Mohit Sehgal

Barun Sobti is an Indian actor. He is known for his roles in Asur, Kohrra, Tu Hai Mera Sunday, Halahal, Raat Jawaan Hai, Tanhaiyan and Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon. He has won the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Kohrra in 2023 and for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for Raat Jawaan Hai in 2025 respectively.

Career

Sobti made his television debut in 2009 as Swayam Khurana in Shraddha and subsequently appeared in a cameo role in Dill Mill Gayye. In 2010, he played Shravan Jaiswal in Baat Hamari Pakki Hai. He was well appreciated for his performance. He rose to prominence in 2011 with his portrayal of Arnav Singh Raizada in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?, establishing himself as a leading television actor. In 2017, he headlined Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? 3, playing Advay Singh Raizada.

Sobti made his film debut with Main Aur Mr. Riight (2014) and later appeared in the highly critically acclaimed Tu Hai Mera Sunday (2017). Sobti portrayed Arjun Anand, a reserved young man navigating friendship and love in Mumbai. His performance was noted for its naturalism and understated vulnerability, aligning with the film's slice-of-life tone. Directed by Milind Dhaimade, the film premiered at international festivals and received positive critical response.

In 2019, he featured in a short film “Derma” and the sports drama 22 Yards where he played a sports agent. The film premiered at the Bay Area South Asian Film Festival (BASAFF) in 2018, where he won the Best Actor Award for his performance.

Transitioning to digital platforms in parallel, he starred in Gul Khan's Tanhaiyan (2017) and The Great Indian Dysfunctional Family (2018) helmed by Ekta Kapoor.

In 2020, Sobti portrayed Nikhil Nair in Asur, a former CBI forensic expert drawn into investigating ritualistic killings rooted in mythology. Across two seasons, the psychological thriller explored faith, morality, and justice, with Nikhil at its core. His restrained, layered performance was widely praised for capturing the character's inner conflict and psychological strain. The series marked a significant milestone in his digital career.

Later in 2020, Sobti starred in Halahal, a crime drama that premiered on Eros Now. The film is loosely inspired by real-life events surrounding medical admission scams in India. Sobti portrayed Inspector Yusuf Qureshi, a morally ambiguous and street-smart police officer who becomes involved in the investigation of a medical student's suspicious death. His performance was noted for its restraint and layered portrayal of a conflicted officer navigating a flawed system.

Barun Sobti played a lawyer in Zee 5's 200 Halla Ho navigating a case rooted in caste oppression and gendered injustice. Set against the backdrop of marginalized Dalit women seeking justice, his character represents the legal system grappling with uncomfortable social realities. He also played a cameo role in Srijit Mukherji's web series Jaanbaaz Hindustan Ke. In 2023, he returned as Nikhil Nair in Asur 2. He further deepened the role, presenting a more conflicted and emotionally burdened Nair. The series went on to become a huge nationwide success, topping Ormax charts for months and becoming the most popular indian show on IMDB worldwide. He also starred in the Amazon Mini TV series Badtameez Dil, his second project with Ekta Kapoor.

In July 2023, he starred as Amarpal Garundi in the Netflix crime drama Kohrra, which received widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise for its writing, realism and performances.He won his first Filmfare OTT award for Kohrra. In 2024, Sobti featured in Rakshak – India's Braves: Chapter 2 and the comedy-drama Raat Jawaan Hai, directed by Sumeet Vyas. His performance as Avinash, a stay-at-home dad, was well appreciated and Sobti won his second Best Actor Filmfare award for the series.

In February 2026, Sobti returned as Garundi in Kohrra 2, garnering positive reviews from critics yet again. The series was commended for its layered storytelling and character development, and Sobti's performance was noted for its restraint, emotional depth and consistency, further consolidating his reputation for portraying complex, grounded characters. Later in August 2026, he reunited with his Asur director, Oni Sen, as the commanding officer, Colonel Sartaj Singh, in Operation Safed Sagar, and with his Kohrra producer Sudip Sharma in Babita Singh Reporting. Although both roles had Sobti in cameos, his presence was felt and critically appreciated.

Media image

Sobti gained worldwide popularity with the roaring success of Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?.

In November 2012, Sobti quit the show, citing health and personal reasons. This resulted in unprecedented backlash towards the producers and airing channel, Star Plus, by viewers who refused to watch the show with another male lead. Eventually, the show ended with Sobti's exit, with Star Plus releasing a disclaimer announcing that the show would not go on without him.

Times Of India noted that Sobti has redefined television stardom, making him "a huger star than the rest", for his exit caused the demise of a "TRP-tripping show". The show went on to be dubbed in 60+ countries, with Star Plus sending Sobti to several countries such as Turkey, Russia, Dubai, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Thailand and Uzbekistan for fan meet tours over the years.

In 2012, Eastern Eye ranked Sobti #10 in the Sexiest Asian Men list. In 2013, he ranked #3 behind only Hrithik Roshan and Ali Zafar. He consistently ranked amongst the top 6 until the last vote in 2016. Moreover, in 2012, he was the only Indian television actor to be officially featured in People Magazine's annual "20 Most Intriguing People" list.

Sobti also tasted international success after Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon. His show Baat Hamari Pakki Hai was dubbed in Malayalam and Arabic and Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? 3 in Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Malayu, to cater to his international audience.

His web series Asur was broadcast on Colors UK in December 2023 to early 2024. Sobti also bagged a prestigious international award, the Asian Television Awards, the most significant industry-voted honors for pan-Asian broadcasting, for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in Asur.

In 2026, Kohrra 2 was nominated big at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), including Sobti for Best Performance (Male) - Series

Personal life

Barun Sobti married his high school sweetheart, Pashmeen Manchanda, on 12 December 2010, in a private ceremony in Gurudwara. They have two children, Sifat Sobti, born in June 2019, and Meer Sobti, born in April 2023.

Filmography

Web releases

Television Year Title Role 2009 Shraddha Swayam Khurana 2010 Dill Mill Gayye Dr. Raj Singh (Cameo) 2010–2011 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai Shravan Jaiswal 2011–2012 Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? Arnav Singh Raizada 2017 Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon 3 Advay Singh Raizada/Dev Kashyap

Theatrical films Year Title Role 2014 Main Aur Mr. Riight Sukhwinder "Sukhi" Singh / Hridaan Dalmiya 2017 Tu Hai Mera Sunday Arjun Anand 2019 22 Yards Ronajith "Ron" Sen 2026 Jagadish

Music videos Year Title Singer(s)2021 Taqleefein Amit Mishra, Ritika Raj Singh Tera Mera Papon

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref. 2011 Star Guild Awards Best Actor Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 2012 People's Choice Awards India Favorite Actor (Drama) Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? Favorite Onscreen Couple ITA Awards Best Actor – Popular Indian Telly Awards Best Onscreen Couple Gold Awards Best Couple Star Parivaar Awards Favourite New Member (Male) Favourite Stylish Member (Male) Favourite Jodi Favourite International Jodi 2020 Asian Television Awards Best Supporting Actor Asur 2023 Filmfare OTT Awards Best Supporting Actor, Series (Male) – Drama Kohrra ITA Awards Best Actor Popular – OTT Critics' Choice Awards Best Supporting Actor – Web Series 2025 Critics' Choice Awards Best Actor – Web Series Raat Jawaan Hai Filmfare OTT Awards Best Actor, Series (Male) – Comedy