Mumbai, Jan 8: Bollywood actress Sagarika Ghatge is celebrating her 40th birthday today, and what better way to mark the occasion than by looking back at her fascinating life and career?

Born into the royal Ghatge family of Kolhapur, Sagarika is not your typical Bollywood star. She’s the great-granddaughter of Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur, with royal blood running through her veins. Her father, Vijasinh Ghatge, is from the royal Kagal family, and her grandmother, Sita Raje Ghatge, was the daughter of Indore’s Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar III.

Sagarika made her Bollywood debut alongside the legendary Shah Rukh Khan in the iconic film Chak De! India (2007). Playing the role of Preeti Sabharwal, a determined hockey player, she caught the audience’s eye and instantly became a fan favorite. Her performance earned her the Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress, marking a solid start to her acting career.

But it’s not just her film career that’s grabbed attention. Sagarika’s love life is like a fairy tale in itself. After his breakup with actress Isha Sharvani, former cricketer Zaheer Khan was introduced to Sagarika through their common friend, actor Angad Bedi. Sparks flew right from the start, and what began as a friendship soon blossomed into a romance.

After nine months of dating, the couple made their relationship official and tied the knot on November 23, 2017, with a dreamy court marriage followed by a glamorous wedding reception.

Despite her promising debut in Chak De! India, Sagarika didn’t feature in many films. However, she did entertain audiences in films like Premachi Goshta and Dildariyaan. Her most recent project was the psychological thriller Footfairy, where she played the character of Devika.

The film, which is currently streaming on Netflix and Zee 5, didn’t receive the love it hoped for from critics and audiences due to its weak storyline and technical flaws. The film, loosely based on the Korean hit Memories of Murder, failed to impress, despite Sagarika’s best efforts.

Sagarika may not have appeared in many films, but her grace, acting talent, and fairy-tale love story continue to captivate the hearts of her fans. Here's wishing the actress a very happy 40th birthday and a future filled with more success and happiness!