✦ Celebrity stories, facts and career updates. Explore F4U now →

Home › Biography › Anirudh Agarwal

Anirudh Agarwal photo for featured biography, wiki and celebrities profileFeatured Biography

Image source: StarsUnfolded

Celebrities

Anirudh Agarwal Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 23, 2026 • 3 min read

Request CorrectionClaim Profile

Quick Info

Date of birth20 December 1949

Age76 years

BirthplaceVikasnagar, Uttarakhand

ProfessionActor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseNeelam

FamilyChildren: Son - Aseem Agarwal; Daughter - Kapila Agarwal; Eldest brother - Chandanlal Agarwal

Anirudh Agarwal Biography

Anirudh Agarwal is an Indian actor known for his towering presence and the cult horror role 'Samri' in Purana Mandir.

Early life and background
Anirudh Agarwal was born on 20 December 1949 in Vikasnagar, Uttarakhand. He studied civil engineering at the University of Roorkee (now IIT Roorkee) and, after graduating, worked as a civil contractor at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai. While in school and college he took part in sports and served as general secretary of his college youth council.

A growth-related medical condition involving a pituitary gland tumour contributed to his exceptional height and distinctive facial features. He is one of eleven siblings and grew up in a large family; his eldest brother is named Chandanlal Agarwal.

Career
Anirudh Agarwal began his film career under the screen name Ajay Agarwal and made his Bollywood debut in Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon (1982). He rose to widespread recognition for portraying the supernatural antagonist Samri in the Ramsay Brothers' horror film Purana Mandir (1984), a role that became his signature and led to further work in the horror genre.

Across the 1980s and 1990s he appeared in several Hindi films, including 3D Saamri (1985), Ram Lakhan (1989), Bandh Darwaza (1990), and Bandit Queen (1994). He continued to take film roles into the 2000s, with credits such as Dulhan Bani Daayan (1999), Mela (2000), Mallika (2010) and a Hollywood appearance in The Jungle Book (1994).

Agarwal also worked in television, appearing on shows such as Zee Horror Show (1993), Tu Tu Main Main (1994), Mano Ya Na Mano (1995), and Shaktimaan (1997). His unusual screen presence made him a frequent choice for roles requiring a menacing or otherworldly figure.

Public profile
Anirudh Agarwal’s physical attributes have been widely noted: he is listed at 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) with black eyes and black hair. His association with the Ramsay Brothers and the Samri character cemented his place in the Indian horror canon and led to strong public recognition.

A notable episode of mistaken identity occurred when Mumbai Police used the nickname “Purana Mandir” for an underworld figure, creating confusion between the criminal’s moniker and Agarwal’s famous role.

Personal life
Anirudh Agarwal is married to Neelam. The couple have two children: a son, Aseem Agarwal, who made his acting debut in the Hindi film Fight Club (2006), and a daughter, Kapila Agarwal, who debuted in Bunty Aur Babli (2005) and works as an architect.

Latest updates
Agarwal’s career spans film and television projects from the early 1980s through the 2010s, with his most remembered screen work remaining tied to the horror films that brought him fame. Information in public records lists his hometown as Vikasnagar in Uttarakhand and identifies him as Indian by nationality and Hindu by religion.

Career highlights
Agarwal’s portrayal of Samri in Purana Mandir (1984) is his most famous role and opened doors to recurring work in horror films and television. His education and early career in civil engineering and work at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre contrast with his later public life as an actor.

Legacy
Known for a striking physical presence and a run of memorable genre roles, Anirudh Agarwal occupies a distinctive place in Indian popular culture, especially among fans of horror cinema. His family includes two children who pursued careers that intersect with the entertainment industry.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is prepared from the public references listed below and reviewed for clarity. If you spot an outdated detail about Anirudh Agarwal, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Accuracy

Request a Correction

Tell us what needs to be updated and share a reliable source so the editorial team can review it.

Ownership

Claim This Profile

If this profile is about you or your client, send your contact details and verification context.

◈

Recent Work

Mallika

Feature film appearance.

2010
Dulhan Bani Daayan

Feature film appearance.

1999
Bandit Queen

Feature film appearance.

1994
✦

Career Highlights

  1. Breakout role as Samri in Purana Mandir (1984).
  2. Debut in Bollywood with Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon (1982).
  3. Television appearances including Zee Horror Show and Shaktimaan.
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

People Also Search For

Indian TV ActressesBollywood ActorsSouth Indian ActorsCelebrities biographies
?

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Anirudh Agarwal born?

Anirudh Agarwal was born on 20 December 1949.

What is Anirudh Agarwal known for?

Anirudh Agarwal is known for actor.

What is Anirudh Agarwal’s marital status?

Anirudh Agarwal's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Anirudh Agarwal married to?

Anirudh Agarwal is publicly listed as married to Neelam.