Vicky Kaushal (born 16 May 1988) is an Indian film actor best known for his work in Hindi films. Kaushal has won numerous awards, including a National Film Award and two Filmfare Awards, and he was named to Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list in 2019.
He began his film career as an assistant to Anurag Kashyap in the 2012 crime drama Gangs of Wasseypur and went on to play minor roles in two of Kashyap's productions after graduating with an engineering degree from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology. His first leading role was in the independent drama Masaan in 2015, and he then appeared in the psychological thriller Raman Raghav 2.0. (2016). Kaushal rose to prominence in 2018 with supporting roles in Raazi and Sanju, two of the year's highest-grossing Hindi films, for which he won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.
The National Film Award for Best Actor went to Kaushal for his performance as a military officer in the 2019 war film Uri: The Surgical Strike. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance as Udham Singh in the biopic Sardar Udham (2021). (Critics). Aside from acting, Kaushal endorses several brands and products and has co-hosted and performed at award shows. He is married to Katrina Kaif, an actress.
Background and early life
Kaushal was born on May 16, 1988 in a Mumbai suburb chawl to action director Sham Kaushal and homemaker Veena Kaushal. Sunny, his younger brother, is also an actor. His parents are Punjabi Hindus originally from Hoshiarpur. Kaushal describes himself as a "regular kid who liked to study, play cricket, and watch movies." His father wanted his son to have a stable career outside of show business, so he graduated in 2009 with an engineering degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from Mumbai's Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology.
During an industrial visit to an IT company during his graduation year, he realized he had no interest in an office job and began to pursue a career in film. He studied acting at Kishore Namit Kapoor's academy while also performing in theatre with Manav Kaul's Aranya group and Naseeruddin Shah's Motley Productions, doing everything from backstage to stand-ins. Kaushal would spend the next two years auditioning for various roles but would not get any good ones. In 2011, he made his acting debut in a theatrical production called Laal Pencil.
Kaushal began his film career as an assistant director to Anurag Kashyap on the two-part crime drama Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). Kaushal has fond memories of working with Kashyap, whom he regards as a mentor. He then appeared in Kashyap's films Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana (2012) and Bombay Velvet (2015), as well as the short film Geek Out (2013).
Career
Early independent film work (2015–2016)
Kaushal made his feature film debut in the independent drama Masaan (2015), directed by Neeraj Ghaywan. Both Kaushal and Ghaywan worked as assistants on Gangs of Wasseypur, and he was cast after Rajkummar Rao dropped out. Kaushal spent time in Benaras, where the film is set, observing the mannerisms of local men in order to play a young man from a low socioeconomic class yearning for a better life. The film premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, where it won two awards, including the FIPRESCI Prize. Masaan received critical acclaim, and The New York Times cited it as a model of increased realism in Indian cinema. HuffPost's Nikhil Taneja called Kaushal's performance "poignant and memorable," while The Hindu's Anuj Kumar said "he effortlessly conveys both the inferiority complex and the attitude of breaking through the caste cauldron." His performance earned him the IIFA and Screen Awards for Best Male Debut, as well as a nomination for the Asian Film Award for Best Newcomer.
Zubaan, Kaushal's previous film before Masaan, was shown at the 2015 Busan International Film Festival. His character was a bereaved man who begins stammering after his father's suicide. He studied stammering patterns with a speech therapist and spent time with some of the doctor's patients. After finishing the film, Kaushal struggled to distance himself from the character and began to stammer in real life. His performance prompted Variety's Justin Chang to call him a "charismatic, naturally engaging talent." Kaushal starred as a chain-smoking, drug-addicted police officer pursuing a serial killer played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Kashyap's psychological thriller Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016). The troubled and unbalanced character bore little resemblance to Kaushal's own personality, and in order to persuade Kashyap to cast him, he isolated himself for five days and kept repeating lines from the script. He was also severely dehydrated and smoked heavily, negatively impacting his health. Kaushal chose the role to avoid being typecast after his first two films. The film premiered in the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival to positive reviews. Aseem Chhabra of Rediff.com called Kaushal's performance "brave" and "surprising."
