Lokhande was born as Tanuja Lokhande, on 19 December 1984 in Indore[10] She was born in a Marathi family, to Shashikant Lokhande and Vandana Phadnis Lokhande, a teacher.[1][11] She also has two brothers Sooraj and Arun, and a sister Jyoti. After graduating she moved to Mumbai in 2005 to pursue a career in acting. She has been a badminton champion, during her early days.[10][1]
After a two-year hiatus from acting and her separation from Rajput, there were reports that Lokhande was set to make her film debut in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama Padmaavat (2018).[19] However, she left the film, stating that she was not ready for films at that time.[20] The following year, speculation spread that she had been signed for Girish Malik's film Torbaaz along with Sanjay Dutt.[21] However, rumours proved to be untrue after Malik stated that Lokhande was not going to be involved with the film.[22]
Lokhande next starred in Sajid Nadiadwala's action thriller film Baaghi 3 in 2020, the third part of the Baaghi trilogy, alongside Tiger Shroff, Shraddha Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh. She played the role of Kapoor's elder sister married to Deshmukh's character.[25][26] The film was released prior to the shutdown of theatres owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in India, which affected the box office performance. Filmfare stated, "The two girls Shraddha and Ankita, despite the build-up about them both being fiery characters, have nothing to do really in the film."[27]
Lokhande reprised her role as Archana Deshmukh in the web seriesPavitra Rishta: It's Never Too Late along with Shaheer Sheikh from 2021 to 2022.[28] In her review, Archika Khurana said, "As Archana, Ankita gives a well-balanced and likeable performance. She makes us believe that this role was custom-made for her."[29] In February 2022, Lokhande participated in StarPlus' Smart Jodi with her husband, Vicky Jain, subsequently becoming the winner of the season.[30][31]
In 2023, she played a woman going through a divorce in the film The Last Coffee. Times of India wrote, "Lokhande looks stunning and shines brightly in emotional scenes."[32] From 2023 to 2024, Lokhande appeared as a contestant on the reality TV show Bigg Boss 17. She joined the show alongside her husband, Vicky Jain. Lokhande was placed as the 3rd runner-up of the show.[33][34]
In 2024, Lokhande appeared in Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, playing Yamunabai Savarkar opposite Randeep Hooda.[35] Sana Farzeen of India Today stated, "Ankita Lokhande gives an honest performance even though she doesn't have much to do."[36]
Personal life
Lokhande co-starred with Sushant Singh Rajput in Pavitra Rishta, and they began dating in 2010. Rajput proposed to her on the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4. In a 2016 interview, the couple spoke of marrying each other. But the same year, the couple parted their ways.[37] She later said in an interview that Rajput wanted to focus on his career and hence they parted ways.[38]
In 2019, Lokhande revealed her relationship with Vikas Jain, a businessman.[39] Lokhande married Jain on 14 December 2021 in a traditional ceremony in Mumbai.[40][41]
Media image
Lokhande at an event in 2018
Lokhande has established herself as one of the most popular and highest-paid television actresses in India.[4][5] She was placed 7th in Rediff.com's "Top 10 Television Actresses" list of 2014.[42] In UK-based newspaper Eastern Eye's "50 Sexiest Asian Women" list, Lokhande was placed 29th in 2013.[43] In 2024, she was featured on the Times Square's billboard.[44]
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