Sana Makbul has a way of staying in the conversation, even when she isn’t trying. She won Bigg Boss OTT 3 in August 2024, took home ₹25 lakh, and then—by her own admission—went strangely quiet. For a reality TV winner, that’s an unusual move. Most people sprint toward the spotlight. Sana walked away from it for a bit.
That contradiction is what makes her interesting. She is a former beauty pageant winner who spent years in daily soaps, a fitness enthusiast who has battled a chronic liver condition, and a woman who speaks about her personal life with a bluntness that often lands her in headlines. This isn’t just another biography. It’s a closer look at what has actually happened to Sana Makbul, where she is now, and why her story matters beyond the trophy.
Quick Info Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sana Makbul Khan |
| Birth Name | Sana Khan |
| Date of Birth | 13 June 1993 |
| Age | 33 years (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Islam |
| Height | 5′ 7″ (170 cm) |
| Profession | Actress, Model |
| Years Active | 2009–present |
| Bigg Boss OTT 3 | Winner (2024) |
| Net Worth | Approx. ₹2 crore (est.) |
Biography: Who Is Sana Makbul, Really
Sana Makbul is an Indian actress and model who built her career across Hindi television, Telugu cinema, and Tamil films before winning Bigg Boss OTT Season 3 in 2024. She was born Sana Khan in Mumbai and later adopted “Makbul” from her father’s name, a detail that often gets lost in the noise around her. Multiple sources, including BookMyShow and NDTV, confirm her birth date as 13 June 1993.
Early Life and Education
Sana grew up in Mumbai in what she describes as a “woman-oriented” household. In an interview with The Free Press Journal, she said her father was her biggest cheerleader—the kind of parent who quietly gave his daughters the freedom to choose their own paths. She has an elder sister, Shafa Naeem Khan, who is a businesswoman.
Education: She attended Mumbai Public School before graduating from R. D. National College in Mumbai, where her interest in modelling and acting took root.
One lesser-known detail: as a child, she tutored younger kids for ₹100–200. Her first paycheck—₹10,000—came at age 15 for a Britannia advertisement. That early hustle says something about the work ethic that later carried her through the uncertainty of television.
Career Highlights: From Pageants to Prime Time
Modelling and Early Television
Sana’s first brush with the camera came in 2009 on MTV Scooty Teen Diva, a reality show that opened doors to advertisements and small TV roles. In 2012, she competed in Femina Miss India and won the Femina Miss Beautiful Smile title—a validation that pushed her further into modelling.
Television Stardom
Her breakthrough came with StarPlus’s Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?, where she played Lavanya Kashyap. She followed it up with roles in Arjun (as Riya Mukherjee), Kitani Mohabbat Hai 2, and the supernatural drama Vish (as Dr. Aliya Sanyal). These weren’t career-defining roles in the way a film lead might be, but they made her a familiar face in Indian living rooms.
Film Debut
She made her Telugu film debut in 2014 with Dikkulu Choodaku Ramayya, playing Samhitha, an aerobics trainer. A Tamil thriller, Rangoon, followed in 2017. The films didn’t turn her into a movie star, but they proved she could hold her own outside the TV ecosystem.
Reality TV and the Bigg Boss Win
In 2021, she was a semi-finalist on Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 11. Then came Bigg Boss OTT 3 in 2024. She entered as an underdog, got labelled “selfish” by some viewers, and still walked out with the trophy on 2 August 2024, defeating rapper Naezy and actor Ranvir Shorey in the finale.
Current Projects: What She’s Doing Now
After her Bigg Boss win, Sana was notably less visible than expected. In a January 2026 interview, she admitted she “did not accept the condition at first”—a reference to the kind of post-show commitments that often come with reality TV contracts. She hasn’t disappeared, though.
Her most significant post-Bigg Boss project is Begum Of Crime, a dark crime thriller that marked her OTT debut. The series premiered on Hungama OTT on 3 March 2026. Sana plays Divya, a woman who walks away from her home with a single-minded determination to build a life on her own terms, even if it means stepping into a world of theft, manipulation, and murder. In an interview with IANS, she described the character as “bold, unapologetic, and dangerously determined.”
