Rakhi Sawant

Early life and family

Rakhi Sawant, born as Neeru Bheda on 25 November 1978 to Jaya Bheda in Mumbai. After Jaya married Anand Sawant, a police constable at Worli Police Station, Rakhi adopted the surname of her step-father, Anand Sawant. Her brother is named Rakesh Sawant, and she also has a sister named Usha Sawant.

Film and television career

Rakhi Sawant made her film debut in the 1997 film Agnichakra under the name Ruhi Sawant. She went on to change her name to Rakhi Sawant and then took other small roles and dance numbers in Bollywood films Joru Ka Ghulam, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain, and Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke.

In 2003, she auditioned for an item number in the Bollywood film Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne. She auditioned about four times before being selected for her breakthrough item number, "Mohabbat Hai Mirchi", composed by Himesh Reshammiya. Sawant acted in small roles in films including Masti and Main Hoon Na.

In 2004, she appeared in the music video "Pardesiya", from the album D.J. Hot Remix - Vol 3.

In June 2006, Mika Singh attempted to kiss her at his birthday party, which caused a media controversy. A few months later, she appeared in the first season of the reality show Bigg Boss. She got evicted in week 4 but later made a re-entry. She was among the top four finalists but got evicted days before the grand finale (24 January 2007, Day 84). In 2007, Rakhi made her singing debut in the album Super Girl launched by Venus Records & Tapes Pvt. Ltd. She later participated in the dance reality show Nach Baliye with Abhishek Avasthi and emerged as the first runner up. In 2008, Sawant appeared in the film Krazzy 4 for the item song 'Dekhta Hai Tu Kya'. In 2009, Sawant launched the reality show Rakhi Ka Swayamwar in which she planned to select her future husband by the ancient ritual of Swayamvar. On 2 August 2009 she chose her life partner, a contestant from Toronto, Canada, Elesh Parujanwala. However, several months later, Sawant announced that the couple had separated due to irreconcilable differences. After separation she said on interview that she got engaged to Elesh Parujanwala for money.

In 2010, Rakhi hosted a talk show Rakhi Ka Insaaf which aired on Imagine TV. The show saw a controversy after the death of a participant after Rakhi had called him impotent. In 2011, she participated in Sony TV's Maa Exchange along with mother Jaya Sawant.

Often appearing in reality shows as a host, judge or participant, Sawant is a regular stage performer. In 2012, she did a comedy act with Shahrukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor at the 57th Filmfare Awards and entry dance performance in 2015 with Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor in Malaysia.

In 2013, she participated in Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki along with Anchal Sabharwal, Sangram Singh, Chetan Hansraj and Madhura Naik. The show aired on Life OK. She later was a contestant on Box Cricket League.

Sawant later played the leading role in thriller film Ek Kahani Julie Ki, and was seen in a cameo appearance in comedy fiction television series Bhaag Bakool Bhaag.

From 2020 to 2021, Sawant appeared as a challenger in Bigg Boss 14. She emerged as a finalist but decided to walk out, opting for the cash prize of 14 lakhs.

Rakhi also participated in Bigg Boss Marathi season 4 as a wild card contestant and reached the finale, before deciding to walk-out with 10 lakhs becoming 4th Runner-Up of the show.

Political career

On 26 March 2014, she announced her plans to contest 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai North-West as an Independent Candidate. On 28 March, she founded the Rashtriya Aam Party (RAP). The party has no symbol assigned by the election commission. However, Sawant said that she's expecting it to be a "green chilli", which she feels resembles her personality. The party's office bearers and fundraisers are local businessmen from Oshiwara.

She received only 15 votes from the Mumbai North-West Constituency and lost her deposit.

Sawant resigned from the Rashtriya Aam Party and joined the RPI (Athawale) party in June 2014 and expressed her desire to work for dalits. Rakhi serves as party's state vice-president and president of the woman wing. She campaigned for the party in the 2016 Assam and 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Personal life

In 2019, Sawant married an NRI man named Ritesh, which ended in divorce in early 2022. In May 2022, she married Adil Khan Durrani.

