Puneet Issar is an Indian actor, writer, and director. He is best known for his role as ‘Duryodhana’ in the Indian epic TV series “Mahabharat” (1988).
Wiki/Biography
Puneet Issar was born on Friday, 6 November 1959 (age 60 years; as in 2019) in Amritsar, Punjab. His zodiac sign is Scorpio. His family has roots in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He attended school from St. Lawrence in Mumbai and went to Mithibai College to further his studies. After completing his studies, Puneet pursued an acting course from the Pune Film and Television Institute in India.
Puneet Issar in his youth
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 6′ 3″
Hair Color: He is bald.
Eye Color: Brown
Family & Caste
Puneet Issar belongs to Brahmin Family. He is the son of film director, Sudesh Issar. Not much is known about his mother.
Puneet Issar’s father, Sudesh Issar
Puneet is married to Deepali, daughter of Punjabi actor Diljit Puri and Bengali singer Ashita Puri. The couple has a son, Siddhant Issar and a daughter, Nivriti Issar.
Puneet Issar with his wife
Puneet Issar with his son
Puneet Issar with his family
Career
Puneet started his career as a professor of acting at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. After struggling in the industry for a long time, he bagged the role of ‘Bob’ in the Bollywood film “Coolie” (1983). However, during the shooting of the film, Issar accidentally injured Amitabh Bachchan. After that incident, no one was willing to work with Puneet. He, then, struggled for six years and did small roles in several B-grade films.
Puneet Issar in Coolie
In 1988, he won the role of ‘Duryodhana’ in the epic TV series “Mahabharat,” which established him as an actor.
Puneet Issar in Mahabharat
After that, she appeared in TV series like “Bharat Ek Khoj,” “Jai Mata Ki,” “Noorjahan,” “Kisah Cinta,” “Kahaani Chandrakanta Ki,” and “Bani Ishaq Da kalma.”
Puneet Issar in Bani Ishaq Da Kalma
Issar made his Malayalam film debut in 1992 with the film “Yoddha.” Puneet made his Tamil film debut with the film “I Love India;” Kannada film debut with the film “Samrat;” Bengali film debut with the film “Bhagya Debata;” Telugu film debut with the film “Master;” and Punjabi film debut with the film “Rabb Ne Banaiyan Jodiean.” Some of his Hindi films include “Ashaant,” “Khalnayika,” “Runaway,” “Saya Singh,” “Qayamat Hi Qayamat,” “Krishna Arjun” and “Son of Sardaar.” Puneet made his directorial debut in 2004 with the film “Garv.”
Puneet Issar in Krishna Arjun
In 2014, he participated in the reality game show “Bigg Boss Season 8.” He was among the top 5 finalists and stayed in the Bigg Boss house for 105 days. In 2019, he appeared in the ZEE5 web series “Parchhayee” as ‘Maharaja Digambar Singh.’
Puneet Issar in Bigg Boss 8
Controversy
While Puneet was shooting one of the fight scenes of the movie “Coolie,” he accidentally injured Amitabh Bachchan. Amitabh was seriously injured and had to undergo surgery. This incident made Puneet a real villain in the eyes of the public and he was criticized by the whole country. However, after Bachchan recovered from his injuries, he settled the matter by saying that Puneet did nothing on purpose.
Facts/Trivia
- Puneet Issar’s father is also a film director and has given breaks to many artists, including Jagjit Singh, Raj Babbar, Anita Raj, etc.
- He is a fourth degree black belt in martial arts.
- Initially, Puneet wanted to join the Indian Army.
- He wants to be a villain in a Hindi film. Although he is a trained actor, his strong body and looks make him sought after villain roles.
- Puneet Issar, along with his ‘Mahabharata’ team, has performed many live shows across India and abroad.
- He has been an active theater artist.
- Besides being a trained actor, Issar has also worked as a professor of speech acting, diction, and method.
- Puneet is also a trained mixed martial artist. He has received training in Karate, Kung-fu, boxing, and wrestling.
- Puneet is proficient in Hindi and Urdu.
- He has got “Om” tattooed on the back of his right hand.
- Puneet became so popular playing the character of ‘Duryodhana’ that people started calling him by his character’s name in real life as well. He shared in an interview that once a Marwari businessman invited Roopa Ganguly and Puneet for dinner, and refused to serve him because he believed Duryodhan was not a good person.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
