Sanaya Irani (born 17 September 1983)[1] 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 eighth season of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and emerged as the first runner up. She later participated in Nach Baliye in 2017 with her husband Mohit Sehgal and finished third place.[4]

Sanaya Irani
Irani in 2016
Born (1983-09-17) 17 September 1983 (age 40)[1]
Mumbai, India
Alma materThe Lawrence School, Lovedale
Sydenham College[2]
Occupation(s)Actress, dancer, model
Years active2006-present
Known for
Spouse
(m. 2016)
[3]

Early life and education

Irani was born on 17 September 1983 in Mumbai to an Irani (Zoroastrian) family.[5] Irani spent seven years studying in The Lawrence School, Lovedale in Ooty.[6] She graduated from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai and was pursuing an MBA degree before becoming a model.[7]

Personal life

 
Irani with husband Sehgal

Irani announced her relationship with her Miley Jab Hum Tum co-star Mohit Sehgal on 19 November 2010, the last day of the shoot.[8]

In December 2015, Irani got engaged to Sehgal.[9] They tied the knot on 25 January 2016 in Goa.[10]

Career

Modelling career and film debut (2005-2007)

Irani's first modelling portfolio was done by photographer-turned actor Boman Irani.[1] Irani made her acting debut with a cameo in the Yash Raj Film Fanaa (2006) as Mehbooba .[6] The actress spent the year doing TV advertisements with Bollywood stars like Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor and others before entering television.[6] She made her debut with Jagjit Singh's Tumko Dekha.[1] At the beginning of her career, Irani wasn't fluent in Hindi and spoke of her struggles with the language on several occasions.[6]

Television debut and breakthrough (2007-2010)

Her television debut was in the SAB TV drama Left Right Left (2007) as Cadet Sameera Shroff. She was tutored by her director for her Hindi.[1] This was followed by a negative role in Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayengi (2008) on Imagine TV.

Irani's first lead role as a protagonist was in STAR One's Miley Jab Hum Tum (2008–2010), as the simple, studious and reclusive Gunjan.[11] Irani briefly hosted the second season of Zara Nachke Dikha on STAR Plus with boyfriend Mohit Sehgal (2010).[12] She was also seen as a panel member in Meethi Chorii No. 1 opposite Ragini Khanna (2010).

Established actress (2011-2014)

She portrayed the bubbly and loving Khushi Kumari Gupta, the female protagonist of Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? (2011–2012) opposite Barun Sobti.[13][14] The show, which aired its final episode on 30 November 2012, had consistently maintained its position as one of the top ten daily dramas on Indian general entertainment channels.[15]

In early 2013, Irani hosted Zee TV's Valentine's Day special Ishq Wala Love opposite Karan Grover.[16] She later appeared as a contestant in Welcome - Baazi Mehmaan-Nawaazi ki (2013),[17] hosted by Ram Kapoor.

 
Irani in 2013

She played the role of a vivacious and modern girl in Chhan Chhan (2013).[18] The show was loosely based on the Hindi movie Khubsoorat.[19] Irani then appeared in Rangrasiya (2014) as Parvati. The show was produced by Saurabh Tiwari, head of Tequila Shots Production. The story followed a border security personnel and an orphan girl who were ideologically different.[20] It ended in September.[21]

Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and further success (2015-present)

Irani also participated in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 8 in 2015 which aired on Colors.[22] Irani reprised her role of Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada again in its sequel mini series Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?... Ek Jashan (2015) which ended in December.[23] In 2017, Irani participated in the dance show Nach Baliye 8 with her husband Mohit Sehgal.[24] During Nach Baliye Sanaya & Mohit were in a controversy as fans of Divyanka Tripathi had claimed that they are the fixed winners but she lashed at the trollers on Instagram and said this is untrue.[25]

Other appearances

In August 2013, Irani made a brief guest appearance in the dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa to support her best friend Drashti Dhami. She made an appearance again in the seventh season of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa to support Ashish Sharma in June 2014. In December 2013, Irani made a special guest appearance in Bigg Boss 7 in the grand finale along with Ashish Sharma, Preetika Rao and Harshad Arora.[26] She also made special appearance in Beintehaa in March and June 2014.[27]

 
Irani at the music launch of Ra.One (2011) along with Shahrukh Khan and Pooja Gaur, Giaa Manek and Ragini Khanna

