# Shilpa Saklani

Shilpa Saklani Agnihotri (born 5 June) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi television. She is recognised for her portrayal of Ganga Joshi Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kkusum Deshmukh Kapoor in Kkusum, Vrinda in Vish Ya Amrit: Sitara, Kaikeyi in Shrimad Ramayan and Ambika Devi Singhania in Parineetii.

## Career

Saklani started her acting career in 2001 with the Hindi film Tere Liye, where she played Ritu Malhotra opposite Arjun Punj. The film failed at the box office. From 2001 to 2022, she played Yamini in Ek Tukdaa Chaand Ka. In 2002, Saklani played Tina in the film Na Tum Jaano Na Hum.
Saklani's career marked a turning point with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, where she portrayed Ganga Joshi Virani opposite Sandeep Baswana and Amit Sarin from 2002 to 2008. The series was her breakthrough and her performance earned her the ITA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
In 2003, she appeared in Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat and later in 2004, Saklani played the titular role of Lavanya in Lavanya. In 2005, she played dual roles of Kkusum Deshmukh Kapoor and Swati Gautam in Kkusum opposite Anuj Saxena. In the same year, she participated in Nach Baliye 1. Post this, she played supporting parts of Shalu in Shanno Ki Shaadi, Vidhi in Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin, Ritu in Jyoti and Radha Kelkar in Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai.
From 2006 to 2007, Saklani hosted Mera Star Superstar and Fame X. Saklani then went onto participate in several reality series: Mr. & Ms. TV and Saas v/s Bahu both in 2008, Pati Patni Aur Woh in 2009, Meethi Choori No 1 in 2010, Survivor India – The Ultimate Battle in 2012 and Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki in 2013.
Later in 2013, Saklani participated in the reality series Bigg Boss 7, where she finished at 16th place. From 2015 to 2016, she participated in Power Couple. Additionally, she appeared in episodes of Haunted Nights, Yeh Hai Aashiqui, Savdhaan India, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, Code Red and Darr Sabko Lagta Hai. In 2015, she played Nandini Pandey in Dosti... Yaariyan... Manmarziyan.
After a three year hiatus, Saklani returned to television in 2018, with Mahakali – Anth Hi Aarambh Hai, where she played Diti. In the same year, she played Roma Kapoor in Kaleerein. From 2018 to 2019, she played a vishkanya Vrinda opposite Sandeep Baswana in Vish Ya Amrit: Sitara. Following a small hiatus, she appeared in Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal, in 2023 as Sudha.
Since January 2024, Saklani is portraying Kaikeyi in Shrimad Ramayan. Since June 2024, she is also seen playing Ambika Devi Singhania in Parineetii.

## Personal life

Saklani married actor Apurva Agnihotri on 29 June 2004 in Dehradun. Saklani gave birth to their daughter on 2 December 2022, 18 years after their marriage.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | Tere Liye | Ritu Malhotra | |
| 2002 | Na Tum Jaano Na Hum | Tina | |
| 2015 | Ab Rab Hawale - An Untold Story Of A Known Irony | Daljeet | Short film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2001–2002 | Ek Tukdaa Chaand Ka | Yamini | |
| 2002–2008 | Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi | Ganga Joshi Virani | |
| 2003 | Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat | Pooja | Episodes 74-98 |
| 2004 | Kya Hadsaa Kya Haqeeqat | Tanu / Rachel D'Mello | Episodes 226-252 |
| 2004 | Lavanya | Lavanya | |
| 2005 | Kkusum | Kkusum Deshmukh Kapoor / Swati Gautam | |
| 2005 | Nach Baliye 1 | Contestant | 6th place |
| 2005–2006 | Shanno Ki Shaadi | Shalu | |
| 2006–2007 | Mera Star Superstar | Host | |
| 2006–2007 | Fame X | Host | |
| 2008 | Mr. & Ms. TV | Contestant | |
| 2008 | Saas v/s Bahu | Contestant | |
| 2009 | Pati Patni Aur Woh | Contestant | |
| 2010 | Meethi Choori No 1 | Contestant | |
| 2012 | Survivor India – The Ultimate Battle | Contestant | 18th place |
| 2012 | Haunted Nights | Shilpa | Episodes 6-10 |
| 2013 | Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki | Contestant | Episodes 43-48 |
| 2013 | Bigg Boss 7 | Contestant | 16th place |
| 2014 | Yeh Hai Aashiqui | Aditi | Episode 30 |
| 2014 | Savdhaan India | Sonali Rane | Episode 925 |
| 2015 | Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya | Aparna | Season 3, Episode 12 |
| 2015 | Code Red | Ganga | Episode 78 |
| 2015 | Dosti... Yaariyan... Manmarziyan | Nandini Pandey | |
| 2015 | Darr Sabko Lagta Hai | Dr. Shehnaz Mistry | Episode 5 |
| 2015–2016 | Power Couple | Contestant | 7th place |
| 2018 | Mahakali – Anth Hi Aarambh Hai | Diti | |
| 2018 | Kaleerein | Roma Kapoor | |
| 2018–2019 | Vish Ya Amrit: Sitara | Vrinda | |
| 2023 | Tere Ishq Mein Ghayal | Sudha | |
| 2024 | Shrimad Ramayan | Kaikeyi | |
| 2024–present | Parineetii | Ambika Devi Singhania | |

#### Special appearances

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2006 | Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin | Vidhi |
| 2010 | Jyoti | Ritu |
| 2012 | Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai | Radha Kelkar |
| 2014 | Bigg Boss 8 | Herself |
| 2017 | Chandrakanta — Ek Mayavi Prem Gaatha | Ratnaprabha Jai Singh |
| 2020 | Bigg Boss 14 | Herself |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
| 2005 | Indian Television Academy Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi | Won | |
| 2015 | Los Angeles Independent Film Festival | Best Ensemble Cast | Ab Rab Hawale | Nominated | |