In addition to his acting career, Kaushal endorses several brands and products, and has co-hosted and performed at award ceremonies. He is married to actressKatrina Kaif, with whom he has a son.
Early life and background
Kaushal was born on 16 May 1988 in a suburbanchawl inMumbai to Sham Kaushal, an action director in Indian films, and Veena Kaushal, a homemaker.[1][2] His younger brother,Sunny, is also an actor.[3] His family isPunjabi Hindu[4] with their ancestral roots inHoshiarpur,Punjab.[5] Kaushal has described himself as a "regular kid who was interested in studying, playing cricket and watching movies".[2] His father was keen on his son having a stable career away from show-business and thus, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering fromRajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology in 2009.[6][2]
During an industrial visit to an IT company in his graduation year, he realised that he had no real interest in an office job and began aspiring to have a career in film.[2][6] He studied acting atKishore Namit Kapoor's academy while simultaneously participating in theatre withManav Kaul's Aranya group andNaseeruddin Shah's Motley Productions; doing everything from backstage and announcements to stand-ins.[7] Kaushal would spend the next two years going for various kinds of auditions, but did not get any good opportunities.[6] His first attempt at acting was in a theatrical production titledLaal Pencil in 2011.[6]
Kaushal started his career in films by working as an assistant director toAnurag Kashyap in the two-part crime dramaGangs of Wasseypur (2012).[6][8] Kaushal has described fond memories of working with Kashyap, whom he considers as his mentor.[9] He then played minor roles in Kashyap's productionsLuv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana (2012) andBombay Velvet (2015), and the short filmGeek Out (2013).[6][10]
Kaushal's first leading role was in the independent dramaMasaan (2015), directed byNeeraj Ghaywan. Kaushal and Ghaywan were both assistants onGangs of Wasseypur, and he was cast through an audition afterRajkummar Rao backed out.[11] To play a young man from a low socio-economic class yearning for a better life, Kaushal spent time inBenaras, where the film is set, and observed the mannerisms of local men.[12] The film was screened in theUn Certain Regard segment at the2015 Cannes Film Festival, where it won two awards, including theFIPRESCI Prize.[13]Masaan earned critical acclaim andThe New York Times considered it to be a leading example of increased realism in Indian cinema.[14][15] Nikhil Taneja ofHuffPost termed Kaushal's performance "poignant and memorable" and Anuj Kumar ofThe Hindu wrote that "he effortlessly conveys both the inferiority complex and the attitude of breaking through the caste cauldron".[16][17] His performance won him theIIFA andScreen Award for Best Male Debut, and a nomination for theAsian Film Award for Best Newcomer, among other accolades.[18][19][20]
The dramaZubaan, which Kaushal had filmed beforeMasaan, was screened at the 2015Busan International Film Festival.[4] His role was that of a grieving man who startsstammering after the suicide of his father.[12] He worked with a speech therapist to learn stammering patterns and spent time with some of the doctor's patients. After completing work on the film, Kaushal found it difficult to distance from the character and began to stammer in real life.[12] His performance ledJustin Chang ofVariety to label him a "charismatic, naturally engaging talent".[21] In Kashyap's psychological thrillerRaman Raghav 2.0 (2016), Kaushal played a chain-smoking, drug-addicted police officer in pursuit of a serial killer portrayed byNawazuddin Siddiqui.[4] The troubled and unbalanced character had little in common with Kaushal's own personality, and to convince Kashyap to cast him, he lived in isolation for five days and kept repeating lines from the script.[9] He also severely dehydrated himself and smoked heavily, impacting his health.[22] Kaushal chose the role because he was eager to avoidtypecasting from his first two films.[9] The film premiered at the2016 Cannes Film Festival, in theDirectors' Fortnight section to a positive response.[23] Writing forRediff.com, Aseem Chhabra found Kaushal's performance "brave" and "surprising".[24]
