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Actors

Manish Wadhwa (Actor) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth23 April 1972

Age53 Years

BirthplaceAmbala Cantt, Haryana

ProfessionActor, Voice artist

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpousePriyanka Wadhwa

FamilySon - Ashrit Wadhwa; Daughter - Vanshika Wadhwa

Manish Wadhwa (Actor) Biography

Manish Wadhwa is an Indian actor and voice artist from Ambala Cantt, Haryana, best known for his portrayal of Chanakya in the TV series Chandragupta Maurya

Early life and background

Manish Wadhwa was born on 23 April 1972 in Ambala Cantt, Haryana, and grew up in a family that moved to Mumbai when he was a child. He attended Shishu Niketan School in Ambala and later completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree after enrolling at Prahladrai Dalmia Lions College in Mumbai. From an early age he was drawn to performance and theatre; while at college he frequently took part in stage productions and won multiple Best Actor awards in inter-collegiate drama competitions.

Career

Wadhwa’s on-screen career spans film, television and web content, alongside an extensive body of work as a dubbing and voice artist. He made his Hindi film debut in 2001 in the movie Rahul, and his early television work includes the historical serial Amrapali (2002). Over the next decade he moved between character and negative roles on television while continuing his theatre work in commercial productions.

A turning point came with the historical drama Chandragupta Maurya (2011–2012), in which Wadhwa’s portrayal of Chanakya brought him widespread recognition. The performance earned him multiple awards, including jury and industry honours for Best Actor in a Lead Role. Following that success he continued to appear in mythological and historical television series, taking on roles such as Ravan in Devon Ke Dev... Mahadev and other prominent parts in shows like Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? Ek Baar Phir, Mahakumbh - Ek Rahasya, Ek Kahani, Siya Ke Ram and Paramavatar Shri Krishna.

On the big screen, Wadhwa has taken on supporting and antagonist roles in a number of Hindi films. His filmography includes Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2004), Padmaavat (2018), Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019), Pathaan (2023) and the 2023 release Gadar 2, in which he played General Hamid Iqbal and received notable praise. He has also worked in regional cinema, appearing in the Telugu film Shyam Singha Roy (2021).

Voice work has been a major strand of Wadhwa’s professional life. He has provided Hindi dubbing for a wide range of international films and series, including Hindi versions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and the Twilight sequels. In the Marvel films and related series he has voiced the character Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier in Hindi-dubbed releases. Other dubbing credits include Ferdinand (2017), Megamind (2010), many Hollywood releases such as Predators and Mission: Impossible – Fallout, and web series work on titles like Lucifer, Elite and The Sandman. He has also dubbed for Hindi versions of Tamil projects such as Jagame Thandhiram and Netflix’s Navarasa.

Public profile

Wadhwa’s theatre background includes performances in Hindi stage plays and collaborations with established actors; he worked in commercial theatre in the late 1990s and early 2000s and appeared in plays such as Maa Retire Hoti Hai and Dr. Mukta. His career has seen him move between stage, television, film and dubbing studios, establishing a reputation for versatility across genres, from historical dramas to mythological series and international dubbing assignments.

He has received several awards for his on-screen performances, particularly for his work as Chanakya, and has been recognised for negative-role portrayals in later television projects. In 2023 he was the recipient of the RashtraRatna Award.

Personal life

Manish Wadhwa is married to Priyanka Wadhwa. The couple have two children: a son, Ashrit Wadhwa, who works as a film director, and a daughter, Vanshika Wadhwa. He has an elder sister, Geetu, and a younger brother, Rajiv Wadhwa. Wadhwa lists singing and travelling among his personal interests.

Latest updates

Recent years have seen Wadhwa remain active across media. In 2021 he appeared in the Hindi-dubbed credits of several web and film projects and acted in Shyam Singha Roy, while his performance in the 2023 film Gadar 2 as General Hamid Iqbal drew particular attention. He continues to balance on-screen roles with extensive voice-over work for films and streaming series.
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Recent Work

Gadar 2

Played General Hamid Iqbal in the Hindi film released in 2023

2023
Shyam Singha Roy

Appeared in the Telugu film as Mahadev Mahant

2021
Chhatrasal

Portrayed Mahamati Shri Prannath in the MX Player web series

2021
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Career Highlights

  1. Breakthrough role as Chanakya in Chandragupta Maurya (2011–2012)
  2. Multiple awards for Best Actor in a Lead Role for Chandragupta Maurya
  3. Extensive voice-over career dubbing major Hollywood and international titles into Hindi
  4. Praised performance as General Hamid Iqbal in Gadar 2 (2023)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Manish Wadhwa (Actor) born?

23 April 1972

What is Manish Wadhwa (Actor) known for?

Actor, Voice artist

What is Manish Wadhwa (Actor)’s marital status?

Married

Who is Manish Wadhwa (Actor) married to?

Priyanka Wadhwa