# Keerti Gaekwad Kelkar
**Keerti Gaekwad Kelkar** (कीर्ति गायकवाड़ केलकर; born 1974) is an Indian television actress and model best known for playing Simar Prem Bharadwaj in *Sasural Simar Ka*, Niharika in *Sinndoor Tere Naam Ka*, and Chandni Singh in *Saat Phere... Saloni Ka Safar*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1974, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India (one profile lists Mumbai as birthplace)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/) • [2](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/keerti-kelkar.html) |
| Marriage | Married actor Sharad Kelkar, whom she met on the set of *Aakrosh*, on 3 June 2005 in a traditional Marathi wedding[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/) • [3](https://www.bollywoodshaadis.com/articles/sharad-and-keerti-kelkar-love-story-62104) |
| Children | Daughter Kesha Kelkar, born 2014[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/) |
| Signature TV role | Simar Prem Bharadwaj in *Sasural Simar Ka* (2017), for which she replaced former lead Dipika Kakar[2](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/keerti-kelkar.html) |
| Longest TV runs | *Kammal* as the title character (152 episodes, 2002–2003); *Sinndoor Tere Naam Ka* as Niharika (143 episodes, 2007)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/) |
| Recent work | *Dil Dosti Aur Dogs* (2025), a JioHotstar film in which she played Neelima; *Ghar Sansaar* (2025) as Mamata Sanjay Chaudhary[4](https://watch.plex.tv/person/keerti-gaekwad-kelkar-1) • [2](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/keerti-kelkar.html) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/) |
## Early career
Kelkar made her television debut playing Maharani Draupadi in the mythological serial *Om Namah Shivay*, which ran from 1997 to 1999.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/) • [2](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/keerti-kelkar.html) Her first substantial lead came with [Zee TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/zee-tv)'s *Kammal*, in which she played the title character, an orphan raised by three bar dancers, across 152 episodes from 2002 to 2003.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/) • [5](https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/o-sweet-innocence-and-the-small-screen/cid/971630) A profile in *The Telegraph* noted the range this early work spanned, from the innocent teenager Kammal to the scheming Niharika she later played in *Sinndoor Tere Naam Ka*.[5](https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/o-sweet-innocence-and-the-small-screen/cid/971630)
In 2004 she appeared in Doordarshan's *Aakrosh* (21 episodes), which ran into 2005, followed by single-episode and supporting roles in *Hotel Kingston* (2005) and *Saat Phere... Saloni Ka Safar* (Chandni Singh, 2005–2009).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/) In 2005 she also featured in Sahara One's *Solhah Singaarr*, and in 2008 in *[Chotti Bahu](https://www.edgepedia.org/chotti-bahu)* as Mrinalini Vivek Purohit.[6](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/tv-actress/keerti-gaekwad-kelkar) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/)
## Sinndoor, Saat Phere, and working with Sharad Kelkar
*Sinndoor Tere Naam Ka* (Zee TV, 2007) gave Kelkar one of her most visible roles, playing Niharika across three character names (Niharika Shivam Kapoor, Niharika Agarwal, and Niharika Rudra Raizada) over 143 episodes.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/) [Sharad Kelkar](https://www.edgepedia.org/sharad-kelkar), her co-star on the show and later her husband, described the pairing as a practical benefit: both actors were working on Zee soaps at the same time, and each used their standing on one show to arrange a part for the other on the other, so that the couple could spend much of their working time together.[7](https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv/double-cheque/amp_articleshow/15680109.html)
**Reality television.** In 2006 the couple competed together on the dance reality show *Nach Baliye 2*, exhibiting the chemistry that earned them a "cutest couple" title, though they did not reach the final.[6](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/tv-actress/keerti-gaekwad-kelkar) • [8](https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/saat-phere/481352/sharad-kelkars-interview) • [9](https://www.abplive.com/photo-gallery/entertainment/television-sharad-kelkar-birthday-special-who-is-his-wife-keerti-gaekwad-kelkar-solved-crime-cases-together-on-screen-see-their-romance-in-10-photos-3024129) The two also worked together on the crime show *CID*.[9](https://www.abplive.com/photo-gallery/entertainment/television-sharad-kelkar-birthday-special-who-is-his-wife-keerti-gaekwad-kelkar-solved-crime-cases-together-on-screen-see-their-romance-in-10-photos-3024129)
Kelkar's husband, a film and voice actor known for dubbing Prabhas in the Hindi *Baahubali* films, credits her with teaching him the basics of acting and calls her his biggest critic; in a 2022 interview he said that the coaching had reversed, since he now had more film experience than she did.[10](https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/sharad-kelkar-im-not-a-great-actor-im-a-smart-actor/20210904.htm) • [11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/real-life-couple-keerti-gaekwad-and-sharad-kelkar-share-screen-space-after-13-years/articleshow/90473819.cms) In March 2022 the couple announced a return to shared screen work after a 13-year gap, playing a married couple in a forthcoming Hindi film.[11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/real-life-couple-keerti-gaekwad-and-sharad-kelkar-share-screen-space-after-13-years/articleshow/90473819.cms)
