Rajesh Nihalani Wiki Bio. “The Good Wife” star Archie Panjabi’s husband

• Rajesh Nihalani is a bespoke tailor with a net worth of over $500,000
• He is married to Archie Panjabi, an actress with a net worth of $3 million
• He is a bespoke tailor who creates clothing based on the buyer’s specifications
• Rajesh and Archie had an arranged marriage by their parents
• He has no strong online presence and was arrested in 2010 for allegedly stealing from an electronics store



Known for movies

Short Info

Date Of Birth May 31, 1972
Spouse Rajesh Nihalani
Fact Awarded the Shooting Star Award at the Berlin International Film Festival 2005 for Yasmin (2004). She was selected from hundreds of actors to represent the UK.



Who is Rajesh Nihalani

Rajesh Nihalani was born in India, and is a designer as well as a bespoke tailor, but perhaps best known for being the husband of actress Archie Panjabi, who became famous for her role as Kalinda Sharma in the show “The Good Wife”. Aside from that role, other notable projects she’s worked on include “Bend it Like Beckham”, and “Yasmin”.

Posted by Archie Panjabi on Saturday, October 19, 2013

The Riches of Rajesh Nihalani

How rich is Rajesh Nihalani? As of mid-2019, sources inform us of a net worth that is over $500,000, earned through a successful career in tailoring. His wealth is also potentially elevated thanks to the success of his wife, who has a net worth estimated to be over $3 million. As he continues his endeavors, it is expected that his wealth will also continue to increase.

Early Life and Career

There is almost no information available about Rajesh, as he’s managed to keep his life out of the spotlight. There are no details regarding his family, childhood, and education. It is known that he would later become a bespoke tailor which is a specific type of tailor who creates clothing based on the buyer’s specifications.

Rajesh Nihalani and rchie Panjabi

It is the opposite of ready-to-wear clothing which is very popular in present times. It usually begins with a pattern created for scratch and then a cloth made to fit a person exactly would be designed. Due to the nature of bespoke clothing being rarer in today’s times, it is more expensive to have a tailor work on a customer specifically and it usually means a high amount of quality within the work. New technologies have also made it possible to create clothes using digital patterning and lean manufacturing. The word bespoke means “made to order”, and was popular within the English language during the peak of this type of clothing.

Wife – Archie Panjabi

Nihalani’s wife was born in London, England on 31 May 1972, after both of her parents emigrated from India. She didn’t initially pursue a career in acting, having completed a management studies degree while also training in ballet at a young age. It was 1999 when she started to appear on television and in films, mostly in local productions. Some of her earlier projects include “East is East” and “Life on Mars”, and one of her first notable roles came a few years later in the comedy “Bend it Like Beckham”, which would lead to more high profile projects.

She then appeared in the romantic comedy “A Good Year” alongside Russell Crowe, playing the character Gemma who is an office colleague in the film. In 2007, she worked with Angelina Jolie in the film “A Mighty Heart, based on the book of the same name by Mariane Pearl. She’s also done voice acting work, and has voiced several characters in British children’s animation. She worked on “Postman Pat”, and even for the video game “Dead Space: Extraction.” She continued contributing to film hits such as “Pan’s Labyrinth” and “The Loves of Others”.

The Good Wife and Archie’s Recent Projects

In 2009, Panjabi became one of the cast members of the television series “The Good Wife”. The show is a legal and political series following a wife of the Cook County State’s Attorney who returns to her career after her husband gets involved in a public corruption and sex scandal. She gained considerable fame for her role, which led to several awards, however, she left the show after several seasons realizing that the role was starting to affect her personal life. Her next project would be the series “The Fall”, in which she played a pathologist. She also made a guest appearance in the show “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”.

In 2016, she worked on the pilot for the show “The Jury”, and then joined the cast of the NBC show “Blindspot”, which focuses on a mysterious tattooed woman who has no recollection of her identity or her past, so the FBI try to decipher her tattoos which contain clues to crimes. Aside from her acting work, she’s been noted for being outspoken about diversity in Hollywood, stating that an agent even told her once that an Indian woman like her could never have a Hollywood career.

