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Paresh Rawal Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth30 May 1950

Age75 Years

BirthplaceMumbai, India

ProfessionActor, Producer, Politician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseSwaroop Sampat

FamilySons: Aniruddh Rawal, Aditya Rawal

Paresh Rawal Biography

Paresh Rawal is an Indian actor, producer and politician known for a long and diverse career in film, television and public life. A commerce graduate who h

Early life and background

Paresh Rawal was born on 30 May 1950 in Mumbai, India. He grew up in a Nagar Brahmin family and later identified Gandhinagar, Gujarat, as his hometown. Rawal completed his school education under the Maharashtra SSC Board and went on to graduate in commerce from Bombay University in March 1974. After finishing his studies he became active in Gujarati theatre, which set the stage for his move into film and television.

Career

Rawal’s screen debut came in the mid-1980s. He first appeared in the 1984 Hindi film Holi and made his television debut around the same period with the Doordarshan series Bante Bighadte (1984–1985). During the 1980s and 1990s he established himself as a prolific supporting and character actor, often portraying villainous roles. The 1986 film Naam brought him wider recognition, and over the next decade he appeared in more than a hundred films.

While Rawal won acclaim for dramatic and negative parts early in his career, he became a household name for his comic turn as a loud but lovable Marathi landlord in the 2000 cult-classic Hera Pheri. That performance earned him a Filmfare Award for Best Comedian; he would later win another Filmfare Best Comedian award for Awara Paagal Deewana. His work has also been recognized with national honors: he received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in Woh Chokri and Sir, and in 2014 he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.

Beyond acting, Rawal has produced television serials including Main Aisi Kyunn Hoon, Teen Bahuraaniyaan and Laagi Tujhse Lagan. In 2014 he entered electoral politics and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Ahmedabad on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket. Later that year he was conferred the Padma Shri. In September 2020 he was appointed by the President as the chairperson of the National School of Drama Society for a four-year term.

Public profile

Rawal has maintained a visible public profile across multiple fields. He is associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party and has publicly expressed admiration for figures such as Narendra Modi. His artistic influences and favourites include actors Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Amitabh Bachchan and actress Kajol, and he has cited directors like Priyadarshan and Mahesh Bhatt among those he admires. Outside of work he lists hobbies such as reading, travelling, listening to music and practising yoga.

Personal life and family

Paresh Rawal is married to actress Swaroop Sampat. The couple have two sons, Aniruddh Rawal and Aditya Rawal. His father’s name is Dahyalal Rawal. Rawal’s hair is described as salt-and-pepper and his eye colour as dark brown. He is listed as 1.73 metres tall (approximately 5 feet 8 inches). His faith is identified as Hinduism and his caste is noted as Brahmin.

Latest updates

In April 2025 Rawal recounted an anecdote about recovering from a knee injury sustained while shooting the film Ghatak. He said a fellow industry professional advised a traditional remedy that he claimed helped speed his recovery; the account attracted commentary from medical professionals who questioned the medical basis for the remedy and cautioned against following unverified treatments. Earlier, in December 2022, Rawal received a summons from the Kolkata Police after remarks he made during a poll campaign drew a complaint alleging they could promote feelings of hatred. He was subsequently booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code as reported at the time.

Awards and recognitions

Rawal’s awards reflect a wide range of performances. He won the Filmfare Best Villain Award for Sir, the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Woh Chokri and Sir, and Filmfare Best Comedian Awards for Hera Pheri and Awara Paagal Deewana. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2014.

Latest work
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Recent Work

Chairperson, National School of Drama Society

Appointed by the President of India to a four-year term beginning September 2020.

2020
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Career Highlights

  1. Film debut in Holi (1984) and TV debut in Bante Bighadte (1984–1985).
  2. Breakthrough recognition with the film Naam (1986).
  3. National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Woh Chokri and Sir.
  4. Filmfare awards for Best Villain (Sir) and Best Comedian (Hera Pheri, Awara Paagal Deewana).
  5. Elected to Lok Sabha from Ahmedabad as a BJP candidate in 2014.
  6. Awarded the Padma Shri in 2014.
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Paresh Rawal born?

30 May 1950

What is Paresh Rawal known for?

Actor, Producer, Politician

What is Paresh Rawal’s marital status?

Married

Who is Paresh Rawal married to?

Swaroop Sampat