Barun Sobti

Barun Sobti
Born (1984-08-21) 21 August 1984
Delhi, India
OccupationsActor, writer
SpousePashmeen Manchanda (m. 2010)
Children2
Signature

Barun Sobti is an Indian actor. He is known for his roles in Asur, Kohrra, Tu Hai Mera Sunday, Halahal, Raat Jawaan Hai, Tanhaiyan and Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon. He has won the Filmfare OTT Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Kohrra in 2023[1] and for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for Raat Jawaan Hai in 2025 respectively.

Career

Sobti made his television debut in 2009 as Swayam Khurana in Shraddha and subsequently appeared in a cameo role in Dill Mill Gayye. In 2010, he played Shravan Jaiswal in Baat Hamari Pakki Hai. He was well appreciated for his performance. He rose to prominence in 2011 with his portrayal of Arnav Singh Raizada in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?, establishing himself as a leading television actor. In 2017, he headlined Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? 3, playing Advay Singh Raizada.

Sobti made his film debut with Main Aur Mr. Riight (2014) and later appeared in the highly critically acclaimed Tu Hai Mera Sunday (2017). Sobti portrayed Arjun Anand, a reserved young man navigating friendship and love in Mumbai. His performance was noted for its naturalism and understated vulnerability, aligning with the film's slice-of-life tone. Directed by Milind Dhaimade, the film premiered at international festivals and received positive critical response.

In 2019, he featured in a short film “Derma” and the sports drama 22 Yards where he played a sports agent. The film premiered at the Bay Area South Asian Film Festival (BASAFF) in 2018, where he won the Best Actor Award for his performance.

Transitioning to digital platforms in parallel, he starred in Gul Khan's Tanhaiyan (2017) and The Great Indian Dysfunctional Family (2018) helmed by Ekta Kapoor.

In 2020, Sobti portrayed Nikhil Nair in Asur, a former CBI forensic expert drawn into investigating ritualistic killings rooted in mythology. Across two seasons, the psychological thriller explored faith, morality, and justice, with Nikhil at its core. His restrained, layered performance was widely praised for capturing the character's inner conflict and psychological strain. The series marked a significant milestone in his digital career.

Later in 2020, Sobti starred in Halahal, a crime drama that premiered on Eros Now. The film is loosely inspired by real-life events surrounding medical admission scams in India. Sobti portrayed Inspector Yusuf Qureshi, a morally ambiguous and street-smart police officer who becomes involved in the investigation of a medical student's suspicious death. His performance was noted for its restraint and layered portrayal of a conflicted officer navigating a flawed system.

Barun Sobti played a lawyer in Zee 5's 200 Halla Ho navigating a case rooted in caste oppression and gendered injustice. Set against the backdrop of marginalized Dalit women seeking justice, his character represents the legal system grappling with uncomfortable social realities. He also played a cameo role in Srijit Mukherji's web series Jaanbaaz Hindustan Ke. In 2023, he returned as Nikhil Nair in Asur 2. He further deepened the role, presenting a more conflicted and emotionally burdened Nair. The series went on to become a huge nationwide success, topping Ormax charts for months and becoming the most popular indian show on IMDB worldwide.[2] He also starred in the Amazon Mini TV series Badtameez Dil, his second project with Ekta Kapoor.

In July 2023, he starred as Amarpal Garundi in the Netflix crime drama Kohrra, which received widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise for its writing, realism and performances.He won his first Filmfare OTT award for Kohrra. In 2024, Sobti featured in Rakshak – India's Braves: Chapter 2 and the comedy-drama Raat Jawaan Hai, directed by Sumeet Vyas. His performance as Avinash, a stay-at-home dad, was well appreciated and Sobti won his second Best Actor Filmfare award for the series.