Personal Life and Social Media

For her personal life, it is known that Rajesh married Archie in 1998, an arranged marriage set up by their parents, but they didn’t disagree as it is still a tradition for most Indian families to marry in this manner. The two have stayed married since then, indicating that they’ve had a successful relationship – they haven’t any children, and will not likely have any due to their respective ages.

One of the reasons why there is very limited information about Rajesh is due to the lack of any strong online presence. He does not have accounts on any of the major social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In 2010, he made news when he was arrested for allegedly stealing from an electronics store. He used his credit card to pay for electronics and then later declared his card to be stolen. There wasn’t anything negative to have come out from the arrest. as there have been no subsequent news reports. According to the report, the business he runs is called Imperial Tailoring.

General Info

Full Name Archie Panjabi
Date Of Birth May 31, 1972
Height 1.6 m
Profession Voice Actor
Education Brunel University London
Nationality British

Family

Spouse Rajesh Nihalani
Parents Padma Panjabi, Govind Panjabi
Siblings Ashwin Panjabi

Accomplishments

Awards Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Nominations Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture Made for Television, Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, Satellite Award for B…
Movies San Andreas, A Mighty Heart, East Is East, Bend It Like Beckham, The Constant Gardener, A Good Year, I Origins, Yasmin, Traitor, The Infidel, Espion(s), The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him, The Happiness Salesman, Love Triangle, The Secret, My World, Be G…
TV Shows The Fall, The Good Wife, Postman Pat, Personal Affairs, Sea of Souls, Blindspot, Harry Enfield’s Brand Spanking New Show, Grease Monkeys

Social profile links

Quotes

# Quote
1 When I was younger I was fat. I was never conscious of it and was content with who I was because I was so loved. My mother never told me to lose weight and my father doted on me, but my agent told me. I tried, but I loved Indian food too much.
2 You have this impression from England that New Yorkers can be quite aggressive, but certainly the people that I’ve bumped into and the friends I’ve made here don’t seem that way. Just walking down the street and asking for directions, people seem to be very helpful and happy to help.
3 I went out for a film where they wanted seven brothers and one sister, so I was there for half a day while they were waiting for ‘Archie’ to read for a boy… I’ve had drivers come to pick me up in England looking for a blond, blue-eyed Scottish boy.
4 I went to Brunel University and very much wanted to go on to do a PhD in management, but then my acting career started to take off. In those days when you switched on the box there were hardly any brown or black faces.
5 The generation that migrated to the West in the 1970s or 1960s has now lived more in the West than India, and India has changed so much. My parents fall into that category.
6 My mother wanted to be a teacher when she was young, and my father didn’t approve of it, so she fought very hard to become one. And she did it. So when I said I wanted to become an actress, my mother was very supportive. She always said to me, ‘There’s no such thing as ‘can’t.’
7 I’d love to say I made the smart decision of picking projects that became hits, but with ‘The Good Wife,’ I read the script and something inside me said, ‘I love this, I want to do this.’
8 Coming to New York is like a big hug, everyone is so welcoming. There’s something about here, everyone makes you feel so at home. I miss my family of course, but I don’t miss London that much. I was worried, but I feel really at home. Everyone says that who comes here from London, but I didn’t believe them.
9 I had a dialect coach to get an American accent, and then another dialect coach to come off it a bit. There is something deep and mysterious in the voice when it isn’t too high-pitched American.
10 I have always let the lack of Indian actors in the industry drive me, not hold me back. I remember an agent in L.A. telling me a few years ago that an Indian actor wouldn’t ever make it in Hollywood, but my ethnicity has helped me.
11 I knew from a young age that I wanted to be an actor. I never even thought about other careers. The acting field is certainly not the path many Indian parents encourage their children to take, but mine were very supportive. They wanted me to have an education, but understood that this is what I wanted to do.
12 Luckily my parents were not against my ambition, they’ve always been very supportive. But they were adamant that I went to university first.
13 I knew what I wanted to do for my entire life, from nursery to university. I’ve always been geared towards wanting to act. I’ve stuck with it, dedicated time to it.
14 I love roles where I have to transform myself.
15 I remember sitting in school and thinking, ‘I don’t know why I’m here, because I know I’m going to act and I know I’m going to America.’
16 I like to do new things, so I always take on roles that I feel will keep me on my toes. I never want to pigeon myself, so I always like to surprise myself. I believe in versatility and so I would play anything as long as it was a challenge.
17 I’d love to do a romantic comedy. And perhaps, if the character was right and I had a good gut instinct, a Bollywood movie. And I’d love to direct. One day. I’m learning a lot on the set of ‘The Good Wife.’