Kaushal's biggest commercial success of 2018 came withRajkumar Hirani'sSanju, a biopic of the troubled actorSanjay Dutt, who was portrayed byRanbir Kapoor in the film. Kaushal played his best friend Kamli, a fictionalised amalgamation of various real-life friends of Dutt.[32] In preparation, he spent time with Paresh Ghelani, who served as the primary inspiration for the role.[32] Samrudhi Ghosh ofIndia Today wrote that he "holds his own against Ranbir's superlative performance, and shines in the funny as well as emotional scenes".[33] BothRaazi andSanju proved to be among the highest-grossingHindi films of 2018, and with earnings of over₹5.79 billion (US$68 million), the latter ranks amongIndian cinema's biggest grossers.[34][35] ForSanju, Kaushal won theFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor (tied withGajraj Rao forBadhaai Ho).[36]
Kaushal's second Netflix production of the year was theanthology filmLust Stories. It consists of four short films dealing with female sexuality; Kaushal was seen inKaran Johar's segment as a newly married man who fails to recognise his wife's (played byKiara Advani) sexual dissatisfaction.[37] In his final release of the year, Kaushal reunited with Kashyap forManmarziyaan, alove triangle set inPunjab, co-starringTaapsee Pannu andAbhishek Bachchan.[38] Kaushal played the role of Vicky Sandhu, a local DJ whose commitment issues lead to conflict in his romantic relationship with Pannu's character. The film premiered at the2018 Toronto International Film Festival and met with positive critical reception.Anupama Chopra took note of how well he used silences to convey his character's pain and desire.[39] Shilpa Jamkhandikar ofReuters found him to be "at once petulant, childlike and suddenly cheerful, bringing a vulnerability to Vicky that saves him from being the villain of the piece."[40]
In 2019, Kaushal starred as a military officer inUri: The Surgical Strike, an action film based on the2016 Uri attack, directed byAditya Dhar and filmed inSerbia. To prepare, he gained muscle weight, practised aketogenic diet, and underwent five months of military training andmixed martial arts sessions.[41][42] He injured his arm while filming an action sequence in it.[43] Uday Bhatia ofMint found Kaushal to be a "fetching stoic lead" but bemoaned the lack of depth in his character.[44]Rajeev Masand took note of the film's jingoism but opined that Kaushal "brings both the bulked-up physicality and the sort of steely determination that the part requires".[45]Uri earned over₹3.5 billion (US$41 million) worldwide, making it the biggest-grossing film with Kaushal in a leading role, at that point.[46][47] Kaushal was awarded with theNational Film Award for Best Actor (shared withAyushmann Khurrana forAndhadhun) and received his first nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Actor.[48]
A year later, Kaushal starred in the horror filmBhoot – Part One: The Haunted Ship (2020), as a grief-stricken shipping officer.[49][50] He suffered an accident during the filming of an action sequence and fractured his cheekbone.[51] Saibal Chatterjee ofNDTV found Kaushal to be "earnest" in a film he dismissed as a "horrific misfire".[52]
Kaushal's sole release in 2021 wasShoojit Sircar'sSardar Udham which premiered digitally onAmazon Prime Video after multiple delays due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. The film is based on the life ofUdham Singh, a freedom fighter who assassinatedMichael O'Dwyer as revenge for his role in theJallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. In order to play the younger version of his character, who was 19 years old at the time of the massacre, Kaushal lost over 15 kilograms of weight within two months.[53] The film received critical acclaim, particularly for Kaushal's performance, with Chatterjee calling it his best performance to date.[54] Subhash K. Jha ofFirstpost shared the same opinion, adding "Kaushal's Udham Singh is a performance laced with grace, tinged with bitterness, and defined by a dormant rage".[55] For his performance, Kaushal won theIIFA Award for Best Actor and theFilmfare Critics Award for Best Actor, in addition to his second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.[56][57]