## Sasural Simar Ka and later work
When Kelkar entered [Colors TV](https://www.edgepedia.org/colors-tv)'s long-running *Sasural Simar Ka* in 2017, she took over the lead role of Simar from [Dipika Kakar](https://www.edgepedia.org/dipika-kakar), who had played the part since the show's 2011 launch.[2](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/keerti-kelkar.html) The channel's own character page lists her as the main lead as Simar in the series.[12](https://www.colorstv.com/us/character/keerti-gaikwad-kelkar/) IMDb credits her as Simar Prem Bharadwaj for 31 episodes between 2011 and 2018.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/)
Her film work has been limited but spans languages. She played Nandini in the 2008 Bhojpuri film *Kanyadaan*, appeared as herself in the 2018 Marathi film *Idak*, produced by Kiah Films with Sharad Kelkar as co-producer, and in 2025 played Neelima in *[Dil Dosti Aur Dogs](https://www.edgepedia.org/dil-dosti-aur-dogs)*, a JioHotstar release rated 5.9 on IMDb.[4](https://watch.plex.tv/person/keerti-gaekwad-kelkar-1) • [2](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/keerti-kelkar.html) In 2025 she also joined the cast of *Ghar Sansaar* as Mamata Sanjay Chaudhary.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/)
## Personal life
Kelkar met Sharad Kelkar on the set of *Aakrosh* in 2004, and the relationship developed while both were working on *CID: Special Bureau*.[13](https://www.timesnowhindi.com/entertainment/television/article/sharad-kelkar-keerti-kelkar-stranger-lovers-love-story/304213) They married on 3 June 2005, within days of Sharad beginning work on *Saat Phere*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/) • [8](https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/saat-phere/481352/sharad-kelkars-interview) Their daughter, Kesha Kelkar, was born in 2014; the couple have said the name combines a letter from each of their own names.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/) • [13](https://www.timesnowhindi.com/entertainment/television/article/sharad-kelkar-keerti-kelkar-stranger-lovers-love-story/304213) In an Indian Television Academy feature on their home, Sharad Kelkar described the house as "Keerti's baby" and noted that the family practices Buddhism and also keeps Ganpati idols.[14](https://indiantelevisionacademy.com/this-house-is-keertis-baby-sharad-kelkar/)
## References
1. [Keerti Gaekwad Kelkar, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2822393/)
2. [Keerti Gaekwad Kelkar, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/keerti-kelkar.html)
3. [Sharad And Keerti Kelkar's Love Story, BollywoodShaadis](https://www.bollywoodshaadis.com/articles/sharad-and-keerti-kelkar-love-story-62104)
4. [Keerti Gaekwad Kelkar, Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/person/keerti-gaekwad-kelkar-1)
5. [O, sweet innocence. And the small screen..., The Telegraph India](https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/o-sweet-innocence-and-the-small-screen/cid/971630)
6. [Hindi TV Actress Keerti Gaekwad Kelkar Biography, NETTV4U](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/tv-actress/keerti-gaekwad-kelkar)
7. [Double cheque!, Mumbai Mirror](https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv/double-cheque/amp_articleshow/15680109.html)
8. [Sharad Kelkar's interview, India Forums](https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/saat-phere/481352/sharad-kelkars-interview)
9. [कौन हैं शरद केलकर की पत्नी? स्क्रीन पर साथ में सॉल्व किए क्राइम केस, 10 फोटोज में देखें रोमांस | sharad Kelkar birthday special who is his wife Keerti Gaekwad Kelkar solved crime cases together on screen, see their romance in 10 photos](https://www.abplive.com/photo-gallery/entertainment/television-sharad-kelkar-birthday-special-who-is-his-wife-keerti-gaekwad-kelkar-solved-crime-cases-together-on-screen-see-their-romance-in-10-photos-3024129)
10. ['I'm not a great actor; I'm a smart actor', Rediff.com](https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/sharad-kelkar-im-not-a-great-actor-im-a-smart-actor/20210904.htm)
11. [Real-life couple Keerti Gaekwad and Sharad Kelkar share screen space after 13 years, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/real-life-couple-keerti-gaekwad-and-sharad-kelkar-share-screen-space-after-13-years/articleshow/90473819.cms)
12. [Keerti Gaikwad Kelkar, Colors TV](https://www.colorstv.com/us/character/keerti-gaikwad-kelkar/)
13. [Sharad Kelkar–Keerti Gaekwad love story, Times Now Navbharat](https://www.timesnowhindi.com/entertainment/television/article/sharad-kelkar-keerti-kelkar-stranger-lovers-love-story/304213)
14. [This house is Keerti's baby – Sharad Kelkar, Indian Television Academy](https://indiantelevisionacademy.com/this-house-is-keertis-baby-sharad-kelkar/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 2000s onward › Surnames H to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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