Arishfa Khan: From Child Actor to Bigg Boss 20’s Biggest Social Media Star

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When Arishfa Khan walked into the Bigg Boss 20 house in September 2026, millions of viewers recognised her instantly — not just as a social media superstar with over 29 million Instagram followers, but as the little girl who once played young Gunjan on Indian television. At 23, Arishfa has already completed more than a decade in front of the camera, making her one of the rarest kinds of stars in the Indian entertainment industry: a child actor who successfully reinvented herself for the social media generation.

Here’s a closer look at her life, career and rise to fame.

Arishfa’s entry into showbiz was never a coincidence. As a child, she accompanied her mother, Arshi Naz, a stuntwoman who worked in the film industry, to shoots. Those long days on set planted the seed of an acting career — and eventually, Arshi Naz stepped away from her own work to support her daughter’s ambitions.

Arishfa made her television debut in 2012 with Colors’ Chhal – Sheh Aur Maat, playing Gitanjali. The same year, she landed the role that made her a familiar face across Indian households: young Gunjan in Ek Veer Ki Ardaas… Veera. Her performance as the child version of the lead character earned her widespread recognition and a nomination at the Indian Television Academy Awards era.

Her early fame, however, came at a personal cost. Arishfa has spoken openly about leaving school because of her demanding shooting schedule, later resuming her studies through online classes during the lockdown.

Following her breakthrough in Veera, Arishfa became a regular presence on Hindi television. Over the years, she appeared in popular shows including:

• Jeannie Aur Juju
• Uttaran
• Yeh Hai Mohabbatein
• Gangaa
• Meri Durga
• Crime Patrol (episodic appearances)
• Several television commercials

In 2018, she graduated from supporting roles to her first lead part with Papa By Chance on Star Bharat, where she played Gurneet Chatwal. For a former child artist, stepping into a lead role was a defining moment — and it proved she could carry a show on her own shoulders.

Television gave Arishfa her first taste of fame, but social media turned her into a phenomenon. She rose to prominence during India’s TikTok era, where her dance, lip-sync and lifestyle videos made her one of the platform’s biggest Indian creators, amassing millions of followers before the app was banned in the country in 2020.

Rather than slowing down, Arishfa adapted. She shifted her audience to Instagram and YouTube, launching her YouTube channel on 27 June 2018, where she shares vlogs, fashion and travel content. Today, she commands more than 29 million followers on Instagram (@arishfakhan138) — a number larger than many established Bollywood stars.

Her content spans fashion, beauty, travel and entertainment, building a fan base that has grown up watching her evolve from a child actress into a digital creator.

Arishfa has also built an impressive portfolio of music videos, including Yaara 2 (2019) alongside Mamta Sharma and Teri Baatein Mulaqatein (2020) with Rohan Mehra. In 2026, she appeared in the music video Ishq Abhi Baaki Hai, keeping her visible in the entertainment circuit even outside reality television.

Arishfa Khan entered the Bigg Boss 20 house after the show’s grand premiere on 6 September 2026, hosted by Salman Khan on Colors TV. Her entry was one of the season’s most talked-about moments — reports noted she arrived with more Instagram followers (29.1 million) than any other contestant, and reportedly more than several A-list Bollywood and South Indian film stars.

Interestingly, despite her massive following, Arishfa is not the season’s youngest contestant — she is reported to be the second-youngest, after rapper Yung DSA. Inside the house, her competitive streak quickly became visible, including a notable clash with co-contestant Kanika Mann.

Her entry also sparked renewed public interest in a difficult chapter of her past: her emotional reaction to the 2018 death of social media personality Danish Zehen, a moment that went viral and remains part of her public story.

Arishfa Khan’s journey — from accompanying her stuntwoman mother on film sets, to becoming a beloved child artist, to building one of India’s largest Instagram followings — mirrors the transformation of Indian entertainment itself. Television built her foundation; social media gave her scale; Bigg Boss 20 gave her a mainstream platform all over again.

At just 23, she remains one of the country’s most-followed young creators, and her story is far from over.

Q1. How old is Arishfa Khan?
Arishfa Khan is 23 years old. She was born on 3 April 2003 in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Q2. What is Arishfa Khan’s height?
Arishfa Khan is approximately 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) tall, according to most published profiles. No official measurement has been confirmed.

Q3. What was Arishfa Khan’s first TV show?
Her television debut was Chhal – Sheh Aur Maat in 2012 on Colors TV.

Q4. Which role made Arishfa Khan famous?
She is best known as young Gunjan in Ek Veer Ki Ardaas… Veera.

Q5. How many Instagram followers does Arishfa Khan have?
She has more than 29 million followers on Instagram (@arishfakhan138) as of September 2026 — the highest among Bigg Boss 20 contestants.

Q6. Is Arishfa Khan in Bigg Boss 20?
Yes. Arishfa Khan entered the Bigg Boss 20 house in September 2026, on Colors TV, hosted by Salman Khan.

Q7. Is Arishfa Khan married?
No, Arishfa Khan is unmarried as of 2026.

Arishfa Khan in pictures

Gallery photos via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0).

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