# Ashish Vidyarthi

Ashish Vidyarthi (born 19 June 1965) is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, English, Odia, Marathi and Bengali films. He is noted for his antagonist and character roles. In 1995, he received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Drohkaal. He has also received several awards including a Filmfare Award South along with nominations for two Filmfare Awards.

## Early life

Ashish Vidyarthi was born on 19 June 1965 in Delhi, India to a Malayali father from Thalassery (North Malabar, Kerala), and a Bengali mother from Rajasthan with ancestry in West Bengal. His mother Reba Vidyarthi (Née: Chattopadhyay) was a Kathak guru, while his father Govind Vidyarthi is an expert in cataloging and archiving vanishing Performing Arts of India for the Sangeet Natak Akademi. He attended National School of Drama until 1990 and associated himself with another theatre group, Act One, run by N. K. Sharma.

## Career

In 1992, he moved to Bombay (now Mumbai). Ashish played the role of V. P. Menon in his first film, Sardar, based on Sardar Vallabhai Patel's Life. Though, his first release was Drohkaal, for which he won a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1995. He is also renowned for his role as Ashutosh, in 1942:A Love Story. Ashish received the Star Screen Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role, for the 1996 film Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin.
Vidhyarthi has worked in 11 languages in over 300 films. He is the co-founder and curator of AVID MINER Conversations, which are interactive modules customized for organizations.
Currently, he has a YouTube channel with over one million subscribers and he often vlogs about food.

