Puneet Issar
Puneet Issar | |
|---|---|
 Issar in 2014 | |
| Born | 6 November 1959 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Known for | |
| Spouse | Deepali Issar |
| Children | 2 |
| Father | Sudesh Issar[1] |
| Relatives | Satyajeet Puri (brother-in-law)[1] |
Puneet Issar (born 6 November 1959)[2][3] is an Indian actor, writer, director, producer and dialect coach best known for his works in Hindi films and television shows.[4] Issar started his acting career as a villain in Manmohan Desai's 1983 film Coolie,[5] but gained recognition with the portrayal of Duryodhana in B. R. Chopra's television series Mahabharat (1988–1990).[3]
Following Mahabharat, Issar acted in notable films including Chandra Mukhi (1993), Prem Shakti (1994), Ram Jaane (1995), Border (1997), Refugee (2000), Krrish (2006), Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), Ready (2011), Son of Sardaar (2012) and The Kashmir Files (2022).[6] His first directorial was Salman Khan starrer cop film Garv (2004), for which he co-wrote the screenplay with wife Deepali.
Besides Mahabharat, Issar also went on to be part of television shows like Param Vir Chakra (1987), Bharat Ek Khoj (1988), Junoon (1993-1998), Noorjahan (1999-2000), Mahabharat (2013), Parchhayee: Ghost Stories by Ruskin Bond (2019) and Choti Sarrdaarni (2021).[7] He was a contestant in the reality television show Bigg Boss 8 (2014–2015), hosted by Salman Khan. Formerly, he worked as dialect coach at various acting institutions, and his expertise included speech, diction and physical gestures.
Personal life
[edit]Puneet is the son of film director Sudesh Issar.[1] He is also a trained artist and an 8th degree black belt holder.[5]
He belongs to a Punjabi Hindu family which migrated from Pakistan following the 1947 partition.[8]
He is married to Deepali, the daughter of actor Daljeet Puri and sister of actor Satyajeet Puri. She has written the films Garv: Pride and Honour (2004) and I Am Singh (2011) both directed by Puneet.[1][9] The couple has two children, daughter Nivriti Issar and son Siddhant Issar.[10] Siddhant is also an actor.[11]
Issar is a fitness and gym enthusiast. He also made some positive headlines for fitness at the age of 60.[12][2]
Career
[edit]Issar has starred as a villain in over 150 films, such as Zakhmi Aurat, Kal Ki Aawaz, Palay Khan, Teja, Prem Shakti and opposite stars like Mohanlal, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar. He also played a villain in the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Ram Jaane. He appeared in the hit war film Border.[13] He played the role of Parashurama in 2013 Mahabharata and Duryodhana in the epic TV series Mahabharat (1988–1990) which brought him mainstream popularity.[14][15]
He played the Indian Superman, a Bollywood version of the Hollywood films.[16] He played the second lead in the cult Indian horror film Purana Mandir in 1983.[17] Later he did many other horror movies such as Tehkhana in the 1980s.[18]
He also starred in movies such as Krrish, Partner, Aryan, Bachna Ae Haseeno and many more in the 2000s.
In 1982, he was involved in an on-shoot incident with Amitabh Bachchan during the shoot of Coolie. He accidentally injured Amitabh, nearly fatally, and suffered the industry's backlash due to it. He later admitted that he had to face a lot of problems in getting roles in movies and he also lost 7-8 films due to the notoriety of the incident.[19] He also went out of work for 6 years.[5]
He has also directed TV serials such as Hindustani and Jai Mata Ki starring Hema Malini.[15] He has starred in over 12 TV serials such as Junoon, Sahil, Noor Jahan, Vikram Aur Betaal and many more. He has appeared in over 1800 episodes on Indian television. He played the role of King Bimbisara in the feature film Gautama Buddha – The Life and Times of Gautama Buddha. He also starred in Left Right Left of the Indian Channel Sab TV. He has also worked in several Punjabi films such as Rab Ne Banayian Jodiyan[20] and in a few Telugu films. He has also given a brilliant display of his acting skills in the mythological film Suryaputra Shanidev, which was released in 1997.
