Pankaj Kesari

Pankaj Kesari is an Indian film actor who works in Bhojpuri, Telugu and Hindi language films.

Career In addition to his work in Bhojpuri and Telugu cinema, Kesari has continued to expand his presence across regional Indian film industries. According to media reports published in 2023, after appearing in more than 45 Bhojpuri films and over 19 South Indian films, he signed his first major Bollywood project, marking his debut as a lead actor in Hindi cinema.

Media reports have described Kesari as one of the actors from Bihar who successfully transitioned from Bhojpuri cinema to South Indian films before entering Hindi cinema. Pankaj worked as a theatre artist in Patna and as a Mumbai-based VJ before foraying into films. He starred in more than thirty Bhojpuri films before debuting in Telugu with Kaalicharan in a negative role. After Kaalicharan, Pankaj went on to portray negative roles in other Telugu films including Where Is the Venkatalakshmi (2019).

Partial filmography Bhojpuri films Year Film Role Notes2008 Pratigya Vidhata 2009 Baklol Dulha Bah Khiladi Bah Sahar Wali Jaan Mareli Pariwar 2010 Tezaab Nathuniya Par Goli Mare 2011 Trinetra Kabhi Aave Na Judai Mora Balma Chhail Chhabila Elaan Sooryadev's assistant 2015 Gola Barood 2017 Joru Ka Ghulam Obedient husband 2018 Sawariya Tohse Lagi Kaisi Lagan

Telugu films Year Film Role Notes 2013 Kaalicharan Pasupathy 2015 Bham Bolenath Vasool Raja Where Is Vidya Balan Mosagallaku Mosagadu Shivam Peddi Reddy Araku Road Lo 2018 Where Is the Venkatalakshmi Veera Reddy Ranarangam Pankaj 2019 Gaddalakonda Ganesh 2021 Seetimaarr 2024 Mr. Bachchan Sambha Shiva 2026 Ustad Bhagat Singh Kashi

Hindi films Year Film Role Notes 2018 Kaashi in Search of Ganga