Gaurav Khanna

Gaurav Khanna is an Indian actor who has captivated audiences across various Hindi television shows, from intricate dramas to high-stakes reality competitions. His journey from a marketing professional to a household name is a testament to his versatility and enduring appeal. Join us as we explore the remarkable career of this beloved television personality. Gaurav Khanna transitioned from a career in IT marketing to become a successful television actor, showcasing his dedication to pursuing his passion. He achieved widespread recognition through iconic roles in popular shows like 'Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam', 'CID', and the highly acclaimed 'Anupamaa'. Khanna cemented his status as a national favorite by winning two major reality shows, 'Celebrity MasterChef India' and 'Bigg Boss 19', in 2025.

Source: Wikipedia

AI Summary

Gaurav Khanna is an Indian actor who has captivated audiences across various Hindi television shows, from intricate dramas to high-stakes reality competitions. His journey from a marketing professional to a household name is a testament to his versatility and enduring appeal. Join us as we explore the remarkable career of this beloved television personality.

From Boardroom to Big Screen

Before the dazzling lights of television, Gaurav Khanna walked a different path. He spent nearly a year as a marketing manager for an IT company, honing skills that would surprisingly serve him well in his future career. This initial professional foundation provided a unique perspective, quite different from the typical entry into acting.

The Leap into Acting

The allure of entertainment eventually proved too strong to resist. Khanna made a deliberate career switch, starting his journey in front of the camera with television commercials. These early ventures allowed him to gain experience and find his footing in the competitive world of acting.

Early Roles and Breakthroughs

His television debut came with 'Bhabhi', followed by an appearance in 'Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan'. However, it was his first lead role in 'Meri Doli Tere Angana' in 2007 that truly put him on the map. This marked the beginning of a consistent presence on Indian television.

Over the years, Khanna graced several popular shows, earning accolades for his diverse portrayals. He became known for memorable characters such as Neil Fernandez in 'Jeevan Saathi', Abeer Bajpayee in 'Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam', and the sharp Senior Inspector Kavin in 'CID'.

The 'Anupamaa' Phenomenon

A significant turning point in his career arrived with the show 'Anupamaa', where he played Anuj Kapadia from 2021 to 2024. His nuanced performance garnered widespread critical acclaim and immense popularity, solidifying his status as one of television's most beloved actors. His portrayal earned him the Indian Telly Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role.

Conquering Reality Television

In 2025, Gaurav Khanna ventured into the exciting world of reality television, surprising and delighting fans with his unexpected talents. His first foray was 'Celebrity MasterChef India', a culinary competition that tested his skills beyond acting.

Against all odds, and despite a unique personal detail we'll get to shortly, Khanna emerged victorious on 'Celebrity MasterChef India'. This win showcased another dimension of his personality— his determination and ability to excel even outside his comfort zone.

Building on this success, he then participated in 'Bigg Boss 19', a highly popular and intense reality show. Once again, his charm, strategy, and connection with the audience propelled him to the very top, culminating in another impressive victory.

Life Beyond the Camera

Away from the hustle and bustle of film sets, Gaurav Khanna enjoys a fulfilling personal life. He found his life partner in television actress Akanksha Chamola, and the couple tied the knot in his hometown of Kanpur on November 24, 2016. Their partnership is often seen as one of television's enduring love stories.

A Unique Perspective

During his appearance on 'Celebrity MasterChef India', Khanna openly shared a fascinating personal detail: he is color-blind. This revelation added another layer to his persona, demonstrating his ability to navigate the world, and even a cooking competition, with a different visual experience.

Adding to his distinctiveness, Khanna was also the only vegetarian contestant on 'Celebrity MasterChef India'. This commitment to his dietary choices, even in a competition focused on diverse cuisines, highlighted his strong personal principles.

A Legacy of Performance

Gaurav Khanna's extensive filmography spans nearly two decades, encompassing a wide array of roles that demonstrate his versatility. From dramatic leads to comedic turns and even hosting gigs, he has explored various facets of storytelling on Indian television.

Selected Notable Roles

Bhuvan Sareen in 'Bhabhi' (2006) Ruhaan Oberoi in 'Meri Doli Tere Angana' (2007-2008) Inspector Kavin in 'CID' (2014) Dr. Akshay Sinha in 'Tere Bin' (2016) Anuj Kapadia in 'Anupamaa' (2021-2024)

Awards and Recognition

Khanna's talent has not gone unnoticed by the industry. He has received numerous nominations and prestigious awards throughout his career, celebrating both his individual performances and his chemistry with co-stars.

Year	Award	Category	Result
2023	Indian Telly Awards	Best Onscreen Couple (with Rupali Ganguly)	Won
2023	Indian Telly Awards	Best Actor in a Lead Role (Jury)	Won
2024	Bollywood Hungama Style Icons	Most Stylish TV Actor of the Year - Male	Won
2025	Lions Gold Awards	Fan Favorite Actor of the year	Won

From his thoughtful beginnings in corporate life to his current reign as a reality TV champion and celebrated actor, Gaurav Khanna continues to inspire with his dedication and charismatic presence, leaving an indelible mark on Indian television.

Article

Gaurav Khanna

Gaurav Khanna (born 11 December 1981) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi television. He has appeared in several successful television shows, including CID, Anupamaa, which earned him the Indian Telly Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role, and the romantic drama Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam. In 2025, Khanna won Celebrity MasterChef India and Bigg Boss 19. In 2026, he participated in Khatron Ke Khiladi 15.

Early life

Gaurav Khanna

Khanna spent almost a year working as a marketing manager for an IT company before entering the entertainment sector. He had a solid professional foundation from his schooling and work experience, which he later applied to his acting career.