In 2004, Issar directed the film Garv: Pride and Honour starring Salman Khan and Shilpa Shetty in lead roles. The opening collections of the film were good, and overall it was declared "Above Average" at the box office.[21] His latest directorial venture I Am Singh, the story of which is also written by him, released in December 2011.[22][23] It is based on the stories about the Sikh immigrants in the USA after the 11 September attacks.[24]
In the Indian TV reality show Bigg Boss season 8, in 2014/2015, Issar was one of the 7 finalists. He was evicted from the show on 3 January 2015. Issar lasted in the house for 105 days. At 56, he was the oldest contestant to do so and lasted the entire season in the house. He played the role of "Daar ji" in Choti Sarrdaarni.[25]
In 2022, Issar played DGP Hari Narain in The Kashmir Files, a film based on the Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits.[26]
Filmography
[edit] | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (January 2023) |
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Films
[edit]Hindi
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Coolie | Bob | |
| 1984 | Raja Aur Rana | ||
| Purana Mandir | Anand | ||
| 1985 | 3D Saamri | ||
| 1986 | Janbaaz | ||
| Palay Khan | Amar Singh | ||
| Dahleez | |||
| Tahkhana | |||
| 1987 | Pyar Ki Jeet | Darshan Patel | |
| Hathyar | |||
| Superman | Shekhar/Superman | ||
| Bhai Ka Dushman Bhai | |||
| Watan Ke Rakhwale | Akbar | ||
| Awam | |||
| 1988 | Akhri Muqabla | ||
| Zakhmi Aurat | Sukhdev | ||
| Zalzala | |||
| Main Tere Liye | |||
| Kasam | |||
| Maar Dhaad | Police Inspector Sangraam /Jaggu | ||
| 1989 | Elaan-E-Jung | ||
| 1990 | Haar Jeet | ||
| Maa Kasam Badla Loonga[27] | Inspector Kishan Singh | ||
| Roti Ki Keemat | D'Souza | ||
| Tejaa | |||
| Jaan Lada Denge | |||
| 1991 | Sanam Bewafa | Afzal Khan | |
| Meet Mere Man Ke | |||
| Paap Ki Aandhi | |||
| 1992 | Kal Ki Awaz | ||
| Jaagruti | |||
| Suryavanshi | Mahesh | ||
| 1993 | Shri Krishna Bhakta Narsi | ||
| Chandra Mukhi | Zoohla | ||
| Ashaant | Raana | ||
| Anmol | |||
| Khal-Naaikaa | Dr. Rajan Bakshi | ||
| Kshatriya | Shakti Singh | ||
| Zakhmi Rooh | |||
| 1994 | Prem Shakti | ||
| Yaar Gaddar | |||
| Kranti Kshetra | Shaitaan Singh | ||
| Cheetah | |||
| 1995 | Ram Jaane | Inspector Chewte | |
| Haathkadi | Chakku Pandey | ||
| Jallad | Bola | ||
| 1996 | Muqadar | Parashuram | |
| 1997 | Border | Subedar Ratan Singh, VrC | |
| Suraj | Mangal Singh | ||
| Daadagiri | Dhanraj | ||
| Jodidar | Poacher | ||
| Suryaputra Shani-dev | Shani dev | ||
| Krantikari | |||
| 1998 | Sher-E-Hindustan | Police inspector Khulbhushan | |
| Chandaal | Police inspector Khurana | ||
| 1999 | Jaalsaaz | Pratap Singh | |
| 2000 | Refugee | ||
| 2001 | Zakhmi Sipahi | Chhota Chaudhary | |
| Bhairav | Jindal | ||
| 2004 | Vajra-The Weapon | ||
| 2005 | Bunty Aur Babli | ||
| Kasak | |||
| 2006 | Aryan | Ranveer Singh Bagga | |
| Krrish | Komal Singh | ||
| Humko Deewana Kar Gaye | |||
| 2007 | Partner | Rana from Haryana | |
| 2008 | Gautama Buddha | Anguli Mala | Also shot in Telugu |
| Bachna Ae Haseeno | |||
| God Tussi Great Ho | |||
| The Wheel of Action Highway | |||
| 2011 | Yamla Pagla Deewana | Tejpaal Singh | |
| Ready | Ishwar Chaudhary | ||
| I Am Singh | Fateh Singh | ||
| Chhutanki | |||
| 2012 | Qayamat Hi Qayamat | ||
| Son of Sardaar | Sardar | ||
| 2013 | Mahabharat Aur Barbareek | Duryodhana | |
| 2022 | The Kashmir Files | DGP Hari Narayan | |
| Jayeshbhai Jordaar | Amar Tau | ||
| 2025 | The Bengal Files | Rajesh Singh | |
| 2026 | Border 2 | Subedar Ratan Singh, VrC | Cameo |
Telugu
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Master | Devaraju aka DR, a mafia don | |
| 2002 | Indra | Shoukat Ali Khan | |
| 2003 | Tagore | Police Commissioner Balbir Singh | |
| 2004 | Guri | Minister | |
| 2005 | Allari Pidugu | Major Chakravarthy | |
| Narasimhudu | JD | ||
| 2007 | Chandrahas | Liaqat Ali Khan | [28] |
| 2008 | Gautama Buddha | Anguli Mala | |
| 2016 | Eedu Gold Ehe | Mahadev | |
| 2018 | Sarabha | Chandraksha | |
