Jiya Shankar is an Indian actress and model known for Hindi television, regional films, web shows, reality TV, and digital entertainment. She gained strong recognition as Dr. Ira Pandey in Meri Hanikarak Biwi and Susheela Ruhail Solanki in Kaatelal & Sons. Her career later reached a wider audience through Pishachini, Ved, Bigg Boss OTT 2, and the 2026 Tamil film Kadhal Reset Repeat. The actress built her public image through steady work, emotional honesty, and a confident screen presence. Her journey includes early film roles, a difficult family phase, television success, reality-show visibility, and a growing film career outside Hindi TV.
Jiya Shankar Wiki Profile
- Family Given (Birth Name): Jiya Shankar Gavli
- Nickname: Jiya
- Famous Name: Jiya Shankar
- Date of Birth: April 17, 1995
- Age (As of 2026): 31 years old
- Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Zodiac sign: Capricorn ♑
- Race/Ethnicity: Indian, Hindu
- Occupation/Profession: Actress, Model, Dancer
- Nationality: Indian
- Education: Degree in Arts from a prestigious college in Mumbai
- Home Town: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Who is Jiya Shankar?
Jiya Shankar is a Mumbai-born Indian actress who works across Hindi television, films, web shows, and regional cinema. She started her screen career in 2013 with the Telugu film Entha Andanga Unnave. She later worked in Tamil and Marathi films and became a familiar face on Indian television.
Her big television recognition came through Meri Hanikarak Biwi, where she played Dr Iravati Ira Desai Pandey. The role gave her strong visibility among Hindi TV viewers. She later played Susheela in Kaatelal & Sons and won praise for her bold and lively performance. Jiya also appeared in Bigg Boss OTT 2 in 2023. The show gave her more public attention and introduced her personality to a wider audience beyond scripted TV.
Early Life
The actress was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Her childhood had a difficult emotional phase after her parents separated when she was 13. She has spoken about that period on national television and shared how deeply it affected her personal life. Her mother, Surekha Gavli, remained a strong support system. The bond between mother and daughter became more visible after Bigg Boss OTT 2, especially when family memories became part of her public story.
She also spoke about her surname during Bigg Boss OTT 2. She said that “Shankar” is not her father’s surname and that she does not use her father’s last name. That detail makes unverified birth-name claims unsafe for a biography. The safest wording is that she is professionally known as Jiya Shankar.
Education and Acting Training
She studied in Mumbai and later focused on acting. Public profiles connect her early career preparation with formal acting training in Mumbai. That training helped her gain confidence in performance, dialogue delivery, and camera work. Before acting became her full career, she considered a different professional path. Her interest in performance later became stronger than a regular office career. This choice led her toward auditions, films, and television roles.
Physical Stats and More
Her height is listed between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 5 inches across public profiles. A balanced height estimate is around 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 5 inches.
- Height (approx.): 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm)
- Weight (approx.): 52–55 kg (115–121 lbs)
- Eye Colour: Dark Brown
- Hair colour: Brown
- Figure Measurements: 33-26-34 inches
- Body Type: Slim and proportionate
- Any Tattoos: Yes
- Shoe Size: 9
Family and Relationships Status
Her mother’s name is Surekha Gavli. Public reports do not confirm her father’s full name in a reliable way, so it is better to avoid adding her father’s exact name. She has kept her family life private. Her public statements show that her mother played a major role in her personal strength and career stability. She is unmarried. Engagement and dating claims around her have often appeared online, but confirmed marriage news has not been announced.
- Parents: Surekha Gavli, Shispal Rana.
- Sibling: N/A
- Marital Status: Unmarried
- Spouse: N/A
- Children: N/A
Relationship Status
Her relationship status has drawn attention due to Bigg Boss OTT 2 and later social media posts. Names linked with her have included co-stars and reality-show personalities, but a biography should avoid calling any person her confirmed partner without a direct public confirmation.
Paras Arora worked with her in Kaatelal & Sons. Their on-screen bond led to fan interest, but calling him her boyfriend as fact would not be accurate. In early 2026, engagement rumours linked her with Abhishek Malhan. Those claims were denied. She later posted content with a mystery man, but the partner’s identity and relationship details remained limited in public statements. The safest profile line is that she is unmarried.
Career Start
Her acting career began with the Telugu film Entha Andanga Unnave in 2013. This gave her early screen experience before her television breakthrough. She later appeared in the Tamil film Kanavu Variyam and the Telugu film Hyderabad Love Story. Her first television phase included Love by Chance and Queens Hain Hum.