Career

Gaurav Khanna

He began his acting career by appearing in television commercials.

His first appearance on television was in Bhabhi. He next appeared in Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan. Khanna's first lead role was in Meri Doli Tere Angana in 2007. He rose to prominence with his roles as Neil Fernandez in Jeevan Saathi – Humsafar Zindagi Ke, Abeer Bajpayee in Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam, Inspector Kavin in CID, Dr. Akshay Sinha in Tere Bin and Prince Virendra Singh in Prem Ya Paheli – Chandrakanta. He gained widespread attention for portraying Anuj Kapadia in Anupamaa from 2021 to 2024.

Khanna's first reality show appearance was in Celebrity MasterChef India in 2025, which he won. He subsequently participated in Colors TV's reality show Bigg Boss 19 and emerged as the winner.

Personal life

Gaurav Khanna

In early 2016, Khanna was revealed to be dating television actress Akanksha Chamola. The couple married on 24 November 2016 in Khanna's hometown of Kanpur.

In 2025, he revealed on Celebrity MasterChef that he is colour-blind. He was also the only vegetarian contestant on the show.

In 2026, on the premiere of Netflix reality series, Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa, Chamola revealed that she and Khanna had been living separately for a year and would be getting a divorce.

Filmography

Television

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2005</td><td>Siddhanth</td><td>Tanmay Bakshi</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2006</td><td>Bhabhi</td><td>Bhuvan Sareen</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2006–2007</td><td>Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan</td><td>Sharman Wadhwa</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2007</td><td>Jamegi Jodi.com</td><td>Rahul</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2007–2008</td><td>Meri Doli Tere Angana</td><td>Ruhaan Oberoi</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ardhangini – Ek Khoobsurat Jeevan Saathi</td><td>Nivaan Banerjee</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2007–2009</td><td>Santaan</td><td>Shubh Dixit</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2008</td><td>Jalwa Four 2 Ka 1</td><td>Contestant</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2008–2009</td><td>Jeevan Saathi – Humsafar Zindagi Ke</td><td>Neil Fernandez</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2009</td><td>Dancing Queen</td><td>Himself</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2009–2010</td><td>Love Ne Mila Di Jodi</td><td>Prithvi Saxena</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Yeh Pyar Na Hoga Kam</td><td>Abeer Bajpayee</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2010–2011</td><td>Dil Se Diya Vachan</td><td>Prem Rajadhyaksha</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>Nachle Ve with Saroj Khan</td><td>Host</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>Byaah Hamari Bahoo Ka</td><td>Gopikishan "Krish" Vaishnav / Satya</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>CID</td><td>Senior Inspector Kavin</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2014–2015</td><td>Box Cricket League 1</td><td>Participant</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>Hazir Jawab Birbal</td><td>Birbal</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">2016</td><td>Box Cricket League 2</td><td>Participant</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Comedy Classes</td><td>Various characters</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tere Bin</td><td>Dr. Akshay Sinha</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Prem Ya Paheli – Chandrakanta</td><td>Rajkumar Virendra Singh / Maharaj Harshvardhan</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2019–2020</td><td>Apna News Aayega</td><td>Various characters</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021–2024</td><td>Anupamaa</td><td rowspan="2">Anuj "AK" Kapadia</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Ravivaar With Star Parivaar</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>The Socho Project</td><td>Rahul Kishore</td><td>Unreleased</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Anupama: Namaste America</td><td>Anuj "AK" Kapadia</td><td>Cameo; Episode 11</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2025</td><td>Celebrity MasterChef India</td><td rowspan="3">Contestant</td><td rowspan="2">Winner</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bigg Boss 19</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Khatron Ke Khiladi 15</td><td>12th place</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Special appearances

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2004</td><td>Studio One</td><td>Sunny</td><td>Episode 1</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2007</td><td>Mano Ya Na Mano</td><td>Aditya</td><td>Episode 57</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">Ssshhhh...Phir Koi Hai</td><td>Ritesh</td><td>Episode 55</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2008</td><td>Rajkumar</td><td>Episodes 96-97</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unknown</td><td>Episodes 112-113</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>Sasural Simar Ka</td><td>Host Of Dancing Competition</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah</td><td>Senior Inspector Kavin</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2016</td><td>Gangaa</td><td>Dr. Sameer Mirza</td><td>Photograph only</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Darr Sabko Lagta Hai</td><td>Saket / Sarthak</td><td>Double role, Episode 30</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">2018–2020</td><td rowspan="4">Laal Ishq</td><td>Dr. Avinash</td><td>Episode 4</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sunil</td><td>Episode 70</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Raghav</td><td>Episode 167</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Jaggu</td><td>Episode 201</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Savdhaan India</td><td>ATS Officer Devdutt</td><td>Episodes 30-31</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Mauka-E-Vardaat</td><td>Senior Inspector Gaurav Rajput</td><td>Episodes 53/55/57</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td rowspan="2">Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai</td><td rowspan="2">Anuj "AK" Kapadia</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">2025</td><td>Iss Ishq Ka Rabb Rakha</td><td rowspan="2">Host of the Holi event</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment season 3</td><td>Himself</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Awards and nominations

Gaurav Khanna

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Award</th><th>Category</th><th>Work</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan="3">2022</td><td>21st Indian Television Academy Awards</td><td>Best Actor Popular</td><td rowspan="3">Anupamaa</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">Gold Awards</td><td>Best Actor in a Leading Role</td><td>Nominated</td><td rowspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td>Best Popular Actor</td><td>Nominated</td></tr></tbody></table>