Deepika Chikhalia is an Indian actress best known for her role as Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s epic television series Ramayana, which aired on Indian television in the late 1980s.
Wiki/Biography
Deepika Chikhalia was born as Dipti Chikhalia on Thursday, April 29, 1965 (55 years old in 2020) in Mumbai. Her zodiac sign is Taurus. She grew up in Girnar Flats in Pali Hills, an affluent residential area in the Bandra suburb of Mumbai. Deepika has been a passionate actor since her school days. It was during her school days that she started getting offers for films and TV serials. Deepika reportedly started her acting career in films and TV serials at the age of 14. Miss Chikhalia holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mumbai (formerly the University of Bombay).
appearance
Height (approximate): 5′ 2″
Eye color: dark brown
Hair color: Black
Family and caste
Deepika Chikhalia belongs to a Gujarati Hindu family.
Parents and siblings
Deepika’s father’s name is Rajesh T. Chikhalia.
Deepika Chikalia and her father
Deepika Chikalia and her mother
She has an elder brother Himanshu Chikhlia and an elder sister Arti Chikhlia.
Deepika Chikhalia and her sister Arti
Relationships, husbands and children
Deepika Chikhalia is married to Hemant Topiwala, a Gujarati businessman and owner of Shingar Bindi and Tips and Toes Cosmetics. She married Hemant on November 22, 1991. 
In an interview, when she was asked if she desired a husband with qualities of Lord Ram, she replied,
I don’t want Hemant to become exactly like Ram.”
When asked if it was an arranged marriage or a love marriage, she replied,
“It was a completely arranged marriage. The families knew each other for years, but I dated him before he finally agreed. Then I said yes.”
She has two daughters with Hemant – Nidhi Topiwala (a makeup artist, born in 1993) and Juhi Topiwala.
Deepika Chikhalia with her husband and daughter
Talking about the birth of her first child, she said,
After I had kids, it was hard to focus on politics, so that was the only time I did. I got a few offers to be a producer, but my priorities had changed.”
Deepika Chikhalia’s daughter
address
Deepika Chikhalia lives at 46, Presidency Society, NS Road No. 7, Kashivishwanath, Juhu Scheme, Mumbai.
Profession
Movie
Deepika Chikhalia made her silver screen debut in the 1983 Bollywood film Sun Meri Laila, in which she played the lead role of Annie opposite Raj Kiran.
Deepika Chikhalia in her debut film Sun Meri Laila
Although her debut film was a hit, she could not get A-grade films for a long time. In the meantime, she played supporting roles in films such as Bhagwan Dada (1986), Kaladanda Gorelog (1986) and Dolly (1989). After this, Deepika acted in B-grade horror films – Chik (1986) and My Love (1987). In My Love, her character was named “Sexy Rosie”.
Deepika Chikalia Raat Ke Andhere Mein
Both the films did not do well at the box office. However, Deepika regrets acting in B-grade films; she said about her experience in B-grade films:
I was ripped off badly. This was the biggest mistake I ever made. I didn’t need the money or want a role in a movie, I just felt ripped off. I’m a pragmatic and straightforward person and I couldn’t understand the shady tactics of that film producer.”
After her B-grade films, she went on to act in several A-grade films. The only two hit Hindi films she acted in were Ghar Ka Chiraag (1989) and Rupaye Dus Karod (1991); in both films, Rajesh Khanna played the lead role while Deepika played a supporting role and she had a smaller role in both films. Although she got more scenes in the 1994 Bollywood film Khudai, the film was a commercial failure. In addition to Hindi films, Deepika has acted in films in many other languages including Malayalam, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali and Gujarati. She made her Malayalam film debut in Ithile Iniyum Varu (1986), in which she played the role of “Priya”.
Deepika Chikhalia’s Malayalam debut Ithile Iniyum Varu
Her only Bhojpuri film till date is Sajanwa Bairi Bhaile Hamar (1987). 
In 1989, she made her Kannada debut with the film Indrajith.
Deepika Chikhalia makes her Kannada debut with Indrajith
Her only Bengali work was “Asha O Bhalobasha” (1989).
Asha-O-Bhalobasha, a Bengali film directed by Deepika Chikhalia
Deepika made her Telugu film debut in 1989 with the film Yamapasam.
