Deepika Chikhalia, a celebrated Indian actress, achieved iconic status portraying Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s epic television series, Ramayan. This detailed biography explores her life, career, and contributions to Indian entertainment and beyond.
Wiki/Biography
Deepika Chikhalia, born Dipti Chikhalia on April 29, 1965, in Bombay (now Mumbai), is a Taurus. She spent her formative years in Girnar Apartments, Pali Hills, a prestigious Mumbai suburb. Her passion for acting blossomed during her schooling, leading to early film and television roles, reportedly starting at the tender age of 14. She holds a BA degree from the University of Mumbai.
Physical Appearance
- Height (approx.): 5’2″
- Eye Colour: Dark Brown
- Hair Colour: Black
Family & Caste
Deepika hails from a Gujarati Hindu family. Her father’s name is Rajesh T. Chikhalia. She has a brother, Himanshu Chikhlia, and a sister, Arti Chikhlia.
Relationships, Husband & Children
Deepika Chikhalia is married to Hemant Topiwala, a Gujarati businessman. Their marriage, an arranged one, took place on November 22, 1991. They have two daughters: Nidhi Topiwala (a makeup artist born in 1993) and Juhi Topiwala.
Address
Deepika Chikhalia resides at 46, Presidency Society, Kashivishwanath, N.S. Road No. 7, Juhu Scheme, Mumbai.
Career
Film
Deepika’s film debut was in the 1983 Bollywood film Sun Meri Laila. While her debut was a success, she faced challenges securing leading roles in A-grade films for a considerable period. She took on supporting roles in films like Bhagwan Dada (1986), Kala Dhanda Goray Log (1986), and Doorie (1989). Regrettably, she also appeared in B-grade horror films, a decision she later regretted. Following this phase, she appeared in several A-grade films and also worked in various regional cinema including Malayalam, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, and Gujarati films. After a long break, she returned to acting in 2018 with the film Gaalib.
Television
Deepika’s most famous role is that of Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan, a show that became a cultural phenomenon in India. Prior to Ramayan, she worked with Sagar in Dada Daadi Ki Kahani (1985) and Vikram Aur Betaal (1988). She reprised her role as Sita in the sequel series, Luv Kush (1988). She made a television comeback in 2017 with Chutta Chheda on Colors Gujarati.
Politics
Deepika Chikhalia is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 1991, she served as a Lok Sabha Member from the Baroda constituency in Gujarat. Her political career saw her working alongside prominent figures like Narendra Modi and L.K. Advani. She counts Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Sushma Swaraj among her political idols.
Favourite Things
Here’s a glimpse into Deepika’s preferences:
| Category | Preference |
|---|---|
| Food | Kadhi |
| Politician(s) | Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sushma Swaraj |
| Sports | Badminton, Swimming |
| Holiday Destinations | Canada, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, UK, USA |
Facts/Trivia
- Deepika’s birth name was Dipti; she adopted Deepika after marriage.
- She was a teenager when cast as Sita in Ramayan, a role that brought her immense fame.
- She was reportedly offered a spot on Bigg Boss 3 in 2009.
- She maintains contact with only Arvind Trivedi (Ravan) and Sunil Lahiri (Laxman) from the Ramayan cast.
- She starred in a popular Nirma detergent commercial.
- She has a tattoo of “Dad” and a lotus flower on her left wrist.
- Deepika enjoys painting, travelling, and reading in her leisure time.
- She is a women’s rights activist, involved with various non-profit organizations.
- While a devout Hindu, she respects all religions.
- She is a great admirer of the late actress Sridevi.
- Hema Malini advised her to avoid makeup for her role as Sita.
