By Anil Merani: Ankita Lokhande’s career trajectory following her participation in Bigg Boss 17 (2023-2024) has been a mix of sustained visibility and challenges in achieving significant success in mainstream scripted projects. Her appearance on Bigg Boss 17 alongside her husband, Vicky Jain, where she finished as the third runner-up, amplified her public presence. The show highlighted her emotional vulnerability, her relationship dynamics with Vicky, and references to her past with Sushant Singh Rajput, sparking both support and controversy. This exposure, while keeping her in the spotlight, also led to scrutiny over her personal life, particularly her marriage, which she later described as a growth experience that strengthened her bond with Vicky. Her ability to navigate these challenges with grace and resilience has endeared her to many fans.
After Bigg Boss, Ankita starred in Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (March 2024), a biopic directed by Randeep Hooda, where she portrayed Yamunabai Savarkar. Despite earning praise for her committed performance, the film underperformed at the box office, grossing around ₹24.35 crore against a ₹20 crore budget. Although it was selected as India’s Oscar entry for 2025, its commercial failure limited its impact on her career. However, her upcoming web series Amrapali, in which she plays a royal courtesan, holds significant potential, despite the absence of confirmed release details or substantial buzz. This aligns with the observation that her film ventures have not gained significant traction, and she has yet to secure prominent roles in major OTT series or films following the reality show.
Instead, Ankita has focused on non-fiction and reality television, a space where she has found consistent success. Alongside Vicky, she participated in Laughter Chefs: Unlimited Entertainment (with Season 1 airing in 2024 and Season 2 set to start in January 2025), a cooking-comedy show that showcased their chemistry and humor, resonating with audiences. Their victory in Smart Jodi (2022) further solidified their appeal as a couple in reality TV. The upcoming show Pati Patni Aur Panga on Colors, featuring Ankita and Vicky among other couples, continues this trend by focusing on relationship dynamics and reinforcing her pivot toward non-fiction content. These projects highlight how her marriage to Vicky, a businessman, has become a cornerstone of her reality TV career, making them a marketable duo in this landscape.
However, this focus on reality television may have constrained her opportunities in scripted roles. Despite her proven acting talent in projects like Pavitra Rishta (2009-2014), Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019), and Baaghi 3 (2020), Ankita has not landed high-profile OTT roles on platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime. Although her upcoming web series Amrapali is highly anticipated and expected to showcase her acting prowess, the lack of confirmed release details or significant buzz has kept excitement in check. Smaller projects like The Last Coffee (2023) earned her critical praise but failed to garner widespread attention. The industry’s tendency to typecast reality TV stars may partly explain this, as her frequent appearances in non-fiction could overshadow her acting credentials.
Ankita’s marriage to Vicky has undeniably bolstered her reality TV career, with their joint appearances and public moments—such as vacations, anniversary posts, and Holi celebrations—keeping them relevant on social media and in entertainment news. Their ability to navigate controversies, such as their arguments on Bigg Boss, has further fueled their visibility. Yet, this reliance on couple-based content may limit her ability to diversify into substantial scripted roles. While Amrapali could shift her trajectory, her current path suggests a strategic focus on maintaining relevance through reality TV, leveraging her personal brand and marriage. This approach ensures her prominence but may not fully showcase the acting range she demonstrated earlier in her career.