# Parikshit Sahni

Parikshit Sahni (born 1 January 1939) is an Indian film and television actor who has worked in Hindi and Punjabi cinema. He is known for his roles in the TV series Barrister Vinod, Gul Gulshan Gulfaam (Doordarshan) and Gaatha (Star Plus). He has also appeared several films including three of Rajkumar Hirani's blockbuster films Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, and PK.
He is the son of actor Balraj Sahni and nephew of writer Bhisham Sahni.

## Early life

He was born in Muree in the Rawalpindi District of the Punjab Province of British India (present day in the Murree District of Punjab, Pakistan), into a Punjabi Hindu family. He was named by Rabindranath Tagore while his father was teaching English at Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, and his mother was doing her Bachelors. Most of his schooling was done at the Lawrence school Sanawar. He then went to study at Delhi's St. Stephen's College.
Later, Sahni began his career as a child artist.

## Personal life

Sahni's parents were both theatre and film actors, although his mother acted in only a couple of films before her death at an early age in 1947. After her death, his father married Santosh Chandhok two years later.
He was married to Aruna Kapur. Aditi Sahni and Tania Sahni were his daughters from first marriage. After Aruna died, Sahni married Dr. Nandini and had son Varunjai Sahni.
On the advice of his uncle, Bhishm Sahani, Parikshit Sahni was sent by his father to attend a five-year course in architecture in Moscow. However, since he was poor in maths, he was advised to get admission in Moscow Cinema Institute. He cleared the aptitude test and joined the five-year course in film direction in the Moscow Cinema Institute. He returned in 1966 and started his film career in India. He assisted Raj Kapoor in Mera Naam Joker because Kapoor needed a person who could help him in working with the Russian Circus but he left that to act in Anokhi Raat.
Sahni even changed his screen name to Ajay Sahni at the suggestion of his friend Sanjeev Kumar during the shooting of their 1968 film Anokhi Raat, before eventually reverting to his own name a few years later.

## Career

Sahni starred in the classic Punjabi film Marhi Da Diva (1989), with Raj Babbar, Pankaj Kapur, Kanwaljit Singh, and Deepti Naval. He played a remarkable role in the Hindi film Pavitra Paapi (1970) which was based on a Punjabi novel by Nanak Singh (a famous novelist). Pavitra Paapi also featured his real life father, Balraj Sahni in a pivotal role.
He acted in the Doordarshan television series The Great Maratha as Malhar Rao Holkar. He produced and acted in the popular TV series Gul Gulshan Gulfaam (1987) on DD National.
One of his most famous films was the Amitabh and Shashi Kapoor starer Kaala Patthar. He acted in the film 3 Idiots in which he played the role of R. Madhavan's father. He acted in the TV series Heena as Nawab Mirza, Heena's father. Heena ended in 2003. Sahni played Veer Singh (Kakasa) on the popular Zee TV serial Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar opposite Nivedita Bhattacharya.

