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Personal life and background: Renaming section

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{{short description|Indian actress}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kitu Gidwani
| image = Kitu Gidwani.jpg
| caption = Kitu Giddwani in 2013
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1967|10|22}}
| birth_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| birth_name = Kaushalya Gidwani
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = [[actress]], [[model (person)|model]]
| salary =
| networth =
| website =
}}

'''Kaushalya 'Kitu' Gidwani''' (born 22 October 1967) is an [[India]]n actress and model. She has starred in several movies and [[Serial (radio and television)|serials]] on Indian [[television]].

Kitu played the role of Svetlana in ''[[Swabhimaan]]'' which brought recognition for her. Then she signed ''[[Shaktimaan]]'' and played the role of "Geeta Vishwas", a news channel reporter who stand for the truth. She left the show after a few episodes and later became popular after a TV series, ''[[Air Hostess (TV series)|Air Hostess]]'' aired on [[Doordarshan]] in 1996, and received critical acclaim for her roles in ''[[Dance of the Wind]]'' (1997), [[Deepa Mehta]]'s ''[[Earth (1998 film)|Earth]]'' (1998), [[Govind Nihalani]]'s ''[[Rukhmavati Ki Haveli]]'' (1991), [[Kamal Haasan]]'s ''[[Aalavandhan|Abhay]]'' and ''[[Deham]]'' (2001).<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/may/03kitu.htm For Kitu Gidwani, it's mind over body! ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401090832/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2002/may/03kitu.htm |date=1 April 2018 }} Ronjita Kulkarni, ''[[Rediff.com]]'', Movies, 3 May 2002.</ref>

==Early and personal life==

Gidwani was born in [[Mumbai]]. Her [[Sindhi people|Sindhi]] parents migrated from Pakistan after the [[Partition of India|partition]]. They lived in a refugee camp in [[Worli]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/8491617.cms | work=The Times Of India | first1=Sanghita | last1=Singh | title=It's back to the basics for Kitu Gidwani | date=1 April 2002 | access-date=21 December 2008 | archive-date=3 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103053711/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/8491617.cms | url-status=live }}</ref> She has a brother.

She studied in [[Fort Convent School, Mumbai]]. Her post graduation days saw her interest in [[French language|French]] and she started acting in French plays. Soon she was acting in English plays directed by Janak Toprani. She acted in some television serials and subsequently acted in a French film ''Black'' (1987),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sindhishaan.com/personalities/index.php#kitu|title=Famous Sindhis - Kidu Gidwani|access-date=13 July 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306224251/http://www.sindhishaan.com/personalities/index.php#kitu|archive-date=6 March 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> playing a Brazilian girl in it.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://m.rediff.com/us/2000/jun/10us.htm|title=rediff.com US edition: You can do whatever you believe of yourself: Kitu Gidwani|website=m.rediff.com|access-date=14 November 2013|archive-date=9 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709185618/http://m.rediff.com/us/2000/jun/10us.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Acting career==

Gidwani made her television debut in 1984 on the TV soap ''Trishna'', and during the 1980s and '90s, gave some memorable performances in TV serials like ''[[Swabhimaan]]'', ''Air Hostess'' and ''Junoon''.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/she-has-seen-it-all/article4948811.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | first=Budhaditya | last=Bhattacharya | title=She has seen it all... | date=24 July 2013 | access-date=14 November 2013 | archive-date=14 November 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114172235/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/she-has-seen-it-all/article4948811.ece | url-status=live }}</ref> She caught a lot of attention after her kissing scene in bed with actor [[Tom Alter]] in ''Junoon''. In 1997, she was doing four serials at one time, besides ''Swabhimaan'' and ''Junoon'', she was also acting in ''Saahil'', ''Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19970616-tv-actors-never-had-it-so-good-recognition-astronomical-rates-and-roles-for-the-asking-831610-1997-06-16|title=TV actors never had it so good: recognition, astronomical rates and roles for the asking|first1=Namita|last1=Bh|first2=are|last2=June 16|first3=1997 ISSUE DATE|last3=June 16|first4=1997UPDATED|last4=May 2|first5=2013 11:19|last5=Ist|website=India Today|access-date=19 November 2019|archive-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012040712/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19970616-tv-actors-never-had-it-so-good-recognition-astronomical-rates-and-roles-for-the-asking-831610-1997-06-16|url-status=live}}</ref> She recently appeared in multi-starrer Hindi serials ''Kaashish'' and ''Kulvadhu''.

In 1997, she played the role of a Hindustani classical singer, Pallavi, who struggles to get her voice back after losing her mentor/mother, in ''Dance of the Wind''. The role won her Best Actress Award at [[Three Continents Festival]], [[Nantes]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/im-happy-im-free/article2562544.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=I'm happy, I'm free | date=23 October 2011 | access-date=14 November 2013 | archive-date=14 November 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114094944/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/im-happy-im-free/article2562544.ece | url-status=live }}</ref> In [[Pankaj Butalia]]'s ''Shadows in the Dark'' she played Lajma, a middle-aged woman living in present-day Pakistan.<ref name="auto"/> In the 2010s she played small roles in ''[[Fashion (2008 film)|Fashion]]'', ''[[Dhobi Ghat (film)|Dhobi Ghat]]'' and ''[[Student of the Year]]''.<ref name="auto1"/>

In 2001, in conjunction with Wills Lifestyle, an apparel chain owned by [[ITC Limited]], she promoted ''Wills Sport Lifestyle'' brand of clothing.<ref name="wills">{{cite news|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/07/08/stories/0408403s.htm| title=Read(il)y made lifestyle| work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2001-07-08| access-date=2006-07-13| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110164227/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/07/08/stories/0408403s.htm|archive-date=10 January 2009| url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2006, she also acted in a play, ''Your Place or Mine'' by [[Darshan Jariwala]].<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060707/cth2.htm#5 Play on man-woman relationship] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717103930/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060707/cth2.htm#5 |date=17 July 2011 }} [[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]], 7 July 2006.</ref>

She also did a play, ''Sock ’em With Honey'', where she played a traditional Parsi woman from Pakistan, whose daughter falls in love with a Jew, prompting her first trip abroad.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=62400 |title=Archived copy |access-date=21 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030921011231/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=62400 |archive-date=21 September 2003 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Awards==

In 1998, Kitu won the Best Actress Award at the [[Three Continents Festival]], [[Nantes]], France. The award recognized her outstanding achievement for the role of ''Pallavi'' in ''Dance of the Wind'' (directed by [[Rajan Khosa]]).

