Actress and artist Lekha Washington has returned to the spotlight after she was detained alongside actor Imran Khan during a protest in Mumbai.

On October 10, 2026, Imran and Lekha were among those detained by Mumbai Police during a demonstration at August Kranti Maidan. They were later released.

But Lekha Washington is much more than Imran Khan’s girlfriend. She has built a career across acting, modelling, television, design and contemporary art.

From Modelling to South Indian Cinema

Born on April 30, 1987, Lekha Washington spent much of her early life in Tamil Nadu. She began her career as a model and video jockey before entering the South Indian film industry.

She appeared in Tamil and Telugu films including Jayamkondaan, Vedam and Va. She also worked in Hindi cinema, appearing in Maatru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, where she shared the screen with Imran Khan.

Alongside acting, Lekha developed a strong interest in design and visual arts. She studied at the National Institute of Design, with an academic background that included lifestyle product design and film and video communication.

A Career Beyond Acting

Lekha eventually expanded her creative work beyond cinema. She has designed furniture, sculptures and other artistic objects, combining functionality with an experimental and imaginative approach.

In 2014, she also attracted attention for her lifestyle brand, Azzi—The Odd Product Company.

Her work as an artist reached an international audience when she was involved in creating a large installation inspired by a second moon for the Burning Man festival in Nevada in 2018.

Her Relationship With Imran Khan

Rumours surrounding Imran Khan and Lekha Washington had circulated for years before Imran publicly confirmed their relationship in a 2024 interview with Vogue India. He said the two grew closer during the COVID-19 lockdown, after both had moved on from their previous relationships.

Imran was previously married to Avantika Malik. They married in 2011, separated in 2019 and have a daughter, Imara. Imran has also spoken out against the narrative that portrayed Lekha as a “homewrecker”, arguing that such a label was misogynistic.

Lekha later spoke about their relationship herself, describing their bond as a rare opportunity to grow together while being deeply in love.

“A Woman’s Identity Should Not Be Defined by Her Boyfriend”

Lekha has also faced online abuse over her relationship with Imran. She has pushed back against the idea that a woman’s identity should be reduced to the man she is dating.

After spending years in the entertainment industry, she increasingly focused on art and design, building an independent creative identity away from the conventional world of acting.

Why Were Lekha and Imran Detained?

On October 10, Lekha and Imran were detained during a protest at Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan linked to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The demonstration called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and was connected to allegations surrounding the revision of electoral rolls.

Imran said he had attended not as a representative of any organisation but as a citizen. He questioned why freedom of movement was being restricted and why people’s voices were being suppressed.

Lekha also shared updates from inside the police vehicle after their detention. Both were subsequently released.

The incident has once again brought Lekha Washington into the spotlight—but her career as an actor, designer and artist extends well beyond her relationship with Imran Khan.