## Personal life

Vidyarthi married Piloo Vidyarthi aka Rajoshi in 2001. They have a son Arth. The couple filed for mutual divorce in 2022. He married Rupali Barua in 2023.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
| 1991 | Kaal Sandhya | | Hindi | |
| 1993 | Sardar | V. P. Menon | Hindi | |
| 1994 | Drohkaal | Commander Bhadra | Hindi | |
| 1994 | 1942: A Love Story | Ashutosh | Hindi | |
| 1995 | Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India! | | Hindi | |
| 1995 | Baazi | Shiva | Hindi | |
| 1995 | Naajayaz | Ratan | Hindi | |
| 1996 | Jeet | Inspector Pratap Bidyarthi | Hindi | |
| 1996 | Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin | Ramanbhai | Hindi | |
| 1997 | Vishwavidhaata | Rai Bahadur | Hindi | |
| 1997 | Bhai | David | Hindi | |
| 1997 | Mrityudaata | Mohanlal | Hindi | |
| 1997 | Daud: Fun on the Run | Inspector Nair | Hindi | |
| 1997 | Koi Kisise Kum Nahin | Ashok | Hindi | |
| 1997 | Ziddi | ACP Inder Saxena | Hindi | |
| 1998 | Major Saab | Shankar | Hindi | |
| 1998 | Soldier | Dinesh Kapoor | Hindi | |
| 1998 | Yamraaj | Raja Bhaiya | Hindi | |
| 1998 | Pape Naa Pranam | Assassin | Telugu | |
| 1999 | AK-47 | Dawood | Kannada Telugu | |
| 1999 | Haseena Maan Jaayegi | Bhai | Hindi | |
| 1999 | Arjun Pandit | Haldiram | Hindi | |
| 1999 | Lohpurush | Inspector Salim Hindustani | Hindi | |
| 1999 | Benaam | Damak | Hindi | |
| 1999 | Trishakti | Rajeshwar Raja | Hindi | |
| 1999 | Jaanwar | Inspector Arjun Pradhan | Hindi | |
| 1999 | Vaastav: The Reality | Vitthal Kaanya | Hindi | |
| 2000 | Badal | Jeet Ram | Hindi | |
| 2000 | Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai | Inspector Satish Shinde | Hindi | |
| 2000 | Bichhoo | Devraj Khatri | Hindi | |
| 2000 | Gaja Gamini | Scientist | Hindi | |
| 2000 | Joru Ka Ghulam | Pappu Anna | Hindi | |
| 2000 | Refugee | Makkad | Hindi | |
| 2000 | Shesh Thikana | Soumyabrata | Bengali | |
| 2000 | Nightfall | Kopton | English | American film |
| 2000 | Madhuri | Kishan | Telugu | |
| 2001 | Vande Matharam | Major Sujan | Kannada | |
| 2001 | Kotigobba | Mark Anthony | Kannada | |
| 2001 | Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love | Hari Singh | Hindi | |
| 2001 | Jodi No.1 | Sir John | Hindi | |
| 2001 | Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta | Kalra Bhai | Hindi | |
| 2001 | Dhill | DSP Shankar | Tamil | |
| 2002 | Sainika | Captain Badshah | Kannada | |
| 2002 | Ansh: The Deadly Part | Dawoo | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Ab Ke Baras | Rudra Singh | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Chor Machaaye Shor | Tito | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Hum Kisise Kum Nahin | Pillai | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai | Raj Patil (Raja) | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Shararat | Arora | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Waah! Tera Kya Kehna | Charles | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hai | Gul Baloch | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Baba | 'Ippo' Ramaswamy | Tamil | |
| 2002 | Ezhumalai | Nagalingam | Tamil | |
| 2002 | Bagavathi | Easwarapandiyan | Tamil | |
| 2002 | Thamizh | Periyavar | Tamil | |
| 2002 | Thamizhan | GK | Tamil | |
| 2002 | Sreeram | Encounter Shankar | Telugu | |
| 2002 | Law & Order | Don Chota | Telugu | |
| 2002 | Nandhi | Different Dyani alias Dhanraj | Kannada | |
| 2003 | Ramachandra | "Sodukku" Chockalingam | Tamil | |
| 2003 | Ek Aur Ek Gyarah | Cobra | Hindi | |
| 2003 | LOC: Kargil | Col. Ravindran, 2 Rajputana Rifles | Hindi | |
| 2003 | Border Hindustan Ka | Major Ansari | Hindi | |
| 2003 | Fun2shh... Dudes in the 10th Century | Ghoshal | Hindi | |
