Kushal Punjabi

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Kushal Punjabi
Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Died26 December 2019(2019-12-26) (aged 42)
, Maharashtra, India
OccupationActor
Years active1996–2019
Known forKaal
Lakshya
Ishq Mein Marjaawaan

Kushal Punjabi (23 April 1977 – 26 December 2019) was an Indian film and television actor. He won the TV reality game show

Wipeout in February 2011, taking home the prize of 50 lakh (equivalent to 1.0 crore or US$130,000 in 2023).[1][2]

Punjabi had been in movies such as

.

He had been a professional

modern jazz and hip hop dancer and choreographed the Gladrags Manhunt Megamodel and Mrs. India contests as well as various fashion shows and music videos.[citation needed
] He choreographed and directed the 'Star Walk' Fashion event for UMEED (a NGO for children).

Early life and family

Punjabi was born on 23 April 1977 into a

Sindhi family.[3][4][5] His father is from Karachi, his mother is from Hyderabad, and he was born and raised in Mumbai.[3] As a child, Punjabi was extremely active and started cycling, skating, swimming and dancing very early. In the coming years he played football, and swam for his school and college. He loved travelling and being outdoors, and his spirit of adventure made him an apt candidate for adventure sports which he did with great passion. His love of dance theatre and music helped him in becoming a serious actor, and he went on to do more than 20 TV shows, 5 films, and numerous music videos and commercials.[citation needed
]

Career

He started his career as a dancer and model,

SAB TV's Gutur Gu, India's first silent comedy series.[8] He then bagged a prominent role in Cinevista's Sssshhh..., Farhan Akhtar's film, Lakshya (2004), followed by Karan Johar's Kaal, which also starred Ajay Devgn.[9]

He appeared in Hindi films, like

Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal
(2007).

He was a trained dancer-choreographer

Rock the Shaadi as 1 of the 3 main leads. He also made a wild card entry in the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa
.

Death

Punjabi was found dead at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai on 26 December 2019. The cause of death was reported to be suicide by hanging. He died at the age of 42.[5] He was suffering from depression.[12][13] Before dying by suicide, he distributed his property among his parents and son, as stated in his suicide note.[4][5] In the words of co-actor Chetan Hansraj, "He was going through separation from his wife and was down with sickness".[14]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Director
1996 Bomgay Riyad Vinci Wadia, Jangu Sethna
1998 Bombay Boys Kaizad Gustad
2003 Andaaz Raj Kanwar
2003 Sssshhh... Nikhil Pavan S Kaul
2004 Lakshya Rajiv Goel Farhan Akhtar
2005 Kaal Sajid Soham Shah
2007
Salaam-e-Ishq
Nikhil Advani
2007
Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal
Ranveer "Goalie" Vivek Agnihotri
2007 Don
2015 Crazy Cukkad Family Ritesh Menon
2017 A Gentleman
Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K.
2017 Szoya the Black Widow Assassin
2017 Black Widow: A Land Bleeds Assassin

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1995 A Mouthful of Sky
1997 Humko Ishq ne Maara Arjun Sablok Bhagyavidhata Films
2002 Love Marriage
2004
Dekho Magar Pyaar Se
175 episodes
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa Chetan
King Aassman Ka Ek Raja
2005
CID
Inspector Kushal
Yeh Dil Chahe More
Antariksh
Fear Factor Contestant Reality show
Paisa Bhari Padega Reality show
2006 Kasamh Se Lawyer in Walia Divorce
Santaan
Fun on the Run Reality show
2006–2009 Ssshhhh...Phir Koi Hai Rahul Episode 15
Major Amar / Manav (Hotel Manager) / Rahul 4 episodes
Dhruv Episodes 176 and 177
2008 Hum Tum
Ek Se Badhkar Ek
Reality show
Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat
Mr. & Ms. TV
Contestant Reality show (Quit)
2009 Sitaron Ki Jung Reality show
2010 Gutur Gu
Rishta dot com
2011 Zor ka Jhatka Reality show
2012 Aasman Se Aage Alan 1 episode
Teri Meri Love Stories One episode only
2013
Welcome - Baazi Mehmaan-Nawaazi ki
Hum Ne Li Hai- Shapath
2014
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 7
Reality show
Adaalat
2015 Zindagi Wins
#LoveBytes Abhishek Verma
2017 Kya Haal, Mr. Paanchal?
Lord Shiva
1 episode
2018 Sajan Re Phir Jhooth Mat Bolo
Ishq Mein Marjawan Danny Manchanda
2019 CIF Shanti Bhushan Tiwari Episode 15

Web series

Year Title Role Notes
2018 Truth or Tamanna? Kaizad Poonawala Kaizad Dance Academy Owner

References

  1. ^ "Kushal Punjabi Wins Zor Ka Jhatka". NDTV Movies. 26 February 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Kushal Punjabi wins 'Zor Ka Jhatka'". The Times of India. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  3. ^
    Indiatimes.com. 24 January 2005. Archived from the original
    on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Kushal Punjabi, 42, found dead at Mumbai home". India Today. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "TV actor Kushal Punjabi dies by suicide". The Indian Express. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  6. ^ "'He's a bit of a loud mouth'". Khaleej Times. 13 June 2009.
  7. ^ a b "Kushal Punjabi". Stardust. 1 February 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Kushal's silent cameo". The Times of India. 20 March 2010. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  9. ^ a b "The Freshers' Club". Indian Express. 20 November 2004. Archived from the original on 17 January 2005. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  10. ^ "To each his own: Zee TV's "Ek Se Badhkar Ek" ruffles feathers, infuses new hope too". The Hindu. 9 August 2008. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Kushal Punjabi wins Zor Ka Jhatka". Bollywood Hungama. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Rohit Roy on Kushal Punjabi's suicide: 'We treat a simple viral with medication but smile through mental ailments'". Hindustan Times. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Kushal Punjabi suicide: Audrey Dolhin, wife of the late actor arrives at his funeral". The Times of India. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  14. ^ Tiwari, Vijaya (27 December 2019). "Exclusive - Chetan Hansraj on Kushal Punjabi's suicide: He was going through separation from his wife and was down with sickness". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 June 2023.

External links