Sanjay Mishra

Sanjay Mishra (born 6 October 1963) is an Indian actor known for his works predominantly in Hindi cinema and television. He has twice won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for his performances in the films Ankhon Dekhi (2015) and Vadh (2022) along with several other awards and nominations. He also won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in 2024 film Bhakshak.

An alumnus of National School of Drama, he made his acting debut in the 1995 film Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India!. Later films include Rajkumar (1996) and Satya (1998). He also appeared as Apple Singh, an "icon" used by ESPN Star Sports during the 1999 Cricket World Cup. He is known for his performances both in drama and comedy genre movie productions.

Early life and background Sanjay Mishra was born in Darbhanga, Bihar, into a Maithil Brahmin family from Sakri, Narayanpur, Darbhanga. Mishra married Kiran Mishra in 2009.

Mishra's father Shambhu Nath Mishra was an employee at the Press Information Bureau and both his grandparents were Indian civil servant. When his father got transferred he moved to Varanasi, where he studied in Kendriya Vidyalaya BHU. Mishra joined the National School of Drama and graduated in 1989.

Career

Early career Mishra did many commercials and small movie roles before he got the opportunity to stand Amitabh Bachchan in a Mirinda commercial. In 1991, on his first day of shooting the television series Chanakya, he reportedly took 28 takes. The director left him with an assistant director so that he could rehearse for the shoot. His first released movie was Oh Darling! Yeh Hai India! in 1995 in which he played a small part as a harmonium player. His dialogue "Dhondu, Just Chill" and comic timing in All the Best gained him wide recognition. His latest release Ankhon Dekhi proved him as a serious actor. His movies Bhoothnath Returns, Kick and Dum Laga Ke Haisha all brought positive reviews. In 2013, he also acted as a leading actor in the film Saare Jahaan Se Mehnga.

His films Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Dilwale and many small budget films released in 2015, all brought him accolades. During the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, he did a commercial called Mauka Mauka.

Filmography

Films

Television

As director Pranaam Walekum Dhama Choukdhi

Other works He gave his voice for Pumbaa in The Lion King for the Hindi language audio.

Awards and nominations