Born on December 21, 1983, Karishma Tanna hails from a traditional Gujarati family. She has been born and raised in Mumbai. Karishma, one of the tallest actresses on the small screen, towering at 5'11, first featured in the television show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and later went on to do other projects on the small screen. (All photos: Karishma Tanna's official Instagram account)

Karishma Tanna gained prominence for her role of a ditsy girl 'Indu' in the show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Some of the other famous TV shows that Karishma was part of are - Kahi To Milenge, Manshaa, Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, Kkoi Dil Mein Hai, Kkusum, Paalkhi, Pyaar Ke Do Naam: Ek Raadha, Ek Shyaam, Jaane Pehchaane Se... Ye Ajnabbi, Baal Veer, Naagarjuna , Ek Yoddha, Naagin 3 and Qayamath Ki Raat.

You would be surprised to know that Karishma Tanna has been part of over 25 reality shows in a span of 12 years, either as a host or as a contestant.

In 2007, Karishma Tanna participated in the reality show Comedy Circus 1 as a contestant. She later went on to participate in shows such as Nach Baliye 3, Kaho Na Yaar Hai, Zara Nachke Dikha, Meethi Choori No 1, Zor Ka Jhatka: Total Wipeout, Comedy Circus Maha-Sangram, Bigg Boss 8 (1st runner-up), Nach Baliye 7 (Contestant along with Upen Patel), Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 9, Rasoi Ki Jung Mummyon Ke Sung.

As a host, Karishma Tanna was part of shows such as Kaante Ki Takkar, MTV Love School - Season 1 (Host along with Upen Patel) and judged the show BIG Memsaab.

Karishma Tanna ventured into Bollywood in 2005 with Dosti: Friends Forever. She also did a Kannada movie titled I Am Sorry Mathe Banni Preethsona. In 2013, came yet another Bollywood outing for her - Grand Masti.

While the audience has been seeing Karishma for years, she feels her appearance on reality TV show Bigg Boss 8 in 2014 gave them a chance to know her better.

Asked if the show gave a boost to her career, Karishma Tanna said in an interview, 'I wouldn't say it boosted my career, but people have known me better after 'Bigg Boss'. People knew who Karishma Tanna is always, but through 'Bigg Boss', they know me very well - what kind of a personality I have, what do I do in the morning and what do I do in the evening, what type of clothes I wear, how do I do my hair, how do I do make-up.'

In 2018, Karishma Tanna appeared in a small role in Rajkumar Hirani's Sanju, a biopic on actor Sanjay Dutt, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Manisha Koirala, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Dia Mirza, Jim Sarbh and Boman Irani in pivotal roles.

Karishma Tanna said working with director Rajkumar Hirani was on her bucket list. 'It was lovely to work with him (Hirani). When I got a call (from him) I was very thrilled... One has a bucket list and wants to work with a few directors, and he was one of them (for me). I got a big tick mark there,' Karishma said in an interview.

Karishma Tanna says the experience of working with director Rajkumar Hirani and actors Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal was a lot of fun, courtesy their jokes and pranks. Recalling her shooting days, Karishma said, 'Ranbir, Raju Sir and Vicky used to crack jokes and pulled my leg with a poker face. I don't know them that well to know whether they were lying or making a story up. I used to happily listen to those stories and after some days, I would realise that was all made up.'

'I really like light-hearted and humorous people. Ranbir, Raju Sir and Vicky were a lot of fun on set,' Karishma further added.

Karishma Tanna is also set to appear in a film with Sunny Leone titled 'Tina And Lolo'. Though the film has been delayed for quite some time now, it looks like Tina And Lolo might see the light of the day in 2021.

On the personal front, Karishma Tanna started dating model-actor Upen Patel, who was her fellow inmate in Bigg Boss. The couple was engaged but they called it quits, after a courtship of over two years. Upen had blamed Karishma's erratic behaviour for their split, but she quashed it as a baseless allegation. Karishma and Upen were even rumoured to have reconciled in 2017, but it seems they are better off embracing singlehood!

Karishma Tanna started her acting journey with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi in 2000 and completed nineteen years in the small screen industry in 2019. Calling it an 'amazing' ride, Karishma said in an interview, 'What I have loved about it is that I have done different shows and I get to play different characters which I really love and challenging... I have become much more evolved in the industry. I have become much more smarter, I have understood life very closely. I have also learnt how to be content in the industry because you tend to lose balance sometimes because you are shaky in the industry. There is a lot of insecurity and competition in this industry.'

In 2020, the 'reality show queen' Karishma Tanna emerged triumphant in the 10th season of Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi. On Sunday, in the show's finale, she trounced Karan Patel and Dharmesh Yelande. Tanna took home Rs 20 lakh and a luxury car. Though she has been part of several reality shows, this was special — it helped her overcome her phobias.

Here's congratulating the gorgeous actress on the victory!