## Books

* The Non-conformist: Memories of My Father Balraj Sahni, Penguin Random House, 2019.
* Strange Encounters: Adventures of a Curious Life, Simon and Schuster, 2022.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1951 | Deedar | Child Shyamu |
| 1968 | Anokhi Raat | Painter |
| 1970 | Pavitra Paapi | Kedarnath |
| 1970 | Aansoo Aur Muskan | Mahesh |
| 1970 | Samaj Ko Badal Dalo | Prakash |
| 1971 | Preet Ki Dori | Govind |
| 1971 | Lagan | Rajesh |
| 1972 | Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor | Mahjoor |
| 1973 | Hindustan Ki Kasam | Rajesh |
| 1974 | Vandana | Rakesh |
| 1975 | Mili | Dr. Sanjay |
| 1976 | Tapasya | Dr. Sagar Verma |
| 1976 | Kabhi Kabhie | Dr. R. P. Kapoor |
| 1977 | Mamta | Manish Srivastav |
| 1977 | Doosra Aadmi | Bhisham |
| 1977 | Sat Sri Akal, Punjabi movie | Pratima |
| 1977 | Prayashchit | |
| 1977 | Niyaz Aur Namaaz | |
| 1977 | Khel Kismat Ka | |
| 1977 | Jeevan Mukt | Satish Sharma |
| 1977 | Jallian Wala Bagh | Udham Singh |
| 1977 | Gyaniji | Preetam |
| 1977 | Duniyadari | Heera |
| 1978 | Ulahana | |
| 1978 | Udeekan | Teja Singh |
| 1978 | Vishwanath | Siddharth |
| 1978 | Anpadh | Dr. Anand |
| 1978 | Nawab Sahib | Shaukat Ali |
| 1978 | Muqaddar | Amar |
| 1978 | Kaala Aadmi | Aslam Khan |
| 1978 | Hamara Sansar | Pratap Sharma |
| 1979 | Shyamla | |
| 1979 | Kaala Patthar | Jagga |
| 1979 | Zulm Ki Pukar | |
| 1980 | Room No. 203 | |
| 1980 | Humkadam | Shekhar Gupta |
| 1980 | Kasturi | Alkesh |
| 1981 | Agni Pareeksha | Siddharth Sharma |
| 1981 | Sameera | |
| 1981 | Nai Imarat | Yogendra |
| 1982 | Raaste Pyar Ke | Sohanlal Srivastav |
| 1982 | Suraag | Dr. Ajay Gupta |
| 1982 | Desh Premee | Ghulam Ali |
| 1982 | Waqt Ke Shehzade | Sardarji |
| 1982 | Bhai Aakhir Bhai Hota Hai | |
| 1983 | Lal Chunariya | Rajesh |
| 1984 | Boxer | Tony Braganza |
| 1984 | Teri Baahon Mein | |
| 1984 | Mera Faisla | Inspector Anand Saxena |
| 1984 | Andar Baahar | Inspector Ajay Sahni |
| 1984 | Jeene Nahi Doonga | Fakir Baba |
| 1984 | Nadaniyan | |
| 1984 | Jaag Utha Insan | Pujari |
| 1985 | Jawaab | Dinesh Mathur |
| 1985 | Ramkali | Jay Singh |
| 1985 | Ek Se Bhale Do | David D'Mello |
| 1985 | Meri Jung | Dr. Dinesh Mathur |
| 1985 | Mera Jawab | Arun |
| 1985 | Insaaf Main Karoonga | Inspector |
| 1985 | Shiva Ka Insaaf | Robert |
| 1985 | Haveli | Police Commissioner Thapa |
| 1986 | Mazloom | Judge Jaspal |
| 1986 | Maa Ki Saugandh | Surendra |
| 1986 | Insaaf Ki Awaaz | Police Commissioner |
| 1986 | Car Thief | Mr. Mehra |
| 1987 | Mr. X | Inspector Rakesh |
| 1987 | Hukumat | Shankardayal Singh |
| 1987 | Kalyug Aur Ramayan | Judge Shyam Diwakar |
| 1987 | Watan Ke Rakhwale | Assistant Jailor Madan |
| 1987 | Sher Shivaji | |
| 1987 | Dil Tujhko Diya | Ajay Sahni |
| 1988 | Subah Hone Tak | |
| 1988 | Zulm Ko Jala Doonga | Police Commissioner |
| 1988 | Vijay | Mr. Mehra |
| 1989 | Hal Aur Bandook | |
| 1989 | Dost Garibon Ka | Police Commissioner |
| 1989 | Marhi Da Deeva | Dharam Singh |
| 1989 | Galiyon Ka Badshah | Mr. Rana |
| 1990 | First Rank | Selection Committee Member |
| 1991 | Savdhan | |
| 1991 | Sau Crore | Advocate |
| 1991 | Phool Bane Angaray | Mr. Dutta |
| 1992 | Meera Ke Girdhar | |
| 1992 | Sooraj Mukhi | Mr. Kumar |
| 1992 | Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj | Amar |
| 1992 | Tahalka | General Sinha |
| 1992 | Waqt Ka Badshah | Hotel Owner |
| 1992 | Sangeet | Doctor |
| 1992 | Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh | Advocate Jagatnarayan Sinha |
| 1993 | Police Wala | Inspector Rakeshnath |
| 1993 | In Custody | Mr. Siddiqui |
| 1993 | Kundan | Chief Minister |
| 1993 | Shaktiman | Superintendent Of Police |
| 1993 | Pyaar Ka Tarana | |
| 1993 | Pratimurti | |
| 1994 | Madhosh | |
| 1994 | Madam X | Police Commissioner Mathur |
| 1994 | Yuhi Kabhi | Judge |
| 1995 | Jeena Nahin Bin Tere | |
| 1995 | Vapsi Saajan Ki | |
| 1995 | Ab Insaf Hoga | Inspector Khan |
| 1996 | Sindoor Ki Holi | |
| 1996 | Yash | R. K. Joseph |
| 1996 | Chhota Sa Ghar | Dhanraj |
| 1997 | Share Bazaar | Karmyogi |
| 1997 | Saaz | Dr. Ranjeet Samant |
| 1998 | Angaar Vadee | |
| 1998 | Wajood | Abhijeet Joshi |
| 2000 | Choo Lenge Akash | |
| 2001 | Rahul | Dr. Bhandari |
| 2001 | Kasam | Jaswant Singh |
| 2002 | Pardesi Re | |
| 2002 | Yeh Mohabbat Hai | Bashir Khan |
| 2002 | Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai | Rohan Khanna |
| 2002 | Mujhse Dosti Karoge | Mr. Verma |
| 2003 | Heda Hoda | |
| 2005 | Chakachak | |
| 2005 | Maa Where Are You... | Mr. Mohanto |
| 2006 | Jadu Saa Chal Gaya | Vilas |
| 2006 | Lage Raho Munna Bhai | Mr. D'Souza |
| 2006 | Umrao Jaan | Umrao's father |
| 2007 | Eklavya: The Royal Guard | Omkar Singh |
| 2009 | 3 Idiots | Mr. Qureshi |
| 2010 | Dulha Mil Gaya | Ratandeep Kapoor |
| 2010 | Chance Pe Dance | Mr. Behl |
| 2010 | Right Yaaa Wrong | Dr. Siddiqui |
| 2010 | Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyon | |
| 2010 | Malik Ek | Shankar |
| 2011 | Mere Brother Ki Dulhan | Colonel Agnihotri |
| 2013 | Boss | Raghunath |
| 2013 | Enemmy | Mr. Karmakar |
| 2014 | PK | Mr. Sahni (Jaggu's father) |
| 2015 | Hum Tum Dushman Dushman | |
| 2015 | Chooriyan | |
| 2015 | Uvaa | Presiding Judge |
| 2016 | Sultan | Gyan Singh Oberoi |
| 2016 | Desi Munde | Gurmukh Singh |
| 2018 | Paak | Sofiya's father |
| 2019 | One Day: Justice Delivered | Colonel |
| 2019 | Cypher | Nana |
| 2019 | Housefull 4 | Maharaj Parikshitapdev Singh |
| 2021 | Hawayein | Mike Paul |
| 2023 | Dunki | |