Deepika Chikhalia’s Telugu debut Yamapasam
In the same year, she made her Gujarati debut with the film Jode Rahejo Raj.
Deepika Chikhalia’s Gujarati debut Jode Rahejo Raj
She made her comeback in 2018 after 23 years with the film Gaalib; she retired from the entertainment industry after marrying Hemant Topiwala. In Gaalib, she played the role of Afzal Guru’s wife Shabana Ahmad.
Deepika Chikhalia in Gaalib
In the same year, she played the role of Mangala Pathak in the Gujarati film Natsamrat. In the 2019 Hindi film Bala, she played the role of Yami Gautam’s mother Susheela Mishra. Deepika Chikhalia has had limited success in films, and she has found greater success on the small screen.
television
The small screen is the medium that made Deepika a household name in India, where she played her most iconic role, Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana; the TV series that paused India for an hour every Sunday at 9.30am in the late 1980s.
The epic drama Ramayana aired on Indian television
Before she played the role of Sita in Ramayana, she had acted in two other hit television serials with Ramanand Sagar – Dada Daadi Ki Kahani in 1985 and Vikram’s Song in 1988. She again played the role of Seeta in Luv Kush (1988) in the Ramayana series.
Deepika Chikhalia plays Sita in Luv Kush
She made her comeback on screen with the TV series Chutta Chheda (2017) on Colors Gujarati channel.
politics
Deepika Chikhalia is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and she became the Lok Sabha MP from the Vadodara constituency in Gujarat in 1991. Talking about her foray into politics, she said:
In fact, my grandfather was active in the RSS (National Volunteer Service), so I have RSS roots in my family.”
She considered Atal Bihari Vajpayee as her political idol. 
In the early days of her political career, she worked with party veterans like Narendra Modi and LK Advani.
Deepika Chikhalia’s old photo with Narendra Modi and LK Advani
The late Sushma Swaraj was one of her close associates in politics. 
Favorite things
Food: Khadi
Politicians: Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sushma Swaraj
Sports: Badminton, Swimming
Vacation destinations: Canada, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, United Kingdom and United States
Facts/Trivia
- Deepika Chikhalia’s birth name was Dipti and after marriage, she changed her name to Deepika Topiwala.
- She was just a teenager when she bagged the role of Sita in Ramayana. With this role, she tasted the pinnacle of her acting career very early. Talking about the praise she received for this role, she said,
I was 18 when I took the role (in 1987). To be honest, the adoration, attention and stardom I received was very unsettling. It took me a long time to adjust.”
- Deepika’s role as Sita touched people’s lives so deeply that men and women of all ages began touching her feet for blessings. Deepika herself believes that this role had a great impact on her life and career. She said,
Everything I am today in my life is because of this character.”
- In 2009, she was reportedly invited to compete in Big Boss 3.
- In an interview, when asked how many of her Ramayana co-stars are still in touch with her, she said,
Only Arvind Trivedi (who plays Raavan) and Sunil Lahiri (who plays Laxman) remain in touch.”
- After Ramayana, she became a favourite among Indian TV commercial makers and her Nirma Super Detergent Soap Cakes TV commercials were regularly aired on Indian television in the late 1980s and 1990s.
- She has a tattoo of the word “Dad” and a lotus on her left wrist.
- In her spare time, she enjoys painting, traveling and reading.
Deepika Chikhalia shows her paintings to Narendra Modi
- Deepika is also a women activist and is involved in various non-profit organizations working towards women empowerment.
Deepika Chikhalia and Yogi Adityanath
- In an interview, Deepika said that though she is a devout Hindu, she has due respect for other religions.
Deepika Chikhalia posted on Instagram about visiting the holy shrine in Ajmer
- Deepika is a huge fan of Sridevi and she had shared screen space with the late actor in the 1986 film Ghar Sansar.
Deepika Chikhalia and Sridevi at Ghar Sansar
- In an interview, Deepika revealed that for her role as Sita in Ramayana, Hema Malini had advised her not to wear makeup.
Deepika Chikhalia plays multiple roles
- In March 2020, after participating in The Kapil Sharma Show, she posted a throwback photo of the trio on Instagram – Rama, Rashman and Sita; played by Arun Govil, Sunil Lahiri and Deepika Chikalia respectively.
Deepika Chikhalia’s Instagram post after attending Kapil Sharma’s show
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education