In November 2018, during The Great Khali's Continental Wrestling Entertainment promotion, American female wrestler Rebel got involved in a dance battle against Sawant, during which Rebel grabbed her in a bear hug and threw her on her back. It injured Sawant's back and she fell unconscious. She was taken to a nearby hospital.

On 4 April 2017, she appeared in the Ludhiana court wearing a burqa for making objectionable remarks against Sage Valmiki, at which time she was accompanied by Indian National Congress, National co-ordinator Rahul Jogi (born on 21 August 1990), due to which she was severely criticized.

Sawant converted to Christianity in 2009. She later converted to Islam after marrying her boyfriend Adil Durrani, with people even saying that she changed her name to Rakhi Sawant Fatima. However, Adil denied the marriage at first, but soon, after some weeks, he accepted his marriage with Rakhi.

Sawant performed her first Umrah at Mecca in 2023. She made her second Umrah at Mecca in 2025. She has also sponsored Umrah trips for people and engaged in social upliftment initiatives in the Middle East.

References

References

1. (16 January 2023). "'Fatima Durrani', Rakhi Sawant surprises fans with new name".
2. "Hey guys, this is my marriage certificate the day except Allah. I am married him. I read the Kamla and there is my name written Fatima and my stupid husband is telling everyone. I am not Muslim shame on him. Did he has a knowledge of Islam without Vasu without clothes he’s taking a swear on Kiran paaji did he is a Muslim". Instagram.
3. McDonald, Hamish. (1999). "The Polyester Prince: The Rise of Dhirubhai Ambani". Allen & Unwin.
4. (25 November 2019). "Happy Birthday Rakhi Sawant: controversies of the sex-symbol".
5. "Rakhi Sawant, The Sex Symbol of India".
6. "Rakhi Sawant's Mom Jaya Bheda Dies At 73. Jackie Shroff, Rashami Desai And Others Pay Tribute".
7. (17 December 2020). "Rakhi Sawant's life from Neeru Bheda to Rakhi Sawant".
8. (12 January 2021). "'Rakhi's husband is taking care of me and all the medical bills': Jaya Sawant".
9. (20 September 2023). "Rakhi Sawant Unplugged: Rakhi Sawant Opens Up On Marriage, Husband And Bollywood".
10. (17 May 2012). "Rakhi Sawant's father passes away". [[The Times of India]].
11. ntexpress. (29 January 2023). "Rakhi Sawant Family: Who all in Rakhi Sawant's family? know everything".
12. (9 May 2023). "Rakhi Sawant's Brother Arrested: Mumbai Cops Arrest Rakesh Sawant In Cheque Bouncing Case".
13. Live, A. B. P.. (8 February 2023). "आए दिन विवादों में रहने वाली राखी सावंत के भाई-बहन जी रहे हैं ऐसी लाइफ, मां ने की थी दो शादियां".
14. (16 March 2017). "Bizarre! Rakhi Sawant used condoms to play Holi".
15. (13 January 2003). "Hot item". [[Living Media]].
16. Bamzai, Kaveree. (16 August 2004). "Summer sirens". Living Media.
17. (16 June 2006). "Rakhi Sawant moves women's panel against Mika". [[The Times of India]].
18. (4 December 2006). "You saw the real me in Bigg Boss".
19. (25 December 2007). "Rakhi Sawant alleges cheating in Nach Baliye 3".
20. (29 October 2009). "Elesh gets his revenge on Rakhi".
21. "Rakhi Sawant: I got engaged to Elesh Parujanwala for money". [[The Times of India]].
22. Mulla, Zainab. (9 December 2016). "Rakhi Sawant admits that she got engaged for money and is now struggling to find good marriage prospects!". India.com.
23. (10 December 2016). "SHOCKING! Rakhi Sawant Admits She Got Engaged For This Reason". Businessofcinema.com.
24. (13 November 2010). "Rakhi drives man to suicide?".
25. "Rakhi Sawant to be seen on Bhaag Bakool Bhaag". [[The Times of India]].
26. (22 February 2021). "Rakhi Sawant on walking out of Bigg Boss 14 finale with Rs 14 lakh: I have zero bank balance, need money for mother's surgery".
