Quick facts
| Born | 19 May 1974 |
| Birthplace | Budhana, Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Profession | Actor |
| Education | National School of Drama, graduated 1999 |
| Debut | Sarfarosh (1999), in a small role |
Film career
He appeared in Shool (1999) and Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003). He drew wider attention with Black Friday (2004) and Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). His breakthrough came with Peepli Live (2010). He also appeared in Kahaani (2012), The Lunchbox (2013), Kick (2014), Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016), Raees and Mom (2017), and Manto (2018).
Television and recent work
He appeared in the Netflix series Sacred Games (2018 to 2019) and the British series McMafia (2018). His more recent projects include No Land’s Man (2021), Heropanti 2 (2022), Afwaah, Jogira Sara Ra Ra and Tiku Weds Sheru (2023), Thamma (2025), and Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders (2025).
Awards and recognition
He received a Special Jury Award at the 60th National Film Awards in 2012 for Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur, Dekh Indian Circus and Talaash. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2013 for The Lunchbox. He won the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Actor for Raman Raghav 2.0 in 2016 and for Manto in 2018.
- Revolutionized Hindi cinema and streaming as a powerhouse character actor, achieving mainstream breakthroughs with Peepli Live and the iconic crime epic Gangs of Wasseypur.
- Cemented critical acclaim through prestigious accolades, including a National Film Award Special Jury honor, a Filmfare Award, and multiple Asia Pacific Screen Awards for Best Actor.
- Expanded his global footprint through the seminal Netflix series Sacred Games and high-profile feature projects such as Thamma and Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders.
Net worth
Not publicly estimated.
