Payal Rohatgi

Payal Rohatgi is a prominent Indian actress, model, and reality television personality known for her extensive work in Bollywood and her significant impact on Indian reality shows. Born on November 9, 1980, in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, she was raised in a middle-class family in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. An academic high-achiever, she was a Gujarat Board topper and went on to earn a Bachelor of Technology degree in Computer Engineering from the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai College of Engineering in Ahmedabad. Her transition into the entertainment world began when she became a finalist in the Femina Miss India pageant in 2000, later representing India internationally and winning the title of Supermodel Miss Tourism World in 2002.

Her professional career took off in Mumbai with high-profile modeling assignments for brands like Amul, Nirma, and Nescafe, along with a memorable appearance in a Cadbury’s Temptations advertisement. She made her Bollywood debut in 2002 with the film Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai? and achieved a major breakthrough in 2006 with a lead role in the big-budget mystery thriller 36 China Town. Throughout the mid-2000s, she appeared in several notable films, including the critically acclaimed Corporate, the comedy Dhol, and the romantic drama Dil Kabaddi opposite Irrfan Khan. In addition to her film work, she made her theater debut in 2010 with the play Fourplay.

Rohatgi’s fame reached new heights through her frequent and impactful appearances on reality television. She was a notable contestant on Bigg Boss 2 in 2008 and later participated in Survivor India (2012), Nach Baliye 7 (2015), and Khatron Ke Khiladi. One of her most significant reality TV achievements came in 2022 when she participated in the show Lock Upp, where she finished as the first runner-up and was widely recognized for her strong-willed personality. Her performance on the show earned her titles such as "Tigress of Indian OTT" and "Fearless Personality of the Year." In more recent years, she has expanded her repertoire as a motivational speaker, delivering a TEDx talk at IIM Rohtak and speaking at various international events.

In her personal life, she is married to professional wrestler Sangram Singh; the couple tied the knot on July 9, 2022, after a long-term relationship that began in 2011. Recently, in 2025, she made headlines for stepping down from her role as a director in the Sangram Singh Charitable Foundation to focus on her own entrepreneurial ventures. In the digital space, she maintains a highly active and opinionated presence, particularly on Instagram and YouTube, where she frequently shares her perspectives on social and national issues. As of early 2026, she remains a significant public figure, balancing her career as an actress and entrepreneur while continuing to engage with her audience through motivational speaking and social media.