Hina Khan
Indian actress known for television and film roles.
Hina Khan (born 2 October 1987) is an Indian actress who works in Hindi and Punjabi film and television. Known for shifting between family dramas, reality shows, and psychological thrillers, she is among the highest-paid television actresses in India. Her awards include three ITA Awards, three Indian Telly Awards, and seven Gold Awards.
Khan was born in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, and grew up in a family of four with her parents and a younger brother who runs a travel agency. She earned an MBA in 2009 from CCA School of Management in Gurgaon.
While studying in Delhi, friends pushed her to audition for *Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai*, and she got the part. She moved to Mumbai, making her television debut in 2009 as Akshara Maheshwari Singhania in one of India’s longest-running soap operas. She left the show in November 2016 after seven years, earning positive reviews and multiple awards.
In 2017, she was first runner-up on *Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 8* and later first runner-up on *Bigg Boss 11*. In early 2018, she filmed a Punjabi music video with Sonu Thukral, released in March. That March, she signed her digital debut—Ankoosh Bhatt’s short film *SmartPhone* with Kunaal Roy Kapur. In July 2018, she appeared in Sonu Thukral’s music video “Bhasoodi.” In October 2018, she took the role of antagonist Komolika in *Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2*, leaving in April 2019 and replaced by Aamna Sharif. That year, she also signed her debut film *Lines* with Farida Jalal, directed by Hussain Khan and written by Rahat Kazmi and Shakti Singh.
In January 2019, she signed the short film *Soulmate* with Vivan Bhatena, directed by Pawwan Sharma. In May 2019, she shot Rahat Kazmi’s short *Wish List* with Jitendra Rai. In September, she began filming Kazmi’s Indo-Hollywood movie *The Country of the Blind* as Gosha, and signed the digital series *Damaged 2*. In January 2020, she signed a ZEE5 horror film with Kushal Tandon. She made a cameo as the main lead in *Naagin 5* with Dheeraj Dhoopar and Mohit Malhotra. In February 2020, she made her Bollywood debut with *Hacked*, directed by Vikram Bhatt and co-starring Sid Makkar. In October 2020, she returned to *Bigg Boss 14* as a “toofani senior” for two weeks alongside Gauahar Khan and Sidharth Shukla.
- Born
- 2 October 1987
- Field
- Actress
- Nationality
- Indian
- Known for
- Portraying Akshara Maheshwari Singhania in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai; runner-up in Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 8 and Bigg Boss 11
Lore & Background
Hina Khan was born on 2 October 1987 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. She completed her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2009 from the CCA School of Management in Gurgaon. During her college studies in Delhi, she auditioned for Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai when her friends forced her and was selected. She moved to Mumbai and made her television debut in 2009, starring in one of the longest running Indian soap operas as Akshara Maheshwari Singhania. After seven years, she quit the show in November 2016 to pursue other projects.
In 2017, she joined Colors TV's Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 8 as a contestant, finishing as the first runner-up.
Reader's Guide
Hina Khan's significance lies in her long-running role as Akshara Maheshwari Singhania in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, which earned her critical praise and multiple awards, including two ITA Awards for Best Actress - Popular. She further demonstrated her range by playing a critically acclaimed negative character in Kasautii Zindagii Kay 2, winning the Gold Award for Best Actress in a Negative Role. Her participation in reality shows such as Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 8 and Bigg Boss 11, where she finished as runner-up in both, expanded her audience. Khan has also ventured into films, music videos, and web series, and has been consistently ranked among the top television actresses by publications like Rediff and Times of India. Her public image includes being named in the Top 50 Sexiest Asian Women List by Eastern Eye from 2013 to 2017 and being listed as Times of India's Most Desirable Women on Television in 2018 and 2019. In June 2024, she revealed she is suffering from Stage-3 breast cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.
Did You Know?
- She emerged as the runner-up in both Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 8 (2017) and Bigg Boss 11 (2017–2018).
- She revealed she has asthma on the sets of Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi in 2017.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hina Khan?
Hina Khan is an Indian actress born on 2 October 1987 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, who works across Hindi and Punjabi television and film. She is recognized as one of the highest-paid TV actresses in India for her range spanning family dramas, reality shows, and psychological thrillers.
What role is Hina Khan most famous for?
She is best known for portraying Akshara Maheshwari Singhania in the long-running Hindi serial Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, a role that cemented her status as a household name in Indian television.
What awards has Hina Khan won?
Over her career she has collected three ITA Awards, three Indian Telly Awards, and seven Gold Awards, reflecting consistent critical and audience recognition across multiple years.
Which reality shows has Hina Khan appeared on?
She was a contestant on Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 8, where she finished as runner-up, and also took part in Bigg Boss 11, again placing as runner-up.
What is Hina Khan's educational background?
Before fully committing to acting, she earned an MBA in 2009 from CCA School of Management in Gurgaon while studying in Delhi, where friends encouraged her to try her hand at the entertainment industry.
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