Raqesh Bapat (born Rakesh Vashisht on 1 September 1978) is an Indian actor, former model, painter, and sculptor from Amravati, Maharashtra. His father Major Padmakar Bapat was an army officer and his mother taught English at Dr. Kalmadi Shamarao High School in Pune. A multi-talented individual, he won the National Award for Painting in Class IX. Before acting, he built a successful modeling career, winning the Mr. Pune title and finishing first runner-up in both Grasim Mr. India (1999) and Mr. International. He endorsed brands including Colgate and Wrigley's Gum. His acting debut in director Anubhav Sinha's film Tum Bin (2001) opened the door to a long career across Hindi and Marathi entertainment. Notable television work includes Saat Phere – Saloni Ka Safar (2005–08), Maryada: Lekin Kab Tak (2010–12), Qubool Hai (2014), and Tu Aashiqui (2018). In Marathi cinema, he starred in critically acclaimed films including Vrundavan (2016) and Savita Damodar Paranjpe (2018). He participated in Bigg Boss OTT (2021) hosted by Karan Johar, where he developed a close bond with Shamita Shetty. He then entered Bigg Boss 15 as a wildcard in week 5 but walked out of the house after just 7 days citing health reasons, finishing eighteenth. In 2026, he participated in Bigg Boss Marathi Season 6.
His Bollywood debut in Tum Bin (2001), his lead role in the television serial Saat Phere – Saloni Ka Safar (2005–08), and his acclaimed performance in the Marathi film Savita Damodar Paranjpe (2018).