Arshad Warsi

Arshad Warsi
Warsi in 2013
Born	Arshad Hussain<ref>Orders of Chairman/Members (2 March 2023). "SEBI: Interim Order in the matter of Stock Recommendations using YouTube in the scrip of Sadhna Broadcast Limited". Mumbai, India: SEBI. Retrieved 3 March 2023.</ref> (1968-04-19) 19 April 1968 Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1993–present
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Maria Goretti ( m. 1996)
Children	2
Relatives	Anwar (half-brother)<br/>Asha Sachdev (half-sister)

Arshad Warsi (born 19 April 1968) is an Indian actor who appears in Hindi films.<ref>"The success story of the circuit of Bollywood: Arshad Warsi". The GenX Times. 9 April 2017. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2017.</ref><ref>"Holi, Arshad Warsi style". The Times of India. The Times Group. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2012.</ref> He is the recipient of several awards including a Filmfare Award from five nominations and is noted for acting in varied film genres.

Before making his acting debut, Warsi served as an assistant director to Mahesh Bhatt in Kaash (1987) and also choreographed a song in Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993). Warsi made his acting debut in 1996 with Tere Mere Sapne, which was a box office success. His portrayal of Circuit in the comedy film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003), and its sequel Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) for which he won the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role marked a turning point in his career. He featured in several commercially successful comedy films, including Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet (1999), Hulchul (2004), Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? (2005), Salaam Namaste (2005), Golmaal: Fun Unlimited (2006), Dhamaal (2007), Krazzy 4 (2008), Golmaal Returns (2008), Ishqiya (2010), Golmaal 3 (2010), F.A.L.T.U (2011), Double Dhamaal (2011), Jolly LLB (2013), Golmaal Again (2017) and Total Dhamaal (2019), and received critical recognition for his work in films including Sehar (2005), Kabul Express (2006), Dedh Ishqiya (2014) and Guddu Rangeela (2015). He is widely regarded by many as one of the most underrated actors in the Hindi film industry.<ref>"Arshad Warsi most underrated actor, says director – NDTV Movies". NDTVMovies.com. 26 December 2013. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.</ref><ref>"Arshad Warsi is a hugely underrated actor: Boman Irani". News18. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.</ref>

In addition to acting in films, Warsi has hosted the dance show Razzmatazz in 2001, Sabse Favourite Kaun in 2004 and the first season of the reality television show Bigg Boss for which he was awarded the Indian Television Academy Award for Best Anchor – Game/Quiz Show. He starred opposite Karisma Kapoor in the TV serial Karishma – The Miracles of Destiny (2003) and featured as a judge for Zara Nachke Dikha in 2010. Warsi is married to Maria Goretti since 1999 with whom he has two children.

Early life and education

Warsi was born in Mumbai. His father, Ahmed Ali Khan (Ashiq Hussain), was an Urdu poet who had also worked as a musician in Hindi films and adopted the name Warsi after he became a follower of the Sufi saint Waris Ali Shah.<ref>"I cannot find another woman like my wife: Arshad Warsi". The Times of India. 10 March 2013. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024. I was born and brought up in Mumbai. My father's original name was Ahmed Ali Khan till he became a follower of a holy man Waris Pak and we became Warsis.</ref> Arshad is the half-brother of singer Anwar Hussain and actress Asha Sachdev from his father's first marriage to actress Ranjana Sachdev.<ref>Kar, Vivek (20 November 2010). "Arshad's half brother in financial mess". The Times of India.</ref>

