ARSHAD WARSI

ARSHAD WARSI - Film Actor

Arshad Warsi (born 19 April 1968 in Mumbai, Maharashtra) was born into a Muslim family in Mumbai, India, and did his schooling at a boarding school, Barnes School, Deolali in Nashik district, Maharashtra. He was orphaned at the age of 14 and struggled for a living in Mumbai during his early days. During his school days, Warsi was a national level gymnast.

Financial circumstances forced Warsi to start work as a door-to-door cosmetics salesman at age 17. Later he worked in a photo lab. Meanwhile he had a keen interest in dancing and received an offer to join Akbar Sami's Dance group in Mumbai, which started his dancing and choreographing career. He also assisted Mahesh Bhatt in Thikana (1987) and Kaash (1987). 

Then in 1991, he won the Indian dance competition, followed by the fourth prize in the Modern Jazz category in 1992 World Dance championship, London, at the age of 21. Soon, he started his own dance studio, 'Awesome' with that money and also formed a dance troupe. It was here, his future wife, Maria Goretti, a St. Andrew's College student joined him, before she became a VJ. He was also associated with English theater group in Mumbai, choreographing shows for Bharat Dabholkar and got an opportunity to choreograph the title track for the film, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993).

He got his first offer to act in Amitabh Bachchan's production company, ABCL's first production Tere Mere Sapne in 1996. After its success, he acted in several other films over the next six years, but most of which failed to do well at the box office. In 2003, he rose to fame when he starred as a pivotal supporting character in the comedy film Munnabhai MBBS opposite Sanjay Dutt, which turned out to be a huge box office success and gained him much critical acclaim and a nomination at the Filmfare Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting role. He has since appeared in several successful films as an supporting actor including Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005), Salaam Namaste (2005), Golmaal (2006), Kabul Express (2006) and Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006) which also won him his first Filmfare Award under the category of Best Comedian. From 2007 to 2010, Warsi appeared in non-stop box office successes, including Dhamaal (2007), Golmaal Returns (2008), Ishqiya (2010) and Golmaal 3 (2010). His 2011 releases include the comedies F.A.L.T.U and Double Dhamaal, which were both above average grossers. His first release of 2013 was Zila Ghaziabad in which he played an negative role. His latest film is Jolly LLB, Warsi's first official solo hit. The film released on 15th March 2013, and received critical acclaim, and turned out to be the first Hit in India of the year 2013. He is currently working on the third Munnabhai sequel, Munnabhai Chale Delhi which is expected to go on floors late 2013 hopefully.

Warsi has made a mark for himself on the small screen as well. He hosted a popular award show Sabse Favourite Kaun for STAR Gold. He was the host of Bigg Boss, Season 1, the Indian version of the reality television series Big Brother which was aired on Sony. He was also the co-host of a dance show Razzmatazz on Zee TV. He has also done a small cameo in a television show, Ishaan.

His first film as a producer, Hum Tum Aur Ghost was released in 2010.

Warsi married Maria Goretti on 14 February 1999. They have a son named Zeke Warsi, born on 10 August 2004. Both Maria and Zeke made a special appearance in Salaam Namaste. On 2 May 2007, the couple had a baby girl named Zene Zoe Warsi.