Dipika Chikhlia Topiwala is an Indian actress known for playing Devi

Sita Sita (; ) also called as Janaki and Vaidehi is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, ''Ramayana''. She is the consort of Rama, the avatar of the god Vishnu, and is regarded as a form of Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi. She ...

Ramanand Sagar Chandramauli Chopra ( ; 29 December 1917 – 12 December 2005) known professionally as Ramanand Sagar, was an Indian filmmaker, editor, playwright, poet and an author. He is best known for making the television show '' Ramayan'' (1987-1988). The ...

's television series Ramayan and for acting in other Indian TV serials. She was also known for her debut film ''Sun Meri Laila'' (1983), opposite

Raj Kiran Raj or RAJ may refer to: History * British Raj, the 1858–1947 rule of the British Crown over India * Company Raj, the 1757–1858 rule of the East India Company in South Asia * Licence Raj, the Indian system of elaborate licences, regulations ...

and three Hindi films with

Rajesh Khanna Rajesh Khanna () (; born Jatin Khanna; 29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who worked in Hindi films. He is called as the "First Superstar of Hindi cinema", he consecutively starred in a record ...

, which were ''

Rupaye Dus Karod ''Rupaye Dus Karod'' is a 1991 Indian Hindi-language thriller film directed by Sikander Bharti, produced by Waman K. Deshmukh and written by Shabdh Kumar. The film was made in the style of formula-based potboilers and was a hit. It stars Rajesh ...

'', ''

Ghar Ka Chiraag ''Ghar Ka Chiraag'' (transl. ''House Lamp'') is a 1989 Indian film in Hindi directed by Sikander Bharti. The film stars Rajesh Khanna, Chunky Pandey, Neelam in the lead roles. Actor Chunky Pandey himself distributed this film. Cast * Rajesh K ...

'' and ''

Khudai ''Khudai'' is a 1994 film starring Rajesh Khanna in the main lead. Both Madhavi and Deepika Chikhalia are paired opposite Rajesh Khanna. Other cast includes Gulshan Grover, Arun Bakshi, Avtar Gill. Synopsis Raj Anand is the director of many ...

''. She did one Malayalam film ''

Ithile Iniyum Varu ''Ithile Iniyum Varu'' is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by P. G. Viswambharan. The film stars Mammootty, Mukesh, Dipika Chikhlia and Thilakan in lead roles. The film had musical score by Shyam. It was remake of 1984 Hindi f ...

'' (1986), with

Mammootty Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail (; born 7 September 1951), known mononymously by the hypocorism Mammootty (), is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Malayalam cinema, Malayalam films. He has also appeared in Tamil l ...

, her Kannada hits were ''

Hosa Jeevana ''Hosa Jeevana'' () is a 1990 Indian Kannada film, directed by H. R. Bhargava and produced by S. Shailendra Babu. The film stars Shankar Nag, Deepika Chikhalia, Deepika, Ramesh Bhat and Sudheer (Kannada actor), Sudheer. The film has a musical sc ...

'' (1990) with

Shankar Nag Shankar Nagarakatte (9 November 1954 – 30 September 1990) was an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, and producer known for his work in Kannada-language films and television. A popular cultural icon of Karnataka, Nag is often referred to as ...

and '' Indrajith'' (1989) with

Ambarish In Hindu mythology, Ambarisha ( sa, अम्बरीषः, ) is an Ikshvaku king, and the son of Mandhata.Pargiter, F.E. (1972) 922 ''Ancient Indian Historical Tradition'', Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.92. He is believed to have conquered t ...

. She had one Tamil hit film, ''Nangal'' (1992), with

Prabhu ''Prabhu'' means master or the Prince in Sanskrit and many of the Indian languages; it is a name sometimes applied to God. The term is also used by devotees of the Hindu God Lord Krishna/Vishnu as a title and form of address. It is also appended ...

, and one Bengali hit film, ''

Asha O Bhalobasha ''Asha O Bhalobasha'' () is a 1989 Indian Bengali-language romance drama film directed by Sujit Guha and produced by Mamani Films. The film stars Prosenjit Chatterjee and Deepika Chikhalia in the lead roles. The music was composed by Bappi Lahir ...

'' (1989), opposite

Prosenjit Chatterjee Prosenjit Chatterjee (born 30 September 1962) is an Indian actor and producer. He is widely regarded as one of the leading actors in modern Bengali cinema. He predominantly works in Bengali cinema . He is the son of veteran Bollywood actor Bisw ...