| 2019 | iSmart Shankar | Kasi Viswanath | |
| Captain Rana Pratap | |||
Punjabi
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Rab Ne Banaiyan Jodiean | ||
| 2009 | Jag Jeondeyan De Mele | ||
| 2012 | Best of Luck | Jarnail Singh | |
| 2014 | Fateh | Pratap Singh | |
| 2020 | Teri Meri Gal Ban Gayi | ||
Kannada
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Samrat | ||
| Chinna | |||
| Rasika | |||
| Time Bomb | Jinga |
Bengali
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Bhagya Debata | ||
| 2008 | Satyamev Jayate | ||
| 2010 | Josh | ||
| 2015 | Besh Korechi Prem Korechi | ||
Tamil
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Uzhaippali | Duriyodhanan | |
| I Love India | |||
| 1994 | Athiradi Padai | ||
Malayalam
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Yoddha | Vishakha (black magician) | |
| 1994 | Pingami | Edwin Thomas | |
Marathi
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Jai Maharashtra Dhaba Bhatinda | Jas's Father | |
| 2026 | Ranapati Shivray: Swari Agra | Mirza Raje Jai Singh | [29] |
Television
[edit]| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Param Vir Chakra | Naik Jadu Nath Singh | |
| 1988–1990 | Mahabharat | Duryodhan | |
| 1993–1998 | Junoon | Saudagar Singh | |
| 1988 | Bharat Ek Khoj | Maharana Pratap | |
| 1997–1997 | Betaal Pachisi | Kabira | |
| 1997–1998 | Mahabharat Katha | Duryodhan | |
| 1999–2000 | Jai Mata Ki | Mahishasur | |
| Noorjahan | Sher-e-Afghan | ||
| 2006–2007 | Left Right Left | Brigadier Chandok | |
| 2007 | Love Story | ||
| 2008 | Neeli Aankhen | ||
| 2011 | Dwarkadheesh Bhagwaan Shree Krishn | Jarasandh | |
| Kahaani Chandrakanta Ki | King Shivdutt | ||
| 2013 | Bani Ishq Da Kalma | Gurudev Singh Bhullar | |
| Mahabharat | Parshurama | ||
| Sri Bhagavatam | Ravana and Hiranyakashyap | Telugu Mythological serial on ETV | |
| 2014–2015 | Bigg Boss 8 | Contestant | 6th place |
| 2018 | Namune | Dhanaji | |
| 2019 | Parchhayee: Ghost Stories by Ruskin Bond | Maharaja Digambar Singh | |
| 2021 | Choti Sarrdaarni | Beant Singh Gill | [7] |
| 2022 | Channa Mereya | Rajwant Singh | |
| 2023–2024 | Vanshaj | Bhanupratap Mahajan "Dada Babu" | |
| 2025 | Shiv Shakti – Tap Tyaag Tandav | Ravana | [30] |
Other credits
[edit]| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–1998 | Hindustani | Yes | No | No | |
| 1999–2000 | Jai Mata Ki | Yes | No | No | [31] |
| 2004 | Garv: Pride & Honour | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2011 | I Am Singh | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Theatre
[edit]In 2018, Puneet Issar wrote and directed the stage production Mahabharat: The Epic Tale, produced by Rahul Bhuchar under Felicity Theatre. The play featured Puneet Issar as Duryodhan and Rahul Bhuchar as Karna, exploring the friendship between the two characters.[32]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "It feels sad to see Sanatan Dharma being made fun of". Life And More. 29 November 2020.
- 1 2 Bhandari, Kabir Singh (6 November 2019). "Puneet Issar on playing Duryodhana again and his passion for gyming at 60". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
- 1 2 Murthy, Neeraja (17 December 2019). "Puneet Issar is still mighty 'Duryodhan' for viewers". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
- ↑ "Puneet Issar on playing the ANTI-HERO". Hindustan Times. 28 September 2016. Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
- 1 2 3 Biswas, Sneha (24 May 2025). "Meet actor who left Amitabh Bachchan clinically dead, lost 10 films, went out of work for 6 years: 'People were afraid'". mint. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ↑ Chakraborty, Juhi (6 February 2021). "All the actors from Mahabharat are stuck in their image from 30 years ago, but I kept breaking my image says Puneet Issar". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- 1 2 "Puneet Issar to enter Choti Sarrdaarni, says the role is tailor made for me". India Today. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ↑ "Indore: Actor Punit Issar main draw at Rotary function". The Free Press Journal. 27 March 2022.
