Parikshit Sahni

Parikshit Sahni (born 1 January 1939) is an Indian film and television actor who has worked in Hindi and Punjabi cinema. He is known for his roles in the TV series Barrister Vinod, Gul Gulshan Gulfaam (Doordarshan) and Gaatha (Star Plus). He has also appeared several films including three of Rajkumar Hirani's blockbuster films Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, and PK.

He is the son of actor Balraj Sahni and nephew of writer Bhisham Sahni.

Early life He was born in 1939 Muree in the Rawalpindi District of the Punjab Province of British India (present day in the Murree District of Punjab, Pakistan), into a Punjabi Hindu family. He was named by Rabindranath Tagore while his father was teaching English at Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, and his mother was doing her Bachelors. Most of his schooling was done at the Lawrence school Sanawar. He then went to study at Delhi's St. Stephen's College.

Later, Sahni began his career as a child artist.

Personal life

Sahni's parents were both theatre and film actors, although his mother (Damayanti Sahni) acted in only a couple of films before her death at an early age in 1947. After her death, his father married Santosh Chandhok two years later.

He was married to Aruna Kapur. Aditi Sahni and Tania Sahni were his daughters from first marriage. After Aruna died, Sahni married Dr. Nandini and had son Varunjai Sahni.

On the advice of his uncle, Bhishm Sahani, Parikshit Sahni was sent by his father to attend a five-year course in architecture in Moscow. However, since he was poor in maths, he was advised to get admission in Moscow Cinema Institute. He cleared the aptitude test and joined the five-year course in film direction in the Moscow Cinema Institute. He returned in 1966 and started his film career in India. He assisted Raj Kapoor in Mera Naam Joker because Kapoor needed a person who could help him in working with the Russian Circus but he left that to act in Anokhi Raat.

Sahni even changed his screen name to Ajay Sahni at the suggestion of his friend Sanjeev Kumar during the shooting of their 1968 film Anokhi Raat, before eventually reverting to his own name a few years later.

Career

Sahni starred in the classic Punjabi film Marhi Da Diva (1989), with Raj Babbar, Pankaj Kapur, Kanwaljit Singh, and Deepti Naval. He played a remarkable role in the Hindi film Pavitra Paapi (1970) which was based on a Punjabi novel by Nanak Singh (a famous novelist). Pavitra Paapi also featured his real life father, Balraj Sahni in a pivotal role.

He acted in the Doordarshan television series The Great Maratha as Malhar Rao Holkar. He produced and acted in the popular TV series Gul Gulshan Gulfaam (1987) on DD National.

One of his most famous films was the Amitabh and Shashi Kapoor starer Kaala Patthar. He acted in the film 3 Idiots in which he played the role of R. Madhavan's father. He acted in the TV series Heena as Nawab Mirza, Heena's father. Heena ended in 2003. Sahni played Veer Singh (Kakasa) on the popular Zee TV serial Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar opposite Nivedita Bhattacharya.

Books The Non-conformist: Memories of My Father Balraj Sahni, Penguin Random House, 2019. Strange Encounters: Adventures of a Curious Life, Simon and Schuster, 2022.

