Arshad Warsi

Arshad Warsi (Hindi: अरशद वारसी, born 19 April 1968) is an Indian actor who debuted in 1996 with the film Tere Mere Sapne which was a success but he is best known for his role as "Circuit" in the comedy films Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003) and Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006) and his role as Babban in Ishqiya (2010) which won him acclaim.

Early life and education

Warsi was born in Mumbai, India, and did his schooling at a boarding school, Barnes School,Deolali in Nashik district, Maharashtra. He was orphaned at the age of 14 and struggled for a living in Mumbai during his early days.

[edit]Early career

Financial circumstances forced Warsi to start work as a door-to-door cosmetics salesman at age 17. Later he worked in a photo lab. Meanwhile he had a keen interest in dancing and received an offer to join Akbar Sami's Dance group in Mumbai, which started his dancing and choreographing career. He also assisted Mahesh Bhatt in Thikana (1987) and Kaash (1987).^[1][2]

Then in 1991, he won the Indian dance competition, followed by the fourth prize in the Modern Jazz category in 1992 World Dance championship, London, at the age of 21. Soon, he started his own dance studio, 'Awesome' with that money and also formed a dance troupe. It was here, his future wife, Maria Goretti, a St. Andrews College student joined him, before she became a VJ. He was also associated with English theater group in Mumbai, choreographing shows for Bharat Dabholkar and got an opportunity to choreograph the title track for the film, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993).^[3]

[edit]Film career

[edit]As an actor

He got his first offer to act in Amitabh Bachchan's production company, ABCL's first production Tere Mere Sapne in 1996. After its success, he acted in several other films over the next six years, but most of which failed to do well at the box office, till 2003, when he starred in the comedy film Munnabhai MBBS, which turned to be a huge box office success and gained him much critical acclaim and a nomination at theFilmfare Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting role. He has since appeared in several successful films such as Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya(2005), Salaam Namaste (2005) Golmaal, Kabul Express, Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006), the sequel to Munnabhai MBBS which also won him his first Filmfare Award under the category of Best Comedian. He also starred in hit films like Dhamaal (2007), Golmaal Returns (2008),Ishqiya (2010) and Golmaal 3 (2010).

[edit]As a producer

His first film as a producer, Hum Tum Aur Ghost was released in 2010.^[2]

Warsi is starring opposite Sanjay Dutt in Munnabhai Chale Amerika, the third sequel to the much acclaimed Munnabhai MBBS (2003).^[4]

[edit]Television career

Warsi has made a mark for himself on the small screen as well. He hosted a popular award show Sabse Favourite Kaun for STAR Gold. He was the host of Bigg Boss, Season 1, the Indian version of the reality television series Big Brother which was aired on Sony. He was also the co-host of a dance show Razzmatazz on Zee TV. He has also done a small cameo in a television show, Ishaan.

[edit]Personal life

Warsi married Maria Goretti on 14 February 1999.^[5] They have a son named Zeke Warsi, born on 10 August 2004. Both Maria and Zeke made a special appearance in Salaam Namaste. On 2 May 2007, the couple had a baby girl named Zene Zoe Warsi.^[6] During his school days, Warsi was a national level gymnast.^[7]

[edit]Awards

• 2007: Filmfare Best Comedian Award - Lage Raho Munna Bhai
• 2007: Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role - Lage Raho Munna Bhai
• 2005: GIFA Best Comedian Award - Hulchul

[edit]Filmography

[edit]Actor

Year	Film	Role	Other Notes
1996	Tere Mere Sapne	Ballu
1997	Betaabi	Vicky/Chetan
1998	Mere Do Anmol Ratan	Narinder (Naren)
	Hero Hindustani	Romi
1998	Hogi Pyar Ki Jeet	Kishan
	Trishakati	Sagar Malhotra
2000	Ghaath	Divakar	Cameo
2001	Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao	Rocky
	Jeetenge Hum
2002	Jaani Dushman	Abdul
2003	Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II	Punit Sanyal
	Munnabhai M.B.B.S.	Circuit	Nominated, Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award
2004	Hulchul	Lucky
2005	Kuch Meetha Ho Jaaye	Manager S.R. Khan
	Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya	Vicky
	Sehar	SSP Ajay Kumar
	Salaam Namaste	Ranjan 'Ron' Mathur	Nominated, Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award
	Chocolate	Tubby
	Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi	Fakira B.P.C.M.	Special Appearance
2006	Golmaal	Madhav Singh 'Madhu' Ghai
	Lage Raho Munnabhai	Circuit	Winner, Filmfare Best Comedian Award
	Chocolate	Chip
	Kabul Express	Jai Kapoor (TV journalist - cinematographer)
	Anthony Kaun Hai	Champ
2007	Dhamaal	Adi
	Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal	Shaan Ali Khan
2008	Sunday	Ballu
	Krazzy 4	Raja
	Mr. White Mr. Black	Kishan
	Golmaal Returns	ACP Madhav Singh Ghai
2009	Kisse Pyaar Karoon	Siddharth (Sid)
	Ek Se Bure Do	Toti
	Shortcut: The Con is on	Raju
	Zamaanat	Suraj	Delayed
2010	Ishqiya	Babban
	Hum Tum Aur Ghost	Armaan
	Golmaal 3	Madhav	Releasing on Nov 5
2011	Munnabhai Chale Amerika	Circuit	Delayed

[edit]Producer

• Hum Tum Aur Ghost (2010)

[edit]Playback Singer

• 2006 - Lage Raho Munnabhai

• 2004 - Munnabhai M.B.B.S.

Posted in: Bollywood Celebrity (Male)