Sushant Divgikar, also known as Rani Ko-HE-Nur, is an Indian model, actor, singer, columnist, motivational speaker, drag queen, pageant director, and video jockey. In July 2014, they were crowned Mr Gay India 2014. They represented India at Mr Gay World 2014.[1][2] They won various special awards during Mr Gay World 2014, and have been the only delegate from India to win three sub awards. Divgikar is the first Indian and the first delegate from any country to have won a record 3 individual sub titles and 2 group sub titles at the Mr Gay World 2014 contest.
Sushant Divgikar | |
|---|---|
 Divgikar at the launch party of HYMUS nightclub in Mumbai, 2014 | |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | Rani Ko-HE-Nur (Drag queen persona) |
| Citizenship | Indian |
| Education | Masters Degree in Industrial and Organisational Psychology from University of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Agent(s) | Parambir Kaur (Mango films and Productions) |
| Parents |
|
They participated in the television reality show Bigg Boss 8.[3]
Divgikar, in their drag queen persona Rani Ko-HE-Nur, created history by becoming the first drag queen in India to participate in a singing reality show and win the golden buzzer, making Rani / Sushant the first contestant from the LGBTQIA+ community to win a golden buzzer and directly enter the top 15 of the reality competition show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in the year 2018. In 2021, under their drag person, they were announced to be competing in the premiere season of Queen of the Universe, an international singing competition for drag performers. The series premiered on December 2, 2021.
Divgikar has featured in many television shows and has worked with most of the leading broadcasting channels, agencies and production houses, nationally and internationally.
Early life and background
editDivgikar was born and raised in the western suburbs of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, in their family home in Bandra West. Divgikar was born to Goan Konkani parents, Pradeep Divgikar and Bharati Divgikar. Their father, Pradeep is a retired Assistant Commissioner, Indian Customs and Central Excise and former President of the Greater Mumbai Amateur Aquatics Association (GMAAA).[4]
Career
editDivgikar started their TV career with UTV Bindass's Big Switch Season 3 directed by Rohit Shetty. They then did Atyachaar Ka Punchnama for UTV Bindass as a host. They were a contestant on Color TV's Bigg Boss 8.[5] They participated in Mr Gay World 2014. They were among the top 10 finalists and is the first person in the history of the pageant to have three sub awards - Mister Gay World Congeniality 2014, Mister People's Choice & Mister Gay World Art 2014.[6] They have also worked on TV commercials[7] for brands like Maruti Suzuki, MTV India, Channel V India, Idea mobiles.[8] Alongside acting and TV, they won several awards and titles between 2011 and 2013.[citation needed]
In 2015, they were the guest in Colors TV's India's Got Talent[9] and Zoom's Style Panga.[10] They were also the guest in the grand finale of &TV's Killerr Karaoke Atka Toh Latkah.[11] Two documentary films, both based on their life, have been nominated and screened at various national and international festivals.[citation needed] Presently, they will soon be seen in an online series Love, Life and Screw Ups.[12]
Divgikar, both in and out of drag, was listed as one of GQ's 50 Most Influential Young Indians of 2018.[13]
Queen of the Universe
editIn November 2021, they were announced as one of fourteen contestants on the debut season of Queen of the Universe, an international drag queen singing competition, and a spin-off of RuPaul's Drag Race.[14]
| Queen of the Universe season 1 performances and results | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week # | Theme | Song choice | Original artist | Order # | Result |
| 2 | This Is Me | "Piya Tu Ab To Aja", "Laila Main Laila" | Asha Bhosle & R.D. Burman, Ram Sampath, Kalyanji–Anandji & JAM8 | 3 | Advanced |
| 3 | Turn Back Time | "My Heart Will Go On" | Celine Dion | 6 | Advanced |
| 4 | Duets | "Damn That Man" | Grag Queen and Rani Ko-HE-Nur | 1 | Advanced |
| 5 | Bad Girls | "Bad Romance" | Lady Gaga | 2 | Eliminated |
Filmography
editTelevision
edit| Year | Name | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Atyachaar Ka Punchnama | Host | ||
| 2012 | Big Switch 3 | Guest | ||
| 2013 | Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki | Contestant | Along with Sanaya Irani | |
