{{short description|Indian television and Bollywood actress (born 1960)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Apara Mehta | image = Apara Mehta attend the special screening of Happy Family – Conditions Apply (cropped).jpg | caption = Mehta in 2023 | birth_name = Apara Mehta | birth_date = | othername = | birth_place = | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1975–present | parents = Ushakant Mehta (Father) and Mandakini Mehta (Mother) | spouse = {{Marriage|Darshan Jariwala|1980|2003|end=separated}} | children = Khushali Jariwala }}
'''Apara Mehta''' is an Indian television and Bollywood actress most famously known for playing Tulsi's mother in law Savita Mansukh Virani in the iconic show ''Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood-kyunki-saas-bhi-kabhi-bahu-thi-apara-mehta-386851 |title=Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi had a lot of soul, says Apara Mehta |publisher=India TV |access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref>
==Personal life== {{BLP unreferenced section|date=October 2024}} Born in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, Apara is the only child of her parents, and no stranger to being a performing artist. She started learning classical music and Kathak from a young age. At the age of 15, she hosted a children's television programme for Ahmedabad Doordarshan.
In 1980 she married Indian television and film personality Darshan Jariwala, with whom she has one daughter. The two have mutually separated but are not legally divorced. Excerpts about their personal life were shown in the reality show ''Maa Exchange'', which aired on Sony Entertainment Television.
Her career naturally veered towards theatre as she married into a theatre family.
==Theatrical career== Mehta has worked on stage since 1981. She has acted in over 150 plays in various roles. She has found a constant career in plays.
==Television career== Apara started her television career anchoring a children's programme called ''Santakukdi'' for Mumbai Doordarshan at the age of 15. Her first major break was in ''Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka'' (1999), in which she played Paro. Her greater success came with Ekta Kapoor's blockbuster ''Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'' (2000-06), in which she played Savita Mansukh Virani (mother-in-law of lead character Tulsi) on StarPlus. She then appeared in a negative role as Kukki Kaaki in ''Saat Phere'' (2006) and other soaps like ''Parrivaar'' (2007), ''Dhak Dhak In Dubai'' (2007), ''Dillagi'', ''Alpviram'', ''Hum Hain Anari,'' ''Love Marriage'' and ''Chandan Ka Palna''. She also did comedy roles in ''Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo'' (2009-12) as Damini Devi Diwan, ''Golmaal Hai Bhai Sab Golmaal Hai'' (2012) as Pari on SAB TV and as Leela in ''Hamari Saas Leela'' (2011) on Colors TV.
She also played supporting roles in some Bollywood films. She played a role in ''Firangi Bahu'' on Colors TV. She used to appear in ''Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai'' as Basundi on SAB TV. She was on the weekend horror/thriller fiction show ''Qayamat Ki Raat'' on Star Plus in 2018. She appeared in ''Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai'' (2021), ''Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!'' (2018) and ''Sai-Shraddha aur Saburi''. She played Manmita Chaddha in ''Choti Sarrdaarni'' (2021) and later appeared in ''Maddam Sir'' (2022).
== Television == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Language ! Notes ! Ref. |- |1998 |''Alpviram'' | |rowspan="29"|Hindi | | |- |1999 |''Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka'' | | | |- |2000–2006 |''Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'' |Savita Mansukh Virani | | |- |2001 |''Chandan Ka Palna Resham Ki Dori'' |Kusum | | |- |2004 |''Khichdi'' | |Guest Appearance | |- |rowspan="2"|2006 |''Saat Phere'' |Kukki Kaki | | |- |''Karam Apnaa Apnaa'' | | | |- |rowspan="2"|2007 |''Parrivaar'' | | | |- |''Dhak Dhak In Dubai'' | | | |- |2009 |''Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat'' | | | |- |2009–2012 |''Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo'' |Damini Devi Diwan | | |- |2011 |''Hamari Saas Leela'' |Leela | | |- |2012–2013 |''Kya Huaa Tera Vaada'' |Suhasi Alok Singh | | |- |2012 |''Golmaal Hai Bhai Sab Golmaal Hai'' |Pari | | |- |2013–2014 |''Firangi Bahu'' | | | |- |2014–2016 |''Jamai Raja''<ref>{{cite web |title=Apara Mehta in Jamai Raja |url=http://www.mytrendyzone.com/tv/jamai-raja-serial-apara-mehta-play-nia-sharmas-dadi/ |publisher=MyTrendyZone |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512221155/http://www.mytrendyzone.com/tv/jamai-raja-serial-apara-mehta-play-nia-sharmas-dadi/ |archivedate=12 May 2014}}</ref> |Alaknanda | | |- |2014 |''Tu Mere Agal Bagal Hai'' |Basundi | | |- |rowspan="3"|2016 |''Woh Teri Bhabhi Hai Pagle'' |Mrs. Dilwale | | |- |''Naya Mahisagar'' |Tiwari Mehta | | |- |''Brahmarakshas'' |Jasmit | | |- |2017 |''Bakula Bua Ka Bhoot'' |Rekha | | |- |rowspan="3"|2018 |''Qayamat Ki Raat'' |Madhuri Thakur | | |- |''Mere Sai – Shraddha Aur Saburi'' | Jhimri 's aunt | | |-
|''Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!'' |Alpaa | | |- |rowspan="3"|2021 |''Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai'' | |Cameo | |- |''Indiawali Maa'' |Kesar Masi | | |- |''Choti Sarrdaarni'' |Manmita Chaddha | | |- |rowspan="2"|2022 |''Maddam Sir'' |Sarita Singh | | |- |''Jai Hanuman - Sankat Mochan Naam Tiharo''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/tv/hindi/apara-mehta-it-was-difficult-to-work-in-a-gaon-for-jai-hanuman/videoshow/93751252.cms |title=Apara Mehta: It was difficult to work in a 'gaon' for Jai Hanuman | TV - Times of India Videos |website=The Times of India}}</ref> |Maiya Kaki | | |- |2023 |''Anupamaa'' |Gurumaa Malti Devi | | |- |2024–2025 |''United State Of Gujarat'' |Indira |Gujarati | | |- |2025; 2026 |''Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2'' |Savita Mansukh Virani |rowspan="2"|Hindi | | |- |2026 |''Do Duniya Ek Dil'' | Gauri Singh Chauhan | | |- |}
==Filmography== * ''Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar'' (2001) - Dayashankar's elder sister * ''Chori Chori Chupke Chupke'' (2001) - Prostitute * ''Devdas (2002 Hindi film)'' (2002) - Badi Aapa * ''Just Married'' (2007) * ''Tees Maar Khan'' (2010) - Tabrez Mirza Khan's (Tees Maar Khan) mother * ''Bachubhai'' (2023) - Gujarati Film <ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/gujarati/movie-details/bachubhai/movieshow/101545554.cms |title=Bachubhai Movie: Showtimes, Review, Songs, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos |work=The Times of India |access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
5.^https://www.gujaratnow.com/Apara-Mehta-37.html
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0962574}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mehta, Apara}} Category:Living people Category:1960 births Category:Gujarati actresses Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema Category:Indian television actresses Category:Indian film actresses Category:20th-century Indian actresses Category:21st-century Indian actresses Category:People from Bhavnagar Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Gujarat