Keen to work in a light-hearted film after the "emotionally exhausting" experience ofSardar Udham, Kaushal starred as a struggling dancer accused of murder in the comic thrillerGovinda Naam Mera (2022).[58] It received a streaming release onDisney+ Hotstar.[59] Despite disliking the film,India Today's Tushar Joshi was appreciative of Kaushal's against-type comic performance in amasala film.[60] The following year, Kaushal starred oppositeSara Ali Khan inLaxman Utekar's romantic comedyZara Hatke Zara Bachke, about a small-town couple seeking privacy in their joint-family household.[61]Scroll.in's Nandini Ramnath opined that Kaushal "turns on the lovey-dovey charm and has a moving scene-stealing moment all to himself, which givesZara Hatke Zara Bachke a semblance of a purpose".[62] It marked his first film to release theatrically sinceBhoot – Part One in 2020.[63] Against expectations, it emerged as a commercial success.[64][65]
Kaushal took another part of a small-town man in the family filmThe Great Indian Family (2023), saying that he enjoyed the process of portraying middle-class aspirations and simplicity.[66] Reviewers forHindustan Times andThe Quint took note of how much his performance enhanced a mediocre film.[67][68] It had minuscule box-office collections.[69] In his second collaboration with Meghna Gulzar, Kaushal portrayed India's firstfield marshal,Sam Manekshaw in the biopicSam Bahadur.[70] Kaushal and Gulzar were keen to make the film historically accurate without taking many creative liberties. To portray Manekshaw in his less-documented younger years, Kaushal relied on meetings with Manekshaw's grandson.[71] CriticShubhra Gupta commended Kaushal for playing Mankeshaw "without becoming a caricature".[72] It was a modest commercial success.[citation needed] Kaushal had a brief role (billed as a special appearance) in Hirani's comedy-dramaDunki, starringShah Rukh Khan and Pannu.[73] A reviewer forFilm Companion believed that his appearance had greatly benefitted the film.[74] Kaushal received further Filmfare nominations for his performances inSam Bahadur andDunki, winning Best Supporting Actor for the latter.[75][76]
In 2024, Kaushal starred alongsideTriptii Dimri andAmmy Virk inBad Newz, a comedy aboutheteropaternal superfecundation.[77] Taking note of his comic timing,News18's Titas Chowdhury wrote that he "single-handedly tries to elevate this middling script".[78] A song from the film, "Tauba Tauba", featuring Kaushal, gained popularity.[79]Bad Newz emerged as a moderate commercial success.[80] In the following year, he portrayedMarathaChhatrapatiSambhaji in Utekar's historical action filmChhaava.[81] To prepare, he trained in sword, stick and spear fighting, gained 25 kg (55 lb) of body weight and learntMarathi.[82][83] To enhance the intensity of their on-screen rivalry, Kaushal andAkshaye Khanna (who played the antagonistAurangzeb) avoided interacting with each other during filming.[84]Hindustan Times' Rishabh Suri was appreciative of Kaushal's commitment to the role and his body language, but was displeased with the "excessive superherofication of the Maratha ruler".[85] Grossing over₹7.9 billion (US$93 million),Chhaava emerged as Kaushal's biggest grosser, as well as thehighest-grossing Hindi film of 2025 and the ninth-biggest-grossing Hindi film of all time.[86]
Kaushal will next co-star with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt inSanjay Leela Bhansali's romantic dramaLove & War, which is scheduled for release in 2026.[citation needed]
Although Kaushal is known for his media-friendly attitude, he has been guarded about discussing his relationships.[87][88] He was first linked to actressHarleen Sethi in 2018.[89] Their break up was reported by the media in early 2019.[90] Kaushal married actressKatrina Kaif on 9 December 2021 in a traditional Hindu ceremony at Six Senses Resort, Fort Barwara inSawai Madhopur,Rajasthan whom he first met in early 2019.[91][92] The wedding attracted substantial media coverage in India.[93]
The couple welcomed their first child, a son, on 7 November 2025.[94][95]
Off-screen work
