they are her inspiration growing up and binged over their movies, and she admires them highly.