Facts

# Fact
1 Both of her parents were schoolteachers.
2 For her role on The Good Wife (2009), she was named one of the “Eight Actors Who Turn Television into Art”, in the cover story of The New York Times Magazine (9/11/11). Also named as one of the Top 10 Faces on TV to Watch. (Variety, 2009).
3 Won Best Actress for her role in Yasmin (2004) at the Reims Festival in 2006.
4 Awarded the Shooting Star Award at the Berlin International Film Festival 2005 for Yasmin (2004). She was selected from hundreds of actors to represent the UK.
5 She spent part of her childhood in Mumbai (Bombay), which is why she considers herself “Part Bombayite, part British.” She based the character Gemma/Jessminder in Ridley Scott’s A Good Year (2006) on someone she knew in Mumbai.

Pictures

Movies

Actress

Title Year Status Character
The Good Wife 2009-2015 TV Series Kalinda Sharma
The Fall 2013-2014 TV Series Reed Smith
The Widower 2014 TV Mini-Series Simone Banerjee
I Origins 2014 Priya Varma
Postman Pat: Special Delivery Service 2008-2013 TV Series Meera Bains / Nisha Bains / Meera Baines / …
The Happiness Salesman 2010 Short Karen
The Infidel 2010 Saamiya Nasir
Be Good 2009 Short Animal Adoption Officer
Personal Affairs 2009 TV Series Jane Lesser
Dead Space: Extraction 2009 Video Game Catherine ‘Karen’ Howel / Additional Voices (voice)
Espion(s) 2009 Anna
My World 2008/I Short Teacher
Traitor 2008 Chandra Dawkin
Love Triangle 2007 TV Short Friend (voice)
Silent Witness 2007 TV Series Amita Joshi
A Mighty Heart 2007 Asra
I Could Never Be Your Woman 2007 Casting Girl
Life on Mars 2006-2007 TV Series Maya Roy
Lezioni di volo 2007 Sharmila
Postman Pat 2004-2006 TV Series Meera Baines
Nisha Baines
Meera Bains
A Good Year 2006 Gemma
A Very Social Secretary 2005 TV Movie Ashley
The Constant Gardener 2005 Ghita Pearson
Chromophobia 2005 Sarita
Grease Monkeys 2003-2004 TV Series Rita Dhillon
Yasmin 2004 Yasmin Husseini
Sea of Souls 2004 TV Series Megan Sharma
Cross My Heart 2003 Sumi
Canterbury Tales 2003 TV Mini-Series Clare
Code 46 2003 Check In
Final Demand 2003 TV Movie Farida
This Little Life 2003 TV Movie Niala
Arranged Marriage 2002 Short Shashi
White Teeth 2002 TV Mini-Series Alsana
My Family 2002 TV Series Dental Assistant
Tough Love 2002 TV Movie Chandra (Mr Jones)
Holby City 2002 TV Series Ali Saffron
The Secret 2002 TV Series Nadia’s Probation Officer
Bend It Like Beckham 2002 Pinky Bhamra
Black Nor White 2002 Short Sangeeta
Single Voices 2002 TV Series
Ivor the Invisible 2001 TV Movie Leila (voice)
Delilah 2001 Short Adult Pim
The Bill 2001 TV Series Shanaz Azad / Shanaz Arad
Murder in Mind 2001 TV Series WPC Jill Evans
A Mind to Kill 2001 TV Series Lamisa Khan
Brand Spanking New Show 2000 TV Series Various roles
In the Beginning 2000 TV Mini-Series Basya, Pharaoh’s Daughter
East Is East 1999 Meenah Khan
Escape to Somerset 1998 Short Samina
Dad 1997 TV Series
The Thin Blue Line 1996 TV Series Nazia Habib
Under the Moon 1995 TV Movie Heena (as Archie Panabi)
Bideshi 1995 Short Joyoti
Siren Spirits 1994 TV Mini-Series Joyoti
London’s Burning 1993 TV Series Yasmin
Blindspot 2016-2017 TV Series Nas Kamal
Power Monkeys 2016 TV Mini-Series Preeya
Shetland 2016 TV Series Asha Israni
The Jury 2016 TV Movie Kim
Brooklyn Nine-Nine 2015 TV Series Lieutenant Singh
San Andreas 2015 Serena Johnson