His father being a Punjabi from Lahore, Warsi used to speak both Punjabi and Urdu while growing up.<ref>Kumar, Anuj (10 April 2013). "Circuit is charged". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024. My father was from Lahore. He and his sisters used to talk in Punjabi often. The second language that was used at home was Urdu.</ref> He did his schooling at a boarding school, Barnes School, in Deolali, Nashik district, Maharashtra.<ref>"Arshad rejects politics but will give Sanjay 'moral' support". Daily News and Analysis. Diligent Media Corporation. 1 February 2009. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2011.</ref> He was orphaned at the age of 14 and struggled for a living in Bombay during his early days.<ref>"On a roll: Meet Arshad Warsi – the real life hero of the rags-to-riches story". The Hindu. The Hindu Group. 18 November 2003. Archived from the original on 29 May 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.</ref> He left school after 10th standard.<ref name="PL">Times News Network (10 March 2013). "I cannot find another woman like my wife: Arshad Warsi". The Times of India. The Times Group. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref>

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 developed a keen interest in dancing and received an offer to join Akbar Sami's Dance group in Mumbai, which started his dancing and choreographing in Thikana (1987) and Kaash (1987).<ref>"I want to make my own films: Arshad". The Times of India. The Times Group. 10 February 2010. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.</ref><ref name="hi">"Personal agenda: Arshad Warsi". Hindustan Times. HT Media. 6 February 2010. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2010.</ref>

Then in 1991, he won the Indian dance competition, followed by the fourth prize in the Modern Jazz category in the 1992 World Dance championship, London, at the age of 21.<ref name="Banan" /> Soon, he started his own dance studio, "Awesome" with that money and also formed a dance troupe. It was here that his future wife, Maria Goretti, a St. Andrew's College student, joined him before she became a VJ. He was also associated with English theatre 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).<ref name="Banan">Banan, Aastha Atray (13 February 2010). "How To Break The Circuit". Tehelka. 7 (6). Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.</ref> During this time he was offered a role by Jaya Bachchan for Tere Mere Sapne.<ref name=PL />

Film career

See also: List of roles and awards of Arshad Warsi

He got his first offer to act in Amitabh Bachchan's production company, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation's first production Tere Mere Sapne in 1996. Before that he had made a small appearance as a dancer in a song in Aag Se Khelenge.<ref name="Atique">Video at YouTube</ref> He followed this by roles in films such as Betaabi (1997), Mere Do Anmol Ratan and Hero Hindustani (both 1998). His performance in P Vasu's Hogi Pyaar Ki Jeet (1999) was praised by Rediff.com's Suparn Verma.<ref>Verma, Suparn (8 May 1999). "Lost and frowned". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.</ref> Warsi's next release was Madhur Bhandarkar's directorial debut Trishakti (1999). Completed in 3 years, the film performed poorly at the box office.<ref>Gupta, Priya (17 September 2012). "I have faced humiliation in the industry: Madhur Bhandarkar". The Times of India. The Times Group. Archived from the original on 17 September 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.</ref> His only film appearances of 2001 were in Ghaath, followed by Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachaao (2001) and Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani (2002). Most of these failed to do well at the box office. In Shashanka Ghosh's Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II, he played a common man who saves the life of a goon who is fatally shot. Ronjita Kulkarni wrote that he gave a "winning performance".<ref>Kulkarni, Ronjita (14 November 2003). "Goons are normal too!". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 17 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.</ref>

