Sakshi Tanwar is an Indian actress and presenter, who primarily works in Hindi films and television. Tanwar is considered among the highest-paid television actresses in India.^[2][3] Tanwar is widely recognised for her portrayal of Parvati Agarwal in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and Priya Sharma Kapoor in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain.

Tanwar made her film debut in 2016 and has since appeared in the biographical sports drama Dangal (2016) and the historical drama Samrat Prithviraj (2022). Alongside her work in television, Tanwar received praises for the series — Karrle Tu Bhi Mohabbat (2017-2019) and Mai: A Mother's Rage (2022), the latter won her a Filmfare OTT Award.

Tanwar was born in 1972 or 1973^[1] to Rajendra Singh Tanwar, a retired CBI officer, in a middle-class Rajput family from Alwar, Rajasthan, India. She was educated in many Kendriya Vidyalayas before graduating from Lady Shri Ram College in New Delhi. Prior to this, in 1990, after completing her pre-university course, she worked as a sales trainee at a five-star hotel.^[4] In college, she was the secretary and president of the dramatic society.^{[citation needed]} After graduation, while preparing for the entrance tests to the administrative services and mass communications, she gave an audition for the national broadcaster Doordarshan's film songs based program Albela Sur Mela in 1998; she was selected as the presenter.

After her television debut in 1998 with Albela Sur Mela, Tanwar gained fame for her role of Parvati Agarwal in the soap opera, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii.^[5] Between 2011 and 2014, she played Priya Kapoor, opposite Ram Kapoor, in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain.^{[citation needed]} In December 2012, she made a third appearance on the reality show Kaun Banega Crorepati.^[6]

In the 2016 film Dangal, Tanwar played Daya Kaur, wife of former wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat (played by Aamir Khan), who trains his daughters to be world-class wrestlers against social odds.^[7] Sakshi Tanwar made a comeback on television with Tyohaar Ki Thaali, first telecasted by Epic Channel in February 2018.^[8]

Manoj Bajpayee, Neena Gupta, Sakshi Tanwar come together for upcoming thriller 'Dial 100'.^[9]

In 2018, Sakshi became a single mother when she adopted a nine-month-old baby girl, Dityaa Tanwar.^[10]

With her performances in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, Kutumb, Devi and Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, Tanwar established herself among the leading and highest-paid actresses of Hindi television.^[2][3] Rediff.com placed her first in its "Top TV stars of 2006" and tenth in its "Top 10 television actresses" list.^[11][12] Supriya Sharma of India Today termed her the "nation's most-loved telly star".^[13] Tanwar is termed as one of the hottest television actress by Rediff.com.^[14]

In 2012, Tanwar appeared in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list, ranking 93rd with an estimated annual income of ₹34.5 million (US$430,000).^[15] Her on-screen pairing with Ram Kapoor was voted as "Television's most popular onscreen couple", in a India Today survey.^[16] In April 2013, in a survey conducted by Ormax Media, Tanwar featured in the "Top 5 most trustworthy celebrities" list.^[5] In a 2014 poll conducted by Shaadi.com, Tanwar and Kapoor were voted the Favourite TV Couple by 42.3% Indians.^[17] Tanwar is also a celebrity endorser for brands and products such as Vim, Harpic, Tanishq, Kellogg's and Big Bazaar. Economic Times termed her the "second-most visible celebrity on television", in 2016.^[18]

Tanwar has won two Indian Television Academy Awards — ITA Milestone Award for Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and ITA Award for Best Actress - Drama for Bade Achhe Lagte Hain.^[37][38]