| 2014 | Bigg Boss 8 | Contestant (Evicted on Day 49) | ||
| 2015 | Killerr Karaoke Atka Toh Latkah | Contestant | Along with Sonali Raut | |
| 2015 | India's Got Talent 6 | Guest | Along with Mouni Roy | |
| 2015 | Style Panga | Host | ||
| 2016 | Box Cricket League 2 | Contestant | Player in Ahmadabad Express | |
| 2018 | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2018 | Contestant | Came as Rani Ko He Noor | [15] |
| 2021 | Queen of the Universe | Herself | Contestant (4th/5th place) | [14] |
Music videos
edit| Year | Title | Artist(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | "3 Devi" | Sushant Divgikar & Supriyaa Ram | [16] |
Web series
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 101 India | Herself | Episode: "A Drag Queen Sandwich With Alaska Thunderf**k and Rani Ko-He-Nur" | [17] |
| 2024 | 36 Days | [18] |
Discography
editSingles
editFeatured singles
edit| Title | Year | Album | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Damn That Man" (with Grag Queen) | 2021 | non-album singles | [19] |
Awards and nominations
edit- Mr. Gay world India 2014 - Won
- Mr. Congeniality, Mr. Gay world 2014 - Won
- Mr. People's choice, Mr. Gay world 2014 - Won
- Mr. Arts challenge, Mr. Gay world, 2014 - Nominated
- Team sports challenge, Mr. Gay world 2014 - Nominated
- Team Arts challenge, Mr. Gay world 2014 - Nominated
- Mr. Gay world, 2014, Rome - Top 10 Grand Finalist
- Best Anchor in a reality or music and danced based, Indian Television Academy Awards (Atyachaar Ka Punchnama) - Nominated
Personal life
editDivgikar has an older brother, Karan Divgikar, who works as a flight attendant at Qatar Airways. Divgikar is a certified Psychologist and holds a master's degree in Industrial psychology.[20]
In January 2021, Divgikar came out as genderfluid via an Instagram post, stating their pronouns are "he", "she", and "they".[21]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Mumbai model to represent India at Mr Gay World". mid-day.com. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- ^ "Sushant Divigak Mr Gay India 2014". pink-pages.co.in. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- ^ "Sushant Divgikar reveals Bigg Boss 8 secrets and his life plans for future!". BuddyBits.com. 4 December 2014. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
- ^ "The Divgikars pool in to make a big splash". The Indian Express. 13 August 1998. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ "Entertainment News, Latest Entertainment News, Photos, Videos". in.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2005.
- ^ "MGW2014: Second round of winners | Mr Gay World". Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHXN6jGxJ4k2KyPAbKh66sw Commercials
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjMR-yB5Vic Idea Commercial
- ^ [1][dead link] India's Got Talent
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CVNhy-z_dw Style Panga
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kR3aSevgHY Killerr Karaoke Atka Toh Latkah
- ^ "Best friends Sushant and Diandra will act with Zeenat Aman - Times of India". The Times of India.
- ^ "GQ's 50 Most Influential Young Indians of 2018". GQ India. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ a b Nolfi, Joey (10 November 2021). "Queen of the Universe cast adds Drag Race, American Idol stars: Meet the queens!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ "Saregamapa 2018 16th December 2018 eliminations: Rani Ko-HE-nur eliminated". TellyBest. 16 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ 3 Devi | A Love Song for Goddesses @Sushant Divgikar RaniKoHEnur | Supriyaa Ram | Dossmode | Kannada. Altered Ego Entertainment. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ A Drag Queen Sandwich With Alaska Thunderf**k and Rani Ko-He-Nur | Unique Stories From India. WOWPresents. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ "36 Days - Tara aka Sushant Divgikr is not just glitz and glamour but also has sparkling secrets - Watch". OTTPlay. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ O'Rourke, Jill (29 December 2021). "Meet Brazilian 'Queen of the Universe' Finalist Grag Queen". Talent Recap. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ missmalini (18 January 2015). "11 Awesome Things Sushant Divgikar Told Us About Bigg Boss 8 (And Beyond!)". MissMalini.
- ^ K, Heena (22 January 2021). "Sushant Divgikar: 'I am Shiv as well as Shakti, I am gender fluid'". indulgexpress.com. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
