Manoj Pahwa

Manoj Pahwa Biography

Manoj Pahwa (born 1963) is an Indian character actor known for his work in Hindi film and television. He was raised in a Punjabi family in New Delhi; his father migrated from West Punjab after Partition and ran an automobile-battery business, and Pahwa was educated at the National Public School in Daryaganj. He lived in East Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar before moving to Mumbai in his late twenties.

He made his debut in the pioneering Doordarshan serial Hum Log (1984–85) as Tony, and television carried the first phase of his career — Shanti (1995–2000), Just Mohabbat (1996–2000), Gudgudee (1998–99) and, above all, Office Office (2001), where his turn as the harried Bhatia became his best-known role. In films he built a long run as a comic and supporting player across more than seventy credits, including Satya (1998), Taal (1999), Hey Ram (2000), Tum Bin (2001), Being Cyrus (2005), Dhamaal (2007), Singh Is Kinng (2008), Housefull (2010) and Jolly LLB (2013).

A dramatic second act arrived with Anubhav Sinha’s Mulk (2018) and Article 15 (2019), which brought him consecutive Filmfare nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He has since worked steadily across film and streaming, from Mimi (2021) and Anek and Mili (2022) to IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack and Jigra (2024). He has been married to actress and director Seema Pahwa since 1988; their children, Mayank and Manukriti Pahwa, are also actors.

Basic Details

• Full Name: Manoj Pahwa
• Year of Birth: 1963 (published sources disagree on the exact date)
• Birthplace: New Delhi, India
• Nationality: Indian
• Profession: Actor (film, television and theatre)
• Years Active: 1984 – present
• Primary Industry: Hindi cinema and television
• Education: National Public School, Daryaganj, New Delhi
• Spouse: Seema Pahwa, actress and director (married 1988)
• Children: Two — Mayank Pahwa and Manukriti Pahwa, both actors

Career Highlights