Personal Details
- Born: September 28, 1976
- Nationality: Indian
- Birthplace: Belsand village, Gopalganj district, Bihar, India
- Grew up in a farming family in rural Bihar.
- Moved to Delhi to study at the National School of Drama (NSD).
- Married Mridula Tripathi; they have one daughter.
- His journey from a small village in Bihar to becoming one of India’s most respected actors is an important part of his public story.
Professional Details
- Actor known primarily for Hindi cinema and streaming series.
- Made his film debut with a small role in Run (2004).
- Initially worked mostly in supporting and character roles before becoming a leading name.
- Gained major recognition for films including Gangs of Wasseypur, Fukrey, Masaan, Newton, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Stree, Luka Chuppi and Mimi.
- His performance in Newton earned him a National Film Award Special Mention.
- Became particularly popular with streaming audiences through Mirzapur, where he plays the powerful and feared crime boss Kaleen Bhaiya.
- Also appeared in Criminal Justice and Sacred Games.
- Known for portraying ordinary-looking but psychologically complex characters, often combining seriousness with understated humour.
- Has become one of the most recognizable faces of India’s streaming era.
- Rather than relying on traditional Bollywood-star glamour, his appeal comes largely from naturalistic acting, distinctive dialogue delivery and believable characters.