### TV series

| Year | Serial | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | The Far Pavilions | Mulraj | |
| 1986 | Katha Sagar | Multiple Roles in Multiple Episodes | |
| 1986 | Barrister Vinod | Barrister Vinod | |
| 1987 | Gul Gulshan Gulfaam | | |
| 1988 | Mirza Ghalib | Nawab Shamsuddin | |
| 1991–1992 | Kahkashan | Josh Malihabadi | |
| 1993 | Commander | | |
| 1994 | Junoon | Bharat Kumar Rajvansh | |
| 1994 | Chandrakanta | Maharaj Surendra Singh | |
| 1994 | The Great Maratha | Malhar Rao Holkar | |
| 1994–1996 | Ajnabi | | |
| 1998 | Saturday Suspense - Beqasoor | | |
| 1998 | Alpviram | Mr. Bakshi | |
| 1998 | Main Dilli Hoon | Maharaj Bharat | |
| 1998-1999 | Ashiqui | Anand Kumar | |
| 1998–2003 | Heena | Nawab Mirza | |
| 1999 | Tanha | | |
| 1999–2000 | Gul Sanobar | Sultan of Hindustan | |
| 2000–2001 | Noorjahan | Mirza Ghiyas Beg | |
| 2000 | Hare Kanch Ki Chudian | | Telefilm |
| | Gaatha | | |
| 2001 | Jaane Anjaane | Mr. Vashisht | |
| 2003 | Shararat | Khushwant Mehra | |
| 2004 | Ana | Altaf | |
| 2004-2005 | Lal Kothi Alvida | | |
| 2004–2008 | Saarrthi | Hemraj Goenka | |
| 2007 | Aahat - Shrunken Head | | |
| 2007-2008 | Jersey No. 10 | | |
| 2007-2008 | Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar | Veer Singh | |
| 2009 | Kalpana | | |
| 2011-2012 | Meri Maa | | |
| 2015–2017 | Santoshi Mata | Raghavendra Mishra | |
| 2019 | Ek Bhram...Sarvagun Sampanna | Kishan Mittal | |