| 2003 | Jaal: The Trap | Naved Rabhani | Hindi | |
| 2003 | Love at Times Square | Hashmi 'Bullet' | Hindi | |
| 2003 | Talaash: The Hunt Begins... | Police Commissioner | Hindi | |
| 2003 | Dum | Thilak | Tamil |
| 2003 | Bombaiyer Bombete | Mr. Gore | Bengali | |
| 2003 | CID Moosa | Commissioner Gowri Shankar | Malayalam | |
| 2004 | Durgi | Police Commissioner | Kannada | |
| 2004 | Kismat | Vikas Patil | Hindi | |
| 2004 | Shikaar | Kanwar Singh | Hindi | |
| 2004 | Agnipankh | Pakistani Army Commander | Hindi | |
| 2004 | AK-47 | Dadua | Hindi | |
| 2004 | Ghilli | Sivasubramanian | Tamil | |
| 2004 | Aai | SP Eashwarapandian | Tamil | |
| 2004 | No | DK | Telugu | |
| 2004 | Gudumba Shankar | Kumaraswamy | Telugu | |
| 2004 | Chatrapathy | SI Pasupathy Chakravarthy's henchmen | Telugu | |
| 2004 | Vijayendra Varma | Nanaji | Telugu | |
| 2004 | Jananam | Muthukaruppan | Tamil | |
| 2005 | Spiritual Reality | | Hindi | |
| 2005 | Thunta | Suryaprakash | Kannada | |
| 2005 | Aakash | | Kannada | |
| 2005 | Nammanna | | Kannada | |
| 2005 | Jurm | Police Inspector | Hindi | |
| 2005 | Eashwar Mime Co. | Eashwar | Hindi | |
| 2005 | Athanokkade | Anna | Telugu | |
| 2005 | Narasimhudu | Police Commissioner | Telugu | |
| 2005 | Aaru | Naadhan | Tamil | |
| 2006 | Thandege Thakka Maga | Dharmanna | Kannada | |
| 2006 | Suntaragaali | Kalinga | Kannada | |
| 2006 | Mere Jeevan Saathi | Torani | Hindi | |
| 2006 | E | Dr. Ramakrishnan | Tamil | |
| 2006 | Annavaram | Tapas Balu | Telugu | |
| 2006 | Raraju | Kotireddy Venkat Reddy | Telugu | |
| 2006 | Agantakudu | | Telugu | |
| 2006 | Brahmastram | Rudra | Telugu | |
| 2006 | Pokiri | Sub-inspector Pasupathy | Telugu | |
| 2006 | Simhabaludu | | Telugu | |
| 2006 | Madhu | Siluvai | Tamil | |
| 2006 | Chess | SP Swaminathan | Malayalam | |
| 2006 | Kranti | Vishnu | Bengali | |
| 2006 | Nayak The Real Hero | Kali Gunda | Bengali | |
| 2007 | Aa Dinagalu | M. P. Jayaraj | Kannada | |
| 2007 | The Challenge | Sanju | Hindi | |
| 2007 | Awarapan | Rajan D. Malik | Hindi | |
| 2007 | Main Rony Aur Jony | | Hindi | |
| 2007 | Azhagiya Tamil Magan | Anand Chelliah | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Malaikottai | Chittappa Kanthaswamy | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Chirutha | Mattu Bhai | Telugu | |
| 2007 | Athidhi | Danny Bhai | Telugu | |
| 2007 | Tulasi | Veeranna | Telugu | |
| 2007 | Lakshyam | DIG Ajay Prakash | Telugu | |
| 2007 | Manikanda | Balasingam | Tamil | |
| 2007 | Black Cat | Prabhul Kumar | Malayalam | |
| 2007 | Rakshakan | CI Sugathan | Malayalam | |
| 2007 | Bhasmasuran | | Malayalam | |
| 2007 | Greptar | Balaram Ghosh | Bengali | |
| 2007 | Kalishankar | Debu Soren | Bengali | |
| 2007 | Kalishankar | Debu Soren | Odia | |
| 2008 | Janumada Gelathi | | Kannada | |
| 2008 | Citizen | | Kannada | |
| 2008 | Paramesha Panwala | | Kannada | |
| 2008 | Mr. Black Mr. White | | Hindi | |
| 2008 | Jimmy | | Hindi | |
| 2008 | Dhanam | Cop #1 | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Ellam Avan Seyal | Anbukkarasu | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Kuruvi | Konda Reddy | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Theekuchi | Pasupathy Pandian | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Bheemaa | Commissioner | Tamil | |
| 2008 | Konchem Koththaga | | Telugu | |
| 2008 | Kantri | Seshu | Telugu | |
| 2008 | Ontari | Lal Mahankali | Telugu | |
| 2008 | Satyameba Jayate | | Bengali | |
| 2008 | Neel Rajar Deshe | | Bengali | |
| 2009 | Bhagyada Balegara | | Kannada | |
| 2009 | Devru | | Kannada | |
| 2009 | Lahore | Mohd. Akhtar | Hindi | |
| 2009 | Adada Enna Azhagu | Alexander | Tamil | |
