# Maniesh Paul

Maniesh Paul (born 3 August 1981) is an Indian actor, tv host, anchor, model and singer. Starting his career as an RJ and VJ, he moved to acting before taking up stand-up comedy and hosting. Paul is recognized as one of the most prominent television anchors and hosts of his generation, celebrated for his charisma, versatility, and engaging presentation style.

## Early life and background

Paul was born and brought up in New Delhi to a Punjabi family originally from Sialkot to Delhi, involved in the financial business. He did his schooling from Apeejay School, Sheikh Sarai New Delhi. After his schooling, he did his B.A. in Tourism from College of Vocational Studies, Delhi University. then he lived with his grandmother in Chembur, Mumbai.

## Career
### Early career

Paul started his career in Delhi, as a host, compering cultural events in schools and colleges. Later he shifted to Mumbai, where his first break was hosting Sunday Tango on Star Plus in 2002. He also remained a VJ with Zee Music, and a radio jockey with Radio City's morning drive time show Kasakai Mumbai.

### Acting career

Later he entered channel Star One's Ghost Bana Dost to play the role of a ghost. Paul has acted in many serials such as Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayengi on NDTV Imagine, Zindadil on ZeeNext, Ssshhhh...Phir Koi Hai on Star One, Wheel Ghar Ghar Mein and Kahani Shuru with Love Guru on Zee TV and Kuchh Cook Hota Hai on 9X. However, finding it unsatisfying, he quit daily soaps and was even out of work for eight months in 2008.
Though he had appeared in cameo roles such as in the Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif-starrer Tees Maar Khan (2010), Paul made his debut in a lead role of the computer geek Mickey in Mickey Virus (2013) which received a lot of appreciation.

### Television host and presenter

Subsequently, Paul started his career as a television host and presenter, and gained recognition after hosting Saa Ree Gaa Maa Paa Chhote Ustaad, and later also appeared in the stand-up comedy series Comedy Circus. He also hosted Dance India Dance Li'l Masters on Zee TV. He also participated in Star Ya Rockstar, a celebrity singing show on Zee TV, and co-hosted the celebrity dance-reality competition Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7 on Colors TV with Ranvir Shorey. He was also the host of Science of Stupid (IND) version.
In 2011, Paul won the Best Anchor award for Zee TV's Dance India Dance Li'l Masters.
Paul has also hosted Science of Stupid on National Geographic. Over the years, Paul has hosted numerous award shows. In 2018, he hosted Sony TV's Indian Idol 10. Next, he hosted Star Plus's Nach Baliye 9.He is currently hosting discovery plus show History Hunter.

## Personal life

He is married to Sanyukta Paul (m. 2007), who is a Bengali. They met each other in their school and started dating in late 1998. Soon, their families got to know each other and they finally got married in 2007. They have a daughter born in 2011 and a son born in 2016.

## Television

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2005/07 | Hero - Bhakti Hi Shakti Hai | Azgar |
| 2007 | Chhoona Hai Aasmaan | Farhaan Zaidi |
| 2007 | Zindadil | Host |
| 2008 | Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayeng | Karan |
| 2008 | Khooni Saaya | Prem |
| 2008 | Kaali Chudail | Prashant |
| 2008 | Honeymoon Hotel | Raj |
| 2008 | Guest House | Sidharth |
| 2008 | Ghost Bana Dost | Ghost |
| 2009 | Ghar Ghar Mein | Host |
| 2009 | Kuch Kook Hota Hai | Mannu |
| 2010 | Dance India Dance Li'l Masters | Host |
| 2010 | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Singing Superstar | Host |
| 2010 | Comedy Circus Ka Jadoo | Host |
| 2010 | Kiski Daal Galegi | Host |
| 2011 | Pyaar Mein Twist | Amol |
| 2011 | Dance Ke Superstars | Host |
| 2011 | Star Ya Rockstar | Contestant |
| 2012 | Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5 | Host |
| 2012 | India's Got Talent | Host |
| 2013 | Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6 | Host |
| 2014 | Mad In India | Host |
| 2014 | Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7 | Host |
| 2014 | Science of Stupid | Host |
| 2015 | Brain Boosters | Host |
| 2015 | Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 8 | Host |
| 2016 | Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 9 | Host |
| 2016 | Science of Stupid 3 | Host |
| 2018 | Indian Idol | Host |
| 2019 | Nach Baliye 9 | Host |
| 2019 | Movie Masti with Manish Paul | Host |
| 2020 | Mujhse Shaadi Karoge | Host |
| 2020 | Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs 2020 | Host |
| 2020 | Beat The Genius | Host |
| 2021 | India's Best Dancer 2 | Host |
| 2022 | Smart Jodi | Host |
| 2022 | Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10 | Host |

## Filmography

Key :
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2009 | Maruti Mera Dost | Varun | Special appearance |
| 2010 | Tees Maar Khan | Master India | Special appearance |
| 2013 | ABCD: Any Body Can Dance | Himself | Special appearance |
| 2013 | Mickey Virus | Mickey Arora | Bollywood debut |
| 2015 | Ranbanka | Rahul Sharma | |
| 2016 | Tere Bin Laden 2 | Sharma | |
| 2017 | Hrudayantar | Himself | Special appearance, Marathi movie |
| 2018 | Baa Baaa Black Sheep | Baba | |
| 2019 | Banjar | Jaswant | |
| 2022 | Jugjugg Jeeyo | Gurpreet Sharma | |
| 2023 | Rafuchakkar | Pawan Kumar | |
| 2025 | Sunny Sunskari Ki Tulsi Kumari | TBA | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Film | Award | Category | Result |
| 2023 | Jugjugg Jeeyo | Zee Cine Awards | Best Actor in a Comic Role | Won |
| 2023 | Jugjugg Jeeyo | Filmfare Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |

## Discography

| Year | Title | Singer | Music | Lyrics | Label |
| 2018 | Harjai | Himself | Sachin Gupta | Sachin Gupta | T-Series |

## Events and awards nights

| Year | Event | Role | Channel |
| 2008 | GR8 Awards | Host | Sony TV |
| 2008–2009 | Mumbai Police Show Organised by Cineyug | Host | Sony TV |
| 2009–2010 | Zee Rishtey Awards | Host | Zee TV |
| 2009–2010 | Zee Gold Awards | Host | Zee TV |
| 2010 | Zee Diwali Dhamaka | Host | Zee TV |
| 2010 | Sahara India Pariwar | Host | Star Plus |
| 2011 | BIG Star Entertainment Awards | Host | Star Plus |
| 2010 | Indian Telly Awards | Host | Colors TV |
| 2010 | Indian Television Academy Awards | Host | Colors TV |
| 2011 | Femina Miss India | Host | Sony TV |
| 2012 | STAR Parivaar Awards | Host | Star Plus |
| 2012 | Femina Miss India | Host | Sony TV |
| 2012 | Indian Telly Awards | Host | Colors TV |
| 2012 | Golden Petal Awards | Host | Colors TV |
| 2012 | BIG Star Entertainment Awards | Host | Star Plus |
| 2021 | Opening Ceremony of International Film Festival of India | Host | DD India and DD National |
| 2022 | Femina Miss India | Host | Colors TV |