# Kishwer Merchant

Kishwer Merchant Rai (née Merchant; born 3 February 1981) is an Indian television actress and model. Merchant is well known for acting in the shows Hip Hip Hurray, Ek Hasina Thi, Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar, Har Mushkil Ka Hal Akbar Birbal, Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani and Kaisi Yeh Yaariyan. She was a contestant in the reality show Bigg Boss 9 in 2015.

## Life and career
### Early life and debut show (1981–2009)

Merchant was born into a Muslim family in Mumbai to Siraj Merchant and Rizwana Merchant. She started her career in 1997 with the TV show Shaktimaan, in which she played Julia, an assistant. She then played Nonie in the popular show Hip Hip Hurray from 1998 to 2000. Kishwar then appeared in many successful popular shows like Babul Ki Duwayen Leti Jaa, Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, Kutumb, Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Kayaamat – Jabb Bhi Waqt Aata Hai, Hatim and Khichdi.
Kishwar appeared in many Balaji shows like Kkavyanjali and Kasamh Se. In 2007, she played the positive role of Tamanna in Sanaya Irani and Arjun Bijlani's popular youth show Miley Jab Hum Tum in 2008. She is very popular for playing Haseena in the popular Sukirti Kandpal and Vivian Dsena series Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani. She also played a role of Sonia in the second season of the hit show – Chhoti Bahu.

### Breakthrough and success (2012–2015)

In 2012, Merchant was seen in three shows Amrit Manthan, Teri Meri Love Stories and Arjun. Then came many shows like Hongey Judaa Na Hum and Parvarrish – Kuchh Khattee Kuchh Meethi. She appeared in the popular shows Ek Hasina Thi as Raima, Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon as Ananya, Kaisi Yeh Yaariyan as Nyonika and Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar as Dimpy, sharing the screen with many popular actresses like Drashti Dhami and Sanjeeda Sheikh.

### Bigg Boss and further success (2015–2023)

Merchant was a participant in the reality TV show Bigg Boss 9 along with her boyfriend Suyyash Rai in 2015. She was paired with Aman Verma. Merchant, was forced to quit the Ticket to Finale task in its last leg and walked out of the house involuntarily with Rs 15 lakhs.
In 2016, Kishwar made her comeback with Balaji's popular show Brahmarakshas, playing the main antagonist, Aparajita.
In April 2017, Kishwar was seen in yet another Ekta Kapoor's show, Dhhai Kilo Prem, which airs on Star Plus. She played a cameo appearance as Shilpa. In May 2017, she was seen in Rashmi Sharma's Savitri Devi College & Hospital on Colors, but later she quit the show. Kishwar was also playing Asha in And TV's show Gangaa, which stars Aditi Sharma. The show went off air on 2 June 2017.

## Personal life

In 2010, Kishwer Merchant started dating actor Suyyash Rai. They got married on 16 December 2016. On 2 March 2021 the couple announced that they were expecting their first child.
On 27 August 2021, the couple became parents to a boy and named him 'Nirvair'.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Film | Role | Ref |
| 2011 | Bheja Fry 2 | Spanta Patel | |
| 2019 | Marne Bhi Do Yaaron | Sunny | |