Soundtrack

Title Year Status Character
Bend It Like Beckham 2002 performer: “Hot Hot Hot” 1983

Self

Title Year Status Character
Today 2017 TV Series Herself
Entertainment Tonight 2016 TV Series Herself
Up Close with Carrie Keagan 2015 TV Series Herself – Guest
The View 2015 TV Series Herself – Guest
45th NAACP Image Awards 2014 TV Movie documentary Herself
Behind the Seams: An Insider’s Look at Costume Design 2013 TV Short Herself
44th NAACP Image Awards 2013 TV Movie documentary Herself
70th Golden Globe Awards 2013 TV Special Herself – Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 2012 TV Series Herself – Guest
The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards 2012 TV Special Herself – Nominated: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
CBS This Morning 2012 TV Series Herself – Guest
Live with Kelly and Michael 2012 TV Series Herself – Guest
Rachael Ray 2012 TV Series Herself – Guest
43rd NAACP Image Awards 2012 TV Special Herself
VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul 2011 TV Movie Herself
America in Primetime 2011 TV Series documentary Herself / Kalinda Sharma, The Good Wife
The Education of Alicia Florrick: Making Season One 2010 Video documentary Herself
The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards 2010 TV Special Herself – Winner: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Britain’s First Suicide Bombers 2006 TV Movie documentary Tahira Tabassum

Awards

Won Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
2012 Image Award Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Good Wife (2009)
2010 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Good Wife (2009)
2007 Chopard Trophy Cannes Film Festival Female Revelation
2006 Best Actress Reims International Television Days Yasmin (2004)
2005 EFP Shooting Star Berlin International Film Festival United Kingdom.
2005 Prix Ciné Femme Mons International Festival of Love Films Best Actress Yasmin (2004)

Nominated Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
2014 Image Award Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Good Wife (2009)
2013 Golden Globe Golden Globes, USA Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television The Good Wife (2009)
2013 Image Award Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Good Wife (2009)
2012 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Good Wife (2009)
2012 Dagger Crime Thriller Awards, UK Best Supporting Actress The Good Wife (2009)
2012 OFTA Television Award Online Film & Television Association Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Good Wife (2009)
2012 Actor Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series The Good Wife (2009)
2011 Primetime Emmy Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Good Wife (2009)
2011 Critics’ Choice TV Award Critics Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Good Wife (2009)
2011 Gold Derby TV Award Gold Derby Awards Drama Supporting Actress The Good Wife (2009)
2011 OFTA Television Award Online Film & Television Association Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Good Wife (2009)
2011 Actor Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series The Good Wife (2009)
2010 Satellite Award Satellite Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television The Good Wife (2009)
2010 Actor Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series The Good Wife (2009)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia