Meet Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘wife’, who became star overnight, fell in love with UN official, married her and then…, her name is…

In 2001, Rishita Bhat made her Bollywood debut in Ashoka, playing Devi, the wife of Emperor Ashoka, opposite Shah Rukh Khan. While the film underperformed at the box office, its grand visuals and her poised performance earned her the Zee Cine Best Debut Award. But her first brush with fame came even earlier, in 1999, when she appeared in the iconic music video Aankhon Mein Tera Hi Chehra with a young Shahid Kapoor. The duo’s innocent chemistry made the song a youth favourite and is still remembered fondly today. She also became the “Liril girl” in a popular soap advertisement.

A promising start, but an unfinished journey

Following Ashoka, Rishita worked in films like Dil Vil Pyar Vyar, Shararat, Haasil, and Ab Tak Chhappan. She shared screen space with industry veterans like Amitabh Bachchan, Irrfan Khan, Nana Patekar, Hrithik Roshan, and Jimmy Sheirgill. Despite her talent, big production houses rarely gave her substantial roles. Critics were divided — some felt she was too understated for commercial cinema, while others believed she was better suited for art films. Gradually, she moved away from mainstream Bollywood and gravitated toward regional and independent cinema.

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Choosing life beyond the limelight

By the late 2000s, Rishita had almost disappeared from the film scene. In 2017, she surprised fans by marrying United Nations official Anant Tiwari in a private, low-key ceremony. Far from the glamour of the film industry, she chose a quieter, more balanced life. Her last appearance was in a brief role in Akshay Kumar’s Cuttputlli.

Though she has stepped away from acting, Rishita remains active on Instagram, sharing glimpses of her travel, personal reflections, and cherished memories from her film days with thousands of followers who still remember her charm.