In 2003, he rose to fame when he starred as Circuit to Munna Bhai (Sanjay Dutt) in Rajkumar Hirani's comedy Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. which turned out to be a huge box office success and gained him much critical acclaim and a nomination at the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.<ref name="Narwekar2012">Narwekar, Sanjit (12 December 2012). Eena Meena Deeka: The Story of Hindi Film Comedy. Rupa Publications. p. 265. ISBN 978-81-291-2625-2. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2016.</ref><ref name="Rishi2012">Rishi, Tilak (5 June 2012). Bless You Bollywood!: A tribute to Hindi Cinema on completing 100 years. Trafford Publishing. p. 246. ISBN 978-1-4669-3962-2. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2016.</ref> He won the Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role for the same. Warsi said in an interview that had the film not worked, his career would have finished.<ref>Press Trust of India (28 June 2011). "Failure of Munnabhai MBBS would have ended my career: Arshad". The Tribune. Chandigarh. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.</ref> His only release in 2004 was the comedy Hulchul which earned him the GIFA Best Comedian Award and nominations for the Screen Award for Best Actor, Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role and IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role. Warsi played an airport manager opposite Mahima Chaudhry in Samar Khan's Kuchh Meetha Ho Jaye (2005).<ref>Kulkarni, Ronjita (13 April 2005). "I did some horrible films before". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.</ref> His performance in Sehar was positively received by critics and Sanhita Paradkar of Rediff.com wrote that: "finally [he is] in a much-deserved lead role".<ref>Paradkar, Sanhita (29 July 2005). "Seher does Arshad Warsi justice". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.</ref> In the same year he appeared as a supporting actor in the romantic comedies Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? and Salaam Namaste.<ref name="Bajaj2014">Bajaj, J.K. (26 March 2014). On & Behind the Indian Cinema. Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd. p. 2008. ISBN 978-93-5083-621-7. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2016.</ref><ref name="StoddartWeigold2011">Stoddart, Brian; Weigold, Auriol (2011). India and Australia: Bridging Different Worlds. Readworthy. p. 192. ISBN 978-93-5018-080-8. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2016.</ref> For the latter, he was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. He played a computer hacker in the Vivek Agnihotri-directed suspense thriller film Chocolate. Indrani Roy Mitra of Rediff.com said that Warsi gave a "commendable [performance]" in Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! (2005).<ref>Mitra, Indrani Roy (23 December 2005). "Vaah! Copy ho to aisi!". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.</ref>

Warsi collaborated with Rohit Shetty for Golmaal: Fun Unlimited (2006), which was the first installment of the Golmaal series. His next release was the comic thriller Anthony Kaun Hai?, directed by Raj Kaushal. The film drew from many Hollywood and Bollywood films and Warsi won praise from critics for his role of a conman. Raj Lalwani opined that the film "belongs to [him]" and that he was "one of the most underrated actors around".<ref>Lalwani, Raj (4 August 2006). "Anthony Kaun Hai? Watch it for Arshad". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2015.</ref> He once again teamed up with Rajkumar Hirani and Sanjay Dutt for Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), which won him his first Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role, IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor, Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role and Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor.<ref name="Jess-Cooke2009">Jess-Cooke, Carolyn (2 February 2009). Film Sequels: Theory and Practice from Hollywood to Bollywood. Edinburgh University Press. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-7486-3133-9. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.</ref><ref>Barooah Pisharoty, Sangeeta (3 November 2006). "The Friday Circuit!". The Hindu. The Hindu Group. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2015.</ref><ref>"Warsi is in hot 'circuit'". The Hindu. The Hindu Group. 5 August 2006. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2015.</ref> His portrayal of a cameraman kidnapped by the Taliban in the counter-terrorism drama Kabul Express (2006), from Kabir Khan, won appreciation.<ref name="AthiqueHill2009">Athique, Adrian; Hill, Douglas (17 December 2009). The Multiplex in India: A Cultural Economy of Urban Leisure. Taylor & Francis. p. 258. ISBN 978-1-135-18187-1.</ref> H S Bunty wrote that Warsi "steals the show".<ref>Bunty, H S (15 December 2006). "Kabul Express: Flawed, but thought-provoking". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> Warsi appeared in the box office success comedy Dhamaal (2007).<ref name="Sinha2011">Sinha, Dheeraj (14 February 2011). Consumer India: Inside the Indian Mind and Wallet. John Wiley & Sons. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-470-82632-4. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.</ref> He played the role of a Pakistani footballer living in London in the sports drama Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal (2007). In director Jaideep Sen's comedy Krazzy 4, Warsi a person suffering from intermittent explosive disorder. The film failed to generate favourable reviews.<ref>Masand, Rajeev (12 April 2008). "Masand's Verdict: Krazzy 4". CNN-IBN. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref><ref>Kamath, Sudhish (18 April 2008). "Refund, please -- Krazzy 4". The Hindu. The Hindu Group. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> Ameeta Gupta praised Warsi's performance in Deepak Shivdasani's comedy Mr. Black Mr. White (2008).<ref>Gupta, Ameeta (2 May 2008). "For Arshad Warsi fans only". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> He reteamed with Rohit Shetty for the comedy Golmaal Returns (2008).<ref>Joshi, Namrata (17 November 2008). "Movie Review: Golmaal Returns". Outlook. 48 (46). Outlook Publishing: 80. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.</ref> His first release of 2009 was Kisse Pyaar Karoon, followed by Ek Se Bure Do. He played lead role in Neeraj Vora-directed comedy Shortkut, a remake of the Malayalam film Udayananu Tharam (2005).<ref>Parkar, Shaheen (7 July 2009). "Shortkut, remake of a Malayalam film, seems more inspired by Bowfinger". Mid-Day. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref>