These projects helped her build confidence and visibility before bigger daily-show roles. The major turning point came with Meri Hanikarak Biwi. She played Dr. Iravati “Ira” Desai Pandey. The role gave her a strong place in Hindi television and made her familiar to family audiences. Kaatelal & Sons added another important role to her career.
She played Susheela Ruhail Solanki, a bold young woman who challenges old social rules. The role allowed her to show humor, strength, emotion, and confidence. She later played Pavithra in Pishachini. The supernatural drama helped her reach another TV audience and showed her in a different screen space.
Web Shows and Hosting Work
She also worked in the web series Virgin Bhasskar 2. The digital project helped her reach viewers beyond regular television. Her hosting work on Good Night India gave her a lighter and more spontaneous platform. It showed her comfort with comedy, live-style reactions, and unscripted moments.
Bigg Boss OTT 2
Bigg Boss OTT 2 became a major public moment in 2023. The show gave viewers a closer view of her personality, emotions, friendships, conflicts, and private memories. Her time in the house kept her in regular online discussion. She spoke about her family history, her surname, and personal pain. These moments gave her a more human public image beyond scripted characters. She was evicted before the finale, but the show increased her digital reach and fan base.
Film Career
Her film work includes regional projects in Telugu, Tamil, and Marathi cinema. Ved became one of her most visible film roles. The Marathi film starred Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza and brought her attention beyond Hindi TV. In 2026, she appeared as Aditi in Kadhal Reset Repeat. The Tamil film placed her in a romantic psychological story with memory loss as a key plot point. It gave her a fresh regional-cinema update and extended her film profile.
Financial Information and Net Worth
Exact financial records are not public. Entertainment estimates place her net worth in the crore range. A careful estimate is around ₹4 crore to ₹8 crore. Her income comes from acting projects, films, television shows, web shows, brand work, social media collaborations, public appearances, and events. Her earnings can change from year to year due to project volume and endorsement deals. Salary claims, such as exact monthly income, should be treated as estimates unless confirmed through a direct financial record.
- Debut: Film: Telugu film Entha Andanga Unnave (2013)
TV: Queens Hain Hum - Income Sources: Acting in TV, Films, Web Series, Modeling, Endorsements
- Salary: ₹10–30 lakhs per month
- Net Worth (approx.): $490K
- In INR Net Worth: ₹4 to 8 Crore
Her income has steadily increased with her rising popularity. Her net worth is $490k. She earns between INR 10 to 30 lakhs per month from her acting project endorsement and brand collaboration. Despite her success she remain grounded and focused on her career.
Filmography and TV Shows
- Ved (2022, Marathi film)
- Meri Hanikarak Biwi (TV)
- Kaatelal & Sons (TV)
- Pishachini (TV)
- Queens Hain Hum (TV)
- Virgin Bhasskar 2 (Web series)
- Bigg Boss OTT 2 (Reality show)
Known Facts About Jiya Shankar
- She started her acting career in regional cinema.
- Her first screen project came in 2013.
- She became widely known through Meri Hanikarak Biwi.
- She played Susheela in Kaatelal & Sons.
- She appeared in the Marathi film Ved.
- She joined Bigg Boss OTT 2 in 2023.
- She spoke openly about her parents’ separation.
- Her mother, Surekha Gavli, is an important part of her life.
- Her height is best written as around 5′4″–5′5″.
- She appeared in the 2026 Tamil film Kadhal Reset Repeat.
Social Networking
She has a strong digital presence and a multi-million Instagram audience. Her posts often include fashion shoots, travel photos, professional updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and personal glimpses. Her fan base grew after Bigg Boss OTT 2. The show helped her reach viewers who follow reality TV, social media trends, and celebrity news.
People Also Asked About Jiya
What made Jiya Shankar popular?
Her TV roles made her a familiar face, and Bigg Boss OTT 2 gave her wider public attention.
What is Jiya Shankar’s real age?
Her date of birth is 17 April 1995, which makes her 31 years old in 2026.
Are Jiya Shankar and Paras Arora in a relationship?
Paras Arora worked with her in Kaatelal & Sons. A confirmed relationship between them has not been publicly announced.
What is Jiya Shankar’s estimated net worth?
Her net worth is usually estimated in the ₹4 crore to ₹8 crore range, but exact financial records are not public.
What is Jiya Shankar’s marital status?
She is unmarried and has not announced any marriage publicly.
Which role gave Jiya Shankar strong TV recognition?
Dr. Ira Pandey in Meri Hanikarak Biwi became one of her most recognized television roles.
What is Jiya Shankar’s latest career update?
Her 2026 Tamil film Kadhal Reset Repeat added a fresh regional cinema project to her career.