27. [http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/03/rakhi-sawant-to-contest-lok-sabha-election-from-mumbai-north-west/ Rakhi Sawant to contest Lok Sabha Election from Mumbai North West. Biharprabha News] {{Webarchive. link. (28 March 2014 . News.biharprabha.com (26 March 2014). Retrieved 28 November 2016.)
28. (29 March 2014). "Rakhi Sawant launches her party, wants 'green chilly'". [[The Times of India]].
29. (27 March 2014). "Rakhi Sawant launches own party with green chilli symbol". Newseastwest.com.
30. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140329045452/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Green-chilly-as-symbol-Rakhi-Sawant-launches-her-party/articleshow/32864215.cms ‘Green chilly’ as symbol, Rakhi Sawant launches her party]. ''The Times of India'' (28 March 2014)
31. "Rakhi Sawant gets only 15 votes after three rounds of counting". [[The Times of India]].
32. "RAKHI SAWANT". myneta.info.
33. (21 June 2014). "Rakhi Sawant wants to join RPI". Election Commission of India, General Election to Lok Sabha Trends & Result 2014.
34. (28 June 2014). "Rakhi Sawant joins RPI".
35. (28 June 2014). "Rakhi Sawant joins RPI, says ready to fight against MNS chief". The Economic Times.
36. (29 June 2014). "Rakhi Sawant joins RPI, made women's wing president".
37. (15 March 2016). "Rakhi Sawant will campaign for RPI in Assam". The Times of India.
38. (10 January 2017). "Rakhi Sawant set to campaign during the Uttar Pradesh polls". The Hindustan Times.
39. (5 August 2019). "Rakhi Sawant Confirms Marrying NRI, Reveals Husband's Name and Details". news18.com.
40. (4 August 2019). "Rakhi Sawant confirms marrying NRI, reveals husband's name after pics with mehendi and vermillion go viral". [[Hindustan Times]].
41. (11 January 2023). "It's Official! Rakhi Sawant marries beau Adil Khan Durrani, pics of newlywed goes viral on Internet". News Room Post.
42. "Rakhi Sawant gets knocked out in the ring after challenging a wrestler, lands in the hospital".
43. "Rakhi Sawant lands in the hospital after getting knocked out by a female wrestler in the ring". [[The Times of India]].
44. "बुरका पहन पुलिस को चकमा दे गईं राखी सावंत, भरा बेल बांड". 6 July 2017.
45. (4 April 2017). "Rakhi Sawant Arrested For Objectionable Comment On Sage Valmiki: Reports". NDTV.
46. (8 September 2018). "Videos: Bhojpuri star Pawan Singh's STEAMY dance with Rakhi Sawant is taking the Internet by storm, Watch". DNA India.
47. (1 June 2009). "Rakhi embraces Christianity!".
48. (2023-04-03). "Rakhi Sawant on embracing Islam: It was not about my will, my husband made me follow it and I have accepted it with my heart". The Times of India.
49. (13 January 2023). "Rakhi Sawant converts to Islam, changes name to Fatima".
50. (13 January 2023). "Rakhi Sawant reportedly embraces Islam".
51. (14 January 2023). "Rakhi Sawant yet to be accepted by his family, says husband Adil Khan: 'Wo process abhi chal rahi hai'".
52. (17 January 2023). "Rakhi Sawant's husband accepts their marriage".
53. (17 January 2023). "Rakhi Sawant's husband ends the drama, finally!".
54. "Finally! Adil Durrani confirms marriage with Rakhi Sawant as she cries inconsolably in a media byte – Watch video {{!}} Hindi Movie News - Bollywood - Times of India".
55. (28 August 2023). "Rakhi Sawant completes her Umrah at Makkah's Masjid-al-Haram amid controversy with Adil Khan Durrani".
56. (28 August 2023). "Rakhi Sawant Performs Umrah At Mecca Amid Controversy With Adil Khan Durrani (PHOTOS)".
57. (15 January 2025). "Video: Rakhi Sawant sponsors Umrah trips for 15 needy people".
58. (15 March 2025). "Ramzan 2025: Rakhi Sawant’s video from Dubai wins hearts online".