In 2010, Warsi won the Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor and the IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor for the black-comedy Ishqiya. He appeared alongside Naseeruddin Shah and Vidya Balan.<ref name="Teo2013">Teo, Stephen (7 May 2013). The Asian Cinema Experience: Styles, Spaces, Theory. Routledge. p. 120. ISBN 978-1-136-29608-6.</ref> He produced and acted in Hum Tum Aur Ghost.<ref name="Chaudhuri2014">Chaudhuri, Diptakirti (12 September 2014). Bollybook: The Big Book of Hindi Movie Trivia. Penguin Books Limited. p. 158. ISBN 978-93-5118-799-8.</ref> The film received negative reviews and performed poorly financially.<ref>Jhunjhunwala, Udita (26 March 2010). "Hum Tum Aur Ghost". Mint. HT Media. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref><ref>Indo-Asian News Service (1 February 2013). "Arshad Warsi: I am a bad producer". Mumbai: CNN-IBN. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref><ref>Mirani, Vinod (29 March 2010). "Bollywood's dismal show at the box office". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> He once again collaborated with Rohit Shetty for the comedy Golmaal 3. It was a commercial success.<ref>Mirani, Vinod (8 November 2010). "Golmaal 3 beats Action Replayy at the box office". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> Raja Sen opined that "Warsi [was] killing all the streetside-cred he's built up with bhai-sidekick roles by overdoing it."<ref>Sen, Raja (5 November 2010). "Third time the harm!". Rediff.com. Mumbai. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> His 2011 releases include the comedies F.A.L.T.U and Double Dhamaal, which were both above-average grossers. The former was directed by Remo D'Souza and was inspired by the 2006 American comedy film Accepted, directed by Steve Pink.<ref>Pathak, Ankur (1 April 2011). "Review: Not a FALTU idea after all". Rediff.com. Mumbai. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> Preeti Arora called the latter a "huge disappointment".<ref>Arora, Preeti (24 June 2011). "Review: Double Dhamaal, but half the gags". Rediff.com. Mumbai. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref>