She has also stayed active in the music video space, appearing in tracks like “Kaala Maal” and “Kehna Galat Galat” in 2024.
Family Details
| Family Member | Relation | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Makbul Khan | Father | From Mumbai; described by Sana as her biggest supporter |
| Mother | Mother | Malayali from Kerala |
| Shafa Naeem Khan | Elder Sister | Businesswoman: the two share a close bond. |
| Simba | Pet | A cat, often featured on her social media |
Relationship Status: Is Sana Makbul Married?
No, Sana Makbul is not married. As of 2026, she is single.
Her last known relationship was with businessman Srikanth Bureddy. Reports indicated the couple broke up amicably in early 2025. In a candid interview with The Free Press Journal published on 2 January 2026, Sana revealed that the breakup wasn’t about a lack of love—it was about her success becoming a problem for her partner.
“When I went ahead of the man, he didn’t like it. He didn’t like it. So I think that balance is still not there in our society.”
She also said that “the person who loved me suddenly started having issues with a lot of things” and that she ultimately chose to walk away rather than keep adjusting to a dynamic that no longer made sense to her. That kind of honesty is rare in celebrity interviews. It also reframes the question people keep asking: Is Sana Makbul married? The more interesting question is whether she wants to be, given what she has said about the cost of ambition in relationships.
She has also been rumored to have dated actor Vishal Aditya Singh, her co-contestant on Khatron Ke Khiladi 11, though both have described each other as friends.
Net Worth and Income Sources
Sana Makbul’s estimated net worth is around ₹2 crore (approximately $240,000), according to multiple reports citing Jagran TV. There is no official confirmation, and celebrity net worth figures in India tend to be rough estimates rather than audited numbers.
What feeds that net worth?
- Television and films: Her acting fees across Hindi TV, Telugu, and Tamil projects.
- Reality TV: The ₹25 lakh Bigg Boss OTT 3 prize money and appearance fees for Khatron Ke Khiladi 11.
- Brand endorsements and modelling: A steady stream of commercial work since her teenage years.
- Music videos: Paid appearances in independent music projects.
- Social media: Influencer collaborations, though she is not among the highest-paid Indian creators.
Cars and Lifestyle: The Post-Win Upgrades
Sana’s lifestyle changed visibly after the Bigg Boss win, and her garage tells part of that story.
| Vehicle | Approx. Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | ₹54 lakh | Purchased in 2025; reported by Cartoq |
| Land Rover Defender | ₹1.20 crore (est.) | Purchased in early 2025; reported by Car Blog India |
That’s a quick escalation: from a Mercedes A-Class to a Land Rover Defender within months. It’s not obscene by entertainment-industry standards, but it is a clear signal that the Bigg Boss cheque and the visibility that came with it translated into real purchasing power. Claims about a Mercedes-Benz GLA have not been independently verified and have been excluded from this table.
On the lifestyle side, Sana is a fitness enthusiast who practices kickboxing and yoga. She loves beach destinations and has spoken about her love for travel. Her diet is non-vegetarian, and her favorite holiday destination is New York.
Controversies: The Ones That Stuck
Sana Makbul doesn’t go looking for fights, but she doesn’t back down from them either. Three controversies stand out.
1. The Cryptic “Ex-Friend” Post (2026)
In August 2026, Sana posted a long, sharp Instagram note aimed at an unnamed former friend. She called the person a “dustbin” with a “gutter mindset” and warned, “If I open my mouth, you won’t be able to stand anywhere near the image you’re trying hard to portray.” Social media users widely speculated that the target was Mahii Vij, noting that the two had unfollowed each other and that Vij was rumored to be entering Bigg Boss 20. However, Sana did not name Vij in her post, and there is no confirmation that the remarks were directed at her. That distinction matters.
