Vaishnavi Dhanraj

Vaishnavi was born in Nagpur and did her schooling from Blind Relief Association's Mundle High School.[https://web.archive.org/web/20131102171640/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-21/tv/28215839_1_surname-soap-roles New surname has brought me luck: Vaishnavi] The Times of India, 21 December 2010 After she graduated from Shivaji Science College, her family shifted to Kalyan in 2008. Vaishnavi's parents encouraged her artistic inclination and escorted her to her initial auditions.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} She was known as Vaishnavi Bhoyar during her student years.

Vaishnavi started her acting career in 2007 with a cameo in Kasautii Zindagii Kay.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} Taking note of her work in this show, the production house offered her the parallel lead in Karam Apnaa Apnaa in the same year. After acting in these two shows with the name Vaishnavi Bhoyar, she replaced her surname with her father's first name, Dhanraj, due to numerological reasons.{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/New-surname-has-brought-me-luck-Vaishnavi/articleshow/7139008.cms |title=Times Of India |author=Elina Priyadarshini Nayak |date=21 December 2010 |access-date=11 May 2019}} In June 2009, Vaishnavi joined CID (Episode 570) as a gun-toting detective named Inspector Tasha. For this show, Vaishnavi refused stunt doubles and performed all her stunts herself. CID launched her stardom and she became widely popular as Tasha. She was last seen in CID in Episode 678 as her character Tasha was murdered on duty. Before acting as Tasha, she also acted as Natalya in Episode 538 of CID

Her feisty performance in CID was instrumental in her winning the main protagonist's role in Na Aana Is Des Laado when the show took a time leap of 18 years in December 2010.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/television/na-aana-is-des-laado-to-take-18-year-leap/article1-638628.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416175740/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/television/na-aana-is-des-laado-to-take-18-year-leap/article1-638628.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 April 2014 |title=Na Aana Is Des…Laado to take 18-year leap |work=Hindustan Times |author=Jayeeta Mazumder |date=16 December 2010 |access-date=15 April 2014}} Vaishnavi played the character of Jhanvi, a feminist who fights for women's empowerment in rural India.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} In early 2012, Vaishnavi contemplated leaving Na Aana Is Des Laado and rejoining CID as she was dissatisfied with her role but the issue was settled amicably and she continued being a part of Laado until it ended in July 2012.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} Na Aana Is Des Laado was based on the issue of female foeticide.

After a brief hiatus following her marriage, Vaishnavi returned to television with Parvarrish – Kuchh Khattee Kuchh Meethi on Sony T.V in May 2013.{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/tv/news-interviews/Vaishanavi-Dhanraj-Prashant-Ranyal-to-enter-Parvarrish/articleshow/20259459.cms |title=Vaishanavi Dhanraj & Prashant Ranyal to enter Parvarrish |date=25 May 2013 |work=The Times of India |access-date=15 April 2014}} She played the character of Meera Mathur, an immaculate and tranquil businesswoman, which was quite different from her previous roles.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} The show ended in August 2013, following which Vaishnavi was offered the main antagonist's role in Colors TV's Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon. Her dramatic entry scene in the show featured a stunt sequence in which Vaishnavi walked over a tightrope strung over a busy Mumbai street.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} She played Riya Jaiswal/Devika, a self-obsessed, struggling Bollywood actress.{{cite news |url=http://televisionworld.in/vaishnavi-dhanraj-enters-rks-life-girl-madhubala-ek-ishq-ek-junoon/ |title=Vaishnavi Dhanraj Enters Rk's Life as the New Girl in Madhubala-ek Ishq Ek Junoon |publisher=Television world |date=3 December 2013 |access-date=15 April 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://www.onenewspage.com/video/20131204/1522309/Madhubala-Who-is-the-new-girl-in-RK.htm |title=Madhubala: Who is the new girl in RK's life |publisher=onenewspage.com |date=4 December 2013 |access-date=15 April 2014}} Shortly after her entry, the show took a time leap of a few years, as a result of which Vaishnavi decided to quit the show in January 2014.{{cite news |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/television/tv-show-madhubala-to-take-leap-vivian-d-sena-quits-474535 |title=TV show Madhubala to take leap |publisher=NDTV |agency=Indo-Asian News Service |date=23 January 2014 |access-date=15 April 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://www.metromasti.com/tv/gossip/Vaishnavi-Sahrawat-aka-Rias-Christmas-plans-post-Madhubala-exit/36235 |title=Vaishnavi Sahrawat aka Ria's christmas plans |publisher=metromasti.com |access-date=15 April 2014}} In 2015, she gained popularity From Playing Maya Mithlesh Thakur In Begusarai (TV series).

