Rising Star

From the small screen to Bollywood, this beautiful, ambitious girl from Indore has been turning heads ever since she stepped in the limelight.

By Tashika Tyagi · Jan 2020 · 6 min read

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A small-town girl with huge ambitions making it big in the city of dreams — this is probably the most cliched Bollywood movie plot ever but for a Bollywood buff like Ankita Lokhande, it was simply what she always wanted to do. From being one of the most popular faces in Indian television history to making her mark in Bollywood by starring alongside Kangana Ranaut in Manikarnika, Ankita is bringing her childhood dream to life with each step she takes. As our FHM Girlfriend of the month, she talks about her growth as an actor and what drives her to be better with each project she takes. Edited excerpts.

You were born in a Maharashtrian family in Indore with no background in the entertainment industry. How did you decide to enter this stream of work? Did your family have any inhibitions about you working in this industry?

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Yes, I was born in Indore in a Maharashtrian family but I was always so passionate about acting and dancing that I always, always wanted to get into the entertainment industry. I never really planned anything but I feel I was destined to get into this industry. When I decided to come from Indore to Mumbai, my family supported me throughout as this was something I always wanted to do. I wanted to come to Mumbai after my 12th grade but there was no opportunity then.

Then Zee India’s Best Cinestars Ki Khoj happened and my family pushed me to pursue it and take that chance, no matter what the result. My family really motivated me to get into this industry and my passion was so big that everything eventually fell in place. I am proud of my journey and really thankful to my family for supporting me throughout.

From staring as Archana in Pavitra Rishta to Jhalkaribai in your debut Bollywood film, Manikarnika, we have seen you grow as an actress who has aced every role. How has the journey been for you, personally and professionally?

As an actress, my journey has been really very interesting. I started my career with Pavitra Rishta and that show has taught me so much, professionally and personally. I worked in that show for six years and there were many ups and downs but that helped me grow as an actor and as a person. After that, Jhalkaribai and Bollywood came my way. I always wanted to do Bollywood, that has been a childhood dream. So, when I got this opportunity, I couldn’t let it slip away.

The film was important for my personal growth too. As an actor, you want to grow, you want to see where you stand and you want to see your skill set improving each day. I have grown as a person and started understanding myself better after doing a Bollywood film. I have learnt many things, I have met many people, I have lost many people- that is the beauty of life and that has been the beauty of my journey. So, for me Pavitra Rishta and Manikarna, both have been the turning point of my career.

Do you think moving to Bollywood is the next logical step after an actor has established themselves on the small screen? Do you ever plan to do a soap opera again?

I won’t say that Bollywood is the only next step but yes, as an actor when you are done with one thing, you need to step up and you need to grow and learn many more things. It is not just for actors, even while you are working in any other field you need to grow and see yourself moving ahead. That’s exactly what I am doing and Bollywood is something I wanted to do since I was a child and I am very happy I am working in films now. For an actor and all individuals, it’s important to grow when you do something. I mean I worked for Pavitra Rishta for six years and I thought it was time for me to take one step ahead and that for me was Bollywood. Daily soaps made me what I am today and if I see no problem in doing it again but whatever project I take up, it has to be progressive and I should see myself growing as an actor too.

Being a public figure, trolls on social media is nothing new to you. How adept are you at handling negative comments?

When I started working on Pavitra Rishta, there was no social media craze then, but there were articles being published and I used to get affected but after some time I became immune about everything. Now, if there is an article about me, I just look at the photos and see how I am looking in them and move on. There are people out there who love me and they want to see me and my social media posts are for them and most importantly, it is for me. Whatever I do is my choice, after all, it is my life, my Facebook, my Twitter, my Instagram and whatever I do it is for myself.

What is Ankita like when she isn’t shooting? How do you let your hair down?

When I am not shooting, I just like to be at home and not go out much. I love to play badminton in my free time, not many people know this but I have played badminton at the state level while I was in Indore. Other than that I meet up with my friends, go out to party and dance. I just love dancing.

If there was a ‘build-your-own-man’ store in the world, what all qualities and attributes will you add to your ‘ideal man’?

If I could do that then I would want my man to be very confident. He should be charming that he could impress anyone easily and he should just love me. People should be able to see that he is ‘my man’! Most importantly, he should be a family man and I think I can only get impressed by someone who loves their family like I love mine. I think that the first thing a girl looks for in a man is how he treats his mother and sister and that is also the most important thing for me.

What is that one thing that you never regret splurging on?

One thing that I can never regret buying are diamonds. I just love diamonds and wish I could buy the whole store because after all, diamonds are girl’s best friend!

If you could eat anything you want and never put on weight, what all would you eat?

Call me lucky but I don’t really put on weight easily. I eat everything I feel like without that constant fear of gaining weight. I think I am blessed like that.

After dazzling your fans on TV and silver screen, do you plan to venture out in a web series any time soon?

Definitely. I would love to do a web series if a good opportunity comes my way. I just want to do a good job and if some interesting web series come my way then I’d definitely do it.

What does 2020 has in store for you? Anything exciting and fun that you are looking forward to?

2020 would be very, very interesting and I am really looking forward to it. I am not sure what is coming my way but I am super excited to know what’s in store for me. I’m sure something very exciting is going to happen in my life this year, both professionally and personally, and I can’t wait to share it all with my fans and loved ones.

How was your experience working with FHM India?

Awesome, I loved each and every part of it. I was kind of nervous in the beginning but I am happy I did this.