Rashami Desai Biography: Age, Uttaran, Bigg Boss 13 and Sayoneee
Rashami Desai (born Shivani Desai on 13 February 1986), also spelt Rashmi Desai, is an Indian actress who works mainly in Hindi television. Born in Nagaon, Assam, and raised in Mumbai, she started in Assamese and Bhojpuri films before becoming a household name as Tapasya Thakur in Colors TV’s Uttaran (2009–2014). She later starred in Dil Se Dil Tak and Naagin 4, finished in the top four of Bigg Boss 13, and in September 2026 returned to television after eight years with Star Plus’s Sayoneee.
Rashami Desai Latest News (October 2026)
- Sayoneee premieres: Rashami’s new Star Plus and JioHotstar show Sayoneee premiered on 23 September 2026. She plays Maya, alongside Janhavi Soni as Saanvi and Gautam Singh Vig as Aditya. The show is produced by Sargun Mehta and Ravi Dubey’s Dreamiyata Entertainment.
- ‘Looking for a purpose’: Talking about the comeback, Rashami said she was not looking for a comeback on television but for a purpose, and that she had turned down many offers that didn’t resonate with her. She called Maya a very practical character.
- Spiritual start: Before beginning the show, she visited Neem Karoli Baba’s ashram and said the visit felt very peaceful.
Rashami Desai Profile, Age and Wiki
| Bio | |
|---|---|
| Screen name | Rashami Desai (also Rashmi Desai) |
| Birth name | Shivani Desai |
| Profession | Actress |
| Known for | Tapasya in Uttaran; Bigg Boss 13 |
| Career | |
| Film debut | Kanyadaan (Assamese, 2002, cameo) |
| Hindi film debut | Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke (2004, as Divya Desai) |
| TV debut | Raavan (Zee TV, 2006) as Mandodari |
| Breakthrough | Uttaran (2009–2014) |
| Current show | Sayoneee (Star Plus, 2026) |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of birth | 13 February 1986 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 40 years |
| Birthplace | Nagaon, Assam |
| Raised in | Mumbai |
| Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Relationships and Family | |
| Brother | Gaurav Desai |
| Ex-husband | Nandish Sandhu (married 2011; divorced 2016) |
| Marital status | Divorced |
Rashami Desai Early Life
Rashami Desai was born Shivani Desai on 13 February 1986 in Nagaon, Assam. She is Gujarati by origin and was raised in Mumbai, where she grew up with her brother, Gaurav Desai. She began working in films as a teenager.
Assamese, Bhojpuri and Hindi Films
Rashami’s screen career began with a cameo in the Assamese film Kanyadaan (2002). She then worked in several Bhojpuri films; one of them, Kab Hoi Gawna Hamar (2005), won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Bhojpuri. She made her Bollywood debut in Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke (2004), credited as Divya Desai, in a film that featured Shah Rukh Khan and Raveena Tandon.
Television Debut
Rashami’s television debut came in 2006 as Mandodari in Zee TV’s mythological series Raavan. In 2008 she played a dual role in Pari Hoon Main. These early shows helped her build a foothold in Hindi television.
Uttaran: Tapasya Thakur
Rashami’s breakthrough came with Colors TV’s Uttaran (2009–2014), in which she played Tapasya Thakur, a rich girl whose jealousy of her childhood friend drives much of the drama. The grey-shaded character made her one of the most talked-about actresses on television and won her several awards. The show ran for five years and remains her most famous role. It was on this show that she met actor Nandish Sandhu.
Dil Se Dil Tak and Naagin 4
She later played Shorvori in Dil Se Dil Tak (2017–2018) and Shalaka in Ekta Kapoor’s supernatural drama Naagin 4 (2020), returning briefly in Naagin 6 (2022).
Reality Shows and Bigg Boss
Rashami has been a regular on reality television. She won Zara Nachke Dikha 2 (2010) with the Massakali Girls team, was first runner-up on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5 (2012), finished ninth on Khatron Ke Khiladi 6 (2015), and was first runner-up on Nach Baliye 7 (2015) with Nandish Sandhu.
Her biggest reality-show run was on Bigg Boss 13 (2019–2020), hosted by Salman Khan, where she finished as third runner-up in one of the show’s most-watched seasons. She returned for Bigg Boss 15 (2021–2022) and finished as fifth runner-up.
Bigg Boss 13 Journey
Bigg Boss 13, hosted by Salman Khan, is often described as one of the most-watched seasons of the show. Rashami entered as one of the best-known faces from television and quickly became a central figure in the house. Her emotional honesty, her fights and friendships, and her bond with other contestants kept her in the headlines through the season. She survived until the finale and finished as third runner-up, a result that brought her a new generation of fans.
She returned to the franchise for Bigg Boss 15 (2021–2022), where she again reached the finale week and finished as fifth runner-up, making her one of the few contestants to reach the final stages of two separate seasons.