In February 2026, Sobti returned as Garundi in Kohrra 2, garnering positive reviews from critics yet again. The series was commended for its layered storytelling and character development, and Sobti's performance was noted for its restraint, emotional depth and consistency, further consolidating his reputation for portraying complex, grounded characters. Later in August 2026, he reunited with his Asur director, Oni Sen, as the commanding officer, Colonel Sartaj Singh, in Operation Safed Sagar, and with his Kohrra producer Sudip Sharma in Babita Singh Reporting. Although both roles had Sobti in cameos, his presence was felt and critically appreciated.

Media image

Sobti gained worldwide popularity with the roaring success of Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?.

In November 2012, Sobti quit the show, citing health and personal reasons. This resulted in unprecedented backlash towards the producers and airing channel, Star Plus, by viewers who refused to watch the show with another male lead. Eventually, the show ended with Sobti's exit, with Star Plus releasing a disclaimer announcing that the show would not go on without him.

Times Of India noted that Sobti has redefined television stardom, making him "a huger star than the rest", for his exit caused the demise of a "TRP-tripping show".[3] The show went on to be dubbed in 60+ countries, with Star Plus sending Sobti to several countries such as Turkey, Russia, Dubai, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Thailand and Uzbekistan for fan meet tours over the years.

In 2012, Eastern Eye ranked Sobti #10 in the Sexiest Asian Men list. In 2013, he ranked #3 behind only Hrithik Roshan and Ali Zafar.[4] He consistently ranked amongst the top 6 until the last vote in 2016. Moreover, in 2012, he was the only Indian television actor to be officially featured in People Magazine's annual "20 Most Intriguing People" list.

Sobti also tasted international success after Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon. His show Baat Hamari Pakki Hai was dubbed in Malayalam and Arabic and Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? 3 in Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Malayu, to cater to his international audience.

His web series Asur was broadcast on Colors UK in December 2023 to early 2024.[5] Sobti also bagged a prestigious international award, the Asian Television Awards, the most significant industry-voted honors for pan-Asian broadcasting, for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in Asur.[6]

In 2026, Kohrra 2 was nominated big at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), including Sobti for Best Performance (Male) - Series [7]

Personal life

Barun Sobti married his high school sweetheart, Pashmeen Manchanda, on 12 December 2010, in a private ceremony in Gurudwara. They have two children, Sifat Sobti, born in June 2019, and Meer Sobti, born in April 2023.[8]

Filmography

Web releases

Year Title Role Platform Format
2015 Dry Dreams Protagonist YouTube Short Film
2017 Tanhaiyan Haider Ali Khan Hotstar Web Series
2018 The Great Indian Dysfunctional Family Samar Ranaut Alt Balaji Web Series
2019 Derma Anthony JioCinema Short Film
2020 Asur Nikhil Nair JioHotstar Web Series
2020 Halahal Inspector Yusuf Qureshi Eros Now Web Movie
The Missing Stone Sahir MX Player Web Series
2021 The Last Boy To Fall In Love Amartya Audible Audiobook
200 Halla Ho Umesh Joshi Zee5 Web Movie
When a Man Loves a Woman Peter YouTube Short Film
2023 Jaanbaaz Hindustan Ke Sameer Zee5 Cameo - Web Series
Asur 2 Nikhil Nair JioHotstar Web Series
Badtameez Dil Karan Singh Rathod Amazon MX Player Web Series
Kohrra Amarpal Garundi Netflix Web Series
2024 Rakshak - India's Brave 2 Naib Subedar Sombir Singh Amazon MX Player Web Series
Raat Jawaan Hai Avinash Sony Liv Web Series
2026 Kohrra 2 Amarpal Garundi Netflix Web Series
Lost & Found Kush Ahuja YouTube Mini Series
Operation Safed Sagar Col. Sartaj Singh Netflix Web Series
Babita Singh Reporting Bansi Seni Prime Video Web Movie
Welcome To Khoya Mahal † Kanishk Prime Video Web Series
Tumhari Khushboo † Kamran TBA Short Film
2027 Pushpak Viman † TBA Netflix Web Series [9]
Asur 3 † Nikhil Nair TBA Web Series [10]

