Nikki Tamboli, born Nikita Tamboli on 21 August 1996, is an Indian actress and model who has worked in Telugu and Tamil films, Hindi television, music videos and reality television. She gained widespread recognition after participating in the fourteenth season of the Indian reality television show Bigg Boss in 2020, where she finished as the second runner-up.

Tamboli made her acting debut with the Telugu horror comedy film Chikati Gadilo Chithakotudu (2019) and subsequently appeared in the Tamil film Kanchana 3 (2019) and the Telugu film Thipparaa Meesam (2019). She later participated in reality programmes such as Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 11, Bigg Boss Marathi 5 and Celebrity MasterChef India. In 2026, she appeared in The 50, became a mentor on Battleground Season 2 and took on a dual role in the vertical series Ex vs Wife.

Early Life and Education

Nikki Tamboli was born on 21 August 1996 in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. Her birth name is Nikita Tamboli. She grew up in Maharashtra and later moved to Mumbai to pursue opportunities in modelling and the entertainment industry.

According to published biographical profiles, Tamboli attended PODAR International School in Aurangabad and later studied at Kishinchand Chellaram College in Mumbai. She also reportedly undertook acting training in Mumbai before entering the film industry.

Before making her acting debut, Tamboli worked as a model and appeared in commercial advertisements. Her modelling assignments helped her gain experience in front of the camera and develop an interest in screen performance.

Unlike actors who enter the entertainment industry through established film families, Tamboli has described herself as coming from a non-filmy background. In a January 2026 interview with India Today, she credited her audience and supporters for helping her build a career in the industry.

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Nikki Tamboli Biography Height Weight Age Boyfriend & More

Bio/Wiki
Profession(s)	Model, Actor
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)	5′ 5″ (165 cm)
Weight (approx.)	55 Kg (121 lbs)
Figure Measurements (approx.)	32-28-32
Eye Colour	Black
Hair Colour	Medium Brown
Career
Debut	Telugu Film: Chikati Gadilo Chithakotudu (2019) Tamil Film: Kanchana 3 (2019 as Divya, Raghava’s cousin) Bollywood: India Fashion Factory (2020) Reality Show: • Hindi: Bigg Boss 14 • Marathi: Bigg Boss Season 5
Personal Life
Date of Birth	21 August 1996 (Wednesday)
Age (as of 2026)	30 Years
Birthplace	Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Zodiac sign	Leo
Nationality	Indian
Hometown	Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Educational Qualification	An acting course in Mumbai Deccan Chronicle
Controversy	In September 2022, Nikki Tamboli’s name appeared in the Rs 200 crore extortion case involving conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. Reportedly, she was paid Rs. 1.5 lakh by Chandrashekhar’s aide Pinky Irani to meet him who later gave her a Gucci bag and Rs 2 lakh on their first meet. Bade Achche Lagte Hai fame Chahatt Khanna, Sophia Singh, and Arusha Patil were also named in the case. According to investigation agencies, all four actresses met Chandrashekhar in the jail premises and he introduced himself as a producer of the southern film industry.
Relationships & More
Marital Status	Unmarried
Affairs/Boyfriends	• DJ Rohit Gida (Rumoured) PINKVILLA • Manan Shah (rumoured)
Family
Parents	Father– Digambar Tamboli (Worked at Exide Industries) Mother– Pramila Bodkhe Tamboli (Homemaker)
Favourites
Perfume Brand	Cartier
Drink	Coffee
Lipstick Brand	Mac
Fruit	Orange
Food	Pongal, Dosa
Dessert	Laddu
Actress	Nayanthara
Style Quotient
Car Collection	Audi Q5

Career

Film Debut: Chikati Gadilo Chithakotudu (2019)

Nikki Tamboli made her acting debut with the Telugu horror comedy film Chikati Gadilo Chithakotudu, released in 2019. She played Pooja in the film, which combined horror and comedy elements.

The project introduced Tamboli to Telugu cinema and marked the beginning of her professional acting career. Her debut also provided an opportunity to work in a regional film industry before she became widely recognised through Hindi reality television.

Kanchana 3 (2019)

In 2019, Tamboli appeared in Kanchana 3, a Tamil-language horror comedy directed by Raghava Lawrence. The film was part of the commercially successful Muni franchise.

She played Divya, one of the characters in the film. The cast included Raghava Lawrence and several other performers, and the film combined supernatural horror, comedy and action.

Kanchana 3 reached a broad audience and became one of Tamboli’s best-known early film appearances. Her work in the film helped establish her presence in South Indian cinema.

