Nikhat Khan Hegde was born on August 4, 1962, in Mumbai, India, into a prominent film family. She is the daughter of Tahir Hussain, a well-known actor, director, and producer, and Zeenat Hussain. Nikhat is the eldest sibling of four, including Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Faisal Khan, and graphic designer Farhat Khan Datta. She is married to Santosh Hegde, a retired CEO from a pharmaceutical company, and they have a daughter named Seher Hegde and a step-son, Shravan Hegde. The family has deep roots in the film industry; her uncle Nasir Hussain was also a notable filmmaker. Nikhat's career began in film production with her debut in 1990 and she has since transitioned into acting later in life, gaining recognition for her roles in various films and television series.