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Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 15, 2026 • 4 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth8 May 1953

Age70 Years

BirthplaceAgra, Uttar Pradesh, India

ProfessionActor, Filmmaker, Writer

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseNeelam Kulshreshtha

FamilySons: Tuhin Kulshreshtha, Nitin Kulshreshtha; Parents: Kameshwar Nath Kulshreshtha and Girija Devi

Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha Biography

Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha is an Indian theatre stalwart, actor, director, playwright and designer whose career spans stage, film and television. Trained at,

Early life and background

Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha was born on 8 May 1953 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Brought up in the Hindi heartland, his hometown is Lucknow. He studied at the Bhartendu Academy of Dramatic Arts in Lucknow, where he was among the early batches to specialize in direction. His formal education also includes a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Law.

As a child he first appeared on stage during Janmashtami celebrations. Before fully committing to theatre, he worked on the radio programme Hawa Mahal and began employment at Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) in 1972 — a job he later described as providing financial stability while he pursued his theatrical ambitions.

Career

Kulshreshtha’s first work as a director came while he was a student; in 1976 he directed Andhere Mein, an adaptation based on Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh’s book. He built a long association with theatre groups in Lucknow, joining Meghdoot Theatre in 1974 and serving the group in leadership roles including vice president, general secretary and treasurer until 1985. That year he became active in the Indian Peoples Theatre Association (IPTA), taking on roles such as president and vice president at the Lucknow chapter.

Across several decades he has directed more than 100 plays in multiple languages, ranging from folk and classical forms to English-language works. His stage repertoire includes Hindi productions such as Ram Leela, Vasansi Jirnani, Andha Yug, Bhagwajjukeeyam, Mrichchakatikam – Mitti Ki Gadi, Adhe Adhure and Ajab Nyay – Gajab Nyay. He has also directed English titles including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Exception and the Rule, Lower Depths and Men Without Shadows, and has worked with plays from other traditions, such as the Finnish piece Puho Mies.

Kulshreshtha has written numerous scripts and adaptations. Notable authored works include Hindi versions and original plays such as Natak Ganesh – Marka, Tukare, Insaf Ka Ghera (a Hindi take on Brecht’s Caucasian Chalk Circle), Veer Lorik, Mrig Trishna and Parivartan Ki Gatha. He frequently designed sets and costumes for his own productions and contributed articles and essays on theatre to periodicals and journals.

His theatre direction has been recognized nationally and internationally. Early honours include the Rang Yatra Samman (1993), the U.P. Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1995) and the Bhartiya Fankar Society Award (1996). In 1998 he received a Best Costume Designing award at an international theatre festival in the United States for the play Love For Ever. In 2015 he received a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to theatre direction. He has also been awarded an Honorary Diploma by the International Amateur Theatre Association in Norway and was felicitated by Navonmesh NGO in 2020.

His work has taken him beyond India. In 1991 he became director and president of the National Institute of Progressive Arts (NIPA) Rangmandali. That same year his production Bhagwadjjukeeyam was honored as the best production at the World Theatre Festival in Norway. In 1993 he represented India at the World Theatre Project in Germany and was invited by Aarhus University in Denmark to conduct a workshop and lecture. He has delivered workshops and lectures in countries including Germany, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway.

Film and television

While theatre remained his primary focus, Kulshreshtha has worked in screen projects as actor, writer and assistant director. He served as assistant director and production controller on the 1986 National Award-winning film Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin. For Doordarshan he worked on the TV serial Amir Khusrau (1988) as assistant director and as a screenplay and dialogue writer; other TV credits for writing include Tagore Stories, Kinara Door Nahin and Pathrile Raaste.

On screen, he has taken supporting roles in several films: Bhagvad Gita: Song of the Lord (1993), the short silent film The Bypass (2003), Monsoon Shootout (2013), Daas Dev (2018) and the 2023 courtroom drama Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai. On television he appeared in the 2020 Netflix miniseries A Suitable Boy in a supporting role. In 2006 he was a member of the selection committee for admissions at the National School of Drama, New Delhi.

Public profile

Kulshreshtha is based in Lucknow and has been associated with teaching and workshops at institutions such as Lucknow University, the National School of Drama in New Delhi, the Drama School in Mandi and IIT Kanpur. He is frequently described in industry circles as an A-grade actor for Doordarshan.

Personal life

Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha is married to Neelam Kulshreshtha, who is described as a homemaker. The couple’s children include sons Tuhin Kulshreshtha, who has worked as a vice president at Barclays Capital, and Nitin Kulshreshtha, who has been an assistant brand manager at Sunfeast Biscuits, ITC. His parents are Kameshwar Nath Kulshreshtha and Girija Devi.

Latest updates

As of 2023 he was 70 years old and continued to appear in films, most recently in the 2023 courtroom drama Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai. Over his long career he has maintained a presence as an actor, director, writer, designer and educator within Indian theatre and has represented Indian theatre internationally.

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 Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai

Played the role of Asaram Bapu in the 2023 Hindi courtroom drama film.

2023
A Suitable Boy

Appeared as Ramjap Baba in the 2020 Netflix miniseries.

2020
Daas Dev

Played Badri Kaka in the 2018 Hindi film.

2018
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Career Highlights

  1. Directed more than 100 theatre plays across multiple languages
  2. Recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2015 for theatre direction
  3. Directed Bhagwadjjukeeyam, honored at the World Theatre Festival in Norway
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 Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha born?

Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha was born on 8 May 1953.

What is Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha known for?

Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha is known for actor, Filmmaker, Writer.

What is Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha’s marital status?

Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha married to?

Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha is publicly listed as married to Neelam Kulshreshtha.