Akashdeep Saigal
FinalistAkashdeep Saigal
Bio
Akashdeep Saigal (popularly known as Sky) is an Indian actor and model born on 29 October 1974 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, into a professional family; his father and elder brother Kamal Saigal are lawyers, and he has a sister, Madhu Bhatia, who lives in Dubai. He completed his schooling at S.S. Sahni High School in Mumbai and graduated in Commerce from MMK College, Mumbai. He is an ancestrally rooted in Sehgal village, Surat, Gujarat, though he was born and raised in Bandra, Mumbai. He made his mark first as a model, winning the Gladrags Manhunt Contest and Supermodel of the Year in 1998. He appeared in the 1998 music video for Shweta Shetty's Deewane to Deewane Hain that year. He made his acting debut in the film Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi (1999) and rapidly established himself as one of Indian television's most commanding villains through his portrayal of Ansh Gujral — and later Ekalavya Gujral — in Ekta Kapoor's landmark Star Plus daily drama Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2000–2008), which turned him into a household name. He participated in numerous reality programmes: Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Fear Factor India, Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao, and Zor Ka Jhatka: Total Wipeout. His film credits include roles in Tamil (Kavan, 2017) and Pakistani (Sultanat, 2014) productions. In October 2011, he entered Bigg Boss 5 on Colors TV as a wildcard contestant in Week 4. His time in the house was marked by his volatile, confrontational personality and a developing romance with co-contestant Pooja Bedi, with whom he dated for several years post-show. He reached the grand finale and finished fourth on 7 January 2012. He returned to the public eye in 2026 when he was cast in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, reprising his iconic role as Reyansh Gujral.
Winning the Gladrags Manhunt and Supermodel of the Year titles in 1998; his iconic portrayals of the antagonist Ansh Gujral and Ekalavya Gujral in Ekta Kapoor's legendary Star Plus daily drama Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2000–2008); participating in multiple reality shows including Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao, Fear Factor India, and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa; finishing as third runner-up (fourth place) of Bigg Boss 5 (Colors TV, 2011–12); his real-life relationship with co-contestant Pooja Bedi that began inside the Bigg Boss house.