Television

Year Title Role
2009 Shraddha Swayam Khurana
2010 Dill Mill Gayye Dr. Raj Singh (Cameo)
2010–2011 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai Shravan Jaiswal
2011–2012 Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? Arnav Singh Raizada
2017 Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon 3 Advay Singh Raizada/Dev Kashyap

Theatrical films

Year Title Role
2014 Main Aur Mr. Riight Sukhwinder "Sukhi" Singh / Hridaan Dalmiya
2017 Tu Hai Mera Sunday Arjun Anand
2019 22 Yards Ronajith "Ron" Sen
2026 Hawks † Jagadish

Music videos

Year Title Singer(s)
2021 Taqleefein Amit Mishra, Ritika Raj Singh
Tera Mera Papon

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2011 Star Guild Awards Best Actor Baat Hamari Pakki Hai Nominated [11]
2012 People's Choice Awards India Favorite Actor (Drama) Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? Won [12]
Favorite Onscreen Couple Won[a]
ITA Awards Best Actor – Popular Won[b] [13]
Indian Telly Awards Best Onscreen Couple Won[a] [14]
Gold Awards Best Couple Won[a] [15]
Star Parivaar Awards Favourite New Member (Male) Won [16]
Favourite Stylish Member (Male) Won
Favourite Jodi Won[a]
Favourite International Jodi Won[a]
2020 Asian Television Awards Best Supporting Actor Asur Won [17]
2023 Filmfare OTT Awards Best Supporting Actor, Series (Male) – Drama Kohrra Won [18]
ITA Awards Best Actor Popular – OTT Won [19]
Critics' Choice Awards Best Supporting Actor – Web Series Nominated [20]
2025 Critics' Choice Awards Best Actor – Web Series Raat Jawaan Hai Won [21]
Filmfare OTT Awards Best Actor, Series (Male) – Comedy Won [22]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Shared with Sanaya Irani
  2. ↑ Tied with Samir Soni

References

  1. ↑ "Winners Of The Filmfare OTT Awards 2023: Full List Out". filmfare.com. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Asur 2 becomes the most popular indian show on IMDB worldwide". India TV News. 24 June 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Barun redefines TV stardom". The Times of India. 29 November 2012. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "Sexylist 2013". Rediff. 11 December 2013. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Asur to air on Colors UK". Biz Asia Live. 11 December 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Asian Television Awards 2021 Nominees". Asian Television Awards.
  7. ↑ "IFFM 2026 nominations". Asian Television Awards.
  8. ↑ "Exclusive: Barun Sobti and Pashmeen Manchanda become parents for the second time; blessed with a baby boy". The Times of India. 26 April 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "Barun Sobti, Jaideep Ahlawat and Abhishek Banerjee to lead Sudip Sharma's next dark comedy series on Netflix". Times Of India. March 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Asur 3 goes on floor in September with Barun Sobti and Arshad Warsi; Shweta Basu Prasad joins". Times Of India. 9 August 2026. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "6th Apsara Awards". Apsara Awards. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  12. ↑ "2012 And the winners are..." People's Choice Awards India. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  13. ↑ "The ITA Awards 2012 - Popular Top-5". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013.
  14. ↑ "Telly Awards 2012 Popular Awards winners". Archived from the original on 2 July 2012.
  15. ↑ "Gold Awards 2012". IMDb. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "Star Parivaar Awards 2012". India Forums.
  17. ↑ "Asian Television Awards 2021 Nominees". Asian Television Awards.
  18. ↑ "Filmfare OTT Awards 2023 Winners". Filmfare.
  19. ↑ "ITA Awards 2023 Winners". Indian Television Academy.
  20. ↑ "Critics' Choice Awards 2024 Winners". Film Critics Guild.
  21. ↑ "Critics' Choice Awards 2025 Winners". Bollywood Hungama.
  22. ↑ "Filmfare OTT Awards 2025 Winners". Filmfare.
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