Zakir Hussain is an Indian actor who primarily appears in Hindi films. He is known for his negative and comic roles. His best-known performances include those of Rashid in Ramgopal Varma's 2005 film Sarkar, Shardul in Sriram Raghavan's 2007 film Johnny Gaddaar and Prakash Rao in Rohit Shetty's Singham Returns.
Early life and background Zakir Hussain was born and brought up in Jani Khurd, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. It was during his studies in Delhi that he first got attracted to the world of theatre and cinema. He started out with "small time" theatre, and then joined the Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts. He then joined the prestigious National School of Drama and graduated in 1993.
Career Hussain did theatre for a few years and then came to Mumbai to work in television and films. He started out with serials like Firdaus, Kitty Party and Gaatha, and this earned him recognition. Sriram Raghavan's 2004 film Ek Hasina Thi was his first film as actor. Hussain's role in the film was limited to two scenes, but he managed to impress director Ramgopal Varma, who then offered him the role of Rashid in Sarkar. This role of a cold-blooded villain was much appreciated and Hussain received the "New Menace" award at the 2006 Stardust Film Awards.
After Sarkar, Varma cast Hussain in almost every production of his. Hussain's second noteworthy performance was his role of Shardul in another Raghavan film – Johnny Gaddaar. This performance was so well received by audiences that people on the streets started addressing Hussain as Shardul. This was the film that brought him both decent pay cheques as well as fame.
Hussain is also a talented musician – a percussionist as well as singer. However, he is not to be confused with the famous tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain (1951–2024), who starred in the film Heat and Dust.
Filmography
Films Year Title Role Notes 2004 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero Shaukat Malik Ek Hasina Thi Sanjeev Nanda Kala Juma Nand Kumar Chougale Vaastu Shastra Dinesh Dubey 2005 D A. S. Baban Sarkar Rashid James Shankar Narayan 2006 Shiva Inspector Sawant Darna Zaroori Hai Police Officer Story segment: A Bride's Revenge The Killer Jabbar Darwaza Bandh Rakho Abbas Deadline: Sirf 24 Ghante Kabir 2007 Black Friday Inspector Nand Kumar Chougale Risk SP Naidu Fool n Final J.D. Lee Rangabashyam Tamil film Darling Sameer Naghani Johnny Gaddaar Shardul 2008 Shabri Inspector Irfan Qazi Krazzy 4 DCP Shrivastav Contract Sultan Phoonk Manja Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam Show Director Dubey Khallballi 2009 Bad Luck Govind Kripalani Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani Sajid Don Radio Shanaya's Dad 2010 Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai Javed Quadri Payback Raghu Phoonk 2 Manja Allah Ke Banday Ramesh 2011 Not a Love Story Inspector Double Dhamaal Mohsin Bhai Satrangee Parachute Chhotulal Shagird Rajmani Yadav 2012 Paan Singh Tomar Inspector Rathore Ammaa Ki Boli Hari Thuppakki Kamarudeen Tamil film Chakradhaar Agent Vinod Associate in Tangier 2013 Jayantabhai Ki Luv Story Gangster don Enemmy Mukhtar Menon, the Underworld don Phata Poster Nikhla Hero Officer Ghorpade Sixteen Ashwin's Father Maazii Mahinder Chacha Ramaiya Vastavaiya Rao Saare Jahaan Se Mehnga Loan Inspector 2014 Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty Alvin D'Souza Chaarfutiya Chhokare Lakkhan Singham Returns Prakash Rao Meinu Ek Ladki Chaahiye 2015 Alone Professor Sanjana inside Twin Spirit Badlapur Patil Four Pillars of Basement DSP Mogali Puvvu / Secret Jadoogadu Srisailam Telugu Film 2016 Irudhi Suttru Dev Khatri Tamil Film Saala Khadoos Dev Khatri 2017 Coffee with D D Raees Guru Dev Khatri Telugu Film Naam Shabana RAW agent Gupta Shivalinga Pigeon Race Organiser Tamil filmBoyzFernandez SirMarathi film Judwaa 2 Charles 2018 Nawabzaade Sheetal's father Genius Minister Andhadhun Dr. Krishna Swami Simmba Mr. Khanna Game Paisa Ladki 2019 Prassthanam Mazid Kissebaaz Kripa Shankar Pandey Ferrous Minister Madhyadheesh One Day: Justice Delivered MP Pravin Rawat Chicken Curry Law Sharad Joshi Pagalpanti Tulli Seth 2020 Angrezi Medium Judge Chedda Khaali Peeli Inspector Tavde 2021 The Power Anwar Flight Raman Khanna Satyameva Jayate 2 Shankar Prasad Yadav 2022 Heropanti 2 Azaad Khan 2023 Mission Majnu Sharma Tiku Weds Sheru Ahmed Rizvi 2024 Indian 2 Darshan Bhai Tamil film Devara Central Minister Telugu film Baby John Baldev Patil 2025 Bhool Chuk Maaf Brijmohan Mishra Dhadak 2 Principal Haider Ansari Diesel Rudraksha Bhatia Tamil film The Taj Story Adv. Anwar Rashid 2026Human Cocaine Dino Bhooth BanglaVashisht SharmaKartavya Harihar MalikNetflix film Welcome to the Jungle Sinha Filming
Television Year Title Role Platform Notes 1998 X Zone Inspector Sony TV Episode 96 2001 Dishayen Doordarshan 2012 Upnishad Ganga Multiple Roles 2014 Yudh Anand Upadhyay Sony TV 2015 Darr Sabko Lagta Hai & TV Episode 11 1997 Vedvyas Ke Pote Narrator(Sutradhaar) Doordarshan 2018 Beechwale - Bapu Dekh Raha Hai Bobby Beechwala Sony TV Main cast
Web series Year Title Role Platform Notes 2018-2021 Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare Rajesh Pathak Amazon Prime 2019 Bombers Somu Da ZEE5 2020 Sandwiched Forever Giriraj Shastry SonyLIV 2021 Kathmandu Connection Mr. Mirza Aranyak Kuber Manhas Netflix 2022-2023 Duranga Bala Banne ZEE5 2023 Farzi Finance Minister Pawan Gehlot Amazon Prime 2022Breathe: Into the Shadows 2 ACP Abhinandan Kaul 2023 Pop Kaun? Mallik Disney+ Hotstar Inspector Avinash DGP Samar Pratap Singh JioCinema 2024 Murshid Farid ZEE5
References
Further reading "Whenever I get hold of a senior actor I make sure I never let him go without answering my questions." – Zakir Hussain MAAN GAYE...Zakir Hussain goes comic!
External links