Sidharth Shukla (12 December 1980 – 2 September 2021) was an Indian actor, model, and television host born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, into a Hindu Brahmin family. His father, Ashok Shukla, was a civil servant and his mother Rita Shukla a homemaker. He has two elder sisters, Prerna and Rima. He attended St. Xavier's High School, Fort, Mumbai, and graduated in Interior Design from Rachana Sansad School of Interior Design, Mumbai — though he ultimately chose modelling over interior design. He was discovered at the Gladrags Manhunt in 2004 and made his entertainment debut in Ila Arun's music video 'Resham Ka Rumal' (2004). He went on to represent India and win the World's Best Model title at Manhunt International 2005 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, beating 40 participants across Asia, Latin America, and Europe. His television debut came in the lead role of Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na (2008, Star One), and he became a household name through Balika Vadhu (Star Plus, 2012–16), playing Shiv Kapoor across 1,600 episodes. He went on to host Savdhaan India (Star Bharat), India's Got Talent (Colors), and Big Money (Zee TV), and participated in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6 (2012), winning it. He made his film debut in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) and won Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 7 (Colors, 2014). In 2021, he starred opposite Sonia Rathee in the acclaimed ALTBalaji/ZEE5 web series Broken But Beautiful 3. In September 2019, he entered Bigg Boss 13 hosted by Salman Khan on Colors TV. Over 140 days, he became the season's dominant and most discussed personality, with his journey — and his warm chemistry with fellow contestant Shehnaaz Gill (popularly called 'SidNaaz') — captivating the nation. He was declared the winner on 15 February 2020. He passed away on 2 September 2021 due to a massive cardiac arrest in Mumbai, aged 40. He is survived by his mother and two sisters.

His iconic role as Shiv Kapoor in the long-running Star Plus serial Balika Vadhu (2012–2016); winning World's Best Model at the Manhunt International competition in Colombo (2005); winning Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 7 (Colors TV, 2014); his Bollywood debut in Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014) opposite Alia Bhatt; hosting Savdhaan India and India's Got Talent; the record-breaking web series Broken But Beautiful 3 (2021) on ALTBalaji; winning Bigg Boss 13 (Colors TV, 2019–20).

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