Sunny Kaushal | |
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![]() Kaushal in 2022 | |
Born | (1989-09-28)28 September 1989 (age 35)[1] Bombay,Maharashtra, India |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2016–present |
Relatives | Kaushal family |
Sunny Kaushal (born 28 September 1989) is an Indian actor who works inHindi films. Born into theKaushal family, he worked as an assistant director on the filmsMy Friend Pinto (2011) andGunday (2014). He made his acting debut in the comedy-dramaSunshine Music Tours and Travels (2016), and gained recognition for his supporting part in the sports biopicGold (2018). Kaushal has since starred in the streaming seriesThe Forgotten Army - Azaadi Ke Liye (2020) and filmsShiddat (2021),Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga (2023) andPhir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba (2024).
Kaushal was born on 28 September 1989 in a suburban chawl inMumbai to Sham Kaushal, an action director in Indian films and Veena Kaushal.[2][3] His older brother is actorVicky Kaushal. His family isPunjabi.[4] Kaushal initially enrolled atThe Institute of Chartered Accountants of India but later dropped out to pursue acting.[4] He then started his acting career playing small roles in theatre plays and skits.
Kaushal made his Bollywood debut by playing the leading role in the 2016 comedy-drama road filmSunshine Music Tours and Travels and the TV Mini-SeriesOfficial Chukyagiri. He was also part of the short filmLove at First Sight.
In 2018, Kaushal featured inReema Kagti's period sports filmGold which is based on thenational hockey team's title at the1948 Summer Olympics. He portrayed the role of Himmat Singh, a character inspired byBalbir Singh Sr.[5] For his role inGold, he received critical recognition and also received a nomination at the25th Screen Awards for Best Supporting Actor. That same year, he appeared in the TV Mini-SeriesOfficial CEOgiri, a spin-off of the 2016 seriesOfficial Chukyagiri. The short filmThe Embrace in which Kaushal plays the role of Siddharth was nominated in the Drama Short Film category at theFilmfare Awards.[6]
Kaushal's next was the dance based filmBhangra Paa Le alongsideRukshar Dhillon which released on 3 January 2020 in selected screens.[7] Later that same year, Kaushal headlinedAmazon Prime Video's original seriesThe Forgotten Army - Azaadi Ke Liye.[8] The series was directed byKabir Khan based on true events of theIndian National Army fight for Indian Independence during World War II.[8]The New Indian Express found his performance to be "splendid".[9]
A year later, he starred in the romantic drama filmShiddat where he played the role of Jaggi Dil, a man who desperately tries to reach London to be with his love who is going to marry another man.[10] After being indefinitely delayed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the film premiered on 1 October 2021 onDisney+ Hotstar.[10] Samriddhi Srivastava ofIndia Today commented: "Kaushal’s dialogue deliveries and convincing performance will win your heart".[11]
In 2022, Kaushal featured alongsideNushrratt Bharuccha andVijay Varma inHurdang, a love story set in the backdrop of the student agitation of 1990 inAllahabad.[12] Then he was seen in the survival filmMili alongsideJanhvi Kapoor andManoj Pahwa.[13]
In 2023, he featured oppositeYami Gautam in theNetflix suspense thriller filmChor Nikal Ke Bhaaga.[14] He was then seen in the romantic thriller sequelPhir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, alongsideTaapsee Pannu andVikrant Massey.[15]
Kaushal was ranked inThe Times Most Desirable Men at number 45[16] in 2018, at No. 38[17] in 2019.
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | My Friend Pinto | — | Assistant director | |
2014 | Gunday | — | Assistant director | |
2016 | Sunshine Music Tours and Travels | Sunburn | [18] | |
2017 | Love At First Sight | Kshitij | Short film | |
2018 | Gold | Himmat Singh | [19] | |
2019 | The Embrace | Siddharth | Short film | [20] |
2020 | Bhangra Paa Le | Jaggi Singh / Kaptaan Singh[a] | [21] | |
2021 | Shiddat | Joginder "Jaggi" Dhillon | [22] | |
2022 | Hurdang | Daddu Thakur | [23] | |
Mili | Sameer | [24] | ||
2023 | Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga | Ankit Sethi | [25] | |
2024 | Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba | Abhimanyu Pandit | [26] | |
TBA | Letters to Mr Khanna † | TBA | Completed | [27] |
Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Official Chukyagiri | Spandan Chukya | [28] |
2018 | Official CEOgiri | [29] | |
2020 | The Forgotten Army - Azaadi Ke Liye | Lieutenant / Captain Surinder Sodhi[b] | [30] |
Year | Title | Singer(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | "Taaron Ke Shehar" | Neha Kakkar,Jubin Nautiyal | [31] |
2021 | "Dil Lauta Do" | Payal Dev,Jubin Nautiyal | [32] |
"Ishq Mein" | Meet Bros,Sachet Tandon | [33] | |
2024 | "Mukke Paaye Si" | B Praak | [34] |
Year | Title | Album | Co-singer | Composer | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | "Jhandey" | Non-album single | — | Himself and Bharg | [35][36] |
Year | Award | Category | Film | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Screen Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Gold | Nominated | [37] |
2024 | Bollywood Hungama OTT India Fest | Best Actor Male – Web Original Film | Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba | Won | [38] |
2025 | Iconic Gold Awards | Best Actor Negative - OTT | Won | [39] |