Breakthrough and achievement (2018–2020)
Kaushal's breakthrough came in 2018. He starred as the male lead in Love per Square Foot, Netflix's first original film in India. The chemistry between Kaushal and his co-star Angira Dhar, according to Shweta Ramakrishnan of Firstpost, was the film's highlight. Later that year, it was shown at the Beijing International Film Festival. Following that, Kaushal appeared in Meghna Gulzar's spy thriller Raazi (2018), which was based on Harinder Sikka's novel Calling Sehmat. Set during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, the film tells the true story of a young Indian spy (Alia Bhatt) who marries a Pakistani army officer (Kaushal). He was drawn to the story's humanity and worked hard to convey both vulnerability and authoritative strength in his character. Meena Iyer of Daily News and Analysis praised Kaushal for playing "the right foil" to Bhatt's character.
Rajkumar Hirani's Sanju, a biopic of troubled actor Sanjay Dutt, played by Ranbir Kapoor, was Kaushal's biggest commercial success of 2018. Kaushal played his best friend Kamli, a fictitious amalgamation of Dutt's real-life friends. In preparation, he spent time with Paresh Ghelani, the role's primary inspiration. According to India Today's Samrudhi Ghosh, he "holds his own against Ranbir's superlative performance, and shines in both the funny and emotional scenes." Both Raazi and Sanju were among the highest-grossing Hindi films of 2018, with the latter earning over 5.79 billion (US$73 million) and ranking among Indian cinema's highest earners. Kaushal won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Sanju (tied with Gajraj Rao for Badhaai Ho).
Lust Stories, Kaushal's second Netflix production of the year, was an anthology film. It consists of four short films about female sexuality, with Kaushal appearing in Karan Johar's segment as a newly married man who fails to recognize his wife's (Kiara Advani's) sexual dissatisfaction. Kaushal reunited with Kashyap for Manmarziyaan, a love triangle set in Punjab co-starring Taapsee Pannu and Abhishek Bachchan, in his final release of the year. Vicky Sandhu, a local DJ whose commitment issues cause conflict in his romantic relationship with Pannu's character, was played by Kaushal. The film premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival and was well received by critics. Anupama Chopra noticed how well he used silences to convey the pain and desire of his character. According to Reuters' Shilpa Jamkhandikar, he is "at once petulant, childlike, and suddenly cheerful, bringing a vulnerability to Vicky that saves him from being the villain of the piece."
In 2019, Kaushal starred as a military officer in Uri: The Surgical Strike, an action film directed by Aditya Dhar and shot in Serbia. He gained muscle weight, followed a ketogenic diet, and went through five months of military training and mixed martial arts sessions to prepare. He got hurt while filming an action sequence in it. Mint's Uday Bhatia praised Kaushal as a "fetching stoic lead," but lamented his lack of depth. Despite the film's jingoism, Rajeev Masand believes Kaushal "brings both the bulked-up physicality and the sort of steely determination that the part requires." Uri grossed 2.4 billion rupees (US$30 million) in India and over 3.5 billion rupees (US$44 million) worldwide, making it the tenth highest-grossing Indian film. Kaushal won the National Film Award for Best Actor (shared with Ayushmann Khurrana for Andhadhun) and received his first Filmfare Award nomination for Best Actor.
A year later, Kaushal appeared as a bereaved shipping officer alongside Bhumi Pednekar in the horror film Bhoot - Part One: The Haunted Ship (2020). He fractured his cheekbone in an accident while filming an action sequence. NDTV's Saibal Chatterjee found Kaushal to be "earnest" in a film he called a "horrific misfire."
Sardar Udham and further afield (2021–present)
Shoojit Sircar's Sardar Udham, which premiered digitally on Amazon Prime Video after multiple delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was Kaushal's sole release in 2021. The film is based on the life of Udham Singh, a freedom fighter who murdered Michael O'Dwyer in retaliation for his role in the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Kaushal lost over 15 kilograms of weight in two months to play the younger version of his character, who was 19 at the time of the massacre. The film received positive reviews, particularly for Kaushal's performance, which Chatterjee described as his best to date. According to Subhash K. Jha of Firstpost, "Kaushal's Udham Singh is a performance laced with grace, tinged with bitterness, and defined by a dormant rage." Kaushal received the IIFA Award for Best Actor, the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics), and a second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance.
In 2022, Kaushal played the titular role of a backup dancer and struggling choreographer accused of murder in the Disney+ Hotstar comedy thriller Govinda Naam Mera, alongside Bhumi Pednekar and Kiara Advani. The Times Of India said in a mixed review of the film that Kaushal is "outstanding in a never-before-seen avatar that is reminiscent of a quintessential masaledar 90s Bollywood hero" and praised him for imbuing his character with "the right amount of energy and comic timing."
