Renu Dhariwal

Renu Dhariwal is an Indian film and television actress, famously associated with her depiction of the character Shurpanakha in the classic series Ramayan. Renu was born and brought in Delhi, India. Raised by a traditional Punjabi family, film career was never an option for Renu. With her mother's support, Renu shifted to Mumbai without revealing her father about the true intentions behind the travel. She came to Mumbai seeking for more acting opportunities and joined Roshan Taneja’s acting classes. Renu started working as a theatre artist. Ramanand Sagar, the creator of the show, Ramayan, saw one of Renu's plays where she performed as a mother. Impressed with her performance, he asked her to audition for the role of Shurpanakha. Renu got the opportunity to be part of the show. She soon grabbed the audience's attention with her iconic evil laughter and performance.

After the show, Renu appeared in several feature films such as Tunka Pyar Da, Bhrashtachar, and Dil Aashna Hai. In 1987, she joined the Indian Congress youth wing and later transferred to women’s wing of the fraction. She was a member of the party until 2014. To focus on her political career, Renu quit her acting profession in the early 90s. Her husband supported her in every decision. Renu's stint as the vice-president of the Mahila Congress ended in 2014. She decided to quit politics in 2014 after the emergence of the BJP regime and has been running two NGOs that operate for women and child welfare.