# Kulbhushan Kharbanda

Kulbhushan Kharbanda (born 21 October 1944) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi and Punjabi films. He is best known for his role as the antagonist Shakaal in Shaan (1980), Starting off with the Delhi-based theatre group 'Yatrik' in the 1960s, he moved to films with Sai Paranjpye's Jadu Ka Shankh in 1974. He worked in several parallel cinema films before working in the mainstream Hindi film industry. He appeared in Mahesh Bhatt's classic Arth (1982), Ek Chadar Maili Si (1986), Waaris (1988), and in all three parts of Deepa Mehta's Elements trilogy: Fire (1996), Earth (1998), and Water (2005). After nearly two decades he was seen on the theatre stage at the Padatik Theatre in Kolkata in the production of Atmakatha, directed by Vinay Sharma.

## Career

After his studies he and a few of his college friends formed a theatre group called "Abhiyaan", and then joined Delhi-based "Yatrik", a bilingual theatre repertory founded by director Joy Michael in 1964; he became its first paid artiste, though after a few years Yatrik collapsed as the director was lecturing in US universities. That is when he moved to Kolkata in 1972 and started working with the theatre group "Padatik" which did Hindi theatre, under director Shyamanand Jalan. Here he worked for a while before moving on to Mumbai and films.
He first got noticed in Nishaant (1974) by Shyam Benegal, with whom he went on to work in several more films including Manthan (1976), Bhumika: The Role (1977), Junoon (1978), and Kalyug (1980). Soon he was a regular with parallel cinema directors, like in Godhuli (1977) with B. V. Karanth.
Playing the bald villain Shakaal in Shaan (1980) directed by Ramesh Sippy, he saw his transition into mainstream cinema. Kharbanda went on to appear in Shakti (1982), Ghayal (1990), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Gupt (1997), Border (1997), Yes Boss (1997) and Refugee (2000). However, he continued appearing in art films such as Chakra (1981), with Smita Patil and Naseeruddin Shah, Arth (1982), with Shabana Azmi, Andhi Gali (1984), the first Hindi film of Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Ek Chadar Maili Si (1986), with Hema Malini, Utsav (1984), by Girish Karnad, Mandi (1983), Trikal (1985), Susman (1987), by Shyam Benegal, Naseem (1995), by Saeed Akhtar Mirza and Monsoon Wedding (2001) directed by Mira Nair.
He portrayed Reema Lagoo's husband and Raj Babbar's brother in Shashi Kapoor's Filmwalas Productions' Kalyug. He has also appeared in period films such as Jodha Akbar and Lagaan.
He has acted in a number of Punjabi films. He portrayed the hero in the legendary film Chan Pardesi (1980) and starred in the Punjabi comedy Mahaul Theek Hai (1999).
He has acted in six of Deepa Mehta's movies and all her trilogy films: Earth, Fire and Water. He did a German film in 2009.
He has acted in TV serials, such as Shanno Ki Shaadi and Mahi Ve.
He has been seen on the stage in plays such as Teen Farishtay, Hatya ek akaar ki, Baki Itihaas, Ek Shunya Bajirao, Guinea Pig, Girdhade, Sakharam Binder and, recently, Atmakatha.

## Filmography
### Television + Web series

| Year | Show | Role |
| 1997 | Yeh Hai Mere Apne | |
| 1999 | Shapath | |
| 2002 | Tu Kahe Agar | Vishal's Tauji |
| 2016 | Love Shots | Mr. Chowdhury |
| 2018-2020 | Mirzapur | Satyanand Tripathi aka Bauji |
| 2020 | A Suitable Boy | Karim Chand Seth aka Lata's Nanaji |
| 2021 | The Tattoo Murders | Retired DCP Ajay Yagnik |
| 2022 | Guilty Minds | L N Khanna |