In addition to his acting career, Kaushal has hosted and performed at numerous televised awards shows, including the Filmfare, Zee Cine, and Screen Awards. He also performed atFemina Miss India's 2019 grand finale.[96] He is a celebrity spokesperson of several brands and products, includingHavells,Reliance Trends, andOppo, charging₹20 million (US$240,000)—₹30 million (US$350,000) annually per brand.[97] Kaushal is also the brand ambassador forPearson in India.[98]
Kaushal extended his support to a football training program for children belonging to low-income families named "Just For Kicks" in 2017.[104] In 2019, he visitedsepoys inTawang inArunachal Pradesh as part ofNDTV's reality programJai Jawan.[105] ForDiwali that year, he visitedTata Memorial Centre to celebrate the festival with cancer patients and distribute gifts.[106] During the COVID-19 pandemic in India in 2020, he contributed₹1 crore to thePM CARES Fund and Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund[107] and collaborated with the NGO GiveIndia on a fundraiser to provide ration kits to daily wage workers.[108] Kaushal also donated₹2.5 lakhs to the Cine and TV Artistes Association (CINTAA) to help artists who were financially effected by the second wave of the pandemic in 2021.[109]
Artistry and public image
Kaushal in 2022
Following his debut, Kaushal was regarded by the media as one of the most promising newcomers in Hindi cinema.[110][111][112] According toFirstpost, while Kaushal did not have the conventional looks by Hindi cinema standards, his "merit as a performer shone through right from his first film" and put him in a group of young actors who brought change in the concept of a typicalhero.[113] His roles and performances have since been studied by critics.[114][115] Writing forElle in 2019,Rajeev Masand pointed to "the unmistakable vulnerability in his eyes that comes from 'feeling' and 'living' his parts".[111] While discussing his career in a 2021 article, Asjad Nazir ofEastern 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."[116] Also that year,Alaka Sahani ofThe Indian Express described him as "the most-dependable actor among the current crop",[115] whileFilmfare magazine hailed him as "one of the finest actors of this generation."[117]
Kaushal is amethod actor;[22][114] he severely dehydrated himself and smoked heavily forRaman Raghav 2.0 and has gone through major physical transformations for several of his roles in films includingSanju (2018),Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019),Sardar Udham (2021),Sam Bahadur (2023), andChhaava (2025), believing it helps him achieve the "right look" and thus benefits his performance.[118][22][119] Kaushal's efforts to avoidtypecasting by means of diverse parts in various film genres have been lauded by critics.[9][114] In a 2018 interview withThe Telegraph, he explained that "the idea is to never be repetitive... if I have done a role that's taken me to a certain space emotionally, I won't repeat that".[120]Bollywood Hungama describes him as "a perfect mix of versatility, natural talent and dedication".[114] Kaushal has featured frequently onRediff.com's annual list of Bollywood's Best Actors.[121][122][123][124]
Kaushal has been cited as one of the most attractive Indian celebrities by the media.[125] He toppedThe Times of India's listing of the country's most desirable men of 2018,[126] and was ranked at No. 4 in 2019[127] as well as 2020.[128] In 2018,Forbes India included him in their30 Under 30 list[129] as well as their list of 'Tycoons of Tomorrow'.[130] The following year, he appeared on the magazine'sCelebrity 100 list, which ranked him 72nd with an estimated annual income of₹104.2 million (US$1.2 million).[131] Kaushal was also India's most-searched film actor in 2019, according toGoogle.[131] In 2016 and 2021, he was listed as one of the best-dressed male celebrities by the Indian edition ofGQ magazine.[132][133]
Filmography
Films
Key
†
Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released
^Chopra, Anupama (13 September 2018)."Manmarziyaan Movie Review".Film Companion.Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved16 September 2018.
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