He has finished three upcoming projects. He will appear in Laxman Utekar's upcoming film, which will co-star Sara Ali Khan. He has also finished director Anand Tiwari's untitled film with Tripti Dimri and Vijay Krishna Acharya's The Great Indian Family with Manushi Chhillar. Kaushal will also appear in Rajkumar Hirani's immigration drama Dunki, alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Taapsee Pannu. He will star in Sam Bahadur, a biopic based on the life of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, in his second collaboration with Meghna Gulzar.
Off-screen work and personal life
Kaushal's personal life has been extensively covered in tabloids. Despite his media-friendly demeanor, he has been coy about discussing his personal relationships. In 2018, he was first linked to actress Harleen Sethi. Their divorce was announced in the media in early 2019. On December 9, 2021, Kaushal married actress Katrina Kaif in a traditional Hindu ceremony at the Six Senses Resort, Fort Barwara in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. In India, the wedding received extensive media coverage.
Aside from acting, Kaushal has hosted and performed at a number of televised award shows, including the Filmfare, Zee Cine, and Screen Awards. He also performed at the grand finale of Femina Miss India 2019. He is a celebrity spokesperson for several brands and products, including Havells, Reliance Trends, and Oppo, and his fees range from $20 million (US$250,000) to $30 million (US$380,000) per year. Kaushal is also the Pearson brand ambassador in India.
Volunteer work
Kaushal is also involved in charitable work, supporting a variety of causes related to environmental protection and women's rights. He appeared in a music video produced by the United Nations and the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change to raise awareness about air pollution. He also helped with a 2018 Radio City initiative to help with Mumbai's environmental and infrastructure issues, and he spent a day filling potholes. Kaushal spoke in support of the MeToo movement in India at the 2018 edition of the We The Women festival organized by journalist Barkha Dutt and UN Women for women's empowerment. He ran in the fourth edition of the Nashik Marathon for gender equality and women's safety in 2019.
In 2017, Kaushal donated to "Just For Kicks," a football training program for children from low-income families. As part of NDTV's reality show Jai Jawan, he visited sepoys in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, in 2019. That Diwali, he went to Tata Memorial Centre to celebrate with cancer patients and distribute gifts. During the COVID-19 pandemic in India in 2020, he donated one crore to the PM CARES Fund and the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund, as well as working with the NGO GiveIndia on a fundraiser to provide ration kits to daily wage workers. Kaushal also donated 2.5 lakhs to the Cine and TV Artistes Association (CINTAA) to assist artists who will be financially impacted by the pandemic's second wave in 2021.
Artistry and public perception
Following his debut, Kaushal was regarded as one of the most promising newcomers in Hindi cinema by the media. According to Firstpost, while Kaushal did not have conventional looks by Hindi cinema standards, his "merit as a performer shone through right from his first film," and he was part of a group of young actors who changed the concept of the typical hero. Critics have since studied his roles and performances. Rajeev Masand, writing for Elle in 2019, referred to "the unmistakable vulnerability in his eyes that comes from 'feeling' and 'living' his parts." In a 2021 article, Asjad Nazir of Eastern Eye wrote that Kaushal's "chameleon-like ability to morph himself into any character has already resulted in an impressive body of work and turned him into the go-to guy for demanding roles that add weight to a major movie."
Kaushal is a technique actor. He is known for his professionalism and complete dedication to each role; for Raman Raghav 2.0, he severely dehydrated himself and smoked heavily, and he has gone through major physical transformations for several of his roles in films such as Sanju, Uri: The Surgical Strike, and Sardar Udham, believing it helps him achieve the "right look" and thus benefits his performance. Critics have praised Kaushal's efforts to avoid typecasting by playing diverse roles in a variety of film genres. In an interview with The Telegraph in 2018, he stated, "the idea is to never be repetitive... if I've done a role that's taken me to a certain emotional space, I won't repeat that." According to Bollywood Hungama, he is "a perfect blend of versatility, natural talent, and dedication." Kaushal has appeared on Rediff.com's annual list of Bollywood's Best Actors several times.
