Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actor arrested in Pune on alleged rape charges. Who is Ashish Kapoor?

Television actor Ashish Kapoor, known for his role in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Dekha Ek Khwaab, has reportedly been arrested on charges of rape following a complaint filed by a woman. As reported by ANI, the alleged incident took place during a house party in Delhi in the second week of August 2025.

Ashish Kapoor arrested in Pune

Police confirmed that the actor was taken into custody after tracking his movements from Goa to Pune, where a special team eventually arrested him. Reportedly, according to police, the woman accused Ashish Kapoor of sexually assaulting her inside a bathroom during a house party held in Delhi. Following her complaint, an FIR was lodged on August 11, which led the authorities to begin a search for the actor.


According to the police, the woman initially alleged that Ashish Kapoor, his friend who hosted the party, the friend's wife, and two unidentified men were involved in sexually assaulting her. She also stated that another woman physically attacked her after the incident.

However, she later modified her statement. A week later, on August 18, the woman gave a revised statement, in which she claimed that only Ashish Kapoor had raped her, and that his friend’s wife had physically assaulted her. The investigation is underway.

As per the latest TOI report, the investigation has revealed some key details. CCTV footage and eyewitness statements suggest that Kapoor and the complainant entered a washroom during the party and remained inside for an extended period. When they did not come out, other guests reportedly knocked on the door, leading to a heated argument that escalated all the way to the society gate. It was there that the complainant said she was assaulted by the friend’s wife.

Moreover, it was the friend’s wife who called the police control room (PCR) to report the disturbance at the venue. Following the FIR, Kapoor’s friend and his wife applied for anticipatory bail, which was granted on August 21. The complainant was present in court but did not name the friend in her court submission.

The police have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and the case has now been refocused solely on Ashish Kapoor, who is currently in custody.

Who is Ashish Kapoor?

He is known by nicknames Ashu and AK, is a trained interior designer who transitioned into acting. He began his television career with the show Shhh… Koi Hai and went on to appear in a variety of popular series. Some of his roles include appearances in Love Marriage, Pratigya 2, Nandini, Woh Apna Sa, Bandini (as Vikram Mahiyavanshi), Saraswatichandra (as Kabir Vyas), and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (as Nikhil). However, he is best remembered for playing Yuvraj Rajkumar Udayveer Singh in the hit show Dekha Ek Khwaab, which earned him widespread recognition.

Born on October 17, 1984, he is 40 years old. Apart from his work on screen, he has frequently attracted attention for his personal relationships. He previously dated actress Priyal Gor, reportedly when she was 18, and was later in a relationship with beauty queen Ilda Kroni. In July 2022, Kapoor made headlines again after his breakup with TV producer Pearl Grey.