Meet star who graduated from IIT Roorkee, quit academics to become an actor, played demon roles, today he owns…, he is…
Several Bollywood actors, including Kriti Sanon, Taapsee Pannu, Sonu Sood and R. Madhavan, studied engineering before moving into films. But back in the 1980s and 90s, there was one actor who actually left his engineering job to join Bollywood. Unfortunately, he was mostly cast as a demon or villain in horror films because of his tall frame and unusual features. That actor is Anirudh Agarwal.
Anirudh Agarwal’s Journey
Anirudh entered the film industry in 1984 with the Ramsay Brothers’ Purana Mandir. His appearance was so striking that he often didn’t even need makeup to look scary. In fact, he once admitted in an interview that people began to see him only as a frightening face. Over the years, he acted in films like Bandh Darwaza, Aaj Ka Arjun, Bandit Queen, Mela, and The Jungle Book. His final film role came in 2010 with Mallika.
From IIT Roorkee to Bollywood
Few people know that Anirudh Agarwal studied Civil Engineering at IIT Roorkee. He later worked as an engineer in Mumbai, but gave it up to try his hand at acting. When the film offers started drying up, he eventually returned to his engineering background and set up his own construction business.
Beyond the Big Screen
Apart from films, he was also seen on television, usually as a demon in shows like Shararat and Hum Paanch. Today, Anirudh lives in Mumbai with his wife. He is a father of two—both his son and daughter now live abroad.
Story Highlights
- Anirudh Agarwal, a Civil Engineer from IIT Roorkee, quit his job to pursue acting.
- His tall frame and unique looks landed him villainous roles in Ramsay Brothers’ horror films like Purana Mandir and Bandh Darwaza.
- Apart from films, he appeared in popular shows like Shararat and Hum Paanch.
- When film offers declined, he returned to engineering and started his own construction company in Mumbai.
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