Irani went on a U.K. tour on behalf of Star Plus.[28]

Media image

Eastern Eye placed her in their 50 Sexiest Asian Women list in 2012,[29] She was again ranked 10th for the Eastern Eye newspaper. In 2014, she was listed in the top 10 best television actresses by Rediff.[30] In 2015, Sanaya became the only television actress to be listed on the People (magazine) - India's 40 most beautiful women list.[31]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2006 Fanaa Mehbooba [32]
2018 Pihu Pihu Short film [33]
Dum Dum Dumroo Dr. Sneha [34]
2019 Ghost Simran Singh [35]
2020 Ved and Arya Arya Short film [36]
2023 Butterflies Season 4 Safa Short film (episode 5) [37]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2007 Left Right Left Cadet Sameera Shroff [6]
Kasamh Se Geet [38]
2008 Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayengi Sanaya
Kaho Na Yaar Hai Contestant [1]
2008–2010 Miley Jab Hum Tum Gunjan Bhushan [39]
2010 Zara Nachke Dikha 2 Host [40]
Nachle Ve with Saroj Khan Contestant [1]
Meethi Choori No 1 [1]
2011–2012 Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? Khushi Kumari Gupta Raizada [41]
2013 Ishq Wala Love Host [42]
Chhanchhan Chhanchhan Sarabhai Borisagar [43]
Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki Contestant Episodes 1–6
2013–2014 Rangrasiya Parvati Chauhan Ranawat/ Myrah Mehra [44]
2015 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 8 Contestant 1st runner-up
2016 Box Cricket League 2 Contestant Team: Mumbai Tigers [45]
2017 Nach Baliye 8 2nd runner-up

Special appearances

Year Title Role Ref.
2013 Masterchef - Kitchen Ke Superstars Herself
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6 [46]
Bigg Boss 7 [47]
2014 Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7 [48]
2015 Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi [1]
2018 India's Next Superstars [49]
2019 Kitchen Champion 5 [50]
Khatra Khatra Khatra [51]
Nach Baliye 9 [52]

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? Ek Jashn Khushi Kumari Gupta [53]
2016 I Don't Watch TV Herself [54]
2018 Vodka Shots Keya Sharma [55]
Zindabaad Sara Sayed Mini-series
2022 Cyber Vaar – Har Screen Crime Scene Ananya Saini [56]

Music videos

Year Title Singer(s) Ref.
2006 Mere Naseeb Mein Tu Hai [57]
2006 Tumko Dekha To Yeh(remix) Jagjit Singh [58]
2012 Kulli Wichon Ni Yaar Labh Lai Joshilay Punjabi song (Saregama Punjabi-YouTube)
2018 Main Jaandiyaan Neha Bhasin, Piyush Mehroliyaa [59]
2019 Intezaar Asees Kaur, Arijit Singh [60]
2022 Dholna Deedar Kaur [61]

Accolades

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2008 Indian Television Academy Awards Gr8! Performer Of The Year - Female Miley Jab Hum Tum Won
2012 Gold Awards Face of the year Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? Won
Best Onscreen Jodi (with Barun Sobti) Won
Star Parivaar Awards Favorite Jodi (with Barun Sobti) Won [62]
Favorite Jodi - International (with Barun Sobti) Won
Favorite Beti Nominated
Indian Television Academy Awards Best Actress (Popular) Nominated [63]
People's Choice Awards India Favorite Onscreen Couple Won
Indian Telly Awards Best Onscreen Couple (with Barun Sobti) Won
2013 Best Actress in a Lead Role Nominated
Gold Awards Best Actress in a Lead Role Nominated [64]
Face of the Year Chhanchhan Won [65]
2014 Indian Telly Awards Best Actress in a Lead Role Rangrasiya Nominated [66]
Asian Viewers Television Awards Female Actor Of The Year Won [67]
Indian Television Academy Awards Best Actress (Popular) Nominated [68]
Gold Awards Best Actress in a Lead Role Nominated [69]
2015 Asian Viewers Television Awards Female Actor Of The Year Nominated [70]
2018 CKF International Film Festival Best Actress(foreign) Dum Dum Dumroo Won
Cult Critic Movie Awards Best Actress Won
Calcutta Cult Critic Movie Awards Best Actress Won
Virgin Spring Cinefest Best Actress(Gold Award) Won
2019 Moonwhite International Film Festival Best Actress Won [71]

See also

References

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External links