Thipparaa Meesam (2019)

Tamboli also appeared in the Telugu action drama Thipparaa Meesam in 2019, in which she played Mounika.

The film featured Sree Vishnu in the lead role and explored the life of a troubled young man and his relationships. Tamboli’s appearance added another Telugu-language project to her early filmography.

Although she continued to explore film opportunities, her subsequent participation in reality television became a major turning point in her career.

Bigg Boss 14

Nikki Tamboli participated in the fourteenth season of Bigg Boss, which premiered on Colors TV in October 2020 and was hosted by Salman Khan.

The programme places contestants in a shared house under continuous camera surveillance, where they compete in tasks, form alliances and face weekly elimination rounds.

Tamboli quickly became one of the season’s prominent contestants. Her outspoken personality, competitive approach and interactions with other housemates attracted considerable attention from viewers and entertainment publications.

She remained in the competition until the finale and finished as the second runner-up. The season significantly increased her public visibility and introduced her to a much wider Hindi television audience.

In a November 2025 interview with Hindustan Times, Tamboli described entering the Bigg Boss 14 house as a defining experience that changed her career and helped her become more confident.

Her participation subsequently opened up opportunities in other reality programmes, music videos, television appearances and brand collaborations.

Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 11

In 2021, Tamboli participated in the eleventh season of Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi, a stunt-based reality television programme hosted by Rohit Shetty.

The season was filmed in Cape Town, South Africa, and featured contestants performing physically demanding and fear-based challenges.

Unlike Bigg Boss, which focuses on social dynamics and interpersonal competition, Khatron Ke Khiladi tests contestants through stunts involving heights, water, animals and other challenging situations.

Tamboli’s participation allowed her to explore a different reality television format. She was eliminated early in the competition, finishing in tenth place according to published programme records.

In later interviews, she reflected on the difficulties of performing stunts while dealing with fear and pressure.

Other Television Appearances

Following Bigg Boss 14, Tamboli appeared in several television programmes and entertainment specials.

Her television appearances included The Khatra Khatra Show, Bigg Boss OTT, Bigg Boss 15 and other entertainment programmes. She also made guest appearances on music and dance-related television shows.

These appearances helped her maintain a public profile after her original reality television season and provided opportunities to interact with different audiences.

Bigg Boss Marathi 5

In 2024, Tamboli participated in the fifth season of Bigg Boss Marathi, hosted by Riteish Deshmukh.

The Marathi-language version of Bigg Boss follows a similar format to its Hindi counterpart, with contestants living together in a monitored house and competing in weekly tasks and eliminations.

Tamboli’s participation attracted attention because she had already gained experience through Bigg Boss 14. Her familiarity with reality television made her one of the season’s notable contestants.

She reached the finale and finished as the second runner-up. Media reports also described her as one of the season’s highest-paid contestants, although specific fee figures should not be treated as verified without a reliable source.

Her appearance demonstrated her ability to participate in reality television across different Indian languages and audiences.

Celebrity MasterChef India (2025)

Tamboli participated in Celebrity MasterChef India, the celebrity cooking competition broadcast on Sony Entertainment Television in 2025.

The programme featured celebrities competing in cooking challenges designed to test their creativity, technical skills and ability to work under time constraints.

Tamboli advanced to the finale and finished as the first runner-up.

Her participation introduced her to an audience interested in food and lifestyle programming. It also expanded her reality television portfolio beyond social competition, stunts and house-based formats.

Film Career and Music Videos

In addition to television, Tamboli has appeared in music videos and selected film projects.

Her music-video appearances include:

• Birthday Pawri (2021)
• Kalla Reh Jayenga (2021)
• Number Likh (2021)
• Shanti (2021)
• Roko Roko (2021)
• Dil Kisi Se (2021)
• Behri Duniya (2022)
• Ek Haseena Ne (2022)
• Chhori (2022)
• Bheegne De (2025)

These releases have allowed her to work with singers and music producers across Hindi and Punjabi popular music.

In 2023, she made a special appearance in the song Cocktail in the Hindi film Jogira Sara Ra Ra, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Neha Sharma.

Tamboli has also been associated with the Punjabi film Badnaam (2025), which added another regional entertainment project to her professional credits.

The 50 (2026)

In 2026, Tamboli participated in The 50, a reality competition featuring numerous celebrity contestants and a format centred on challenges, strategy and group dynamics.

She entered the programme alongside her partner, actor and reality television personality Arbaz Patel.

In a January 2026 interview with India Today, Tamboli explained why she had initially declined the opportunity before deciding to participate. She said that the show’s concept, particularly its connection between contestants and their fans, influenced her decision.

