Kishwar Merchant

Kishwer Merchant Rai (née Merchant; born 3 February 1981 ) is an Indian actress and model who works in Hindi television. Merchant is well known for her work in several television productions such as 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 also participated as 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 Ref(s) 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 Sarabhai vs Sarabhai Dr. Kiran 2005–2006 Reth Dr. Dakshi 2005 Rihaee Tanvi 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.DPariEpisode "Khooni Khel" 2010RoshiniEpisode "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 Har Yug Mein Aayega Ek – Arjun Senior Forensic expert Teri Meri Love Stories Meera's friend Amrit Manthan Mrs. Adhiraj SIngh Savdhaan IndiaSharmila "Episode 528"Roshni Episode "580" Fear Files: Darr Ki Sacchi Tasvirein Malini Episodic role 2012–2013 Best Friends Forever? Mandira Singh 2013 Hongey Judaa Na Hum Rama Parvarrish – Kuchh Khattee Kuchh Meethi Parminder SuperCops vs Supervillains Tarot Card Reader Crazy Stupid Ishq Jasmin Atwal Yeh Hai Aashiqui Herself Guest 2013–2014 The Adventures of Hatim Zelna 2014 Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon Ananya Kapoor Ek Hasina Thi Raima Maheshwari 2014–2015 Box Cricket League 1 Contestant Winner 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 Box Cricket League Punjab Player in Ambarsariye Hawks Desi Explorers Herself Adaalat 2 Devika Brahmarakshas – Jaag Utha Shaitaan Aparajita Cameo 2017 BIG Memsaab Contestant Dhhai Kilo Prem Shilpa Cameo Savitri Devi College & Hospital Neeta Malhotra Gangaa Asha Cameo Role Chidiya Ghar Sheela Kejwani Cameo 2017–2018 Partners Trouble Ho Gayi Double Aisha Nadkarni 2018 Rishta Likhenge Hum Naya Arpita Singh Rathore Box Cricket League 3 Contestant Player in Delhi Dragons 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 Theatre

Kishwar Merchant has also been associated with theatre productions. In 2019, she appeared in the stage plays Patte Khul Gaye and Hello Zindagi, both of which were produced by Rahul Bhuchar under the banner of Felicity Theatre.