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Actors

Arif Zakaria (Actor) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth11 November 1966

Age58 Years (as of 2024)

BirthplaceMumbai, Maharashtra, India

ProfessionActor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseNamrata Sharma

FamilySon - Aimaan Zakaria; Father - Zakaria Ahmed; Brother - Asif Zakaria; Cousin - Fareed Zakaria

Arif Zakaria (Actor) Biography

Arif Zakaria is an Indian actor known for his work in film, television and theatre. Born in Mumbai in 1966, he rose to prominence with a notable role in 20

Early life and background

Arif Zakaria was born on 11 November 1966 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, into a Konkani Muslim family. He grew up in the city that would become both his hometown and the base for his professional life. Zakaria completed his college education at Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai and is listed as a graduate.

Career

Zakaria began performing on stage while still in college and developed extensive theatre experience, reportedly appearing in more than 700 shows worldwide. His on-screen career started with television: his first break came in the DD National serial Chunauti in 1987. He later made his Bollywood debut in the 1997 film Darmiyaan: In Between, in which he played the role credited as Emmi Begum and which earned him national recognition. His work extends beyond Indian cinema; his Hollywood debut is recorded as Dance Like a Man in 2004.

In addition to feature films and television, Zakaria has appeared in short films, including the English-language Tryst with Destiny (2007) and the Hindi short Aamad (2017). He has also been involved with large-scale stage musicals, notably taking part in the Australian production The Merchants of Bollywood, which draws on the story of choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant and her family.

Public profile

Physically, Zakaria is described as approximately 175 cm (1.75 m) tall, or about 5'9", with a weight around 70 kg (154 lbs), dark brown eyes and black hair. His zodiac sign is Scorpio. He is an Indian national and identifies with the Muslim faith. The family connections noted in his public profile include his father, Zakaria Ahmed, and a brother, Asif Zakaria, who is active in politics as a member of the Indian National Congress. He is also related to journalist Fareed Zakaria and belonged to a family with political ties; his uncle Rafiq Zakaria was associated with the Congress party.

Personal life

Arif Zakaria is married to Namrata Sharma, a columnist for the Mumbai Mirror; they married in 2002. The couple has a son named Aimaan Zakaria. Public listings place his residence in Bandra West, Mumbai.

Interests and recognition

Zakaria has cited travelling among his hobbies. His performance in Darmiyaan: In Between (1997) is connected with a National Award mention in his profile. He has worked in multiple media formats—stage, television, film and short films—and his theatre background and participation in international stage productions are recurring elements of his career narrative.

Latest updates

Zakaria's filmography includes early television work in Chunauti (1987), his notable film role in Darmiyaan: In Between (1997), and continued activity in cinema and short films into the 2000s and 2010s, such as Dance Like a Man (2004), Tryst with Destiny (2007) and Aamad (2017). He remains identified publicly as an actor with a longstanding theatre foundation and a body of screen work that crosses national boundaries.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Arif Zakaria (Actor), send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Aamad

Hindi short film

2017
Tryst with Destiny

English short film

2007
Dance Like a Man

Hollywood film

2004
Darmiyaan: In Between

Bollywood film; notable role as Emmi Begum

1997
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Career Highlights

  1. Television debut in Chunauti (1987)
  2. Bollywood role in Darmiyaan: In Between (1997)
  3. Hollywood appearance in Dance Like a Man (2004)
  4. Extensive theatre experience including more than 700 shows
  5. Participation in the Australian musical The Merchants of Bollywood
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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Arif Zakaria (Actor) born?

Arif Zakaria (Actor) was born on 11 November 1966.

What is Arif Zakaria (Actor) known for?

Arif Zakaria (Actor) is known for actor.

What is Arif Zakaria (Actor)’s marital status?

Arif Zakaria (Actor)'s marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Arif Zakaria (Actor) married to?

Arif Zakaria (Actor) is publicly listed as married to Namrata Sharma.