The media has dubbed Kaushal as one of the most attractive Indian celebrities. He topped The Times of India's list of the country's most desirable men in 2018, and he was ranked fourth in both 2019 and 2020. Forbes India named him to their 30 Under 30 list as well as their list of 'Tycoons of Tomorrow' in 2018. The following year, he was ranked 72nd on the magazine's Celebrity 100 list, with an estimated annual income of 104.2 million (US$1.3 million). According to Google, Kaushal was also India's most-searched film actor in 2019. The Indian edition of GQ magazine named him one of the best-dressed male celebrities in 2016 and 2021.
 | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Gangs of Wasseypur | — | Assistant director |
| Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana | Young Omi | Special appearance | |
| 2013 | Geek Out | Geek | Short film |
| 2015 | Bombay Velvet | Inspector Basil | |
| Masaan | Deepak Kumar Chaudhary | ||
| 2016 | Zubaan | Dilsher | |
| Raman Raghav 2.0 | ACP Raghavan "Raghav" Singh Umbi | ||
| 2018 | Love per Square Foot | Sanjay Kumar Chaturvedi | |
| Raazi | Iqbal Syed | ||
| Lust Stories | Paras Upadhyay | Karan Johar's segment | |
| Sanju | Kamlesh "Kamli" Kanhaiyalal Kapasi | ||
| Manmarziyaan | Vicky Sandhu | Also playback singer for song "F For Fyaar" | |
| 2019 | Uri: The Surgical Strike | Major Vihaan Singh Shergill | |
| 2020 | Bhoot – Part One: The Haunted Ship | Prithvi Prakashan | |
| 2021 | Sardar Udham | Udham Singh | |
| 2022 | Govinda Naam Mera | Govinda Waghmare | |
| 2023 | Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat | DJ Mohabbat | Special appearance |
| Laxman Utekar's untitled next | TBA | Completed | |
| The Great Indian Family | TBA | Completed | |
| Anand Tiwari's untitled next | TBA | Completed | |
| Sam Bahadur | Sam Manekshaw | Filming | |
| Dunki | TBA | Filming |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 25th Screen Awards | Co-host |
| 2019 | Zee Cine Awards 2019 | Co-host |
| 64th Filmfare Awards | Co-host | |
| 2020 | 65th Filmfare Awards | Co-host |
| 2021 | Into The Wild With Bear Grylls | Celebrity guest |
| Year | Title | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | "Pachtaoge" | Arijit Singh |
| 2020 | "Muskurayega India" | Vishal Mishra |
See also: List of awards and nominations received by Vicky Kaushal
Kaushal has been the recipient of the National Film Award for Best Actor for Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) and two Filmfare Awards: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for Sanju (2018) and Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics) for Sardar Udham (2021)
| Bio | |
|---|---|
| Profession | Actor |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height | in centimeters- 185 cm in meters- 1.85 m in feet inches- 6’ 1” |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 16 May 1988 |
| Age (as of 2022) | 34 Years |
| Birthplace | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Zodiac sign | Taurus |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| School | Sheth Chunilal Damodardas Barfivala High School, Mumbai |
| College | Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Mumbai |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Telecommunications |
| Debut | Film: Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana (2012) Masaan (2015, in a lead role) |
| Family | Father- Sham Kaushal (Action Director) Mother- Veena Kaushal (Homemaker) Brother- Sunny Kaushal (Younger, Actor) Sister- None |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Caste | Brahmin |
| Food Habit | Non-vegetarian |
| Address | Kaushal's, an apartment at 28th floor in Andheri West, Mumbai |
| Hobbies | Dancing, Travelling, Reading, Gymming |
| Awards | • Zee Cine Award for the Best Male Debut - Masaan (2015) • Screen Award for the Best Male Debut - Masaan (2015) • International Indian Film Academy Award for the Best Male Debut - Masaan (2015) • National Film Award for Best Actor for the film 'Uri' (2019) |
| Favourites | |
| Food | Aloo paratha, Jalebi with rabri, Chicken & fish tikka, Pani puri, Chinese cuisine |
| Beverage(s) | Cold Coffee, Beer |
| Actor(s) | Hrithik Roshan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui |
| Actress | Jennifer Aniston |
| Film(s) | Bollywood- Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander, Sadma, Gangs of Wasseypur, Black Friday Hollywood- 12 Angry Men |
| Director(s) | Anurag Kashyap, Karan Johar |
| Song | "Strangers in the Night" by Frank Sinatra |
| TV Show(s) | Game of Thrones, Prison Break |
| Book | The Secret by Rhonda Byrne |
| Restaurant(s) | Indigo, Mainland China in Mumbai |
| Travel Destination | Burano Island in Italy |
| Girls, Affairs and More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Marriage Date | 9 December 2021 |
| Marriage Place | Six Senses Fort Barwara, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan |
| Wife/Spouse | Katrina Kaif |
| Style Quotient | |
| Car Collection | Mercedes Benz GLC SUV |
| Money Factor | |
| Salary (approx.) | Rs. 3 crore/film (as in 2018) |
