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Girija Shankar Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1960

Age59 Years (as in 2019)

BirthplacePatiala, Punjab, India

ProfessionActor, Producer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseMalvinder Shankar

Girija Shankar Biography

Girija Shankar is an Indian-born actor and producer best known for his portrayal of Dhritrashtra in the 1988 television epic Mahabharat. A graduate ofPunjā

Early life and background

Girija Shankar was born in 1960 in Patiala, Punjab, India, and grew up in a middle-class family. He completed his graduation from Punjabi University, Patiala. As a young man he wanted to join the air force and even appeared for the entrance test, but was unable to qualify because of age. After finishing his degree he moved to Delhi with the intention of enrolling at the National School of Drama, but personal circumstances prevented him from joining that institute.

Career

Shankar began training in acting at an institute in Patiala and worked with theatre practitioner Harpal Tivana. He spent around five years doing theatre in Patiala before relocating first to Delhi and then to Mumbai, where he continued to work on stage with several well-known theatre artists. His television debut came in 1988 when he was cast as Dhritrashtra in the landmark TV series Mahabharat. To prepare for the role—portraying a character without sight—he spent several days visiting blind schools to understand the physicality and behaviour of visually impaired people.

Following his TV breakthrough, Shankar moved into films. His early film appearances include Daata (1989), Maut Ki Sazaa (1991), Kal Ki Awaaz (1992) and Mr. Azad (1994). Across the 2000s he continued to appear on screen in titles such as Tum Se Achcha Kaun Hai (2002), Khwaab (2004) and Baghi (2006). His television work also includes roles in serials such as Buniyaad and Charchit.

Shankar’s career expanded beyond Indian cinema: he worked in several Hollywood productions and in 2006 he directed an English-language film titled Banana Brothers. After that period he and his family relocated permanently to the United States.

Public profile

Physically, Girija Shankar is listed at approximately 170 cm (around 5 feet 7 inches) with black hair and black eyes. He is known for a career that spans theatre, Indian television and film, and international projects. He has cited Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini among his favourite actors, and has expressed an interest in travel destinations such as Los Angeles and New York.

Personal life

Shankar is married to Malvinder Shankar, who is described as a writer. He holds Indian nationality and lists Patiala as his hometown.

Latest updates

After directing Banana Brothers in 2006, Girija Shankar settled in the United States with his family and continued to work in international film projects. The combination of stage training, television recognition from Mahabharat and subsequent film work in both India and abroad mark the arc of his professional life as described here.

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 Girija Shankar, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Banana Brothers

English-language film directed by Girija Shankar

2006
Mahabharat

Television series in which he played the role of Dhritrashtra

1988
Daata

Feature film debut

1989
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Career Highlights

  1. Played Dhritrashtra in the 1988 television epic Mahabharat
  2. Made film debut with Daata (1989)
  3. Directed the English film Banana Brothers (2006)
  4. Worked in both Indian and Hollywood films and relocated to the United States
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Girija Shankar born?

1960

What is Girija Shankar known for?

Actor, Producer

What is Girija Shankar’s marital status?

Married

Who is Girija Shankar married to?

Malvinder Shankar