Himani Shivpuri

Indian actress

Himani Bhatt Shivpuri is an Indian actress who is known for her character roles in Hindi films and Hindi soap operas. She is best known for her role in the films including Hum Aapke Hain Koun ! (1994), Raja (1995), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Khamoshi (1996), Hero No. 1 (1997), Deewana Mastana (1997), Bandhan (1998), and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). She has also starred in several other films including Biwi No.1 (1999), Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) and Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003). She is currently working as Katori "Katto" Amma in &Tv's show Happu Ki Ultan Paltan.

Shivpuri was born in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, to a Garhwali Brahmin family. Her father, Haridutt Bhatt Shailesh, was a Hindi teacher and mother Shail Bhatt, is a homemaker. Himani has a brother, Himanshu Bhatt. She was educated at the all boys boarding school, The Doon School, where her father, was a Hindi poet & as well as a teacher with pen name “Shailesh”. At Doon, she was actively involved in dramatics. She began a parallel career in theatre while studying for a postgraduate degree in Organic Chemistry from DAV Collage Dehradun, India. Later on she took admission in National School Of Drama for pursuing her acting career in 1982S. he worked in Phir Wahi Talash as a supporting actress. She has a son, Katyayan.

After graduating from the National School of Drama in 1982, Shivpuri worked briefly with the NSD Repertory Company and then moved 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 Hamari 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), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001). 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 played Kul in Zee's Hamari Betiyoon Ka Vivaah until 2009. 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 the Reel to Real film making competition at Harmony 2012 organised by The Global Education and Leadership Foundation and was among the top 10 finalists.