### Films

| Year | Film | Role |
| 2024 | Crew | Jasmine's Grandfather |
| 2022 | Ardh | |
| 2019 | Khandaani Shafakhana | Hakim Tarachand |
| 2019 | No Fathers in Kashmir | |
| 2019 | Manikarnika | |
| 2018 | Soorma | |
| 2016 | Aatishbazi Ishq (Punjabi) | |
| 2016 | Azhar | |
| 2016 | Dictator (Telugu) | |
| 2015 | Brothers | |
| 2014 | Haider | |
| 2014 | Zed Plus | |
| 2014 | Kirpaan (Punjabi) | |
| 2013 | Saadi Love Story (Punjabi) | |
| 2012 | Delhi in a Day | |
| 2012 | Midnight's Children | |
| 2011 | Khushiyaan | |
| 2010 | Khatta Meetha | Contractor Sachin’s father |
| 2010 | Nirdoshi (Kannada) | Deshmukh |
| 2009 | Kurbaan | |
| 2009 | Aloo Chaat | |
| 2009 | Team | |
| 2008 | Ru Ba Ru | |
| 2008 | Jodhaa Akbar | |
| 2008 | Ek | |
| 2008 | EMI | |
| 2007 | Manorama Six Feet Under | |
| 2006 | Umrao Jaan | |
| 2006 | Lage Raho Munna Bhai | Khurana |
| 2006 | Fight Club | |
| 2005 | Water | |
| 2005 | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero | |
| 2005 | Zameer | |
| 2004 | Agnipankh | |
| 2004 | Garv | |
| 2004 | I - Proud To Be An Indian | I's father |
| 2003 | Pinjar | |
| 2003 | Basti | |
| 2003 | Taj Mahal: A Monument of Love | Jahangir |
| 2001 | Lagaan | Raja Puran Singh |
| 2001 | Monsoon Wedding | |
| 2000 | Pukar | |
| 2000 | Hera Pheri | Devi Prasad(owner of Star Fisheries) |
| 2000 | Bulandi | |
| 1999 | Teri Mohabbat Ka Naam | Subhash |
| 1999 | Hote Hote Pyar Ho Gaya | Colonel |
| 1998 | China Gate | |
| 1997 | Border | |
| 1996 | Fire | |
| 1996 | Loafer | |
| 1996 | Nirbhay | |
| 1995 | Naseem | |
| 1995 | Baazi | Police Commissioner Majumdar |
| 1994 | Mohra | Jailor |
| 1993 | Shaktiman | |
| 1993 | Mahakaal | |
| 1993 | Apaatkaal | Police Commissioner |
| 1993 | Ek Hi Raasta | |
| 1993 | Damini | |
| 1993 | Game | |
| 1992 | Bekhudi | |
| 1992 | Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar | |
| 1991 | Henna | |
| 1991 | Antarnaad | |
| 1990 | Paap Ki Kamaee | Supremo |
| 1990 | Pratibandh | |
| 1990 | Ghayal | Police Commissioner Ashok Pradhan |
| 1989 | Joshilaay | Raja Singh / Raja Sahib |
| 1988 | Yateem | |
| 1988 | Trinetrudu (Telugu) | |
| 1988 | Veerana | |
| 1988 | Main Zinda Hoon | |
| 1988 | Hum To Chale Pardes | Kul |
| 1988 | Waaris | Thakur Gajjan Singh |
| 1987 | Susman | |
| 1987 | Uttar Dakshin | |
| 1987 | Jaan Hatheli Pe | Shankar Chinoy |
| 1986 | Ek Chadar Maili Si | Trilok |
| 1986 | New Delhi Times | |
| 1986 | Janbaaz | Mr. Rai |
| 1985 | Trikal | |
| 1985 | Mera Muqaddar | Vijay |
| 1985 | Ram Teri Ganga Maili | |
| 1985 | Zamana | G.D. |
| 1985 | Lava | Kul Verma |
| 1985 | Ghulami | Constable Gopi Dada |
| 1984 | Utsav | |
| 1984 | Duniya | Teja |
| 1984 | Andhi Gali | |
| 1983 | Mandi | |
| 1982 | Shakti | K.D. Narang |
| 1982 | Prem Rog | |
| 1982 | Aparoopa | |
| 1982 | Ucha Dar Babe Nank Da (Punjabi) | |
| 1981 | Silsila | |
| 1981 | Chakra | |
| 1981 | Kalyug | |
| 1981 | Nakhuda | |
| 1981 | Arth | |
| 1981 | Chann Pardesi | |
| 1981 | Kalyug | |
| 1981 | Bulundi | Viju Mohanti |
| 1980 | Shaan | Shakaal |
| 1979 | Solva Saawan | |
| 1978 | Junoon | |
| 1977 | Bhumika: The Role | |
| 1977 | Godhuli | |
| 1976 | Manthan | |
| 1975 | Nishaant | |
| 1974 | Jadu Ka Shankh | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
| 1986 | Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Ghulami | Nominated |
| 2002 | IIFA Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Lagaan | Nominated |