Web Series and Recent Films
Rashami made her web debut as Palak Sahni in Tandoor (2021) and appeared in the “Ruby” segment of Ratri Ke Yatri (2022). In 2024 she featured in Womaniya and the film JNU: Jahangir National University. In 2025 she appeared in the Gujarati film Mom Tane Nai Samjay, the ZEE5 film Hisaab Barabar and the audio series Roadpati Bana Crorepati on Kuku FM.
2026 TV Comeback: Sayoneee
In September 2026, Rashami returned to daily television after an eight-year gap with Sayoneee on Star Plus and JioHotstar. The show follows Saanvi (Janhavi Soni), a young woman searching for the maternal love she has always wanted, and Aditya (Gautam Singh Vig), who supports her growth. Rashami plays Maya. The series, produced by Sargun Mehta and Ravi Dubey’s Dreamiyata Entertainment, premiered on 23 September 2026. Rashami said she had waited for a role with real purpose and has no regrets about taking her time.
Rashami Desai Shows and Films
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Kanyadaan | Cameo | Assamese film |
| 2004 | Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke | — | Hindi film |
| 2005 | Kab Hoi Gawna Hamar | — | Bhojpuri film |
| 2006 | Raavan | Mandodari | Zee TV |
| 2008 | Pari Hoon Main | Dual role | TV |
| 2009–2014 | Uttaran | Tapasya Thakur | Colors TV |
| 2017–2018 | Dil Se Dil Tak | Shorvori | Colors TV |
| 2019–2020 | Bigg Boss 13 | Contestant | Third runner-up |
| 2020 | Naagin 4 | Shalaka | Colors TV |
| 2021 | Tandoor | Palak Sahni | Web series |
| 2021–2022 | Bigg Boss 15 | Contestant | Fifth runner-up |
| 2025 | Hisaab Barabar | — | ZEE5 film |
| 2026 | Sayoneee | Maya | Star Plus |
Rashami Desai Career Timeline
- 2002: Screen debut in the Assamese film Kanyadaan.
- 2004: Bollywood debut in Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke, credited as Divya Desai.
- 2006: TV debut as Mandodari in Raavan.
- 2009: Begins playing Tapasya in Uttaran.
- 2017: Stars in Dil Se Dil Tak.
- 2019–2020: Third runner-up on Bigg Boss 13; plays Shalaka in Naagin 4.
- 2021: Web debut in Tandoor.
- 2025: Appears in Hisaab Barabar and the Gujarati film Mom Tane Nai Samjay.
- 2026: Returns to daily TV as Maya in Sayoneee.
Rashami Desai Personal Life
Rashami married her Uttaran co-star Nandish Sandhu on 12 February 2011 in Ghaziabad. The couple separated in 2014, filed for divorce in 2015, and their divorce was finalised in March 2016. She has not remarried. Rashami is spiritual and has spoken about finding peace through faith. For more TV stars, read our biographies of Shweta Tiwari, another Bigg Boss favourite, and Tina Datta, her Uttaran co-star.
Why Rashami Desai Stands Out
Rashami’s career spans Assamese and Bhojpuri cinema, Bollywood, two decades of Hindi television and multiple reality shows. Tapasya made her a star, Bigg Boss 13 gave her a new fan base, and her decision to wait eight years for the right daily show shows an actress who now chooses roles on her own terms.
Lesser-Known Facts
- Her birth name is Shivani Desai.
- She was credited as Divya Desai in her Bollywood debut.
- One of her early Bhojpuri films won a National Award.
- She has appeared on two seasons of Bigg Boss, 13 and 15.
- Sayoneee is her first daily TV show in eight years.
Related Biographies
- Tina Datta – Uttaran co-star
- Shweta Tiwari – Bigg Boss 4 winner
- Divyanka Tripathi
- Arshi Khan – Bigg Boss star
Rashami Desai FAQs
How old is Rashami Desai?
Rashami Desai was born on 13 February 1986, so she is 40 years old in 2026.
What is Rashami Desai’s real name?
Her birth name is Shivani Desai.
Who did Rashami Desai play in Uttaran?
She played Tapasya Thakur in Colors TV’s Uttaran (2009–2014).
How did Rashami Desai do in Bigg Boss 13?
She finished as third runner-up in Bigg Boss 13 (2019–2020).
What is Rashami Desai’s new show?
Her new show is Sayoneee on Star Plus and JioHotstar, which premiered on 23 September 2026. She plays Maya.
Who was Rashami Desai married to?
She was married to actor Nandish Sandhu from 2011; their divorce was finalised in 2016.
Where was Rashami Desai born?
She was born in Nagaon, Assam, and raised in Mumbai.
Has Rashami Desai acted in Bhojpuri films?
Yes. She acted in several Bhojpuri films, including Kab Hoi Gawna Hamar (2005).
Was Rashami Desai in Naagin?
Yes. She played Shalaka in Naagin 4 (2020) and returned briefly in Naagin 6 (2022).
Who produces Sayoneee?
Sayoneee is produced by Sargun Mehta and Ravi Dubey’s Dreamiyata Entertainment for Star Plus.