Ankita Lokhande Biography: Age, Husband, Pavitra Rishta, Movies & News
Ankita Lokhande (born 19 December 1984) is an Indian actress who works in Hindi television and films. Born Tanuja Lokhande in Indore, she became a household name as Archana in Zee TV’s Pavitra Rishta (2009–2014). She moved into films with Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019), followed by Baaghi 3 (2020) and Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (2024). She finished fourth on Bigg Boss 17 and, in July 2026, wrapped the third season of Colors TV’s Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment. She is married to businessman Vicky Jain.
Ankita Lokhande Latest News (2026)
- Laughter Chefs Season 3 (2026): Ankita returned with husband Vicky Jain for the third season of Colors TV’s cooking-comedy show Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment, saying the return felt like a “home-coming”. The season’s finale aired on 25 and 26 July 2026, and she said in a farewell post that the show “brought out the best in all of us”.
- With Vicky Jain: The couple continue to appear together on television and social media, including a widely shared couple photoshoot in 2026.
Ankita Lokhande Profile, Age and Wiki
| Bio | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Tanuja Lokhande |
| Profession | Actress, TV personality |
| Known for | Pavitra Rishta, Manikarnika, Bigg Boss 17 |
| Career | |
| Breakthrough | Pavitra Rishta (Zee TV, 2009–2014) as Archana |
| Film debut | Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019) as Jhalkaribai |
| Reality shows | Bigg Boss 17 (4th place); Laughter Chefs |
| Web series | Pavitra Rishta: It’s Never Too Late (2021–2022) |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of birth | 19 December 1984 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 41 years |
| Birthplace | Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Relationships and Family | |
| Marital status | Married |
| Husband | Vicky Jain, businessman (m. 14 December 2021) |
| Father | Shashikant Lokhande |
| Mother | Vandana Phadnis Lokhande, teacher |
Ankita Lokhande Early Life and Family
Ankita was born Tanuja Lokhande on 19 December 1984 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, into a Marathi family. Her father is Shashikant Lokhande, and her mother, Vandana Phadnis Lokhande, is a teacher. She grew up in Indore before moving to Mumbai to pursue acting, taking the screen name Ankita.
Ankita Lokhande Career
Pavitra Rishta (2009–2014)
Ankita’s big break came with Ekta Kapoor’s Pavitra Rishta on Zee TV, which premiered in 2009. She played Archana Deshmukh, a gentle, devoted woman from a middle-class Maharashtrian family, opposite Sushant Singh Rajput as Manav. The show became one of the most popular Hindi serials of its time, and Archana remains her defining role. She played the character until the show ended in 2014.
Manikarnika and Baaghi 3 (2019–2020)
Ankita made her film debut in Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019), the historical drama led by Kangana Ranaut. She played Jhalkaribai, a warrior in the army of Rani Lakshmibai. In 2020, she played Ruchi Chaturvedi in the action film Baaghi 3, starring Tiger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor.
Pavitra Rishta: It’s Never Too Late (2021–2022)
Ankita returned to her most famous role in the ZEE5 web series Pavitra Rishta: It’s Never Too Late, a reboot of the original show, with Shaheer Sheikh as Manav. The series ran for two seasons.
Bigg Boss 17 (2023–2024)
Ankita entered Bigg Boss 17 with her husband, Vicky Jain, and stayed until the finale in January 2024. She finished in fourth place. Her time in the house, including disagreements and reconciliations with Vicky, was among the most discussed parts of the season.
Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (2024)
In 2024, she played Yamunabai Savarkar, the wife of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, in Randeep Hooda’s biopic Swatantrya Veer Savarkar. It was one of her most serious film roles.
Laughter Chefs (2024 and 2026)
Ankita and Vicky joined the Colors TV cooking-comedy show Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment, in which TV stars cook in pairs while comedians add chaos to the kitchen. The show proved a hit, and Ankita later returned for season 3, which ended in July 2026.
Ankita Lokhande Filmography and TV Shows
| Year | Title | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009–2014 | Pavitra Rishta | Archana; Zee TV |
| 2019 | Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi | Jhalkaribai; film debut |
| 2020 | Baaghi 3 | Ruchi Chaturvedi |
| 2021–2022 | Pavitra Rishta: It’s Never Too Late | Archana; ZEE5 web series |
| 2023–2024 | Bigg Boss 17 | Contestant; 4th place |
| 2024 | Swatantrya Veer Savarkar | Yamunabai Savarkar |
| 2024, 2026 | Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment | Contestant; Colors TV |
Ankita Lokhande Personal Life and Husband
Ankita married businessman Vicky Jain on 14 December 2021 in a traditional ceremony in Mumbai. The couple have appeared together on several reality shows, including Bigg Boss 17 and Laughter Chefs, and often share moments from their life on social media.
