Surendra Pal is an Indian film and television actor best known for playing ‘Dronacharya’ in BR Chopra’s epic television series ‘Mahabharat’ and ‘Tamraj Kilvish’ in the Indian superhero television show ‘Shaktimaan.’ He has acted in about 40 films and over 30 TV series in his career.
Wiki/Biography
Surendra Pal was born on Friday, 25 September 1953 (age 66 years; as in 2019) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He grew up in Lucknow where his father was posted as a DSP in the Uttar Pradesh Police. He did his schooling from the UP Board. Although his father wanted him to join either the Indian Army or the police service, he was reluctant for both; because he wants to pursue a career in acting. After completing his studies from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, he left his home and moved to Mumbai at the age of twenty-four in 1980. When he arrived in Mumbai, he did not have much knowledge about films, and he did not know the difference between a producer and a director.
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 6′ 2″
Eye Color: Black
Hair Color: Salt & Pepper (half bald)
Family & Caste
Although he was born in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), his ancestors belonged to Pali in Rajasthan.
Parents & Siblings
His father is a DSP in the Uttar Pradesh Police. He has five brothers. Two of his brothers joined the Indian Army while his other brother joined the police service.
Surendra Pal’s mother
Relationships, Wife & Children
Surendra Pal married Barkha Sharma Singh in 1996. The couple later had three children – two sons and a daughter. In 2002, he divorced Barkha Sharma Singh, and the three children live with him in Mumbai.
Surendra Pal’s Wife and Children
His eldest son Shivam Singh is a television presenter and his youngest son Shubham Singh is a Commerce graduate from Delhi University.
Surendra Pal With His Son Shivam
Surendra Pal With His Son Shubham
His daughter Shivangi Singh is a Gym Manager at a five star hotel in Goa.
Surendra Pal With His Daughter Shivangi Singh
Career
Movie
She made her debut with the 1981 Hindi film Shama (produced by Kader Khan) in which she played a negative role alongside Shabana Azmi and Girish Karnad.
Surendra Pal Shama’s Debut Film (1981)
Later, he did Grahasti in 1984 where he worked with Ashok Kumar. In 1985, he did the film Ghulami (1985) directed by JP Dutta in which he played the role of ‘Daku Suraj Bhan.’ It was during the shooting of Ghulami that he first visited his native Rajasthan. After that, he went on to appear in more than 40 films in his career and has appeared in many popular Bollywood films, such as Khuda Gawah (1992), Lakshya (2004), Jodhaa Akbar (2008), Airlift (2016), and Rangoon (2017). He made his Malayalam debut with the film Prayikkara Pappan (1995).
Surendra Pal in Prayikkara Pappan (1995)
Surendra Pal’s Tamil debut was Mr. Romeo (1996).
Surendra Pal in Mr Romeo (1996)
In 2010, he made his Bhojpuri debut with the film ‘Aisan Pyar Se Dekhbu T Pyar Ho Jai.’ He has also acted in and produced several Rajasthani films, such as Nani Bai Ro Mayro (2017) and Pakki Herogiri (2016).
Surendra Pal Rajasthani Movie Pakki Herogiri
Television
He made his television debut with BR Chopra’s epic historical television series Mahabharat (1988) in which he portrayed Guru Dronacharya; character that made him famous in India.
Surendra Pal as Dronacharya in Mahabharat
His dialogues as Dronacharya became very popular. Here is a popular dialogue of Dronacharay from Mahabharat –
मत करो दुर्योधन Yeh don’t forget that you are talking to Acharya Droshan, not to helpless Pandav sons. I can give your answers to each of your words. अन्टर करना सेजो The war is in the land of our side, but it is not a result of the war.”
Enjoying the success of Mahabharat, Surendra Pal started getting many offers to play lead roles in various television projects, and he went on to give many more popular performances, such as ‘Mahamatya Rakshas’ in Chanakya (1991), ‘Dhundh’ in The Zee Horror Show (1995) , ‘Tamraj Kilvish’ in Shaktimaan (1997), ‘Kailashnath’ in Shagun (2001), ‘Guruji’ in Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki Season 2 (2005), and ‘Prajapati Daksha’ in ‘Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev’ (2011 ).
Controversy
In 2019, he was named by Cobrapost among celebrities involved in paid promotions for political parties. When a Cobrapost team met Pal at the Lokhandwala Love & Latte coffee shop, he fell into a trap and accepted to do paid promotions for the BJP. When Cobrapost offered him an eight-month contract for which he would be paid Rs. 30 lakh per month for 15 messages on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, he happily agreed to that and said,
Bas aap ye dhyan rakhiyega ki aath mahine continue rakhein ye nahi ki beech mein chhod dein aap mujhe … aur agar ho sake toh fir aath mahine ke baad bhi fir continue rakhein usko aage bhi zaroorat padegi (Please make sure you honor the contract for eight months. Don’t leave me halfway … and if possible continue after eight months. You may need it again).”
Favorite Things
- Travel Destination: Rajasthan
- Music Genre: Rajasthani Folk
Facts & Trivia
- His full name is Surendra Pal Singh, and his nickname is ‘Bhaiya.’
- He is half bald and usually, he wears a wig.
- He was just 26 years old when he got the role of Dronacharya in Mahabharat.
- He was very skeptical about playing the role of Dronacharya in Mahabharat; because he fears it will typecast him with certain roles in the industry.
- After Mahabharat, it took him about 23 years to do another mythological role when he appeared in ‘Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev’ (2011) as ‘Prajapati Daksha.’
Surendra Pal as Prajapati Daksha in Devon Ke Dev Mahadev
- Tamraj Kilvish’s face is revealed after 50 episodes of Shaktimaan.
- She experimented a lot with Tamraj Kilvish’s make-up, even using an old wig that she used in Amitabh Bachchan’s Khuda Gawah.
- He supported the Bharatiya Janata Party and often campaigned for the party in various elections across the country.
Surendra Pal campaigned for BJP in Rajasthan
- He is a passionate dog lover and has a pet poodle “Kaju.”
Surendra Pal With His Pet Dog Kaju
- He is also a sportsman and in his spare time, he likes to play Polo.
Surendra Pal in Polo Dress
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