His only film role in 2012 was in a guest appearance in Ajab Gazabb Love. CNN-IBN wrote that Warsi was "good and effective".<ref>"'Ajab Gazabb Love' Review: It's not so lovable". CNN-IBN. 27 October 2012. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> His first release of 2013 was the action-thriller Zila Ghaziabad in which he played the role of a gangster. Charu Thakur criticised the film but praised Warsi's performance.<ref>Thakur, Charu (22 February 2013). "Zila Ghaziabad review: Tries hard to be 'Dabangg 3'". New Delhi: CNN-IBN. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> He played a lawyer in the Subhash Kapoor-directed Jolly LLB, his first solo hit.<ref>Tuteja, Joginder (2 December 2013). "Arshad Warsi is back with 'Jolly' maker". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> Raja Sen wrote that he was "earnest to a fault".<ref>Sen, Raja (15 March 2013). "Review: Jolly LLB is too predictable to be fun". Rediff.com. Mumbai. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> He was awarded the BIG Star Entertainment Award for Most Entertaining Actor in a Comedy Film (Male) and the IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role and Apsara Film Producers Guild Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role for his performance in the comedy drama.<ref>Bollywood Hungama News Network (19 December 2013). "Winners of Big Star Entertainment Awards 2013". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 22 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2014.</ref><ref>"Complete list of winners at IIFA 2014". CNN-IBN. 27 April 2014. Archived from the original on 22 July 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.</ref><ref>Bollywood Hungama News Network (15 January 2014). "Nominations for 9th Renault Star Guild Awards". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.</ref> The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. Warsi played an important role in the Amrit Sagar Chopra-directed sex comedy Rabba Main Kya Karoon (2013). He starred as the titular detective in Samir Tewari's comedy Mr Joe B. Carvalho opposite Soha Ali Khan.<ref>Kaushal, Sweta (3 January 2014). "Movie review: watch Mr Joe B Carvalho for Vijay Raaz, Arshad Warsi". Hindustan Times. New Delhi: HT Media. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> Panned by critics, the film failed to perform well at the box office.<ref>"Sholay 3D outshines Mr Joe B Carvalho at box office". Hindustan Times. New Delhi: HT Media. 6 January 2014. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> He starred in Abhishek Chaubey's Dedh Ishqiya (2014).<ref>Chopra, Anupama (11 January 2014). "Movie review: Many things to enjoy in Dedh Ishqiya, writes Anupama Chopra". Hindustan Times. HT Media. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> He suffered a head injury while shooting an action scene for Manish Jha's comedy film The Legend of Michael Mishra.<ref>"I am fine and under observation, tweets Arshad Warsi after injury". Mid-Day. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> Ashish R Mohan's comedy Welcome to Karachi (2015) featured Warsi alongside Jackky Bhagnani and Lauren Gottlieb. Rohit Vats and Shubha Shetty-Saha lauded Warsi's acting and comic timing.<ref>Shetty-Saha, Shubha (29 May 2015). "'Welcome To Karachi' – Movie Review". Mid-Day. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref><ref>Vats, Rohit (29 May 2015). "Welcome To Karachi review: It's illogical but funny". Hindustan Times. New Delhi: HT Media. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> Warsi's next superhit was Golmaal Again in 2017, in which he reprised the role of Madhav from previous Golmaal films, starring alongside Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Parineeti Chopra, Shreyas Talpade, Kunal Khemu and Tusshar Kapoor. It went on to become one of the year's highest grossers and was a blockbuster at the box office. After Golmaal Again, he went on to star in Bhaiyyaji Superhitt, Fraud Saiyaan, Total Dhamaal, Pagalpanti while film Zamaanat, a courtroom drama directed by S Ramanathan, is still unreleased.<ref>Tuteja, Joginder (21 November 2014). "10 Last Films of Bollywood's Noted Directors". Rediff.com. Mumbai. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> Arshad Warsi's last release was in March 2022, the Akshay Kumar and Kriti Sanon starrer 'Bachchan Pandey'.<ref>"Arshad Warsi joins the cast of Akshay Kumar and Kriti Sanon starrer 'Bachchan Pandey' – Times of India". The Times of India. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.</ref> He'll next be seen in Jolly LLB 3 with Akshay Kumar, releasing on 19th September, 2025. [1][2]

