Paresh Rawal
Paresh Rawal at Swaroop Rawal's new book launch
Born	(1950-05-30) 30 May 1950 (age 62) Ahmedabad, India
Occupation	Actor, Television producer
Years active	1984 - Present
Spouse	Swaroop Sampat

Paresh Rawal (born 30 May 1950) is an Indian Hindi film actor of Gujarati background.

He made his debut in the film industry in 1984 played supporting and villain roles throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Since 2000, he has started playing comic roles^[1] and has succeeded in it.

Family and early life[link]

Paresh was born in Ahmedabad, India. He is married to Swaroop Sampat, an actress and winner of the Miss India contest in 1979. Paresh and Swaroop have two sons - Aditya and Aniruddh. Paresh Rawal is an alumnus from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce & Economics, Vile Parle, Mumbai.^[2]

Career[link]

Rawal made his debut with the 1984 film Holi. He then appeared in over 100 films throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Paresh Rawal's biggest hit was Hera Pheri.

Before he attained national recognition, in 1991 Rawal achieved recognition and adulation for his role of a bank robber in Kshana Kshanam. His quirky accent and mannerisms made him an instant hit. He acted in quite a few Telugu films by the RGV school of direction like Money and Govinda Govinda.

In 1994, he won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in the films Woh Chokri and Sir.^[3] For the latter, he also received his first Filmfare Award for Best Comedian. This was followed by Ketan Mehta's Sardar, which saw him playing the lead role of freedom fighter Vallabhbhai Patel, a role that got him not only national but international acclaim.^[3] He followed it with the film Tamanna (1996), in which he played the role of a Hijra (person of "third" gender, typically male transgender) who raises a young, orphaned girl, played by Pooja Bhatt.^[3]

In 2000, Rawal played a dim-witted and boisterous, but kind-hearted Marathi landlord Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in the film Hera Pheri, who takes in Raju (Akshay Kumar) and Shyam (Sunil Shetty) as paying guests in his house. Rawal's acting was a key reason for the major nationwide success the film received.^[4] For his performance, he won the Filmfare Best Comedian Award. Apart from doing comdey roles he played negative roles in 'King Uncle', 'Kabzaa', 'Ram Lakhan', 'Daud', 'Baazi' etc. He reprised his role as Baburao in the sequel to the film, Phir Hera Pheri (2006), which was also successful.^[3]

In 2002, Rawal portrayed one of three blind bank robbers in the hit film Aankhen. Rawal has since played many comedy roles in successful films including Awara Paagal Deewana (2002), Garam Masala (2005), Deewane Huye Paagal (2005), Malamaal Weekly (2006), Golmaal (2006),Hulchul (2004), Chup Chup Ke (2006), Bhagam Bhag (2006), Shankar Dada MBBS, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Mere baap Pahale Aap, Welcome and De Dana Dan (2009).^[3] In 2010, Rawal acted in the movie Aakrosh based on honour killing.^[5]

A mention should also be made of his very successful acting career in Gujarati plays. The latest hit being "Dear Father" (Gujarati).

Paresh Rawal has produced several Hindi soaps including Zee TV's Teen Bahuraaniyaan, Sahara One's Main Aisi Kyunn Hoon and Colors' Laagi Tujhse Lagan.^[6]

Awards[link]

National Film Awards

• 1994: Won: National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Woh Chokri & Sir

Filmfare Awards

• 1993: Won: Filmfare Best Villain Award for Sir
• 1995: Nominated: Filmfare Best Villain Award
• 1996: Nominated: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award- Raja
• 2001: Won: Filmfare Best Comedian Award for Hera Pheri
• 2003: Won: Filmfare Best Comedian Award for Awara Paagal Deewana

Star Screen Awards

• 1996: Won: Star Screen Award Best Supporting Actor for Raja
• 2001: Won: Star Screen Award for Best Comedian for Hera Pheri
• 2003: Won: Star Screen Award for Best Comedian for Awara Paagal Deewana

IIFA Awards

• 2001: Won: IIFA Best Comedian Award for Hera Pheri

Zee Cine Awards

• 2003: Won: Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role for Awara Paagal Deewana

Apsara Awards

• 2012: Nominated: Apsara Award for Best Performance in Comic Role for Ready

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Paresh Rawal at the Internet Movie Database

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Paresh Rawal

• An interview with Paresh Rawal
• I feel secure with Akshay: Paresh Rawal

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