Ishitta Arun is an Indian actress, VJ, dancer, lyricist, and interior designer. She is the daughter of popular folk-pop singer Ila Arun.
Wiki/Biography
Ishitta Arun was born on Friday, 14 September 1979 (age 43 years; as of 2022) in Mumbai. Her zodiac sign is Virgo. She did her schooling at Arya Vidya Mandir in Mumbai, Maharashtra. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai. Ishita learnt Kathak at Shiamak Davar’s Institute of Performing Arts. Ishitta took singing classes from Ustad Maqbool Hussain.
A childhood picture of Ishitta Arun with her father
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 7″
Weight (approx.): 60 kg
Hair Colour: Brown
Eye Colour: Brown
Body Measurements (approx.): 34-30-34
Tattoos
- On left forearm: Sun and flowers
Ishitta Arun’s tattoo on her left forearm - On the right shoulder: a symbol
Ishitta Arun’s tattoo on her right shoulder
Family
Parents & Siblings
Her father, Arun Bajpai, is a retired Indian Navy personnel. Her mother, Ila Arun, is a renowned Indian actress and scriptwriter. In an interview, while talking about her parents, Ishitta said,
My mom (singer Ila Arun) has been most honest and sincere with her efforts in raising me as my father was constantly sailing when I was young. She always encouraged me, her only child, to spend time with my cousins. As a result, I am very close to them. I have been lucky enough to inherit the love for fine arts from my mother. She exposed me to music, singing, dance, writing, and theatre and developed in me the love for the family since my early years.”
Ishitta Arun with her parents
Husband & Children
On 27 May 2005, she got married to Dhruv Ghanekar, who is a music composer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist. They have two daughters, Amaala and Alaaya.
Other relatives
Her brother-in-law, Joy Ghanekar, is an actor. Ishitta’s father-in-law, Girish Ghanekar, is a Marathi director.
A picture of Ishitta Arun’s father-in-law, Girish Ghanekar
Religious Views
In an interview, while talking about her religious views, Ishitta said,
Chanting. This is my slab of solitude. I do my chanting and finish my prayers.”
Career
Ishitta Arun began her career as a video jockey and TV host for the B4U Music channel.
Acting
In 1982, she appeared in a TV commercial for Vicks VapoRub at the age of 3.
Theatre
Ishitta has performed in theatre productions. At the age of 9, she attended a children’s theatre workshop, which was conducted by Nadira Babbar. Later, she appeared in a morning TV series titled Science Basics, which was directed by Gullan Kriplani.
Documentary
At the age of 8, she appeared in a documentary, which was based on the life of famous classical singer Alla Jillai Bai.
Television Series
In 1986, she appeared as Ishita Bajpayi in a television series titled Yatra, which was directed by Shyam Benegal. In 2023, she played the role of Anna in a series titled Rana Naidu.
Poster of the series Rana Naidu (2023)
Music Video
In 1999, she made her music video debut in Sonu Nigam‘s song titled Bijuria from the album Mausam.
Ishitta Arun in a still from the music video of Sonu Nigam’s song Bijuria from the album Mausam (1999)
Film
In 2000, she made her Tamil debut with the film Snegithiye in which she played the role of Geetha Damodar.
Poster of the Tamil film Snegithiye (2000)
In 2003, she appeared as Mansi in the film Kahan Ho Tum, starring Sonu Sood and Sharman Joshi.
Poster of the film Kahan Ho Tum (2003)
Reality TV series
In 2010, she appeared as a contestant in a TV mini-series titled Dil Jeetegi Desi Girl, which aired on NDTV Imagine and got first runner-up position.
Interior Designing
Ishitta, an interior/furniture designer, designed the outpost of a restaurant named Mia Cucina in Bandra. She has lent her designs to several restaurants, residences, and offices for celebrities including Terence Lewis. She also designed the Wah Wah Studios in Mumbai and had independent exhibitions under her brand ‘Kishmish.’
Music
When Ishitta was eight years old, she recorded two songs for the documentary which was based on the life of Alla Jillai Bai. She has also penned lyrics for Dhruv Ghanekar, Atif Aslam & Mahir Zaine for TV commercials of several popular brands including Mahindra, Tata Steel, and Britannia Industries. In September 2012, she became a creative producer of Wah Wah Music production house. Arun has written several tracks for Bollywood films including Dhaakad (2022).
Other works
She has performed in over 100 live stage shows as a host. In 2006, she co-hosted a duet singing competition titled Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Ek Main Aur Ek Tu along with Shaan. Ishitta is the founder of Ikigai & Co., a theatre, performing arts, and humanities platform under which she has conceptualised and produced Gaa Re Maa, a drama that was featured at the Prithvi Festival 2018 as part of the 40th-year celebrations of Mumbai’s Prithvi Theatre.
Facts/Trivia
- When Ishitta was studying in school, the principal of the school insisted she changes her name from Ishitta Arun to Ishitta Bajpai as her mother, Ila Arun, was popular and the school wanted to keep their identities private.
- Ishitta learnt choreography from Saroj Khan for the song Bijuriya.
- Arun says she has been writing a lot for Ghanekar’s advertising campaigns.
“It started off as me having to step in for a writer who hadn’t turned up one day. Then it became a long-term thing. Everyone knows I act, but a few know that I write.”
- In an interview, Ishitta revealed that the first four lines of the lullaby she wrote for the film Dhaakad (2022) were actually from the lullaby that her grandmother used to sing to her when she was a child. Further, she added,
It has been passed down from one generation to another. I have been singing it to my children for nine years. But, since my grandmother is no more, most of us remember only a few lines. I had the task to build on them.”
- In an Instagram post, while talking about her father, Ishitta revealed that it was her father who introduced her to hip-hop songs, pushed her to dance, and also bought her a bikini and miniskirt.
- In an interview, while talking about her interest in music, she said that she liked listening to music if she was backstage, from the wings, or in studios. She also said that she might not be a musician but she has always been the ears.
- In an interview, Ishitta once revealed that she and her family used to witness a lot of snakes in the house before they left it.
- Ishitta and her husband, Dhruv, practice yoga twice a week.
- She is fond of reading books, and often reads bedtime stories to her daughters,
- Ishitta loves baking cakes and muffins with her daughter.
- In an interview, on being asked if Ishitta wanted her daughters to become musicians when they grow up, she said,
We tell them to become anything but musicians!”
- She consumes alcoholic beverages occasionally.
Ishitta Arun holding a beer bottle