She also discussed how her approach to reality television differed from Patel’s. Tamboli described herself as someone who preferred being authentic rather than forming alliances solely for strategic advantage.

The programme marked another chapter in her continued participation in high-profile reality television.

Battleground Season 2 (2026)

In April 2026, Tamboli took on a new role as a mentor in Battleground Season 2.

The competitive reality programme focuses on physical challenges and team-based competition. Her role differed from her earlier appearances as a contestant because she was responsible for guiding and supporting members of her team.

According to an interview published by Mid-day on 29 April 2026, Tamboli discussed the change in perspective that came with moving from competing for herself to helping other participants perform.

She explained that her experience in reality television helped her understand the emotional pressure contestants face and allowed her to approach mentoring from both strategic and personal perspectives.

The role represented a shift in her television career, giving her an opportunity to participate in a competition from the mentoring side rather than as an individual contestant.

Ex vs Wife (2026)

In September 2026, The Times of India reported that Tamboli was making her debut in the vertical-series format with Ex vs Wife, alongside Vishal Aditya Singh.

The series features Tamboli in a dual role, portraying two characters with contrasting personalities. One character is presented positively, while the other has a more negative and unpredictable side.

In the interview, she explained that the opportunity appealed to her because it challenged her to move beyond familiar roles. She also discussed the creative demands of portraying two distinct characters within the same story.

The project marks a new direction in her screen career, as vertical series are designed for mobile-first viewing and typically use shorter episodes and a faster narrative pace.

Personal Life

Family

Tamboli has spoken publicly about the importance of her family in her life and career. She has also discussed the emotional impact of losing her brother, Jatin Tamboli, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

In her November 2025 interview with Hindustan Times, she identified her brother’s death as one of the most difficult experiences of her life.

She has continued working in the entertainment industry while occasionally speaking about grief, family support and personal resilience in interviews.

Relationship with Arbaz Patel

Tamboli has been publicly associated with Arbaz Patel, an actor and reality television personality. The two became widely known as a couple following their participation in Bigg Boss Marathi 5 in 2024.

Their relationship has subsequently received attention in entertainment reporting and on social media. In January 2026, India Today reported that they were preparing to appear together in The 50.

The pair have discussed their contrasting personalities and approaches to competition in interviews. Their public appearances together have continued to attract interest from fans of reality television.

Personal relationship details should be updated using recent statements from the individuals concerned rather than relying on speculation.

Public Image and Social Media

Tamboli is known for her outspoken screen presence and competitive approach to reality television. Her participation in Bigg Boss 14 was a major factor in her rise to national recognition.

She has since expanded her work into regional cinema, music videos, cooking competitions, stunt-based reality shows and mentoring.

Her social media platforms provide updates about her professional projects, fashion, public appearances and personal interests. She also uses these platforms to communicate with fans and promote her work.

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikki_tamboli/

Account names and links can change, so readers should verify the authenticity of the profile before following it.

Filmography

The following table lists selected films and screen projects associated with Nikki Tamboli. It is not an exhaustive list of every appearance.

Year	Title	Language / Format	Role or Notes
2019	Chikati Gadilo Chithakotudu	Telugu film	Pooja
2019	Kanchana 3	Tamil film	Divya
2019	Thipparaa Meesam	Telugu film	Mounika
2023	Jogira Sara Ra Ra	Hindi film	Special song appearance
2025	Badnaam	Punjabi film	Film appearance
2026	Ex vs Wife	Vertical series	Dual role

Verify individual character names and release credits against official production records before publication.

Television and Reality Shows

Year	Programme	Role / Result
2020–2021	Bigg Boss 14	Second runner-up
2021	Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 11	Contestant; tenth place
2022	The Khatra Khatra Show	Appearance
2024	Bigg Boss Marathi 5	Second runner-up
2025	Celebrity MasterChef India	First runner-up
2026	The 50	Contestant
2026	Battleground Season 2	Mentor

This is a selected list of major programmes and does not include every guest appearance.

Awards and Recognition

Tamboli’s most prominent television achievements include reaching the final stages of Bigg Boss 14, Bigg Boss Marathi 5 and Celebrity MasterChef India.

Her second-runner-up finishes in the two Bigg Boss seasons and her first-runner-up position in Celebrity MasterChef India are among the most notable milestones of her reality television career.

She has also appeared in entertainment publications’ celebrity profiles and desirable-personality lists. A comprehensive list of formally verified individual awards was not established from the sources cited in this biography, so unverified award wins should not be added.