Kulbhushan Kharbanda

Kulbhushan Kharbanda (born 21 October 1944) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi and Punjabi films. He is best known for his role as the antagonist Shakaal in Shaan, Starting off with the Delhi-based theatre group borkh in 1974. He worked in several parallel cinema films before working in the mainstream Hindi film industry. He appeared in Mahesh Bhatt's classic Arth (1982), Ek Chadar Maili Si (1986), Waaris (1988), and in all three parts of Deepa Mehta's Elements trilogy: Fire (1996), Earth (1998), and Water (2005). After nearly two decades he was seen on the theatre stage at the Padatik Theatre in Kolkata in the production of Atmakatha, directed by Vinay Sharma.

Career After his studies he and a few of his college friends formed a theatre group called "Abhiyaan", and then joined Delhi-based "Yatrik", a bilingual theatre repertory founded by director Joy Michael in 1964; he became its first paid artiste, though after a few years Yatrik collapsed as the director was lecturing in US universities. That is when he moved to Kolkata in 1972 and started working with the theatre group "Padatik" which did Hindi theatre, under director Shyamanand Jalan. Here he worked for a while before moving on to Mumbai and films.

He first got noticed in Nishaant (1974) by Shyam Benegal, with whom he went on to work in several more films including Manthan (1976), Bhumika: The Role (1977), Junoon (1978), and Kalyug (1980). Soon he was a regular with parallel cinema directors, like in Godhuli (1977) with B. V. Karanth.

Playing the bald villain Shakaal in Shaan (1980) directed by Ramesh Sippy, he saw his transition into mainstream cinema. Kharbanda went on to appear in Shakti (1982), Ghayal (1990), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Gupt (1997), Border (1997), Yes Boss (1997) and Refugee (2000). However, he continued appearing in art films such as Chakra (1981), with Smita Patil and Naseeruddin Shah, Arth (1982), with Shabana Azmi, Andhi Gali (1984), the first Hindi film of Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Ek Chadar Maili Si (1986), with Hema Malini, Utsav (1984), by Girish Karnad, Mandi (1983), Trikal (1985), Susman (1987), by Shyam Benegal, Naseem (1995), by Saeed Akhtar Mirza and Monsoon Wedding (2001) directed by Mira Nair.

He portrayed Reema Lagoo's husband and Raj Babbar's brother in Shashi Kapoor's Filmwalas Productions' Kalyug. He has also appeared in period films such as Jodha Akbar and Lagaan.

He has acted in a number of Punjabi films. He portrayed the hero in the legendary film Chan Pardesi (1980) and starred in the Punjabi comedy Mahaul Theek Hai (1999).

He has acted in six of Deepa Mehta's movies and all her trilogy films: Earth, Fire and Water. He did a German film in 2009.

He has acted in TV serials, such as Shanno Ki Shaadi and Mahi Ve. Jaan Hatheli Pe Shankar Chinoy Uttar Dakshin Susman

Waaris Thakur Gajjan Singh Hum To Chale Pardes Kul Main Zinda Hoon Veerana Thakur Mahendra Pratap 1989 Joshilaay Raja Singh / Raja Sahib

Ghayal Police Commissioner Ashok Pradhan Pratibandh Paap Ki Kamaee Supremo

Antarnaad Henna

Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar Bekhudi

Game Damini Ek Hi Raasta Apaatkaal Police Commissioner Mahakaal Anita's Father Shaktiman 1994 Mohra Jailor

Baazi Police Commissioner Majumdar Naseem

Nirbhay Loafer Fire 1997 Border 1998 China Gate

Hote Hote Pyar Ho Gaya Colonel Teri Mohabbat Ka Naam Subhash

Bulandi Hera Pheri Devi Prasad Pukar

Monsoon Wedding Lagaan Raja Puran Singh

Taj Mahal: A Monument of Love Jahangir Basti Pinjar

I - Proud To Be An Indian I's father Garv Agnipankh

Zameer Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero Water

Fight Club Lage Raho Munna Bhai Khurana Umrao Jaan 2007 Manorama Six Feet Under

EMI Ek Jodhaa Akbar Ru Ba Ru

Team Aloo Chaat Kurbaan 2010 Khatta Meetha Ramakant Tichkule 2011 Khushiyaan

Midnight's Children Delhi in a Day

Zed Plus Haider 2015 Brothers 2016 Azhar 2018 Soorma

Manikarnika No Fathers in Kashmir Khandaani Shafakhana Hakim Tarachand 2022 Ardh 2024 Crew Sadanand Gowda aka Nanu 2025 Jewel Thief Jayant Roy

Other language films Year Film Role Language 1981 Chann Pardesi Punjabi 1982 Ucha Dar Babe Nank Da Punjabi 1988 Trinetrudu Telugu 2010 Nirdoshi Deshmukh Kannada 2013 Saadi Love Story Mr. Brar Punjabi 2014 Kirpaan Punjabi 2016 Dictator Telugu Aatishbazi Ishq Punjabi

Awards and nominations