On May 21, 2025, Paresh Rawal continues to be a beloved name in Indian cinema and politics. He is an actor, comedian, producer, and politician. His life is full of achievements. He has worked in over 240 films. His roles are diverse, from funny characters to serious villains. This article tells the story of Paresh Rawal’s life. It covers his early days, career, family, and more. His journey is inspiring for many.
Early Life and Education
Paresh Rawal was born on May 30, 1955. He was born in Mumbai, India. His family is Gujarati. He grew up in a simple household. His father’s name was Dahyalal Rawal. Paresh went to Lion’s Juhu High School in Mumbai. Later, he studied at Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics. He completed his graduation in 1974. During college, he loved acting. He took part in drama festivals. These events sparked his passion for acting.
After college, Paresh started performing in Gujarati theatre. He joined theatre groups in 1973. He acted in many plays. Theatre helped him learn acting skills. It also gave him confidence. At the age of 22, he moved to Mumbai to chase his dreams. Before acting, he worked at the Bank of Baroda. But his heart was in acting, not banking.
Paresh Rawal Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Net Worth, Wife, Children, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Paresh Rawal |
| Date of Birth | May 30, 1955 |
| Place of Birth | Mumbai, India |
| Family Background | Gujarati family; Father: Dahyalal Rawal |
| Education | Lion’s Juhu High School, Mumbai; Graduated from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics in 1974 |
| Early Career | Worked at Bank of Baroda; Started acting in Gujarati theatre in 1973 |
| Film Debut | Holi (1984), small role |
| Breakthrough Film | Naam (1986), played a villain |
| Famous Comedy Role | Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in Hera Pheri (2000) |
| Notable Films | Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Sardar (1993), OMG – Oh My God! (2012), Sanju (2018), Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), Toofaan (2021), The Storyteller (2025) |
| Other Languages | Acted in Telugu (Kshana Kshanam, 1991) and Tamil (Soorarai Pottru, 2020) |
| Serious Roles | Vallabhbhai Patel in Sardar (1993), Kanji Lalji Mehta in OMG – Oh My God! (2012) |
| Awards | - National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor (1994, Woh Chokri & Sir) - Filmfare Award for Best Comedian (Hera Pheri, 2001) - Filmfare Award for Best Villain (Sir, 1994) - Padma Shri (2014) - Star Screen Awards (Raja, 1996; Hera Pheri, 2001) - IIFA and Zee Cine Awards for comedy roles |
| Political Career | - Joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - Member of Parliament (Ahmedabad East, 2014–2019) - Chairperson of National School of Drama (2020, 4-year term) |
| Controversies | - 2017: Tweet about Arundhati Roy - 2022: Comment about Bengalis during Gujarat election campaign |
| Personal Life | - Married to Swaroop Sampat (1987), actress and former Miss India (1979) - Two sons: Aditya (writer) and Anirudh |
| Hobbies | Loves cricket, watches live matches, enjoys the Italian film Il Postino: The Postman |
| Languages Known | Hindi, English, Gujarati, Telugu, Marathi |
| Production Work | - Produced OMG – Oh My God! (2012) - Produced TV shows like Teen Bahuraaniyaan and Laagi Tujhse Lagan |
| Interesting Facts | - Shaves head for villain roles - Worked with Priyadarshan in many films - Turned down Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006) - Used urine therapy for knee injury in 2025 (healed in 1.5 months) |
| Upcoming Films (2025) | Hera Pheri 3, Bhooth Bangla |
| Net Worth | Approximately 13 million US dollars (from acting, producing, endorsements) |
| Legacy | Known for versatile roles in comedy, drama, and villain characters; iconic dialogues; respected in cinema and politics |
Entry into Films
Paresh Rawal entered Bollywood in 1984. His first film was *Holi*. It was a small role. In 1985, he acted in *Arjun*. This was a supporting role. His big break came in 1986 with *Naam*. This film made people notice him. He played a villain in *Naam*. His acting was powerful. Critics and audiences liked him. From 1985 to 1999, he acted in over 100 films. Most of his roles were as villains. Films like *Kabzaa* (1988), *Ram Lakhan* (1989), and *Baazi* (1995) showed his talent as a villain.
Paresh also worked in other languages. He acted in Telugu films like *Kshana Kshanam* (1991) and *Money* (1993). He appeared in Tamil films like *Soorarai Pottru* (2020). His ability to act in different languages made him special. He was not just a Bollywood actor. He became a versatile performer.
Rise to Fame with Comedy
In the 1990s, Paresh started doing comedy roles. His role in *Andaz Apna Apna* (1994) was a game-changer. He played two characters in this film. His comic timing was perfect. Audiences loved him. But his biggest success came in 2000 with *Hera Pheri*. He played Baburao Ganpatrao Apte, a funny landlord. This role made him a comedy star. The film became a cult classic. People still love his dialogues like “Yeh Baburao ka style hai.” He won many awards for *Hera Pheri*, including a Filmfare Award for Best Comedian.
