Ekta Kapoor Birthday: Ankita Lokhande, Krystle Dsouza lead warm wishes
Synopsis
Two of Ekta Kapoor's most celebrated leading ladies — Ankita Lokhande and Krystle Dsouza — marked her birthday with unusually personal tributes, each crediting the producer for believing in them before they believed in themselves. The posts are a rare public window into the mentor-protégé bonds that quietly shaped two of Indian television's biggest careers.
Key Takeaways
Ekta Kapoor celebrated her birthday on Sunday , drawing tributes from across the television and film industry.
Ankita Lokhande credited Kapoor with changing her life, referencing their association on Pavitra Rishta — the third-longest-running Indian TV series on Zee TV .
Pavitra Rishta also launched the late Sushant Singh Rajput , with both actors becoming household names through the show.
Krystle Dsouza called Kapoor her 'sister, mother, therapist, emergency contact, life coach and best friend,' citing Kapoor's early belief in her as pivotal to her growth.
Dsouza starred in Kapoor's Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai ( StarPlus , 2011–2013 ), now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar .
Television and film producer Ekta Kapoor celebrated her birthday on Sunday to an outpouring of affection from the industry, with actresses Ankita Lokhande and Krystle Dsouza among the first to post heartfelt tributes on social media — each crediting Kapoor for shaping their careers.
Ankita Lokhande's tribute to her 'life-changing' mentor
Ankita Lokhande took to her Instagram Stories to honour the producer she credits with transforming her life. 'Happy Birthday @ektarkapoor Here's to the woman who changed my life! Wishing you endless happiness, good health, and all the success in the world. May this year bring you even more love and beautiful memories. Love you Mam,' Lokhande wrote.
The connection between the two runs deep. Lokhande rose to national prominence playing Archana in Ekta Kapoor's flagship serial Pavitra Rishta, which also launched the late Sushant Singh Rajput as Manav. The show made both actors household names and remains the third-longest-running Indian television series on Zee TV.
Krystle Dsouza's emotional message
Actress Krystle Dsouza matched the warmth with an even more personal note on Instagram, describing Kapoor as someone who occupies every significant role in her life simultaneously.
'Happy Birthday to the woman who somehow ended up being my sister, mother, therapist, emergency contact, life coach and best friend all in one person. A lot of who I am today exists because you believed in me before I believed in myself,' Dsouza wrote.
'I love you more than words, and thank you for loving me through every version of me...Forever your favourite problem,' she added.
Dsouza starred as the lead in Kapoor's sibling drama Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai, co-starring Nia Sharma, which aired on StarPlus from October 2011 to September 2013 and is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
Ekta Kapoor's enduring influence on Indian television
Ekta Kapoor is widely regarded as one of the most powerful forces in Indian entertainment, having produced some of the medium's most-watched serials and a string of commercially successful films. Her ability to identify and nurture talent — as both Lokhande and Dsouza's messages underline — has become a defining part of her reputation in the industry.
Several other members of the film and television fraternity also extended birthday wishes on social media through the day.
As Kapoor marks another year, the tributes pouring in from her leading ladies suggest that her legacy is as much about the careers she built as the content she produced.
Point of View
Not solicited. Kapoor's real influence on Indian television may ultimately be measured less by ratings and more by the careers she quietly built from the ground up.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ankita Lokhande wish Ekta Kapoor on her birthday?
Ankita Lokhande posted a birthday tribute on Instagram Stories calling Ekta Kapoor 'the woman who changed my life,' referencing their long association through the hit serial Pavitra Rishta. Lokhande played the lead role of Archana in the show, which made her a household name.
What show did Krystle Dsouza do under Ekta Kapoor's production?
Krystle Dsouza starred as the lead in Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai, a sibling drama produced by Ekta Kapoor that aired on StarPlus from October 2011 to September 2013. The show also co-starred Nia Sharma and is currently available on Disney+ Hotstar.
What is Pavitra Rishta and why is it significant?
Pavitra Rishta is an Ekta Kapoor-produced television serial that aired on Zee TV and is the third-longest-running Indian television series on the channel. It starred Ankita Lokhande and the late Sushant Singh Rajput, whose characters Archana and Manav became iconic in Indian pop culture.
