Paresh Rawal

**Paresh Rawal** (born 30 May 1955)[3] is an Indian film actor, thespian and politician known for his works notably in Bollywood. He is currently a member of the Lok Sabha of the Indian Parliament belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Rawal speaks Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and Telugu languages fluently. In 1994, he won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in the films *Woh Chokri* and *Sir*.[4] For the latter, he received his first Filmfare Award for Best Comedian. This was followed by Ketan Mehta's *Sardar*, which saw him playing the lead role of freedom fighter Vallabhbhai Patel, a role that got him national and international acclaim.[4]

He has received wide recognition for his villainous roles in Telugu box office hits such as *Kshana Kshanam* (1991), *Money* (1993), *Money Money* (1995), *Govinda Govinda* (1994), *Rikshavodu* (1995), *Bavagaru Bagunnara* (1998), *Shankar Dada M.B.B.S.* (2004), and *Teen Maar* (2011). His other notable works in Hindi cinema are *Naam* (1986), *Shiva* (1990), *Mohra* (1994), *Tamanna* (1996), in which he played the role of a hijra, *Aitraaz* (2004), *Table No. 21* (2013), *Zilla Ghaziabad* (2013).[4]

He then ventured into comedy, with hits such as *Andaz Apna Apna* (1994), *Chachi 420* (1997), *Hera Pheri* (2000), *Nayak* (2001), *Aankhen* (2002), *Awara Paagal Deewana* (2002), *Hungama* (2003), *Hulchul* (2004), *Deewane Huye Paagal* (2005), *Garam Masala* (2005), *Phir Hera Pheri* (2006), *Golmaal: Fun Unlimited* (2006), *Bhagam Bhag* (2006), *Bhool Bhulaiyaa* (2007), *Welcome* (2007), *Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!* (2008), *Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?* (2010), *OMG - Oh My God!* (2012) and *Welcome Back* (2015)

## Family and Early Life:

Paresh Rawal was born in a Gujrati family in Mumbai .[1] He is married to Swaroop Sampat, an actress and winner of the Miss India contest in 1979. Paresh and Swaroop have two sons, Aditya and Aniruddha. He is an alumnus of Narsee Monjee College of Commerce & Economics, Vile Parle, Mumbai.[5]

## Career:

Rawal made his debut with the 1985 film *Arjun* in a supporting role. It was the 1986 blockbuster *Naam* that established him as an actor with great talent. He then appeared in over 100 films throughout the 1980s and 1990s, in most as the main villain such as *Kabzaa*,*King Uncle* *Ram Lakhan*, *Daud*, *Baazi*, and so many more. In the 1990s, he also starred in the cult comedy Andaz Apna Apna where he played a double role. Paresh Rawal was perceived as a character actor by both audiences and critics until the 2000 Bollywood cult classic *Hera Pheri* after which he starred in many Hindi mainstream films as a lead actor or main protagonist.Rawal played a dim-witted, boisterous, and kind-hearted Marathi landlord Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in the film *Hera Pheri*, who takes in Raju (Akshay Kumar) and Shyam (Sunil Shetty) as paying guests in his house. Rawal's acting was a key reason for the major nationwide success the film received.[6] For his performance, he won the Filmfare Best Comedian Award. He reprised his role as Baburao in the sequel to the film, *Phir Hera Pheri* (2006), which was also successful.

Another notable lead role came In the 2002 when Rawal portrayed one of three blind bank robbers in the hit film *Aankhen*, co-starring Amitabh Bachchan, Aditya Pancholi, Akshay Kumar, Arjun Rampal and Sushmita Sen. Rawal for the remainder of the 2000s was seen in mainly comedy orientated multistarrers in the majority of which he was seen amongst the lead protagonists such as,*Awara Paagal Deewana* (2002), *Hulchul* (2004), *Garam Masala* (2005), *Hungama*, *Deewane Huye Paagal* (2005), *Malamaal Weekly* (2006), *Golmaal: Fun Unlimited* (2006), *Chup Chup Ke* (2006), *Bhagam Bhag* (2007), *Shankar Dada MBBS* (Telugu), *Bhool Bhulaiyaa*, *Welcome*, *Mere Baap Pehle Aap* (2008) and *De Dana Dan* (2009).[4] In 2010, Rawal acted in the movie *Aakrosh* based on honour killing.

In 2012, Paresh Rawal played the lead role in the superhit *OMG – Oh My God!* Good friend Akshay Kumar was seen supporting him and both won rave reviews for their roles.

He has also had a very successful acting career in Gujarati plays, the latest hit being *Dear Father*.

For television he has produced several Hindi soaps including Zee TV's *Teen Bahuraaniyaan*, Sahara One's *Main Aisi Kyunn Hoon* and Colors' *Laagi Tujhse Lagan*.[8]

In 2014, his next films are *Raja Natwarlal*, a sequel to his 2007 film *Welcome*, titled *Welcome Back*. One of his upcoming projects is a biopic of Narendra Modi. Paresh Rawal is going to produce the film, which will be his second production venture after *Oh My God*.

## Politics

He won as the Bharatiya Janata Party's Member of Parliament (MP) from Ahmedabad East in the Indian general election, 2014.[10][11]

## Controversy

On May 21, 2017, Paresh Rawal tweeted "Instead of tying stone pelter on the army jeep tie Arundhati Roy!".[12] Rawal was making a reference allegations that Indian soldiers tied a Kashmiri to their jeep and used him as human shield, and it was presumed he wanted Roy to be used as human shield.[13] Rawal's tweet provoked a controversy, and he was accused of advocating violence against women. He was criticized by fellow actors/filmmakers Vivek Agnihotri,[12] and Swara Bhaskar.[12] Rawal, who is a member of the ruling BJP, was also criticized by Congress leader Shobha Oza.[14]

## Awards

Padma Shri Award
* In 2014, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India, the fourth highest civilian award in India, for his contributions to the entertainment industry.[15]

National Film Awards
* 1994: **Won**: National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for *Woh Chokri* & *Sir*

Filmfare Awards
* 1993: **Won**: Filmfare Best Villain Award for *Sir*
* 1995: Nominated: Filmfare Best Villain Award
* 1996: Nominated: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award- *Raja*
* 2001: **Won**: Filmfare Best Comedian Award for *Hera Pheri*
* 2003: **Won**: Filmfare Best Comedian Award for *Awara Paagal Deewana*

Star Screen Awards
* 1996: **Won**: Star Screen Award Best Supporting Actor for *Raja*
* 2001: **Won**: Star Screen Award for Best Comedian for *Hera Pheri*
* 2003: **Won**: Star Screen Award for Best Comedian for *Awara Paagal Deewana*

IIFA Awards
* 2001: **Won**: IIFA Best Comedian Award for *Hera Pheri*

Zee Cine Awards
* 2003: **Won**: Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role for *Awara Paagal Deewana*

Apsara Awards
* 2012: Nominated: Apsara Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role for *Ready*

## Television

He acted in a few Doordarshan serials during 1984 and 1988. His first serial was with Reeta Bhaduri called *Bante Bighadte* in the year 1984/85 and *Chunauti*, a serial based on college campus.