Rashami Desai (born Shivani Desai on 13 February 1986) is an Indian television actress, model, and classical dancer. She was born in Nagaon, Assam, to a Gujarati family; her mother was a school teacher who raised both children after her father's early death. A trained Kathak and Bharatanatyam dancer, she attended Ulubari High School in Assam before moving to Mumbai for her career. She made her acting debut in the Assamese film Kanyadaan (2002) at the age of 16, and subsequently worked in Bhojpuri, Bengali, and Hindi films including Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke (2004) and a cameo in Dabangg 2 (2012). Her Bhojpuri film Kab Hoi Gauna Hamar won a National Award. Her breakthrough on television came with the serial Uttaran on Colors TV (2008–2015), where her portrayal of the scheming Tapasya earned her widespread recognition and two ITA Awards. She was married to co-star Nandish Sandhu from 2012 to 2016. She appeared in Bigg Boss 13 (2019–20, finalist), Bigg Boss 14 (as a guest), and entered Bigg Boss 15 as a wildcard in week 8, finishing sixth overall.

Her long-running portrayal of Tapasya Thakur in the Colors TV serial Uttaran (2008–2015), for which she won two Indian Television Academy Awards.

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