Television career

Warsi was the co-host of the dance show Razzmatazz (2001) on Zee TV.<ref>Unnikrishnan, Chaya (17 March 2013). "Arshad Warsi approached to judge dance show". Daily News and Analysis. Mumbai: Diligent Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.</ref> He starred opposite Karisma Kapoor in the TV serial Karishma – The Miracles of Destiny from 2003 to 2004. It aired on Sahara One.<ref>"Karisma's TV incarnation". The Hindu. Thiruvananthapuram: The Hindu Group. 7 October 2002. Archived from the original on 23 May 2006. Retrieved 21 December 2014.</ref> He hosted a popular award show Sabse Favourite Kaun (2004) for STAR Gold.<ref>IndiaFM News Bureau (23 April 2004). "Pepsi Gold Sabsey Favourite Kaun?". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2015.</ref> He was the host of Bigg Boss 1 (2006), the Indian version of the reality television series Big Brother which was aired on Sony Entertainment. Warsi won the Indian Television Academy Award for Best Anchor—Game/Quiz Show for this.<ref name=ITA>"Indian Television Academy Awards 2007". Mumbai: Indian Television Academy Awards. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.</ref> He has also done a small cameo on Disney Channel's television show Ishaan: Sapno Ko Awaaz De (2010).<ref>"Disney Channel brings actor Arshad Warsi on its popular tween show Ishaan". Business Standard. 1 July 2010. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015. (press release)</ref>

Personal life

Warsi with wife Maria Goretti and children in 2005

Arshad Warsi married Maria Goretti on 15 February 1996. They have two kids, son named Zeke Warsi, born in 2005 and daughter Zene Zoe Warsi, born in 2007. Zeke also, made a special appearance in Salaam Namaste. During his school days, Warsi was a national level gymnast.<ref>"Meet the gymnast: uddhab das Interview". Daily News and Analysis. Diligent Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 10 December 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2010.</ref> In March 2023, Arshad Warsi was accused by India's securities regulator SEBI to have participated in a stock market scam.<ref>"Interim Order in the matter of Stock Recommendations using YouTube in the scrip of Sadhna Broadcast Limited". SEBI. Retrieved 20 June 2024.</ref>

Reception

Warsi considers himself a better serious actor than a comic one.<ref>Sharma, Garima (17 May 2015). "Arshad Warsi: I'm a better serious actor than a comic actor". The Times of India. The Times Group. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> He's also an avid biker and was part of a bikers' gang in school.<ref>Singh, Veenu (10 May 2015). "Meet Bollywood's biker boys, Arshad Warsi and Sanjay Gupta". Hindustan Times. HT Media. Archived from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.</ref> Actor Naseeruddin Shah said that: "He is easily the best all-round actor in this generation", while Vidya Balan said of Warsi: "He reminds me of the great European actors who can fit into any role. But he is completely under-utilised".<ref name="Banan" /> In his book Hero Vol.2, Ashok Raj has called him "one of the most talented actors among today's breed".<ref name="Raj2009">Raj, Ashok (1 November 2009). Hero Vol.2. Hay House, Inc. p. 205. ISBN 978-93-81398-03-6.</ref> A well known actor, Warsi does not prefer giving auditions.<ref name="Chopra2014">Chopra, Tisca (8 April 2014). Acting Smart: Your Ticket to Showbiz. HarperCollins Publishers India. p. 34. ISBN 978-93-5136-204-3.</ref> Bhawana Somaaya has called him "one of the best three dancers of the Hindi film industry".<ref name="Somaaya2013">Somaaya, Bhawana (19 July 2013). Taliking Cinema: Conversations with Actors and Film-makers. HarperCollins Publishers India. p. 55. ISBN 978-93-5029-646-2.</ref> Director Samir Tewari called him "the most underrated and un-utilised actor."<ref>"Arshad most underrated, unutilised actor: Samir Tewari". Mumbai: CNN-IBN. 26 December 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.</ref> Boman Irani also feels the same and called him a "natural and unique performer".<ref>"Arshad Warsi is a hugely underrated actor: Boman Irani". New Delhi: CNN-IBN. 12 March 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.</ref>

Work and accolades

Main article: List of roles and awards of Arshad Warsi

Warsi won the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role in 2007. He has been awarded the Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role twice (in 2004 and 2007).

External links

• Arshad Warsi on IMDb