Indian Film Actors with Super Star Rajesh Khanna: Paresh Rawal

Paresh Rawal (born 30 May 1950) is an Indian film actor, thespian and politician known for his works notably in Bollywood. He is currently a member of the Lok Sabha of the Indian Parliament belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Rawal speaks Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and Telugu languages fluently. In 1994, he won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in the films Woh Chokri and Sir. For the latter, he received his first Filmfare Award for Best Comedian. This was followed by Ketan Mehta's Sardar, which saw him playing the lead role of freedom fighter Vallabhbhai Patel, a role that got him national and international acclaim.

He has received wide recognition for his villainous roles in Telugu box office hits such as Kshana Kshanam (1991), Money (1993), Money Money (1995), Govinda Govinda (1994), Rikshavodu (1995), Bavagaru Bagunnara (1998), Shankar Dada M.B.B.S. (2004), and Teen Maar (2011). His other notable works in Hindi cinema are Naam (1986), Shiva (1990), Mohra (1994), Tamanna (1996), in which he played the role of a hijra, Aitraaz (2004), Table No. 21 (2013), Zilla Ghaziabad (2013).

He then ventured into comedy, with hits such as Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Chachi 420 (1997), Hera Pheri (2000), Nayak (2001), Aankhen (2002), Awara Paagal Deewana (2002), Hungama (2003), Hulchul (2004), Deewane Huye Paagal (2005), Garam Masala (2005), Phir Hera Pheri (2006), Golmaal: Fun Unlimited (2006), Bhagam Bhag (2006), Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), Welcome (2007), Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008), Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? (2010), OMG - Oh My God! (2012) Welcome Back (2015) and Hera Pheri 3 (2016).

Paresh Rawal was born in Rawal family of Gujjars in Mumbai.He is married to Swaroop Sampat, an actress and winner of the Miss India contest in 1979. Paresh and Swaroop have two sons, Aditya and Aniruddha. He is an alumnus of Narsee Monjee College of Commerce & Economics, Vile Parle, Mumbai.

Paresh Rawal and Swaroop Sampat at the screening of the film Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!

Rawal made his debut with the 1984 film Holi in a supporting role. It was the 1986 blockbuster Naam that established him as an actor with great talent. He then appeared in over 100 films throughout the 1980s and 1990s, in most as the main villain such as Kabzaa,King Uncle Ram Lakhan, Daud, Baazi, and so many more. In the 1990s, he also starred in the cult comedy Andaz Apna Apna where he played a double role. Paresh Rawal was perceived as a character actor by both audiences and critics until the 2000 Bollywood cult classic Hera Pheri after which he starred in many hindi mainstream films as a lead actor or main protagonist.Rawal played a dim-witted, boisterous, and kind-hearted Marathi landlord Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in the film Hera Pheri, who takes in Raju (Akshay Kumar) and Shyam (Sunil Shetty) as paying guests in his house. Rawal's acting was a key reason for the major nationwide success the film received. For his performance, he won the Filmfare Best Comedian Award. He reprised his role as Baburao in the sequel to the film, Phir Hera Pheri (2006), which was also successful.

Another notable lead role came In the 2002 when Rawal portrayed one of three blind bank robbers in the hit film Aankhen, co-starring Amitabh Bachchan, Aditya Pancholi, Akshay Kumar, Arjun Rampal and Sushmita Sen. Rawal for the remainder of the 2000s was seen in mainly comedy orientated multistarrers in the majority of which he was seen amongst the lead protagonists such as,Awara Paagal Deewana (2002), Hulchul (2004), Garam Masala (2005), Hungama, Deewane Huye Paagal (2005), Malamaal Weekly (2006), Golmaal: Fun Unlimited (2006), Chup Chup Ke (2006), Bhagam Bhag (2007), Shankar Dada MBBS (Telugu), Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Welcome, Mere Baap Pehle Aap (2008) and De Dana Dan (2009). In 2010, Rawal acted in the movie Aakrosh based on honour killing.

On the set of OMG with actor Akshay Kumar

In 2012, Paresh Rawal played the lead role in the superhit OMG – Oh My God! Good friend Akshay Kumar was seen supporting him and both won rave reviews for there roles.

He has also had a very successful acting career in Gujarati plays, the latest hit being Dear Father.

For television he has produced several Hindi soaps including Zee TV's Teen Bahuraaniyaan, Sahara One's Main Aisi Kyunn Hoon and Colors' Laagi Tujhse Lagan.

In 2014, his next films are Raja Natwarlal, a sequel to his 2007 film Welcome, titled Welcome Back. One of his upcoming projects is a biopic of Narendra Modi. Paresh Rawal is going to produce the film, which will be his second production venture after Oh My God.

He won as the Bharatiya Janata Party's Member of Parliament (MP) from Ahmedabad East in the Indian general election, 2014.

In 2014, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India, the fourth highest civilian award in India, for his contributions to the entertainment industry.

1994: Won: National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for Woh Chokri and Sir
1993: Won: Filmfare Best Villain Award for Sir
1995: Nominated: Filmfare Best Villain Award
1996: Nominated: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award- Raja
2001: Won: Filmfare Best Comedian Award for Hera Pheri
2003: Won: Filmfare Best Comedian Award for Awara Paagal Deewana

1996: Won: Star Screen Award Best Supporting Actor for Raja
2001: Won: Star Screen Award for Best Comedian for Hera Pheri
2003: Won: Star Screen Award for Best Comedian for Awara Paagal Deewana.

2001: Won: IIFA Best Comedian Award for Hera Pheri
2003: Won: Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role for Awara Paagal Deewana
2012: Nominated: Apsara Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role for Ready

Paresh Rawal's Filmography with Super Star Rajesh Khanna :