| 2009 | Red Alert: The War Within | Velu | Hindi | |
| 2009 | Kisse Pyaar Karoon | Police Inspector | Hindi | |
| 2009 | Yodha | Patil | Kannada | |
| 2009 | Solla Solla Inikkum | Madhiyazhagan | Tamil | |
| 2009 | Kanthaswamy | Pallur Paramajothi Ponnusamy (PPP) | Tamil | |
| 2009 | Ganesh Just Ganesh | Mahadevan | Telugu | |
| 2009 | I G Inspector General | | Malayalam | |
| 2009 | Daddy Cool | Bheem Bhai | Malayalam | |
| 2010 | Black Stallion | Irumban John | Malayalam | |
| 2010 | Khuda Kasam | Home Minister | Hindi | |
| 2010 | Porki | Ali Bhai | Kannada | |
| 2010 | Varudu | Raj Gopal | Telugu | |
| 2010 | Jothegara | ACP Veerabhadra | Kannada | |
| 2010 | Rakta Charitra | Mandha | Hindi | |
| 2010 | Uthamaputhiran | Periyamuthu Gounder | Tamil | |
| 2010 | Vallakottai | Nachiyar | Tamil | |
| 2010 | Adhurs | Dhanraj | Telugu | |
| 2011 | Ala Modalaindi | John Abraham | Telugu | |
| 2011 | Fighter | DIG | Bengali | |
| 2011 | Chattam | Shivaji | Telugu | |
| 2011 | Mappillai | Devaraj | Tamil | |
| 2011 | Kandaen | Narmadha's Father | Tamil | |
| 2011 | Udhayan | Ayyanaar | Tamil | |
| 2011 | Madatha Kaja | Nanda | Telugu | |
| 2011 | Dam 999 | Durai | English | |
| 2011 | Gosainbaganer Bhoot | Habu Sardar | Bengali | |
| 2012 | Khokababu | Ballu | Bengali | |
| 2012 | Jaaneman | Sridhar | Bengali | |
| 2012 | Bachelor Party | Chettiyar | Malayalam | |
| 2012 | Awara | Indrajit | Bengali | |
| 2012 | Barfi! | Mr. Chatterjee | Hindi | |
| 2012 | Challenge 2 | Guru Nayak | Bengali | |
| 2012 | Thiruthani | | Tamil | |
| 2012 | Shakti | Police Officer | Kannada | |
| 2012 | Genius | Peddapuram Peda Babu | Telugu | |
| 2013 | Naayak | CBI Officer | Telugu | |
| 2013 | Baadshah | Crazy Robert | Telugu | |
| 2013 | Bachchan | Mahesh Deshpande | Kannada | |
| 2013 | Minugurulu | Father | Telugu | |
| 2013 | Kevvu Keka | Gottam Gopalakrishna | Telugu | |
| 2013 | Bhai | David | Telugu | |
| 2013 | Chandee | Minister | Telugu | |
| 2013 | Abdul Kalam | Dr. Yuvraj Shankar | Telugu | |
| 2013 | Greeku Veerudu | P. R. | Telugu | |
| 2013 | Kamina | Teja | Telugu | |
| 2013 | R... Rajkumar | Manik Parmar | Hindi | |
| 2013 | Nirbhoya | | Bengali | |
| 2014 | Bachchan | Inspector | Bengali | |
| 2014 | Haider | Brigadier T. S. Murthy | Hindi | |
| 2014 | Punha Gondhal Punha Mujra | Himself | Marathi | |
| 2014 | Autonagar Surya | | Telugu | |
| 2014 | Amara | Sethupathi | Tamil | |
| 2014 | Teenkahon | Joydeb Guha | Bengali | |
| 2014 | Rang Rasiya | Raja Thirumal | Hindi | |
| 2014 | Aagadu | SP Mallikarjun | Telugu | |
| 2014 | Meaghamann | Sharma | Tamil | |
| 2014 | Avatarachi Goshta | Himself | Marathi | Special appearance |
| 2015 | Siddhartha | Yeshwanath | Kannada | |
| 2015 | Yennai Arindhaal | Golden Raj | Tamil | |
| 2015 | Anegan | Commissioner Gopinath and Rana | Tamil | Dual role |
| 2015 | Rahasya | Sachin Mahajan | Hindi | |
| 2015 | Gopala Gopala | Shankar Narayana | Telugu | |
| 2015 | Jadoogadu | | Telugu | |
| 2015 | Where Is Vidya Balan | Police Inspector | Telugu | |
| 2015 | Kick 2 | Settlement Durga | Telugu | |
| 2015 | Sher | Chhota | Telugu | |
| 2015 | En Vazhi Thani Vazhi | | Tamil | |
| 2015 | Besh Korechi Prem Korechi | Dibakar | Bengali | |
| 2015 | James Bond | Don | Telugu | |
| 2015 | Once Upon a Time in Bihar | Madan Sharma | Hindi | |
| 2015 | Agnee 2 | Python | Bengali | Bangladeshi film |
| 2015 | Black | Biru Pande | Bengali | |
| 2016 | Aligarh | Advocate Anand Grover | Hindi | |
| 2016 | Angaar | Swapan Sarkar | Bengali | Bangladeshi film |
| 2016 | Hero 420 | Rai / Riya's father | Bengali | Bangladeshi film |
| 2016 | Nannaku Prematho | Kapil Sinha / Satpal Singh | Telugu | |
| 2016 | Janatha Garage | Raghava's business partner | Telugu | |