Within a week of her exiting Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon, Vaishnavi signed up for Star Plus's epic Mahabharat, her first television show in the mythological genre.{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/tv/news-interviews/Not-Pavitra-Punia-but-Vaishnavi-Dhanraj-to-enter-Mahabharat/articleshow/28842525.cms |title=Not Pavitra Punia but Vaishnavi Dhanraj to enter Mahabharat |work=The Times of India |author=Vijaya Tiwari |date=15 January 2014 |access-date=15 April 2014}} Initially apprehensive about playing the mythical character of Hidimbaa, she took up the challenge and pulled off a critically acclaimed performance. This character required Vaishnavi to play a double role of an ugly demoness and a stunning enchantress. She later said in an interview that the heavy makeup required for the demoness look took over seven hours to apply, and that the weighty costumes made this shooting schedule one of her most unusual assignments ever.{{cite news |url=http://forum.punjabijunktion.co.in/f633/vaishnavi-dhanraj-play-bheem-s-wife-mahabharat-444769/ |title=Vaishnavi Dhanraj to play Bheem's wife in Mahabharat |publisher=Punjabi Junktion |date=15 January 2014 |access-date=15 April 2014}} Her stardom and popularity were furthered through this role.

In March 2014, Vaishnavi was approached by Indian news channel Aaj Tak to portray Nirbhaya in the channel's new social awareness series Satyagraha 2014. Aaj Tak's managing editor Supriya Prasad said that their motive was to create a pioneering show on television, and to trigger social change by bringing back Mahatma Gandhi's values of non-violence and the pursuit of truth.{{cite news |url=http://www.bestmediainfo.com/2014/02/aaj-tak-launches-new-show-satyagraha-2014/ |title=Aaj Tak launches new show 'Satyagraha – 2014' |publisher=bestmediainfo.com |agency=BestMediaInfo Bureau |date=24 February 2014 |access-date=15 April 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://www.televisionpost.com/television/aaj-tak-launches-series-on-mahatma-gandhi/ |title=Aaj Tak launches series on Mahatma Gandhi |work=Television Post |date=21 February 2014 |access-date=15 April 2014}} Directed by Sunil Manchanda, this series appealed to the nation's conscience. Vaishnavi later said that this role was the most challenging and humbling experience of her career.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

Over the years Vaishnavi has also acted in episodic shows including Kitchen Champion 4, India's Got Talent,{{cite news |url=http://www.bollycurry.com/wallpaper/1280x800/161929-dharamji-shakes-a-leg-with-vaishnavi-dhanraj-on-india-got-talen.htm |title=Dharamji shakes a leg with Vaishnavi Dhanraj on India's Got Talent 3 Grand Finale |publisher=bollycurry.com |author= |access-date=15 April 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://www.bollycurry.com/wallpaper/1280x800/161927-dharamji-with-rashmi-desai-dipika-samson-and-vaishnavi-dhanraj.htm |title=Dharamji with Rashmi Desai, Dipika Samson and Vaishnavi Dhanraj on India's Got Talent 3 Grand Finale |publisher=bollycurry.com |author= |access-date=15 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416191927/http://www.bollycurry.com/wallpaper/1280x800/161927-dharamji-with-rashmi-desai-dipika-samson-and-vaishnavi-dhanraj.htm|archive-date=April 16, 2014}} Crime Patrol, Hum Ne Li Hai- Shapath,{{cite news |url=http://indiandrama.info/vaishnavi-dhanraj-to-play-a-super-villain-in-shapath/ |title=Vaishnavi Dhanraj to play a super villain in Shapath |publisher=indiandrama.info |author=Abdul Rehman |date=1 May 2013 |access-date=15 April 2014}} and Fear Files.