### Television

| Year | Name | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | Shaktimaan | Julia | |
| 1998–2001 | Hip Hip Hurray | Nonie | |
| 1999 | X Zone | | Episodic role |
| 1999 | Hello Friends | | Episodic role |
| 2000–2001 | Babul Ki Duwayen Leti Jaa | Malavika | |
| 2001–2004 | Ssshhhh...Koi Hai | Various characters | |
| 2001–2003 | Sarhadein | Pranati | |
| 2001–2003 | Shikwah | Mehwish | |
| 2001–2002 | Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand | Sonam | |
| 2001–2002 | Kutumb | Swati | |
| 2002 | Kasautii Zindagii Kay | Mitali Sharma | |
| 2002 | Dhadkan | Dr. Aditi | |
| 2002–2003 | Kammal | Nisha Jajoo | |
| 2002–2004 | Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat | Nikki Chauhan | |
| 2002–2006 | Piya Ka Ghar | Malini | |
| 2003–2005 | Kayaamat – Jabb Bhi Waqt Aata Hai | Pooja | |
| 2004 | Hatim | Rubina | |
| 2004 | Khichdi | Rambha | |
| 2004 | Sarabhai vs Sarabhai | Dr. Kiran | |
| 2005–2006 | Reth | Dr. Dakshi | |
| 2005 | Rihaee | Tanvi | |
| 2005 | Instant Khichdi | Rambha | |
| 2005–2006 | Kkavyanjali | Vanshita Nanda | |
| 2006 | Kasamh Se | Seema Shukla | |
| 2006–2007 | Kaajjal | Amisha Veer Pratapsingh | |
| 2006–2009 | Kashmakash Zindagi Ki | Mandira | |
| 2007–2008 | Meri Awaz Ko Mil Gayi Roshni | Rama Chopra | |
| 2008 | Arslaan | Mikawi | |
| 2008–2009 | Miley Jab Hum Tum | Tamanna "Tam Mam" | |
| 2009 | C.I.D | Pari | Episode "Khooni Khel" |
| 2010 | C.I.D | Roshini | Episode "Kissa Gumnaam Bacche Ka" |
| 2009–2010 | Namak Haraam | Priya Sehgal | |
| 2010–2011 | Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani | Haseena Raichand | |
| 2011 | Geet – Hui Sabse Parayi | Guest | |
| 2012 | Chhoti Bahu 2 - Sawar Ke Rang Rachi | Sonia Bhardwaj | |
| 2012 | Har Yug Mein Aayega Ek – Arjun | Senior Forensic expert | |
| 2012 | Teri Meri Love Stories | Meera's friend | |
| 2012 | Amrit Manthan | Mrs. Adhiraj SIngh | |
| 2012 | Savdhaan India | Sharmila | "Episode 528" |
| 2012 | Savdhaan India | Roshni | Episode "580" |
| 2012 | Fear Files: Darr Ki Sacchi Tasvirein | Malini | Episodic role |
| 2012–2013 | Best Friends Forever? | Mandira Singh | |
| 2013 | Hongey Judaa Na Hum | Rama | |
| 2013 | Parvarrish – Kuchh Khattee Kuchh Meethi | Parminder | |
| 2013 | SuperCops vs Supervillains | Tarot Card Reader | |
| 2013 | Crazy Stupid Ishq | Jasmin Atwal | |
| 2013 | Yeh Hai Aashiqui | Herself | Guest |
| 2013–2014 | The Adventures of Hatim | Zelna | |
| 2014 | Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon | Ananya Kapoor | |
| 2014 | Ek Hasina Thi | Raima Maheshwari | |
| 2014–2015 | Box Cricket League 1 | Contestant | Winner |
| 2014–2015 | Akbar Birbal | Urvashi | |
| 2014–2018 | Kaisi Yeh Yaariyan | Nyonika Malhotra | |
| 2014–2015 | Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar | Dimpy Karan Kapoor | |
| 2015–2016 | Bigg Boss 9 | Contestant | Walked on Day 89 (7th place) |
| 2016 | Box Cricket League 2 | Contestant | Winner |
| 2016 | Box Cricket League Punjab | Contestant | Player in Ambarsariye Hawks |
| 2016 | Desi Explorers | Herself | |
| 2016 | Adaalat 2 | Devika | |
| 2016 | Brahmarakshas – Jaag Utha Shaitaan | Aparajita | Cameo |
| 2017 | BIG Memsaab | Contestant | |
| 2017 | Dhhai Kilo Prem | Shilpa | Cameo |
| 2017 | Savitri Devi College & Hospital | Neeta Malhotra | |
| 2017 | Gangaa | Asha | Cameo Role |
| 2017 | Chidiya Ghar | Sheela Kejwani | Cameo |
| 2017–2018 | Partners Trouble Ho Gayi Double | Aisha Nadkarni | |
| 2018 | Rishta Likhenge Hum Naya | Arpita Singh Rathore | |
| 2018 | Box Cricket League 3 | Contestant | Player in Delhi Dragons |
| 2018 | Laal Ishq | Daisy | Episodic role |
| 2019 | Box Cricket League 4 | Contestant | Player in Kolkata Babu |
| 2019–2020 | Kahaan Hum Kahaan Tum | Dr. Nishi Sippy | |
| 2022 | Fanaa: Ishq Mein Marjawan | Meera Raichand | |

### Web series

| Year | Name | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
| 2023 | Dear Ishq | Maya Costa | | |