| 2016 | Rokto | Villain | Bengali | |
| 2016 | Bollywood Diaries | Vishnu | Hindi | |
| 2017 | Begum Jaan | Harsh | Hindi | |
| 2017 | Radha | Home Minister | Telugu | |
| 2017 | Pataki | Rudrapratap | Kannada | |
| 2017 | March 22 | Muslim Maullah | Kannada | |
| 2017 | Bachche Kachche Sachche | Munna | Hindi | |
| 2017 | Sarkari Kelasa Devara Kelasa | Minister | Kannada | |
| 2017 | Oxygen | CBI Officer | Telugu | |
| 2017 | Andhhagadu | Dr. Ashish | Telugu | |
| 2018 | Jole Jongole | Police Officer | Bengali | |
| 2018 | Inttelligent | Venkateswara Rao | Telugu | |
| 2018 | Mukhyan | Police Inspector | Malayalam | |
| 2018 | Dhumketu | Commissioner Dibakar Gupta | Bengali | |
| 2018 | Chalbaaz | Dada | Bengali | |
| 2018 | Pantham | Defence Lawyer | Telugu | |
| 2018 | Captain Khan | Abdur Rahman | Bengali | |
| 2019 | iSmart Shankar | Ramamoorthy | Telugu | |
| 2019 | The Lion King | Scar | Hindi | Voiceover |
| 2020 | Uriyattu | | Malayalam | |
| 2021 | Helmet | Jogi | Hindi | |
| 2022 | Kaun Pravin Tambe? | Coach Vidyadhar Paradkar | Hindi | |
| 2022 | GoodBye | P.P. Singh | Hindi | |
| 2023 | Writer Padmabhushan | Madhusudhan Rao | Telugu | |
| 2023 | Kuttey | Harry | Hindi | |
| 2023 | Abhilasha | | Telugu | |
| 2023 | Echo | Edward | Tamil | |
| 2023 | Khufiya | Jeev Bonda | Hindi | |
| 2023 | Tejas | IAF chief R K Panicker | Hindi | |
| 2023 | Iraivan | Hari K. Vedantam | Tamil | |
| 2024 | Aavesham | College executive Director | Malayalam | Special appearance |
| 2024 | Kill | Beni | Hindi | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Language | Notes |
| 1990 | Truck Dhina Dhin | Mama | Hindi | |
| 1995 | Dastaan | Lankesh | Hindi |
| 2016 | 24 (Season 2) | Roshan Sherchan | Hindi | |
| 2016 | Kahanibaaz | Ashish Vidyarthi | Hindi |
| 2019 | M.O.M. - Mission Over Mars | K. Murlidharan | Hindi | Web series |
| 2020 | Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors | Dipen Prabhu, Public Prosecutar | Hindi | Web series |
| 2021 | Sunflower | Dilip Iyer | Hindi | Web series |
| 2021 | Tryst with Destiny | Mr. Mudira | Hindi | Web series |
| 2022 | Raktanchal | Ramanand Rai | Hindi | Season 2 |
| 2022 | Rudra: The Edge Of Darkness | Jt. CP Raman Acharya | Hindi |
| 2022 | Aar Ya Paar | Business tycoon | Hindi | |
| 2022 | TVF Pitchers | Kishen Charan Desai | Hindi | Season 2 |
| 2022 | Half Pants Full Pants | Railway guard Subbarao | Hindi | |
| 2023 | Rana Naidu | Surya Rao Naidu / Surya Mohammad Khan | Hindi, Telugu | |
| 2023 | Trial By Fire | Neeraj Suri | Hindi | |
| 2023 | Slow Rivers | Guru Margadarishi | English | |
| 2024 | Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond | Madhusudan Dutta | Hindi | |

## Awards

Won
* 1995: National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor: Drohkaal
* 1996: Bengal Film Journalists' Association - Best Actor Award (Hindi): Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin
* 1997: Star Screen Award for Best Villain: Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin
* 2005: Filmfare Award for Best Villain – Telugu: Athanokkade
* 2012: Nandi Award for Best Character Actor: Minugurulu
Nominated
* 1996: Filmfare Best Villain Award for Drohkaal
* 1997: Filmfare Best Villain Award: Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin
* 1998: Zee Cine Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Negative Role for Ziddi
* 2012: SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role (Telugu): Ala Modalaindi
* 2014: SIIMA Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role (Kannada): Shivajinagara
* 2015: Star Screen Awards for Best Ensemble Cast: Haider
* 2016: Indian Television Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Negative Role : 24