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1984
|''[[Holi (1984 film)|Holi]]''
|
|
|-
|1985
|''[[Janam (1985 film)|Janam]]''
|
|TV movie
|-
|1985
|''[[Wisdom Tree]]''
|
|Short film
|-
|1985
|''[[Trishna (TV series)|Trishna]]''
|Roohi
|TV series
|-
|1986
|''[[Air Hostess (TV series)|Air Hostess]]''
|
|TV series
|-
|1987
|''[[Khoj (TV series)|Khoj]]''
|Kitu Gidwani , Dilip Dhawan
|TV series
|-
|1987
|''[[Black (1987 film)|Black]]<ref>[https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/431248/Black/cast Black - Acting Credits] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103012235/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/431248/Black/cast|date=3 November 2012}} ''[[New York Times]]''.</ref>''
|
|French film
|-
|1991
|''[[Rukmavati Ki Haveli]]''
|Kittu Gidwani
|
|-
|1991
|''[[The Khajuraho]]''
|
|Short film
|-
|1994
|''[[Junoon (1994 TV series)|Junoon]]''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Archived copy|url=https://in.news.yahoo.com/tv-going-downhill-decade-kitu-gidwani-033821838.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822205006/https://in.news.yahoo.com/tv-going-downhill-decade-kitu-gidwani-033821838.html|archive-date=22 August 2016|access-date=2 July 2016}}</ref>
|Mini Agrawal
|TV series
|-
|1994
|''[[Tehkikaat]]''
|Kavita Deshpande
|Appeared as the killer in Episode 1
|-
|1995-96
|''[[Saahil]]''
|Prerna
|TV series
|-
|1995-97
|''[[Swabhimaan]]''
|Svetlana Banerjee
|TV series
|-
|1997
|''Karvaan (Shadows in the Dark)''
|Lajma
|
|-
|1997
|''[[Dance of the Wind]]''
|Pallavi Sehgal
|[[Three Continents Festival]]
|-
|1998
|''[[Earth (1998 film)|Earth]]''
|Bunty Sethna
|
|-
|1998
|''[[Shaktimaan]]''
|Geeta Vishwas (Till 8th Episode)
|TV Series
|-
|2001
|''[[Happily Ever After (2004 film)|Happily Ever After]]''
|Mme Gibson
|French film
|-
|2001
|''[[Deham]]''
|Jaya
|
|-
|2001
|''[[Abhay (2001 film)|Abhay]]''
|Jayanti
|
|-
|2001
|''[[Aalavandhan]]''
|Jayanthi
|Tamil film
|-
|2002
|''[[Nazarana]]''
|Ishita's mother
|TV movie
|-
|2004
|''[[Kesar]]''
|Pam Mallya
|TV series
|-
|2005
|''[[Kasshish]]''
|Ratna
|TV series
|-
|2006-07
|''[[Kulvaddhu]]''
|Antra Singh Rathod
|TV series
|-
|2006
|''[[Dil Diya Hai]]''
|Michelle
|
|-
|2007
|''[[Strangers (2007 Bollywood film)|Strangers]]''
|
|
|-
|2008
|''[[Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na]]''
|Sheela Pariyar (Meghna's Mother)
|
|-
|2008
|''[[Fashion (2008 film)|Fashion]]''
|Anisha Roy
|
|-
|2009
|''[[Phir Kabhi]]''
|Divya Singh
|
|-
|2010
|''[[Hello Zindagi]]''
|Dr. Sadhana
|
|-
|2011
|''[[Dhobi Ghat (film)|Dhobi Ghat]]''
|Vatsala
|
|-
|2011
|''[[Monica (2011)|Monica]]''
|Pamela Garewal
|
|-
|2012
|''[[Student of the Year]]''
|Manini Banerjee
|
|-
|2013
|''[[Ek Bura Aadmi]]''
|Rukmi Devi
|
|-
|2015
|''[[Wedding Pullav]]''
|
|
|-
|2016
|''[[Traffic (2016 film)|Traffic]]''
|Rehan's mother
|
|-
|2017
|''[[Ok Jaanu]]''
|Tara's Mother
|
|-
|2018
|''[[Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai]]''
|Sameer's step paternal Grandmother
|TV Series
|-
|2019
|''[[Fittrat]]''
|Pinky Kapoor
|Web series released on [[ALTBalaji]] and [[List of ZEE5 original web series|ZEE5]]
|-
|2020
|''[[Ghost Stories (2020 film)|Ghost Stories]]''
|Dhruv's mother
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0317307}}
* {{BH person|kitu-gidwani}}

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gidwani, Kitu}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:Female models from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Indian stage actresses]]
[[Category:Indian television actresses]]
[[Category:Sindhi people]]
[[Category:Actresses from Mumbai]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi television]]
[[Category:Actors from Mumbai]]

Kitu Gidwani - Revision history

NereidaMccurdy5: Minor edits and structural improvements

>KyloRen3: /* Personal life and background */ Renaming section