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Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 10, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1984

BirthplaceOkhla, Delhi, India

ProfessionActor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseRasika Agashe

FamilyParents were theatre artists; father was a theatre artist and professor; mother was a theatre actress

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub Biography

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub is an Indian actor known for character and supporting roles in Hindi cinema. Trained at the National School of Drama, he rose to the

Early life and background

Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub was born in 1984 in Okhla, a locality in Delhi, into a family with roots in theatre. Both his parents worked in theatre; his father was a stage artist and a professor while his mother also performed on stage. He completed his schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Delhi and went on to study at Kirori Mal College, where he earned a B.Sc.

Although he was not strongly drawn to acting during his early school years, college exposed him to theatre workshops and a growing interest in performance. After graduating from Kirori Mal College he briefly moved to Mumbai with the aim of becoming an actor but returned to Delhi to fill gaps in his craft. Encouraged by a college senior, he enrolled at the National School of Drama and completed his training there in 2007.

Career

After graduating from the National School of Drama, Zeeshan worked briefly as the director of an acting school in Dubai before returning to India in December 2007. In December 2009 he was appointed to teach at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York, though a casting call from a schoolmate led to his film break.

His feature film debut came with No One Killed Jessica (2011). He went on to take supporting parts in a string of Bollywood projects including Mere Brother Ki Dulhan and Jannat 2. His performance as Murari in the 2013 film Raanjhanaa brought wider recognition and helped establish him as a reliable supporting actor. Many of his screen appearances have been in the role of close associates or aides to the film’s protagonists.

In 2023 Zeeshan portrayed General Yahya Khan, the former president and commander-in-chief of Pakistan, in the film Sam Bahadur. He reportedly charged Rs. 15 lakh for that role.

Public profile

Physically, Zeeshan is listed at 178 cm (about 5'10") and around 72 kg (159 lbs). His measured chest, waist and biceps figures are given as 40, 32 and 12 inches respectively. He has dark brown eyes and black hair. He is an Indian national and follows Islam.

Outside of acting, his interests include reading, listening to music and traveling. He has cited Gulzar as a favorite poet and Shah Rukh Khan as a favorite actor. He has lived in Andheri, Mumbai.

Personal life

Zeeshan is married to television actress Rasika Agashe; the marriage is reported to have taken place in 2007. The couple have a daughter, Raahi, who was born in 2015.

Latest updates

Most recently, Zeeshan Ayyub appeared in Sam Bahadur (2023) in the role of Gen. Yahya Khan, a casting choice that received attention and for which his fee was reported in media coverage.

Career highlights and trajectory

Trained at one of India’s premier theatre institutions, Zeeshan transitioned from stage lineage and formal drama training into films where he carved a niche as a character actor. His steady accumulation of supporting roles, and a breakthrough turn in Raanjhanaa, led to higher-profile parts such as the historical portrayal in Sam Bahadur. He has also worked in teaching roles linked to acting, both domestically and abroad.
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Recent Work

Sam Bahadur

Portrayed General Yahya Khan in the 2023 film; reported fee for the role was Rs. 15 lakh.

2023
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Career Highlights

  1. Graduated from the National School of Drama (2007)
  2. Film debut in No One Killed Jessica (2011)
  3. Breakthrough role as Murari in Raanjhanaa (2013)
  4. Portrayed Gen. Yahya Khan in Sam Bahadur (2023)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub born?

1984

What is Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub known for?

Actor

What is Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub’s marital status?

Married

Who is Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub married to?

Rasika Agashe