She is close to her parents and often shares family moments with fans on social media.
Why Ankita Lokhande Stands Out
Ankita is one of the few TV actresses whose character has stayed in public memory for more than a decade. Archana from Pavitra Rishta made her a favourite in Indian homes, and she has built on that with film roles, a web reboot of the same show and a run of popular reality shows. Her move from serials to films and back to television shows how flexible her career has been. Her popularity with family audiences remains one of the strongest on Hindi television.
Lesser-Known Facts About Ankita Lokhande
- Her birth name is Tanuja Lokhande.
- She was born in Indore into a Marathi family.
- She played the warrior Jhalkaribai in her first film.
- She reprised Archana more than seven years after Pavitra Rishta ended.
- She and husband Vicky Jain have competed together on two reality shows.
Why Pavitra Rishta Still Matters
Pavitra Rishta told the story of Archana and Manav, a middle-class Maharashtrian couple, and their families over several years. Its focus on everyday family life and quiet devotion made it one of Zee TV’s most-watched shows of its era. For Ankita, Archana became a defining role, and fans still associate her with the character. That affection was strong enough that the story was revived as a ZEE5 web series in 2021, with Ankita returning to the role.
About Laughter Chefs
Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment is a Colors TV show in which pairs of TV celebrities cook dishes under the guidance of a chef, while comedians add jokes and chaos. The relaxed, funny format made it a hit with family audiences. Ankita and Vicky’s on-screen chemistry was one of the show’s draws, and Ankita described her return for season 3 in 2026 as a “home-coming”.
Ankita Lokhande Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Began playing Archana in Pavitra Rishta |
| 2019 | Film debut as Jhalkaribai in Manikarnika |
| 2020 | Baaghi 3 |
| 2021 | Pavitra Rishta web reboot; married Vicky Jain (14 December) |
| 2024 | Bigg Boss 17 finale (4th place); Swatantrya Veer Savarkar; Laughter Chefs |
| 2026 | Laughter Chefs season 3 |
Related Biographies
- Divyanka Tripathi Biography
- Shweta Tiwari Biography
- Rashmi Desai Biography
- Mouni Roy Biography
- Kangana Ranaut Biography – her Manikarnika co-star
- More: TV actress biographies
Ankita Lokhande FAQs
How old is Ankita Lokhande?
Ankita Lokhande was born on 19 December 1984, so she is 41 years old (as of 2026).
Who is Ankita Lokhande’s husband?
Ankita Lokhande is married to businessman Vicky Jain. They married on 14 December 2021.
What is Ankita Lokhande’s real name?
Her birth name is Tanuja Lokhande.
Which role made Ankita Lokhande famous?
She became famous as Archana in Zee TV’s Pavitra Rishta (2009–2014).
What was Ankita Lokhande’s first film?
Her first film was Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019), in which she played Jhalkaribai.
Did Ankita Lokhande win Bigg Boss 17?
No. She reached the finale of Bigg Boss 17 and finished in fourth place.
Is Ankita Lokhande in Laughter Chefs?
Yes. She appeared with Vicky Jain in Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment, including season 3, which ended in July 2026.
Where is Ankita Lokhande from?
She was born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, into a Marathi family.
What role did Ankita Lokhande play in Swatantrya Veer Savarkar?
She played Yamunabai Savarkar, wife of V. D. Savarkar, in the 2024 biopic directed by Randeep Hooda.
Who are Ankita Lokhande’s parents?
Her parents are Shashikant Lokhande and Vandana Phadnis Lokhande.
Was Ankita Lokhande in Baaghi 3?
Yes. She played Ruchi Chaturvedi in Baaghi 3 (2020).
Who played Manav opposite Ankita Lokhande in Pavitra Rishta?
Sushant Singh Rajput played Manav in the original show, and Shaheer Sheikh played the role in the 2021 web reboot.
Who played Jhalkaribai in Manikarnika?
Ankita Lokhande played Jhalkaribai, a warrior in Rani Lakshmibai’s army, in Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019). It was her first film role.
Did Ankita Lokhande and Vicky Jain go on Bigg Boss together?
Yes. The couple entered Bigg Boss 17 together, and Ankita reached the finale in January 2024, finishing fourth.
Is Ankita Lokhande in the Pavitra Rishta web series?
Yes. She reprised Archana in Pavitra Rishta: It’s Never Too Late on ZEE5 (2021–2022), opposite Shaheer Sheikh.