Paresh Rawal

Paresh Rawal – Full Biography

Personal Information

• Full Name: Paresh Rawal
• Date of Birth: 30 May 1955
• Birthplace: Bombay, Bombay State, India (present-day Mumbai, Maharashtra)
• Nationality: Indian
• Profession: Actor, comedian, film producer and former Member of Parliament
• Years Active: 1982–present
• Political Party: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Family and Personal Life

• Spouse: Swaroop Sampat, actress and winner of the 1979 Miss India contest
• Marriage Year: 1987
• Children: Two sons, Aditya and Anirudh

Rawal was born and raised in Bombay in a Gujarati family. His son Aditya Rawal is an actor and writer who made his acting debut with the Hindi film Bamfaad (2020).

Education

• College: Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Vile Parle, Mumbai
• He was involved in theatre during his college years, which led him into films.

Paresh Rawal – Career Highlights

• Rawal has appeared in more than 240 films, mainly in Hindi, and remained active in Gujarati theatre throughout his screen career. His Gujarati play Dear Father was later adapted into a 2022 film of the same name.
• 1985–1999: Made his film debut in a supporting role in Arjun (1985), and was established by the 1986 hit Naam. He spent the next fifteen years working mostly as a villain, in films including Kabzaa, Ram Lakhan, King Uncle, Sir, Mohra, Dilwale and China Gate, alongside the double role in the cult comedy Andaz Apna Apna (1994). He also became a fixture in Telugu cinema with Kshana Kshanam (1991), Money (1993), Govinda Govinda (1994), Money Money (1995) and Bavagaru Bagunnara (1998).
• 1993–1994: Won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Woh Chokri and Sir, and his first Filmfare Award, for Best Performance in a Negative Role, for Sir. He then played Vallabhbhai Patel in Ketan Mehta’s Sardar, the role that brought him his widest acclaim.
• 2000: Played Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in Hera Pheri, a role that reframed his career and moved him into leading and main-protagonist parts. He reprised it in Phir Hera Pheri (2006).
• 2001–2009: Worked mainly in comedy ensembles — Nayak, Aankhen, Awara Paagal Deewana, Hungama, Hulchul, Garam Masala, Deewane Huye Paagal, Malamaal Weekly, Golmaal: Fun Unlimited, Chup Chup Ke, Bhagam Bhag, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Welcome, Mere Baap Pehle Aap and De Dana Dan — with dramatic turns in Aitraaz (2004) and Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008).
• 2010–2019: Starred in Aakrosh (2010), based on honour killing, and took the lead in OMG – Oh My God! (2012) opposite Akshay Kumar, to strong reviews for both. Later work included Table No. 21 (2013), Tiger Zinda Hai (2017), Sanju (2018), in which he played Sunil Dutt, and Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019).
• 2020–2024: Appeared in the Tamil film Soorarai Pottru (2020), later reprising the role in its Hindi version Sarfira (2024), and in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s boxing drama Toofaan (2021).
• 2025: Played Satyajit Ray’s character Tarini Khuro in The Storyteller, and appeared in the horror films Nikita Roy and Thamma as well as Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi and The Taj Story.
• Television production: Has produced several Hindi serials, including Zee TV’s Teen Bahuraaniyaan, Sahara One’s Main Aisi Kyunn Hoon and Colors’ Laagi Tujhse Lagan.

Political and Public Career

• Elected to the Lok Sabha in the 2014 Indian general election as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate from the Ahmedabad East constituency in Gujarat.
• He polled 633,582 votes, or 64.29% of the total, defeating the Congress candidate Himmatsingh Patel by a margin of 326,633 votes.
• He served as a Member of Parliament in the 16th Lok Sabha from 16 May 2014 to 23 May 2019, succeeding Harin Pathak and being succeeded by Hasmukh Patel.
• In September 2020 he was appointed Chairperson of the National School of Drama by the President of India, succeeding Ratan Thiyam.

Paresh Rawal – Recent Activities

• Appeared in The Taj Story and Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi in 2025, both of which drew controversy over their subject matter.
• His announced upcoming films are Tera Yaar Hoon Main, Bhagam Bhag 2 and Hera Pheri 3.
• Hera Pheri 3, in which he would again play Baburao, had been slated for 2024 but was put on hold in May 2024.

Paresh Rawal – Awards List