# Zakir Hussain (actor)

Zakir Hussain is an Indian actor who primarily appears in Hindi films. He is known for his negative and comic roles. His best-known performances include those of Rashid in Ramgopal Varma's 2005 film Sarkar, Shardul in Sriram Raghavan's 2007 film Johnny Gaddaar and Prakash Rao in Rohit Shetty's Singham Returns.

## Early life and background

Zakir Hussain was born and brought up in Jani Khurd, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. It was during his studies in Delhi that he first got attracted to the world of theatre and cinema. He started out with "small time" theatre, and then joined the Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts. He then joined the prestigious National School of Drama and graduated in 1993.

## Career

Hussain did theatre for a few years and then came to Mumbai to work in television and films. He started out with serials like Firdaus, Kitty Party and Gaatha, and this earned him recognition. Sriram Raghavan's 2004 film Ek Hasina Thi was his first film as actor. Hussain's role in the film was limited to two scenes, but he managed to impress director Ramgopal Varma, who then offered him the role of Rashid in Sarkar. This role of a cold-blooded villain was much appreciated and Hussain received the "New Menace" award at the 2006 Stardust Film Awards.
After Sarkar, Varma cast Hussain in almost every production of his. Hussain's second noteworthy performance was his role of Shardul in another Raghavan film – Johnny Gaddaar. This performance was so well received by audiences that people on the streets started addressing Hussain as Shardul. This was the film that brought him both decent pay cheques as well as fame.
Hussain is also a talented musician – a percussionist as well as singer. However, he is not to be confused with the famous tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain (1951-2024), who starred in the film Heat and Dust.