2. The Hijab Trolling (2026)
Sana was trolled for not wearing a hijab. In an interview with The Free Press Journal, her response was refreshingly direct: “My elder sister wears a hijab, and I don’t. What’s wrong in that?” She clarified that she is Muslim and modern and that she wants a partner who accepts her faith without trying to change her.
3. The “Selfish” Label on Bigg Boss
During her Bigg Boss OTT 3 run, she was called one of the most “selfish” contestants of the season. She won anyway. Whether that label was fair is debatable—reality TV editing is rarely neutral—but it became part of her public image.
Lesser-Known Facts
- She is a virgin—by choice. In a May 2026 interview, Sana said, “I am a virgin because of me. Because I don’t trust anybody. They’ll break my heart.” She framed it as a personal decision, not a religious one.
- She has autoimmune hepatitis. She was diagnosed with a chronic liver condition in which the immune system attacks the liver. In a March 2025 interview on Bharti Singh’s podcast, she said, “A lot of people do not know that I am an autoimmune hepatitis patient. Autoimmune is a condition, and I have a liver disease. It was diagnosed in 2020.”
- She underwent facial surgery after a dog bite. In 2022, she revealed she had plastic surgery and a grafting procedure after a dog bite affected her cupid’s bow.
- Her father’s support shaped her. She credits her father’s quiet, consistent backing for her fearless personality—a detail she shared in her Free Press Journal interview.
- She got her first phone in 8th grade. A Nokia 1100. Small detail, but it places her in a specific generational context that many readers will recognise.
Social Media Presence
| Platform | Handle | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| @divasana | Primary platform; active with lifestyle, fitness, and project updates | |
| X (Twitter) | Active | Occasional commentary and updates |
Sana’s Instagram is a mix of polished photos and unfiltered captions—a balance that works for her because it doesn’t feel manufactured. She doesn’t post with the relentless frequency of an influencer trying to game an algorithm. That restraint is part of her appeal.
FAQs
1. Is Sana Makbul married?
A: Sana Makbul is unmarried and single as of 2026. Her last known relationship was with businessman Srikanth Bureddy; they reportedly broke up in early 2025.
2. Is Sana Makbul a Bigg Boss winner?
A: Yes. She won Bigg Boss OTT Season 3 on 2 August 2024, defeating Naezy and Ranvir Shorey. She took home the trophy and ₹25 lakh in prize money.
3. What has happened to Sana Makbul after Bigg Boss?
A: She took a relatively low-profile approach after winning, explaining that she didn’t initially accept certain post-show conditions. She made her OTT debut with Begum of Crime on Hungama OTT in March 2026 and has also appeared in music videos.
4. What is Sana Makbul’s real name?
A: Her birth name is Sana Khan. She adopted “Makbul” from her father’s name and uses it professionally.
5. Does Sana Makbul have a health condition?
A: Yes. She has spoken publicly about living with autoimmune hepatitis, a chronic liver condition diagnosed in 2020.
6. How tall is Sana Makbul?
A: She is 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall.
7. What is Sana Makbul’s net worth?
A: Her estimated net worth is around ₹2 crore, according to media reports. The figure is not officially confirmed.
Conclusion
Sana Makbul’s story is not a neat arc from obscurity to fame. It’s messier than that. She won a beauty title, spent years in television, made a few films, won a reality show, and then chose—at least for a while—to step back rather than sprint forward. She has been called selfish on national television, trolled for her clothing, and publicly honest about a breakup that happened because her success made someone else uncomfortable.
More recently, she has started writing a new chapter. Her OTT debut in Begum of Crime shows she is not done with acting, and her willingness to speak plainly about health, relationships, and the limits of what she will tolerate suggests that her next moves will be on her own terms. In an industry that rewards constant visibility, that’s a quieter kind of courage.
About the Author
This article was researched and written by the editorial team at Husbandsbio, drawing on interviews, public statements, and verified reports from sources including NDTV, The Free Press Journal, IANS, and Bollywood Hungama. We prioritise accuracy, context, and human storytelling over hype. If you spot an error, we want to know.
