Himani Shivpuri

Himani Bhatt Shivpuri (Hindi: हिमानी शिवपुरी; born 24 October 1960 in Dehradun) is an Indian actress, known for her supportive roles in Bollywood films and Hindi soap operas.

Shivpuri was born and brought up in Dehradun, Uttrakhand. Her father Haridutt Bhatt was a Hindi teacher at The Doon School, Dehradun, where she received her school education. While she was at school she was actively involved in school plays; while doing her post graduation in Organic Chemistry, her interest grew and she started acting in plays simultaneous to her studies.

Eventually she joined National School of Drama, New Delhi and graduated in 1984.

Her ancestral village is Bhattwadi, District Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. She has a son, Katyayan, and was married to actor Gyan Shivpuri, who died in 1995.

After graduating from National School of Drama she worked with NSD Repertory Company for sometime before moving to Mumbai.

Shivpuri made her film debut in 1984 with Ab Ayega Mazaa, followed by In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones a TV film, in (1989), also starring Shahrukh Khan. She acted in many art films thereafter like Shyam Benegal's Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda (1993) and Mammo (1994), though her big commercial break came with Sooraj R. Barjatya's Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994).

She made her television debut with the serial Humrahi (DD National), directed by Kunwar Sinha, which gave her considerable popularity as her role of Devki Bhojai was widely appreciated. Earlier, she had made brief appearances in Lekh Tandon's TV show Phir Wahi Talash and Shyam Benegal's Yatra. After Humrahi, she became a regular feature on Indian television, starring in serials like Hasratein on Zee TV in 1995 as an unsatisfied wife forced to marry a man double her age and looking out for extramarital affairs to satiate her needs, Kasautii Zindagi Kay, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi as Raksha, Chandni, Dollar Bahu (Zee TV), Josh (Star Plus), Ek Ladki Anjaani Si and most recently in Ghar Ek Sapna (Sahara One), and India Calling (Star One). She has starred Baat Hamarri Pakki hai on Sony Entertainment Television Asia.

Though she works mainly in character actor, she has done some memorable roles in films like Koyla (1997), Pardes (1997), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Anjaam (1994) and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998).

Over the years she has worked for many film production houses including Yash Raj Films (owned by director Yash Chopra), Rajshri Productions and Dharma Productions (owned by Yash Johar).

She was seen in J.P. Dutta's film Umrao Jaan.

Himani Shivpuri now plays Kul in Zee's Hamari Betiyoon Ka Vivaah.

Shivpuri is awarded with 19th JAI National Award by Journalist Association of India under the flagship of Journalists Federation of India, in the presence of Oscar Fernandes (former cabinet minister), Kapil Sibal (cabinet minister), and H.K. Sethi, secretary general of Journalists Federation of India.

She briefly appeared in a short documentary film The Facebook Generation. produced by Blue Strike Productions and Dev Samaj Modern School and Directed by Sahil Bhardwaj. The film competed in Reel to Real film making competition at Harmony 2012 organised by The Global Education and Leadership Foundation and was among the top 10 finalists.

Himani Shivpuri's Filmography with Super Star Rajesh Khanna :

1. Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999) : as Mrs. Chaurasia
2. Classic Dance of Love (2005) : as Sitaradevi (Rajesh Khanna's special appearance)