He said his father was from Pakistan and during partition his father was only 16-year-old and his uncle was just 6-months old.
- ↑ Batra, Ankur (28 June 2020). "Puneet Issar feels that isolation period was more interesting than his Bigg Boss stay". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 September 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ↑ "Puneet Issar's daughter Nivriti claims tweet about Karishma Tanna was from a fake account". The Indian Express. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ↑ "ये है महाभारत के दुर्योधन का बेटा, पुनीत इस्सर की तरह सिद्धांत इस्सर भी निभा चुके दुर्योधन का आइकॉनिक रोल". Times Now (in Hindi). 26 August 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ↑ "Time to workout - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. 17 August 2012. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ↑ "rediff.com, Movies: A very human story". M.rediff.com. 30 June 2000. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- ↑ "I am praying for him again". The Times of India. 2 December 2005. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- 1 2 "The producers thought Garv would never release". Rediff.com. 1 July 2004. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ↑ "Sands Of Time - Part 4 | Bollywood's Affair With Superman: When Duryodhan Became Clark Kent". Outlook. 12 January 2022. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ↑ Bhandari, Kabir Singh (30 October 2020). "Halloween Special: Puneet Issar on his horror movie experience with Purana Mandir". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ↑ "90 दशक की रामसे ब्रदर्स की वो हॉरर फिल्में, जिन्होंने बचपन में ख़ूब डराया | Ramsay Brothers Horror Movies". Patrika News (in Hindi). 4 April 2022. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ↑ "कुली हादसे के बाद ऐसे थी Amitabh Bachchan-Puneet Issar की पहली मुलाकात, पत्नी ने भी दिया था बिग बी को खून". Times Now (in Hindi). 12 September 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ↑ "Bengali Director Puneet Issar Biography, News, Photos, Videos". nettv4u. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ↑ "Box Office 2004". Boxofficeindia.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
- ↑ Webster, Andy (2 December 2011). "A Family's Irreparable Loss for the Crime of Being Sikh". New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ↑ "'I Am Singh' is about Sikhs targeted post 9/11: Puneet Issar". DNA India. PTI. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ↑ "My resolve to make I Am Singh became stronger...: Puneet Issar". The Times of India. 2 December 2011. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ↑ "Puneet Issar to enter Choti Sarrdaarni". Tribune. 7 June 2021. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ↑ Cyril, Grace (5 April 2022). "Twinkle Khanna mocks The Kashmir Files craze, says 'going to make Nail Files about disastrous manicure'". India Today. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ↑ "Maa Kasam Badla Loonga Movie Trailer, Star Cast, Release Date, Box Office, Movie Review | Maa Kasam Badla Loonga Movie budget and Collection | Maa Kasam Badla Loonga". www.indianfilmhistory.com. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ↑ "Chandrahas review". IndiaGlitz.com. 3 July 2007. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ↑ वेमूल, स्वाती (2 February 2026). "'रणपति शिवराय स्वारी आग्रा'मध्ये 'महाभारत' फेम अभिनेते साकारणार मिर्झा राजे जयसिंग". TV9 Marathi (in Marathi). Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ↑ "Shiv Shakti - Tap Tyag Tandav: Puneet Issar enters the show to play the role of Dashanan". The Times of India. 27 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ↑ "Jai Ma Hema ki". India Today. New Delhi: Living Media. 16 August 1999. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ↑ "Puneet Issar's 'Mahabharat' to be staged in Delhi". Business Standard. 12 November 2018.
External links
[edit]
- Puneet Issar at IMDb
- Puneet Issar on Bollywood Hungama (archived)
- Puneet Issar on X
- 1959 births
- Living people
- Male actors in Hindi cinema
- Indian male television actors
- Film directors from Mumbai
- Male actors in Telugu cinema
- Indian male film actors
- Male actors in Malayalam cinema
- Male actors in Kannada cinema
- Male actors in Bengali cinema
- Male actors in Punjabi cinema
- 20th-century Indian male actors
- 21st-century Indian male actors
- Male actors from Mumbai
- Film producers from Mumbai
- Male actors in Hindi television
- Male actors in Telugu television
- Punjabi Hindus
