Kishwer Merchant Rai (born 3 February 1981) is an Indian television
actress
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lit ...
and
model. Merchant is well known for acting in the shows ''
Hip Hip Hurray'', ''
Ek Hasina Thi'', ''
Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar
''Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar'' () is a Hindi-language soap opera on Indian television which premiered on Sony Entertainment Television India. The soap opera will be produced under Balaji Telefilms.
The show deal with the relationship challenge ...
'', ''
Har Mushkil Ka Hal Akbar Birbal'', ''
Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani'' and ''
Kaisi Yeh Yaariyan''. She was a contestant in the reality show ''
Bigg Boss 9
''Bigg Boss Double Trouble'' (stylized as ''Bigg Boss: Nau'') is the ninth season of the Indian reality TV series ''Bigg Boss'' that premiered on 11 October 2015 on Colors TV. Salman Khan returned to host the ninth season.
The series won by P ...
'' in 2015.
Life and career
Early life and debut show (1997–2009)
Merchant was born into an Ismaili (
Aga Khani Khoja
The Khojas ( sd}; gu, ખોજા, hi, ख़ोजा) are a mainly Nizari Isma'ili Shia community of people originating in Gujarat, India.
Derived from the Persian Khwaja, a term of honor, the word Khoja is used to refer to Lohana Rajput ...
) family in Mumbai to Siraj Merchant and Rizwana Merchant. She started her career in 1997 with the TV show ''
Shaktimaan
Shaktimaan is an Indian Hindi-language superhero television show, created by Mukesh Khanna that aired on DD National from 13 September 1997 to 27 March 2005.
Producer Mukesh Khanna played the role of Shaktimaan and his alter ego "Pandit G ...
'', 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
''Babul Ki Duwayen Leti Jaa'' is an Indian soap opera produced by Shobhana Desai, and aired on Zee TV channel from 2000 to 2001. The story is based on the lives' of 7 girls and their dreams to accomplish something big in their lives'.
Cast
* Mo ...
'', ''
Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand'', ''
Kutumb'', ''
Kasautii Zindagii Kay Kasautii Zindagii Kay may refer to:
* ''Kasautii Zindagii Kay'' (2001 TV series), an Indian soap opera
* ''Kasautii Zindagii Kay'' (2018 TV series), an Indian soap opera, reboot of the 2001 series
{{disambiguation ...
'', ''Kayaamat'', ''Hatim'' and ''Khichdi''.
Kishwar appeared in many Balaji shows like ''
Kkavyanjali'' and ''
Kasamh Se
''Kasamh Se'' (English title: ''The Promise'') was an Indian soap opera produced by Ekta Kapoor of Balaji Telefilms. The show aired on Zee TV from 16 January 2006 to 12 March 2009. The story is about three sisters: Bani, Piya and Rano. It ...
''. In 2007, she played the positive role of Tamanna in
Sanaya Irani
Sanaya Irani (born 17 September 1983) is an Indian actress. She is known for playing Gunjan in '' Miley Jab Hum Tum'', Khushi in '' Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?'' and Parvati in '' Rangrasiya''. In 2015, she participated in the eight season of ...
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
''Chhoti Bahu'' is a 1971 Hindi film. Produced by Seeru Daryani and Darius Gotla, the film is directed by K. B. Tilak and written by Raj Baldev Raj.
The film stars Sharmila Tagore, Rajesh Khanna, Nirupa Roy and I. S. Johar. The music is b ...
''.
Breakthrough and success (2012–2015)
In 2012, Merchant was seen in two shows ''
Amrit Manthan
''Amrit Manthan'' ( ''The Changes of Amrit'') is an Indian television soap opera, which premiered on 26 February 2012 and ran through 2 August 2013 on Life Ok. It is the story of two sisters who become each other's enemiesThis show was also b ...
'' and ''
Arjun''. Then came many shows like ''
Hongey Judaa Na Hum'' and ''Parvarrish''. She appeared in the popular shows ''
Ek Hasina Thi'' as Raima, ''
Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon
''Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon'' () is an Indian television series that premiered on 28 May 2012 and ran through until 9 August 2014, Produced to celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema, it aired on Colors TV Monday to Friday (later Saturday) ...
'' as Ananya, ''
Kaisi Yeh Yaariyan'' as Nyonika and ''
Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar
''Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar'' () is a Hindi-language soap opera on Indian television which premiered on Sony Entertainment Television India. The soap opera will be produced under Balaji Telefilms.
The show deal with the relationship challenge ...
'' as Dimpy, sharing the screen with many popular actresses like
Drashti Dhami and
Sanjeeda Sheikh.
Bigg Boss and further success (2015–present)
Merchant was a participant in the reality TV show ''
Bigg Boss 9
''Bigg Boss Double Trouble'' (stylized as ''Bigg Boss: Nau'') is the ninth season of the Indian reality TV series ''Bigg Boss'' that premiered on 11 October 2015 on Colors TV. Salman Khan returned to host the ninth season.
The series won by P ...
'' along with her boyfriend
Suyyash Rai
Suyyash Rai (born 24 March 1989) is an Indian television actor and singer. His first TV appearance was on Chandigarh auditions of Roadies 5.0. He is known for his role of Abhay on ''Rishta Likhenge Hum Naya'' on Sony TV. He was a contestant in ...
in 2015. She was paired with
Aman Yatan 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- Aprajita.
In April 2017, Kishwar was seen in yet another
Ekta Kapoor
Ekta Kapoor (born 7 June 1975) is an Indian television producer, film producer and director who works in Hindi cinema and soap opera. She is the joint managing director and creative head of Balaji Telefilms Limited, which was founded in 1994. ...
's show, ''
Dhhai Kilo Prem'', which airs on
Star Plus
StarPlus is an Indian Hindi language general entertainment pay television channel owned by Disney Star (formerly ''Star India''), a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company India. The network's programming consists of family dramas, comedie ...
. 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
&TV's show ''
Gangaa
Gangaa (also known as Sagar Ki Gangaa) is an Indian, Hindi-language, television soap opera that premiered on 2 March 2015 on &TV. The show ended on 2 June 2017 after 595 episodes. The show was produced by Sphere Origins and initially starred ...
'', which stars
Aditi Sharma. The show went off air on 2 June 2017.
Personal life

In 2010, Kishwer Merchant started dating co-actor
Suyyash Rai
Suyyash Rai (born 24 March 1989) is an Indian television actor and singer. His first TV appearance was on Chandigarh auditions of Roadies 5.0. He is known for his role of Abhay on ''Rishta Likhenge Hum Naya'' on Sony TV. He was a contestant in ...
. 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'.
Television
Films
References
External links
*
*
Kishwer Merchantton YouTube
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merchant, Kishwer
Living people
Actresses from Mumbai
1981 births
Indian Ismailis
Actresses in Hindi television
Indian television actresses
20th-century Indian actresses
21st-century Indian actresses
Actresses in Hindi cinema
Indian film actresses
Bigg Boss (Hindi TV series) contestants
Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi participants
Actors from Mumbai
Khoja Ismailism
Gujarati people