She was last seen playing the role of Mahi Arora in Colors TV's Bepannaah.

On 23 December 2012, Vaishnavi married Indian actor and model Nitin Sahrawat after a year of courtship. The two first met on the set of Nitin's show Kitni Mohabbat Hai Season 2.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} The ceremony was conducted in Shantikunj, Haridwar according to Vedic rituals.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} The wedding reception in Mumbai was attended by Vaishnavi's friends and co actors from her shows including Meghna Malik, Kritika Kamra, Dayanand Shetty, Hrishikesh Pandey and Simran Kaur.{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/mumbai/Celebs-attend-actor-model-Nitin-Sahrawats-wedding-reception/articleshow/18076828.cms |title=Celebs attend actor-model Nitin Sahrawat's wedding reception |work=The Times of India |date=18 January 2013 |access-date=15 April 2014}} For their honeymoon the couple backpacked across Western Ghats and stayed in a rustic hut on the Konkan coast for 12 days.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} The wedding was included in the list of biggest celebrity weddings of the year by the media.{{cite news |url=http://idiva.com/photogallery-entertainment/10-biggest-tv-celebrity-weddings-this-year/20184/9 |title=10 Biggest TV Celebrity Weddings This Year |publisher=idiva.com |date=13 March 2013 |access-date=15 April 2014}}

In March 2014 NDTV launched a new channel, NDTV Prime.{{cite web |url=http://www.ndtv.com/photos/news/srk-priyanka-at-the-launch-of-ndtv-prime-india-s-first-2-in-1-channel-17296 |title=SRK, Priyanka at the launch of NDTV Prime – India's first 2-in-1 channel|publisher=NDTV |access-date=15 April 2014}} Nitin and Vaishnavi were the guests for the launch episode of NDTV Prime's The Getaway, in which the two were given a Hyundai Elantra which they then drove down to Kamshet. The theme of this episode being adventure, the couple then paraglided off the challenging Shelar's Site. This episode was shot at their Lokhandwala Complex home and also featured their pet Labrador Retriever Thor.{{cite web |url=http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/the-getaway/the-perfect-weekend-getaway-near-mumbai/314090 |title=The perfect weekend getaway near Mumbai |publisher=NDTV |date=21 March 2014 |access-date=10 April 2014}}

Sahrawat and Dhanraj filed for legal separation in July 2015 and were divorced in January 2016, opting for a mutual and amicable divorce in Bandra family court. Emotional disconnect was cited as the reason for the parting. In December 2016, a Bollywood gossip website alleged that marital abuse was a reason for the divorce.{{cite news |url=https://www.spotboye.com/television/tv-interviews/tv-actress-vaishnavi-dhanraj-says-her-husband-beat-her-up-until-her-leg-bled/58458ebdaa06626027f19d0f|title=TV Actress Vaishnavi Dhanraj Says Her Husband Beat Her Up Until Her Leg Bled! |last=Lalwani |first=Vickey |work=SPOTBOYE |date=6 December 2016 |access-date=11 May 2019}}

In 2011, Dhanraj wrote several blogs for The Times of India as part of the publication's series of celebrity blogs.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/vaishnavi-dhanrajs-blog/entry/here-i-am |title=Here I am |date=23 July 2011 |work=The Times of India |access-date=15 April 2014 }}

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Category:Indian television actresses

Category:1988 births

Category:Living people

Category:Marathi actresses

Category:Actresses from Nagpur

Category:21st-century Indian actresses

Category:Actresses in Hindi television