Tanwar was preparing for the Indian Civil Services exams when a chance audition at Doordarshan led her to anchor a show Albela Sur Mela. Her television career zoomed from there and she is today one of TV's biggest female stars. These days she can be seen as Priya Kapoor in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain. But it was Ekta Kapoor's Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki, a serial that ran for almost eight years, which made Tanwar a household name as Parvati bhabhi.