Vipin Sharma
Vipin Kumar Sharma is an Indian actor, editor and filmmaker. He is best known for his acting roles in Taare Zameen Par, Gangs of Wasseypur, Kick, Paatal Lok and Monkey Man.
Sharma spend his early childhood in a slum in Delhi. Though he was interested in acting in films from his early days, it was theater that inspired him initially, especially after he happened to listen to Sanjeev Kumar's interview on radio. He joined a small Punjabi theater group to perform various odd jobs in Delhi, e.g. selling tickets or serving tea.[citation needed ]
He is an alumnus of National School of Drama, New Delhi, India and the Canadian Film Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He graduated from the National School of Drama, India in 2003.
Sharma made his acting debut with Doordarshan's television series Bharat Ek Khoj in 1989, followed by his feature film debut Krishna in 1996, he gained attention for his portrayal of Nandakishore Awasthi in Aamir Khan's Taare Zameen Par in 2007. He was later nominated for his first ever Screen Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Taare Zameen Par, but eventually lost to his co-star Aamir Khan.
Following the success of Taare Zameen Par, Sharma played the servant Balvant in the horror film 1920, the title character's landlord in the psychological thriller film Karthik Calling Karthik, Gaindha Singh in the romantic thriller film Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster, Major Masand in the biographical drama film Paan Singh Tomar, Ehsaan Qureshi in the critically acclaimed crime action film Gangs of Wasseypur, and Dilip in the Indian-Australian-American co-production, Hotel Mumbai. Sharma met Dev Patel on the set of Hotel Mumbai and stayed in touch with the film's producer who called him for an audition with Patel for Monkey Man. He played the leader of a hijra community in the film which was released in 2024.
Since 2020, he has starred in the Amazon's series Paatal Lok as DCP Bhagat.
In 2024, Sharma made his Hollywood debut by playing the role of the leader of a Hijra community in the action thriller film Monkey Man.