DIVYA AGARWAL is an Indian actress, model, dancer, choreographer, and reality television star who carved her own space in the entertainment industry through confidence, resilience, and versatility. Known for her fearless opinions and strong screen presence she successfully transitioned from choreography and reality television to becoming a recognised name in India’s digital entertainment space.
Early Life
Divya Agarwal was born on 4 December 1992 in Navi Mumbai Maharashtra. She grew up in a middle-class household that valued education alongside ambition. From a young age she was deeply drawn to the performing arts especially dance.
She completed her schooling at St. Xavier’s High School Navi Mumbai and later pursued higher education at Sanpada College of Commerce and Technology. To strengthen her communication skills and media understanding Divya earned a Master’s degree in Journalism from Canadian University Dubai. Alongside academics she trained professionally at the Terence Lewis Dance Academy which became the foundation of her artistic discipline.
Early Career
Before stepping into television Divya established herself as a professional choreographer. After training at the Terence Lewis Dance Academy she founded her own institute Elevate Dance Institute where she trained aspiring dancers.
Her choreography work includes collaborations with celebrities such as Shilpa Shetty, Sunny Leone and Ileana D’Cruz. One of her biggest early achievements was being part of IPL 2010 where she choreographed and coordinated performances involving nearly 3,000 dancers. She also worked on several commercial ad films for brands like L’Oréal, Kellogg’s K and Head & Shoulders assisted a Pakistani choreographer on a commercial project and appeared in a few music videos.
Parallel to dance Divya explored modelling and pageantry. She won Miss Navi Mumbai (2015) followed by Miss Indian Princess (2016) and Miss Tourism International India (2016) which opened doors to the entertainment industry.
Television Breakthrough
Divya rose to fame in 2017 with MTV Splitsvilla 10 where her bold opinions and emotional honesty made her one of the most talked-about contestants. She finished the show as the runner-up.
Her major breakthrough came in 2018 when she won MTV Ace of Space Season 1 showcasing strong mental strength, leadership, and strategy. In 2021 she further cemented her popularity by winning Bigg Boss OTT Season 1 becoming the first-ever winner of the digital edition. She lifted the trophy on 18 September 2021 defeating Nishant Bhat and Shamita Shetty.
Moving beyond reality television Divya stepped into acting with the horror web series Ragini MMS: Returns (Season 2) where she played the lead role. She went on to build a strong digital portfolio with projects such as Cartel, Tatlubaaz, Abhay , Puncch Beat and Badass Begum.
Divya is set to return to competitive reality television with Colors TV’s The 50 (2026). Known for strategy-based gameplay and strong opinions she enters the show as one of the most experienced and talked-about contestants.
Love Life & Public Controversies
- Divya’s first widely known relationship was with Priyank Sharma after Splitsvilla 10. Their breakup gained national attention when Divya confronted him inside Bigg Boss 11 accusing him of emotional betrayal.
- In 2018, she began dating Varun Sood, whom she met through MTV reality shows. Their relationship lasted nearly four years and ended in 2022. The breakup led to online speculation, cheating rumours and a jewellery-related dispute all of which Divya firmly denied stating that emotional clarity and self-respect guided her decision.
- In October 2020 Divya lost her father due to COVID-19 complications. During her grieving period she faced insensitive online judgment over her public appearances. Divya openly addressed the criticism stating that grief is deeply personal and should never be judged.
- She has also spoken strongly about body positivity, online trolling, menstrual health stigma, and self-respect, earning respect for her honest and fearless approach.
- Her straightforward responses and refusal to conform to stereotypes have earned her respect even among critics.
Personal Life
After her breakup with Varun Sood in 2022 Divya’s long-time friend Apurva Padgaonkar a businessman and restaurateur re-entered her life as a source of emotional support. Over time their friendship evolved into a committed relationship built on mutual respect and stability.
Apurva proposed to Divya on her birthday in December 2022 and the couple married on 20 February 2024 in an intimate ceremony at Divya’s residence in Chembur Mumbai attended by close family and friends.
Social Media Presence
Divya Agarwal has a strong social media presence with 2.7 million followers on Instagram reflecting her popularity and influence. She actively engages fans through fashion, lifestyle content, and professional updates, making her a prominent digital celebrity.
Interesting Fact
- She owned and managed a dance academy before entering television.
- Divya cleaned up her Instagram to keep it strictly career-focused driven by her need for order.
- She avoided daily TV soaps preferring selective and meaningful projects.
- With her husband Apurva’s support she reconnected with faith and spirituality.
Favourites
- Favourite Actor: Hrithik Roshan
- Comfort Food: Dark chocolates
- Drink Preference: Wine
- Hobbies: Dancing, biking, travelling
- Travel Interest: Exploring new cultures and cuisines
Filmography
- Reality Shows
- MTV Splitsvilla 10 (2017) – Runner-up
- MTV Ace of Space 1 (2018) – Winner
- Bigg Boss OTT 1 (2021) – Winner
- The 50 (2026)
- Web Series
- Ragini MMS: Returns
- Tatlubaaz
- Cartel
- Abhay
- Puncch Beat
- Badass Begum
- Music video
- Bewafa – 2017
- Hume Tumse Pyaar Kitna (2017)
- Dil Ko Tumse Pyar Hua (2017)
- Aho Raya Mala (2018)
- Bob Marley (2018)
- Chance (2018)
- Baby Baby (2019 )
- Naam Ada Likhna (2019)
- Fitrat (2020)
- Kareeb (2021)
- Ishq Nibhava (2021)
- Koi Sehri Babu (2021)
- Dur Hua (2022)
- Bechari (2022)
- Resham Ka Rumal (2022)
- Rista Rista (2023)
- Rootha Mera Ishq (2025)
From choreographing dancers to becoming the first winner of Bigg Boss OTT Divya Agarwal’s journey showcases determination and resilience. Bold, honest, and unafraid of criticism, she continues to stand out as one of the most outspoken personalities in Indian digital entertainment.