## Filmography
### Films

Key :
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero | Shaukat Malik | |
| 2004 | Ek Hasina Thi | Sanjeev Nanda | |
| 2004 | Kala Juma | Nand Kumar Chougale | |
| 2004 | Vaastu Shastra | Dinesh Dubey | |
| 2005 | D | A. S. Baban | |
| 2005 | Sarkar | Rashid | |
| 2005 | James | Shankar Narayan | |
| 2006 | Shiva | Inspector Sawant | |
| 2006 | Darna Zaroori Hai | Police Officer | Story segment: A Bride's Revenge |
| 2006 | The Killer | Jabbar | |
| 2006 | Darwaza Bandh Rakho | Abbas | |
| 2006 | Deadline: Sirf 24 Ghante | Kabir | |
| 2007 | Black Friday | Inspector Nand Kumar Chougale | |
| 2007 | Risk | SP Naidu | |
| 2007 | Fool n Final | J.D. | |
| 2007 | Lee | Rangabashyam | Tamil film |
| 2007 | Darling | Sameer Naghani | |
| 2007 | Johnny Gaddaar | Shardul | |
| 2008 | Shabri | Inspector Irfan Qazi | |
| 2008 | Krazzy 4 | DCP Shrivastav | |
| 2008 | Contract | Sultan | |
| 2008 | Phoonk | Manja | |
| 2008 | Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam | Show Director Dubey | |
| 2008 | Khallballi | | |
| 2009 | Bad Luck Govind | Kripalani | |
| 2009 | Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani | Sajid Don | |
| 2009 | Radio | Shanaya's Dad | |
| 2010 | Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai | Javed Quadri | |
| 2010 | Payback | Raghu | |
| 2010 | Phoonk 2 | Manja | |
| 2010 | Allah Ke Banday | Ramesh | |
| 2011 | Not a Love Story | Inspector | |
| 2011 | Double Dhamaal | Mohsin Bhai | |
| 2011 | Satrangee Parachute | Chhotulal | |
| 2011 | Shagird | Rajmani Yadav | |
| 2012 | Paan Singh Tomar | Inspector Rathore | |
| 2012 | Ammaa Ki Boli | Hari | |
| 2012 | Thuppakki | Kamarudeen | Tamil film |
| 2012 | Chakradhaar | | |
| 2012 | Agent Vinod | Associate in Tangier | |
| 2013 | Jayantabhai Ki Luv Story | Gangster don | |
| 2013 | Enemmy | Mukhtar Menon, the Underworld don | |
| 2013 | Phata Poster Nikhla Hero | Officer Ghorpade | |
| 2013 | Sixteen | Ashwin's Father | |
| 2013 | Maazii | Mahinder Chacha | |
| 2013 | Ramaiya Vastavaiya | Rao | |
| 2013 | Saare Jahaan Se Mehnga | Loan Inspector | |
| 2014 | Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty | Alvin D'Souza | |
| 2014 | Chaarfutiya Chhokare | Lakkhan | |
| 2014 | Singham Returns | Prakash Rao | |
| 2014 | Meinu Ek Ladki Chaahiye | | |
| 2015 | Alone | Professor Sanjana inside Twin Spirit | |
| 2015 | Badlapur | Patil | |
| 2015 | Four Pillars of Basement | DSP | |
| 2015 | Mogali Puvvu / Secret | | |
| 2015 | Jadoogadu | Srisailam | Telugu Film |
| 2016 | Irudhi Suttru | Dev Khatri | Tamil Film |
| 2016 | Saala Khadoos | Dev Khatri | |
| 2017 | Coffee with D | D | |
| 2017 | Raees | | |
| 2017 | Guru | Dev Khatri | Telugu Film |
| 2017 | Naam Shabana | RAW agent Gupta | |
| 2017 | Shivalinga | Pigeon Race Organiser | Tamil film |
| 2017 | Boyz | Fernandez Sir | Marathi film |
| 2017 | Judwaa 2 | Charles | |
| 2018 | Nawabzaade | Sheetal's father | |
| 2018 | Genius | Minister | |
| 2018 | Andhadhun | Dr. Krishna Swami | |
| 2018 | Simmba | Mr. Khanna | |
| 2018 | Game Paisa Ladki | | |
| 2019 | Prassthanam | Mazid | |
| 2019 | Kissebaaz | Kripa Shankar Pandey | |
| 2019 | Ferrous | Minister Madhyadheesh | |
| 2019 | One Day: Justice Delivered | MP Pravin Rawat | |
| 2019 | Chicken Curry Law | Sharad Joshi | |
| 2019 | Pagalpanti | Tulli Seth | |
| 2020 | Angrezi Medium | Judge Chedda | |
| 2020 | Khaali Peeli | Inspector Tavde | |
| 2021 | The Power | Anwar | |
| 2021 | Flight | Raman Khanna | |
| 2021 | Satyameva Jayate 2 | Shankar Prasad Yadav | |
| 2022 | Heropanti 2 | Azaad Khan | |
| 2023 | Mission Majnu | Sharma | |
| 2023 | Tiku Weds Sheru | Ahmed Rizvi | |
| 2024 | Indian 2 | Darshan Bhai | Tamil film |
| 2024 | Devara | Central Minister | Telugu film |
| 2024 | Baby John | Baldev Patil | |
| 2025 | Welcome To The Jungle † | TBA | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Platform | Notes |
| 1998 | X Zone | Inspector | Sony TV | Episode 96 |
| 2001 | Dishayen | Inspector | Doordarshan | |
| 2012 | Upnishad Ganga | Multiple Roles | Doordarshan | |
| 2014 | Yudh | Anand Upadhyay | Sony TV | |
| 2015 | Darr Sabko Lagta Hai | | & TV | Episode 11 |
| 1997 | Vedvyas Ke Pote | Narrator(Sutradhaar) | Doordarshan | |
| 2018 | Beechwale - Bapu Dekh Raha Hai | Bobby Beechwala | Sony TV | Main cast |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Platform |
| 2018-2021 | Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare | Rajesh Pathak | Amazon Prime |
| 2019 | Bombers | Somu Da | ZEE5 |
| 2020 | Sandwiched Forever | Giriraj Shastry | SonyLIV |
| 2021 | Kathmandu Connection | Mr. Mirza | SonyLIV |
| 2021 | Aranyak | Kuber Manhas | Netflix |
| 2022-2023 | Duranga | Bala Banne | ZEE5 |
| 2023 | Farzi | Finance Minister Pawan Gehlot | Amazon Prime |
| 2022 | Breathe: Into the Shadows 2 | ACP Abhinandan Kaul | Amazon Prime |
| 2023 | Pop Kaun? | Mallik | Disney+ Hotstar |
| 2023 | Inspector Avinash | DGP Samar Pratap Singh | JioCinema |
| 2024 | Murshid | Farid | ZEE5 |