Akanksha Puri: Wiki, Age, Career, Boyfriend & Bigg Boss OTT Journey

Who Is Akanksha Puri?

Akanksha Puri is a multi‑talented Indian actress, model, and dancer who has made her mark across Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada entertainment industries. Active since 2013, she’s widely recognized for her divine portrayal of Goddess Parvati in Vighnaharta Ganesha and her high‑voltage stint on Bigg Boss OTT Season 2.

Early Life & Education

• Birthplace and Date: Born 26 July 1988, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh
• Family: Daughter of R.K. Puri (retired Assistant Commissioner of Police) and Chitra Puri (astrologer). Has a brother, Amitesh
• Schooling & College: Studied at Carmel Convent School, Bhopal, and graduated from Devi Ahilya University, Indore
• Early Career: Worked briefly as an international cabin crew with Kingfisher Airlines while starting her modeling journey

Modeling & Bollywood Breakthrough

Beginning her career with print and TV commercials, Akanksha transitioned to films when Tamil studio spotted her in a Vasan Eye Care ad.

• Film Debut: Alex Pandian (2013) – Tamil
• Malayalam Films: Acted in Praise the Lord (2014) as Annie; also appeared in Samrajyam II: Son of Alexander
• Kannada Debut: Starred in Lodde (2015)
• Bollywood Debut: Calendar Girls (2015) in Madhur Bhandarkar’s film

 

 

Television Fame & Web Series Roles

• Goddess Parvati in Vighnaharta Ganesha (2017–2020): Her defining role that brought her national acclaim
• Reality TV Appearances:
  • Guest appearances on CID and Bigg Boss 13
  • Contestant and winner on Swayamvar – Mika Di Vohti
  • Challenger on Bigg Boss 15
  • Contestant (12th place) on Bigg Boss OTT 2 in June 2023
• Web Series Highlights:
  • Inspector Avinash, Honey Trap Squad (2023), and Dons & Darlings (2024) as Naaz, showcasing her versatility.

Music Video Appearances

Akanksha has featured in several popular music videos:

• “Jahaan Tum Ho”, “Dancing Doll”, “Main Jis Din Bhula Doon”, “Bewafa Tera Muskurana”, “Jaa Rahe Ho”, and more.

Controversies & Public Image

Her participation in Bigg Boss OTT 2 stirred headlines, especially after a steamy on-camera kiss with Jad Hadid that went viral. Despite that, she remained unapologetic and maintained that she had “zero regret”.

💡 Fun & Lesser-Known Facts

• Avid animal lover and often advocates for their welfare.
• Athletic from childhood – enjoyed tennis, basketball, climbing trees.
• Multilingual: speaks Hindi, English, Marathi, Punjabi – making her adaptable in regional cinema.
• Trained in several dance forms: classical, contemporary, belly dancing.

🚀 What’s Next for Akanksha?

Akanksha continues to take varied and challenging roles. Her recent and upcoming projects include:

• Hosting MTV’s Mr & Mrs Runaway Model
• Playing Naaz in Dons & Darlings (2024), a gritty web series that explores the underworld

Personal Life: Love, Rumors & Reality

Akanksha Puri’s personal life has often made headlines, sometimes even more than her professional career. Her high-profile relationship with Paras Chhabra (Bigg Boss 13 contestant) attracted significant attention.

💔 Relationship with Paras Chhabra

• The couple was reportedly together for over two years.
• Akanksha supported Paras during his time in Bigg Boss 13, managing his finances and PR.
• However, their relationship ended publicly and dramatically during the show’s airing. Akanksha accused Paras of disrespecting their bond and lying about their breakup on national television.
• This experience left her heartbroken but stronger. Since then, she’s been vocal about self-respect, self-love, and emotional growth.

Akanksha’s Quote:
“Being emotionally invested was my biggest mistake. I have learned to prioritize myself now.”

Social Media Influence

In today’s digital age, Akanksha Puri is more than just an actress—she’s a social media influencer with millions of followers who admire her fashion sense, fitness journey, bold opinions, and candid personality.

Instagram Stats (as of 2025):

• Followers:5M+ (ID – https://www.instagram.com/akanksha8000/)
• Style: Bold, glamorous, spiritual, and inspirational
• Content Mix: Fashion shoots, travel diaries, fitness reels, promotional posts, dance reels

She often uses her platform to promote body positivity, mental health awareness, and women empowerment.

Fitness & Lifestyle

Akanksha maintains a fit and active lifestyle. Her fans appreciate her for being real—not promoting unhealthy beauty standards, but focusing on consistency and balance.

Her Wellness Secrets:

• Regular yoga and meditation
• Balanced vegetarian diet
• Dance-based cardio
• Natural skincare routines
• Avoiding crash diets or extremes

She often says: “Your body is your temple, take care of it like you do your prayers.”

🎭 Acting Style & Public Perception

Akanksha has earned praise for her expressive eyes, graceful body language, and ability to transform into diverse roles—from mythological queens to modern-day strong women.

Why Audiences Love Her:

• Authenticity: Always speaks her mind, unapologetically.
• Adaptability: Can switch between glamorous, divine, and raw roles with ease.
• Work Ethic: Despite controversies, she’s known to be highly professional and punctual.
• Bold Choices: Not afraid to do off-beat or experimental roles.

🧿 Spiritual Side

Interestingly, Akanksha is deeply spiritual. Despite playing glamorous roles, she maintains a strong connection to her roots and is often seen visiting temples, doing rituals, and participating in charitable activities.

She attributes her strength during tough times—like heartbreak, trolling, and criticism—to her spiritual grounding.

📝 In Her Own Words

“I am not here to impress. I’m here to express, to explore, and to evolve.”
– Akanksha Puri

🎯 Final Words: Why Akanksha Puri Stands Out

Akanksha Puri is not just another face in the glamour world—she is a story of reinvention, resilience, and realness. Whether she’s donning heavy jewelry as Parvati or standing up for herself in the Bigg Boss house, she embodies grace under pressure.

Her life reflects that success isn’t just about fame; it’s about authenticity, hard work, and bouncing back—stronger, wiser, and more radiant.

From a small-town girl traveling to school by horse‑cart in Indore to becoming a celebrated actress across multiple film industries and television, Akanksha Puri’s journey is proof that perseverance and adaptability pay off. She’s redefined herself— from a Kingfisher air hostess to a mythological heroine, reality TV personality, and host—while staying true to her roots of fitness, dance, and compassion.

🎥 Career Milestones & Versatility

While many actors stick to one language or industry, Akanksha Puri broke the mold by performing in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi projects.

🔹 Top Films List:

Her work in Calendar Girls was especially bold and controversial at the time, as it portrayed the behind-the-scenes struggles of models and showbiz industry women.