Kulbhushan Kharbanda life and biography

Kulbhushan Kharbanda is an Indian actor, who worked in Hindi and Punjabi films, and is known as character Shakaal in Shaan (1980) inspired by the character of Blofeld from James Bond movies. Starting with Delhi-based theatre group Yatrik in the 1960s, he moved to films with Sai Paranjpye's Jadu Ka Shankh in 1974, he worked several parallel cinema films, before working in mainstream Bollywood. He later appeared Mahesh Bhatt classic, Arth (1982), Ek Chadar Maili Si (1986), and in all three parts of Deepa Mehta's Elements trilogy, Fire (1996), Earth (1998), and Water (2005). Kharbanda has also worked in mainstream cinema, parallel cinema as well Punjabi films.

Born in Hasnabdal - Kambelpur (now in Pakistan), known for the historic Gurdwara Panja Sahib, his family migrated to India after partition, and later Kharbanda did his graduation from Kirori Mal College (KMC), Delhi University, where was also part of the KMC Dramatic Society.

After his studies he joined Delhi-based Yatrik, a bilingual theatre repertory founded by director Joy Michael in 1964, and became its first paid artiste, though after a few years Yatrik collapsed as the director was lecturing in US universities. That is when he moved to Kolkata and started with Anamika theatre group with which Kharbanda did Hindi theatre, under director Shyamanand Jalan.

Starting his film career with Sai Paranjpye's Jadu Ka Gadha in 1974, he first got noticed in Shyam Benegal's Nishaant (1974), with whom he went on to work in several more films including, Manthan (1976) and Bhumika (1977), Junoon (1978), and Kalyug (1980), soon he was a regular with Parallel cinema directors, like Godhuli (1977) with B. V. Karanth.

Playing a bald villain, Shakaal in Shaan (1980) directed by Ramesh Sippy, saw his transition into Bollywood mainstream, Kharbanda went on to appear in Ghayal (1990), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Gupt (1997), Border (1997), Yes Boss (1997), Refugee (2000). Though he continued appearing in art films, like Chakra (1981) with Smita Patil and Naseeruddin Shah, Arth (1982) with Shabana Azmi, Andhi Gali (1984) first Hindi film of Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Ek Chadar Maili Si (1986) with Hema Malini, Utsav (1984) by Girish Karnad, Mandi (1983), Trikal (1985) and Susman (1987) by Shyam Benegal, Naseem (1995) by Saeed Akhtar Mirza and Monsoon Wedding (2001) directed by Mira Nair.

He portrayed Reema Lagoo's husband and Raj Babbar's brother in Shashi Kapoor's Filmwalas Production's, Kalyug. He has also appeared in period pieces such as Jodha Akbar and Lagaan. His most recent films are Aloo Chaatand Team: The Force. He has acted in a number of Punjabi films. He had also portrayed the hero in the legendary film Chan Pardesi (1980) and also starred in the Punjabi comedy Mahaul Theek Hai (1999). He also has done a German film in 2009.

He has also acted in TV series, like Channo Ki Shaadi and Mahi Ve.

Read more