Filmography

Films Year Film Role 1951 Deedar Child Shyamu 1968 Anokhi Raat Painter 1970 Pavitra Paapi Kedarnath Samaj Ko Badal Dalo Prakash Aansoo Aur Muskan Mahesh 1971 Preet Ki DoriGovind Lagan Rajesh 1972 Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor Mahjoor 1974 Hindustan Ki Kasam Rajesh 1975 Vandana Rakesh 1976 Tapasya Dr. Sagar Verma Kabhi Kabhie Dr. R. P. Kapoor 1977 Mamta Manish Srivastav Doosra Aadmi Bhisham Sat Sri Akal, Punjabi movie Pratima Prayashchit Niyaz Aur Namaaz Khel Kismat Ka Jeevan Mukt Satish Sharma Jallian Wala Bagh Udham Singh Gyaniji Preetam Duniyadari Heera 1978 Ulahana Udeekan Teja Singh Vishwanath Siddharth Anpadh Dr. Anand Nawab Sahib Shaukat Ali Muqaddar Amar Kaala Aadmi Aslam Khan Hamara Sansar Pratap Sharma 1979 Shyamla Kaala Patthar Jagga Zulm Ki Pukar 1980 Room No. 203 Humkadam Shekhar Gupta Kasturi Alkesh 1981 Agni Pareeksha Siddharth Sharma Sameera Nai Imarat Yogendra 1982 Raaste Pyar Ke Sohanlal Srivastav Suraag Dr. Ajay Gupta Desh Premee Ghulam Ali Waqt Ke Shehzade Sardarji Bhai Aakhir Bhai Hota Hai 1983 Lal Chunariya Rajesh 1984 Boxer Tony Braganza Teri Baahon Mein Mera Faisla Inspector Anand Saxena Andar Baahar Inspector Ajay Sahni Jeene Nahi Doonga Fakir Baba Nadaniyan Jaag Utha Insan Pujari 1985 Jawaab Dinesh Mathur Ramkali Jay Singh Ek Se Bhale Do David D'Mello Meri Jung Dr. Dinesh Mathur Mera Jawab Arun Insaaf Main Karoonga Inspector Shiva Ka Insaaf Robert Haveli Police Commissioner Thapa 1986 Mazloom Judge Jaspal Maa Ki Saugandh Surendra Insaaf Ki Awaaz Police Commissioner Car Thief Mr. Mehra 1987 Mr. X Inspector Rakesh Hukumat Shankardayal Singh Kalyug Aur Ramayan Judge Shyam Diwakar Watan Ke Rakhwale Assistant Jailor Madan Sher Shivaji Dil Tujhko Diya Ajay Sahni 1988 Subah Hone Tak Zulm Ko Jala Doonga Police Commissioner Vijay Mr. Mehra 1989 Hal Aur Bandook Dost Garibon Ka Police Commissioner Marhi Da Deeva Dharam Singh Galiyon Ka Badshah Mr. Rana 1990 First Rank Selection Committee Member 1991 Savdhan Sau Crore Advocate Phool Bane Angaray Mr. Dutta 1992 Meera Ke Girdhar Sooraj Mukhi Mr. Kumar Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj Amar Tahalka General Sinha Waqt Ka Badshah Hotel Owner Sangeet Doctor Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh Advocate Jagatnarayan Sinha 1993 Police Wala Inspector RakeshnathIn Custody Mr. Siddiqui Kundan Chief Minister Shaktiman Superintendent Of Police Pyaar Ka Tarana Pratimurti 1994 Madhosh Madam X Police Commissioner Mathur Yuhi Kabhi Judge 1995 Jeena Nahin Bin Tere Vapsi Saajan Ki Ab Insaf Hoga Inspector Khan 1996 Sindoor Ki Holi Yash R. K. Joseph Chhota Sa Ghar Dhanraj 1997 Share Bazaar Karmyogi Saaz Dr. Ranjeet Samant 1998 Angaar Vadee Wajood Abhijeet Joshi 2000 Choo Lenge Akash 2001 Rahul Dr. Bhandari Kasam Jaswant Singh 2002 Pardesi Re Yeh Mohabbat Hai Bashir Khan Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai Rohan Khanna Mujhse Dosti Karoge Mr. Verma 2003 Heda Hoda 2005 Chakachak Maa Where Are You... Mr. Mohanto 2006 Jadu Saa Chal Gaya Vilas Lage Raho Munna Bhai Mr. D'Souza Umrao Jaan Umrao's father 2007 Eklavya: The Royal Guard Omkar Singh 2009 3 Idiots Mr. Qureshi 2010 Dulha Mil Gaya Ratandeep Kapoor Chance Pe Dance Mr. Behl Right Yaaa Wrong Dr. Siddiqui Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyon Malik Ek Shankar 2011 Mere Brother Ki Dulhan Colonel Agnihotri 2013 Boss Raghunath Enemmy Mr. Karmakar 2014 PK Mr. Sahni (Jaggu's father) 2015 Hum Tum Dushman Dushman Chooriyan Uvaa Presiding Judge 2016 Sultan Gyan Singh Oberoi Desi Munde Gurmukh Singh 2018 Paak Sofiya's father 2019 One Day: Justice Delivered Colonel Cypher Nana Housefull 4 Maharaj Parikshitapdev Singh 2021 Hawayein Mike Paul 2023 Dunki

TV series Year Serial Role Notes 1984 The Far Pavilions Mulraj 1986Katha Sagar Multiple Roles in Multiple Episodes Barrister Vinod Barrister Vinod 1987 Gul Gulshan Gulfaam 1988 Mirza Ghalib Nawab Shamsuddin 1991–1992 Kahkashan Josh Malihabadi 1993 Commander 1994 Junoon Bharat Kumar Rajvansh Chandrakanta Maharaj Surendra Singh The Great Maratha Malhar Rao Holkar 1994–1996 Ajnabi 1998 Saturday Suspense - Beqasoor Alpviram Mr. Bakshi Main Dilli Hoon Maharaj Bharat 1998-1999 Ashiqui Anand Kumar 1998–2003 Heena Nawab Mirza 1999 Tanha 1999–2000 Gul Sanobar Sultan of Hindustan 2000–2001 Noorjahan Mirza Ghiyas Beg 2000 Hare Kanch Ki Chudian TelefilmGaatha 2001 Jaane Anjaane Mr. Vashisht 2003 Shararat Khushwant Mehra 2004 Ana Altaf 2004-2005 Lal Kothi Alvida 2004–2008 Saarrthi Hemraj Goenka 2007 Aahat - Shrunken Head 2007-2008 Jersey No. 10 Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar Veer Singh 2009 Kalpana 2011-2012 Meri Maa 2015–2017 Santoshi Mata Raghavendra Mishra 2019 Ek Bhram...Sarvagun Sampanna Kishan Mittal