Prachi Desai (born September 12, 1988) is an Indian film actress who appears in Bollywood movies and is best known for her role as Bani Walia in the Hindi television drama Kasamh Se which aired on Zee TV.
Born Prachi Desai
September 12, 1988 (1988-09-12) (age 20)
Gujarat , India
Other name(s) Prachi
Bani Walia
Bani
Occupation Model, Actress
Years active 2001 – present
Spouse(s) None
Biography
Prachi Desai was born in Surat, Gujarat. She studied in St Joseph Convent, Panchgani and completed her schooling till 10th grade in Surat. Then she went to Pune for higher studies. She studied in Pune in Sinhgad College of Arts, Science & Commerce (Jr.), Wadgaon. Her present residence is in Lokhandwala, Mumbai with her mother, Ameeta Desai, and her siblings. She maintains a close intimate relationship with her mentor and close personal friend Ekta Kapoor. Her hobbies are acting, sports, listening to music and sketching.
In a short span of time she attained success in Hindi serials and is now a successful Bollywood film actress. Apart from being a part of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 2 and Kasamh Se, in which she played the main role of “Bani”, she has also worked in another serial, Kasauti Zindagi Kay where she played the cameo of Prachi Desai. In Kasamh Se she essays the role of Bani. Most recently she featured in the popular celebrity dance competition show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 2 in which she was first voted out, but after coming back as a wildcard entry she went on to create history and win the show.
Recently, she worked as an actress in the movie, Rock On!!, made by Abhishek Kapoor, in which she played the wife of Farhan Akhtar. Prachi had to leave her very successful role of “Bani” in Kasam Se to act in Rock On. Her next movie is Life Partner.
Career
Acting was her passion since childhood – her father and uncle had done various Gujarati plays – but she started with a short modelling workshop. She went to Pune for higher studies and had almost finished her junior college when her pictures were sent to Balaji Telefilms and she got a call for an audition for Kasamh Se. She had just turned 17 when her career began on Kasamh Se and left her studies for a while. She is now continuing with her correspondence course. She has also starred in her first movie Rock On !! which was released on August 29, 2008 and Farhan Akhtar as her co-star.
Kasamh Se
Kasamh Se is the serial that Prachi Desai starred in and got her fame on Zee TV. She has captured many a hearts with this program acting as innocent but strong willed Bani Dixit (now Bani Walia). Prachi left Kasamh Se on April 15, 2008 and was replaced by Gurdeep Kohli after being burnt and drowned in episode 564. Kasamh Se ended March 12, 2009. In the last episode, Prachi Desai made a special appearance as the former Bani. Kasautii Zindagii Kay was aired on Star Plus which was a TV serial in which Prachi did a cameo for 2 days as a school student in Prerna’s school. Prachi Desai was her character name in Kasauti Zindagi Ki. In the serial she works as a student who tries to go with her lover far away without the permission of her parents and was caught by the serial’s heroine who complains this to her and her lover’s parents.
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 2
Prachi then entered Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, the Indian version of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, on September 7, 2007 with choreographer Deepak Singh. Prachi impressed the judges every week, but was ultimately eliminated on November 10, 2007. However, she entered the contest again via the Wildcard entry on November 23, 2007. Prachi then landed a spot in the Grand Finale of the dance show on December 15, 2007 and won the 1st place against her other contestants. Prachi Desai was awarded the Dancing star of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 2. However it has been alleged that she was made to return as a wild card entry in spite of her elimination due to a direct intervention from her close personal friend Ekta Kapoor which compelled the producers of the show to change the international format of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa.
Scorecard
September 28: 19 points
October 1: 23 points
October 12: 25 points
October 19: 28 points
November 2: 23 points
November 9: 28 points
November 16: Wildcard
November 23: 24 + 30 points
November 30: 30 + 30 points
December 7: 27 + 29 points
December 14: 28 + 29 + 28 points
Dard-e-Disco
It was later announced by Sony Entertainment Television Asia that Prachi would compete in a tribute show to Jhalak competition called Dard-e-Disco alongside with other former Jhalak contestants which aired on Sony Entertainment Television Asia on December 31, 2007
Yeh Hai Jalwa
Later, Prachi entered another dance reality show on 9X the Hindi general entertainment channel the first of its kind – Vodafone Yeh Hai Jalwa. In Yeh Hai Jalwa Prachi Desai is the mentor for five college students and trained “Masti Ki Paathshaala” team. On Sunday, April 20, 2008 she got eliminated from the show. It is said that because the voting lines closed in 4 hours instead of 24 hours, many fans could not vote for her.
Awards
2006
The Sixth Indian Telly Awards:
Couple of the year – Prachi Desai and her co-star Ram Kapoor won the award for their on screen chemistry in the show.
Fresh New Face of the Year (Female) – Prachi shared the award with Zee TV’s star, Rajshree Vaidya (Saloni of Saat Phere.
2008 sabse favourite kaun-Best Newcomer
2006
15th KALAKAR Awards:
Best Actress – Prachi Desai (Television) in the 15th Kalakar Awards was held on January 14, 2006 at Science City Auditorium, Kolkata
2007
Sansui Television Awards:
Best Actress – Bani Walia For Kasamh Se
2007
The Seventh Indian Telly Awards: Best Actress – Bani Walia For Kasamh Se
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Season 2 winner. Declared on Sony Entertainment Television Asia
Zee Rishton Ka Utsav 2007 Favourite Bhabhi-Nanand Rishta.Bani shared with Jigyasa
2008
Best Actress – Prachi Desai for The Global Indian TV Honours
2008
Best Actress at Sansui Television Awards (2008) (Popular Category) for her portrayal as Bani Walia in Kasamh Se.
Sabse Favourite Kaun-Best newcomer
Kasamh Se (2006) Bani Dixit/ Bani Walia
Kasautii Zindagii Kay (2007) Prachi Desai
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 2 (2007) Herself with Deepak Singh
Yeh Hai Jalwa (2008) Herself
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 3 (2009) Guest
Filmography
Year Film Role Language Notes Co star
2008 Rock On!! Sakshi Hindi Nominated, Filmfare Best Female Debut Award
Debut Movie Farhan Akhtar
2009 Life Partner Prachi Hindi Announced Tushar Kapoor
2010 Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Hindi Announced Emraan Hashmi
