Discover the life and career of Puneet Issar, the renowned Indian actor, writer, and director best known for his iconic portrayal of Duryodhana in the epic television series Mahabharat.

Wiki/Biography

Puneet Issar was born on Friday, November 6, 1959, in Amritsar, Punjab. He is a Scorpio. His family originated from Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He attended St. Lawrence High School in Mumbai and later graduated from Mithibai College. Following graduation, he honed his acting skills at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune.

Physical Appearance

• Height (approx.): 6’3″
• Hair Colour: Bald
• Eye Colour: Brown

Family & Caste

Puneet Issar hails from a Brahmin family. He is the son of film director Sudesh Issar. Details about his mother remain largely undisclosed. He is married to Deepali, daughter of Punjabi actor Diljit Puri and Bengali singer Ashita Puri. They have two children: a son, Siddhant Issar (also an actor), and a daughter, Nivriti Issar.

Career

Puneet Issar began his career as an acting professor at the Film and Television Institute of India. After facing initial struggles, he landed the role of ‘Bob’ in the 1983 Bollywood film Coolie. This role, however, led to an unfortunate accident involving Amitabh Bachchan. This setback resulted in a six-year period of smaller roles in less prominent films. His breakthrough came in 1988 with his portrayal of Duryodhana in the television series Mahabharat.

His subsequent roles spanned numerous television serials, including Bharat Ek Khoj, Jai Mata Ki, Noorjahan, Love Story, Kahaani Chandrakanta Ki, and Bani Ishaq Da Kalma. His film career extended to various regional cinema including Malayalam (Yoddha), Tamil (I Love India), Kannada (Samrat), Bengali (Bhagya Debata), Telugu (Master), and Punjabi (Rabb Ne Banaiyan Jodiean). He also directed the 2004 film Garv.

Beyond acting and directing, Puneet participated in Bigg Boss Season 8 (2014), reaching the top 5 finalists. In 2019, he appeared in the ZEE5 web series Parchhayee.

Controversy

The accident on the set of Coolie, which seriously injured Amitabh Bachchan, cast a long shadow on Puneet’s early career. While the injury was accidental, it significantly impacted his public image for a considerable time. However, the matter was eventually resolved amicably.

Facts/Trivia

Here are some interesting facts about Puneet Issar:

• His father, Sudesh Issar, was a film director who launched the careers of many notable artists.
• He holds a fourth-degree black belt in martial arts.
• He initially aspired to join the Indian Army.
• He is a trained mixed martial artist, skilled in Karate, Kung Fu, boxing, and wrestling.
• He is fluent in Hindi and Urdu.
• He has an “Om” tattoo on his right hand.
• His extensive martial arts training and physical presence often led to villainous roles.

The immense popularity of his Duryodhana character even followed him off-screen, leading to some humorous anecdotes.