Career

Early career

Chikhlia made her debut as lead actress in ''Sun Meri Laila'' (1983), opposite

. Bollywood was part of the television serial ''Dada Daadi Ki Kahani'' in 1985. She meanwhile did supporting roles in hit films like ''Bhagwan Dada'' (1986), ''Kala Dhanda Goray Log'' (1986) and ''Doorie'' (1989) and played lead heroine in the B grade horror film ''Cheekh'' (1986) and ''Raat Ke Andhere Mein'' (1987).

Success (1987-95)

Later in 1987, Chikhlia played the female lead role of

's television series '' Ramayan''. Before starring in Ramayan, she was the part of Ramanand Sagar's ''

Vikram Aur Betaal ''Vikram Aur Betaal'' is an Indian television series that aired on DD National in 1985 & re-telecast in 1988 after the hit Series Ramayan. The series contained stories from Indian stories. The concept of the program was based on ''Baital Pac ...

''. She continued getting lead roles in hit TV serials like ''The Sword of Tipu Sultan'' and ''Luv Kush'' (both in 1989). Her only hits in Hindi films were ''Ghar Ka Chiraag'' (1989) and ''Rupaye Dus Karod'' (1991), both of which had

in the lead. She got more footage in the film ''Khudai'', but the film was a commercial failure in 1994. She played the romantic lead of Rajesh Khanna in two films, ''

'' and ''

''. Her Kannada film as the lead heroine opposite

was a box office hit in 1990 and her Bengali films ''

'' (1989), opposite

and Tamil film ''

Naangal ''Naangal'' () is a 1992 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Hassan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Prabhu and Deepika Chikhalia. It was released on 20 March 1992. Plot Keerthi, an honest police officer, is charged to solve a double m ...

'' (1992) opposite

were box office hits. She also got a supporting role in a Malayalam movie, ''Ithile Iniyum Varu'' (1986), which had

in the lead. She met with limited success in Hindi films after 1992, as ''Sanam Aap Ki Khatir'' (1992) flopped, which had her as main lead heroine, she only got supporting roles in Hindi films.

Later career

Chikhlia was also seen in the TV serial ''Chutta Chheda'' (2017) on Colors Gujarati channel. The Gujarati film ''Nattsamrat'' is to be released in August 2018 and she will be seen in her upcoming Hindi movie ''Gaalib'' (2018-2019). Dipika Chikhlia is working again. She was last seen in the movie '' Bala'' (November 2019) as Pari's (

Yami Gautam Yami Gautam Dhar (born 28 November 1988) is an Indian actress known predominantly for her work in Bollywood, Hindi films. She sprang into prominence after doing some commercials for Glow & Lovely and began her acting career in television shows ...

) mother. In the upcoming biopic of freedom fighter -

Sarojini Naidu Sarojini Naidu (''née'' Chattopadhyay; 13 February 1879 – 2 March 1949) was an Indian political activist, feminist and poet. A proponent of civil rights, women's emancipation, and anti-imperialistic ideas, she was an important person in Indi ...

, she will be seen playing the role of her.

Politics

Dipika Chikhlia Topiwala followed up her television and film career with a move into politics, becoming a Member of Parliament in the Indian

Lok Sabha The Lok Sabha, constitutionally the House of the People, is the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament, with the upper house being the Rajya Sabha. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by an adult universal suffrage and a first-past ...

from Baroda constituency in 1991 as a

Bharatiya Janata Party The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP; ; ) is a political party in India, and one of the two major Indian political parties alongside the Indian National Congress. Since 2014, it has been the ruling political party in India under Narendra Modi ...

candidate.

Personal life

On 23 November 1991, Dipika married Hemant Topiwala, owner of Shingar Bindi and Tips and Toes cosmetics. They have two daughters, Nidhi Topiwala and Juhi Topiwala.

Filmography

References

External links

Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Chikhalia, Deepika Living people Gujarati people Actresses from Mumbai Indian film actresses Actresses in Kannada cinema Actresses in Hindi cinema Indian television actresses India MPs 1991–1996 Politicians from Mumbai Women in Gujarat politics Lok Sabha members from Gujarat 20th-century Indian women politicians 20th-century Indian politicians 20th-century Indian actresses Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Gujarat Actresses in Malayalam cinema Actresses in Tamil cinema Actresses in Bengali cinema Actresses in Gujarati cinema Actresses in Telugu cinema Actresses in Bhojpuri cinema Women members of the Lok Sabha Year of birth missing (living people)