After *Hera Pheri*, Paresh became the king of comedy. He acted in films like *Awara Paagal Deewana* (2002), *Hungama* (2003), *Garam Masala* (2005), and *Golmaal: Fun Unlimited* (2006). His natural acting made people laugh. He worked with stars like Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty. These films were big hits. Paresh’s comedy roles made him a household name.
Serious and Supporting Roles
Paresh is not just a comedian. He also played serious roles. In 1993, he acted in *Sardar*. He played Vallabhbhai Patel, a freedom fighter. This role was special for him. He studied Patel’s life deeply. It changed his view of Indian history. The role won him praise worldwide. In 1994, he won a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. He won it for *Woh Chokri* and *Sir*. His role in *Sir* also got him a Filmfare Award for Best Villain.
Paresh’s other serious roles include *Tamanna* (1997) and *Aakrosh* (2010). In *OMG – Oh My God!* (2012), he played the lead role. He acted as Kanji Lalji Mehta, a man who questions God. The film was a hit. Critics loved his performance. He also produced this film. It was based on his play *Kishan vs Kanhaiya*. His ability to do both comedy and drama made him unique.
Recent Work
Paresh Rawal continues to act in films. In 2018, he played Sunil Dutt in *Sanju*. This was a biopic about Sanjay Dutt. His acting was emotional and powerful. In 2019, he acted in *Uri: The Surgical Strike*. In 2021, he was in *Toofaan*, a sports drama. He played a coach. The film streamed on Amazon Prime Video. In 2023, he acted in *Dream Girl 2* and *Shastry Viruddh Shastry*. In 2025, he played Tarini Khuro in *The Storyteller*. This role was based on Satyajit Ray’s character. His upcoming films include *Hera Pheri 3* and *Bhooth Bangla*. These films show he is still active and loved.
Political Career
Paresh Rawal is not just an actor. He is also a politician. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 2014, he became a Member of Parliament (MP). He represented Ahmedabad East in Gujarat. He served as MP from 2014 to 2019. In 2020, he was appointed chairperson of the National School of Drama. This was a four-year term. His work in politics shows his desire to serve people.
However, Paresh faced controversies. In 2017, he tweeted about writer Arundhati Roy. He suggested tying her to an army jeep. This was about a Kashmir issue. Many criticized him, including actress Swara Bhaskar. In 2022, he made a comment about Bengalis during a Gujarat election campaign. He talked about cooking fish for Bengalis. This led to a police case. Despite controversies, Paresh remains a strong figure in politics.
Personal Life
Paresh Rawal is married to Swaroop Sampat. She is an actress and former Miss India (1979). They married in 1987. They have two sons, Aditya and Anirudh. Aditya is a writer. He wrote a play called *The Queen* for Broadway in 2016. Paresh and Swaroop love theatre. They support Aditya’s work. Paresh speaks many languages, including Hindi, English, Gujarati, Telugu, and Marathi. He loves cricket and watches live matches. He also enjoys the Italian film *Il Postino: The Postman*.
Swaroop once shared a funny story. Early in their marriage, Paresh took her savings of Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000. He used it to pay his bar debts. Swaroop now laughs about it. This shows their strong bond. Paresh’s family is close-knit. They support his busy career.
Awards and Achievements
Paresh Rawal has won many awards. In 1994, he won a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. He won Filmfare Awards for *Hera Pheri* (2001) and *Awara Paagal Deewana* (2003). He got Star Screen Awards for *Raja* (1996) and *Hera Pheri* (2001). In 2014, he received the Padma Shri. This is India’s fourth-highest civilian award. It was for his work in cinema. He also won IIFA Awards and Zee Cine Awards for comedy roles.
Interesting Facts
Paresh has a unique habit. He shaves his head for villain roles. This helps him look darker and scarier. He worked with director Priyadarshan many times. Films like *Hera Pheri* and *Hungama* were with Priyadarshan. Paresh also produced TV shows. Some are *Teen Bahuraaniyaan* and *Laagi Tujhse Lagan*. He turned down roles in films like *Khosla Ka Ghosla* (2006). He is known for his sarcastic humor.
In 2025, Paresh injured his knee while shooting *Ghatak*. He was advised to drink his urine to heal faster. He followed this advice. Doctors were shocked as he healed in 1.5 months instead of 2.5 months. However, health experts say there is no proof for this method.
Legacy
Paresh Rawal is a legend. His journey from theatre to Bollywood is inspiring. He can make people laugh and cry. His roles as Baburao, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Sunil Dutt show his range. He is not afraid to take risks. His work in politics shows his love for India. Despite controversies, he remains respected. His net worth is around 13 million US dollars. This comes from acting, producing, and endorsements.
Paresh’s story is about hard work. He started with small roles. Today, he is a star. His films are loved by all ages. His dialogues are iconic. He continues to act and inspire. Paresh Rawal is a true gem of Indian cinema. His future projects will surely entertain us.
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