Mukesh Tiwari
Mukesh Tiwari | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 August 1969 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse | Violet Nazir Tiwari |
| Children | 1 |
Mukesh Tiwari is an Indian actor, who has worked predominantly in Bollywood and few Tamil, Punjabi, Kannada and Telugu films. He is known for playing negative and comic side roles. He graduated from National School of Drama in 1994. He entered the film industry in the year 1998 with the movie China Gate. He is known for his works in The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Gangaajal and Golmaal as Vasooli.
Early life and education
Mukesh Tiwari was born on 24 August 1969 in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India.[2] He grew up in a modest family; his father died when he was young, and his mother raised him on her own.[2]
After finishing school in a Hindi-medium institution, he joined the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi, where he initially struggled with English and often relied on classmates for help.[3]
After completing his training, Tiwari moved to Mumbai to pursue an acting career. He has spoken about how he had to borrow money from a friend to make the journey, and how those hardships shaped his humility and empathy for others.[4]
Despite being known for his on-screen villainous roles, Tiwari is recognized off-screen for his philanthropic activities and charitable contributions, often assisting individuals from his hometown of Sagar and other under-privileged communities.[4]
He has stated in interviews that his early struggles and a period of unemployment following his debut in China Gate (1998) taught him patience and perseverance.[5]
Family
Mukesh Tiwari is married to Violet Nazir Tiwari, an Assamese actress whom he met in NSD. The couple have one child.[6]
Tiwari generally keeps his family life private, rarely appearing with them in public events or interviews. He has said in several interactions that he prefers to keep the media’s focus on his acting career rather than his personal matters.[7]
Filmography
- All films in Hindi language unless specified otherwise
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | China Gate | Jageera | |
| 2000 | Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke | ||
| Refugee | Tausif | ||
| Aaghaaz | Danny Mendoza | ||
| Vamsi | Charan Singh | Telugu film | |
| 2001 | Farz | Sikandar | |
| Mitti | Pagla Jaan | ||
| Pandavar Bhoomi | Tamil film | ||
| 2002 | Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage | Raman Dholakia | |
| Jaan Pe Khelenge Hum | Marlon | ||
| The Legend of Bhagat Singh | Jailor | ||
| Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein | Narendra Pratap | ||
| Pyaasa | |||
| 2003 | Dhund – The Fog | ||
| Hawa | Psychiatrist-Exorcist (Tantrik) | ||
| Hawayien | |||
| Gangaajal | Bachcha Yadav | ||
| Zameen | Baba Zaheer | ||
| Patth | |||
| Dil Pardesi Ho Gayaa | Tabrez Baig | ||
| LOC Kargil | Lt Col A Asthana | ||
| Relax | 2003 | ||
| 2004 | Hawas | Cop | |
| Dukaan – The Body Shop | Inspector Gokhale | ||
| Taarzan – The Wonder Car | Kailash Chopra | ||
| Kuchh Kaha Aapne | |||
| 2005 | Yehi Hai Zindagi | Pintya | |
| Tango Charlie | Pakistan Army Officer | ||
| Shabnam Mausi | Madan Pandit | ||
| D | Mukesh | ||
| Yahaan | Major Rathod | ||
| Mangal Pandey - The Rising | Bakht Khan | ||
| Kasak | Ronak Singh | ||
| Apaharan | SP Anwar Khan | ||
| 2006 | Humko Tumse Pyaar Hai | ||
| Talaimagan | Shanmuga vadivelu | Tamil film | |
| Teesri Aankh – The Hidden Camera | Dinesh | ||
| Jigyaasa | Ksamaal Hussain | ||
| Ho Sakta Hai | Kushaba | ||
| Aatma | |||
| Ek Zakhm – The Blast | Jai | ||
| Alag | Mr. Singh | ||
| Hot Money | Inspector Arjun Chaudhary | ||
| Golmaal | Vasooli Bhai | ||
| Kachchi Sadak | |||
| 2007 | Pokkiri | L. Govindan | Tamil film |
| Undertrial | Nadir Saab | ||
| Miss Anara | |||
| Buddha Mar Gaya | Sameer | ||
| 2008 | My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves | Maqsood | |
| Halla Bol | |||
| Golden Boys | Dogra | ||
| Sunday | Anwar | ||
| One Two Three | Papa, D'Mello Yadav | ||
| Haal-E-Dil | Speedy Singh | ||
| Golmaal Returns | Vasooli | ||
| Desh Drohi | Rajan Naik | ||
| 2009 | Lottery | Raja Thakur | |
| Team: The Force | |||
| Raftaar – An Obsession | Iqbal Khan | ||
| Shortkut | |||
| Kanthaswamy | Rajmohan | Tamil film | |
| Baabarr | Nawaz Qureshi | ||
| All The Best | Chauthala | ||
| 2010 | Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? | Inspector | |
| Kuchh Kariye | Banda Nawaz | ||
| Krantiveer – The Revolution | |||
| Hello Darling | Inspector Eagle | ||
| Golmaal 3 | Vasooli | ||
| No Problem | DC - Marcos Gang Member | ||
| Payback | Pakya | ||
| Toonpur Ka Superhero | DCP Kitkite | ||
| 2011 | Hostel | Feroz | |
| Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji | Mr. Tiwari | Special Appearance | |
| Thank You | King | ||
| Bin Bulaye Baarati | Gajraj | ||
| Always Kabhi Kabhi | Shekhawat | ||
| Aarakshan | Police Inspector | ||
| 2012 | Gangs of Wasseypur | Special Appearance | |
| Upanishad Ganga | Various characters | TV series | |
| Chakravyuh | Inspector General of Police (IGP) | ||
| Son of Sardar | Guest | ||
| Khiladi 786 | Jailer | ||
| 2013 | Love Kiya Aur Lag Gayi | ||
| Bloody Isshq | Officer Vikram Rathore | ||
| Policegiri | Padam | ||
| Chennai Express | Shamsher Singh | ||
| Bin Phere Free Me Ttere | |||
| Phata Poster Nikla Hero | Napoleon | ||
| Boss | Inspector | ||
| 2014 | Chal Bhaag | Kishan | |
| Chaarfutiya Chhokare | Baal Kishan | ||
| 18.11 - A Code of Secrecy | Kuldeep Sharma | ||
| Poojai | Anna Thandavam | Tamil film | |
| 2015 | Anegan | Burmaa and Radhakrishnan | Tamil film |
| Dilwale | Shakti | ||
| Second Hand Husband | Pammi's Husband | ||
| Gun & Goal | Johra | Punjabi film[8] | |
| 2016 | Awesome Mausam | Heroine Father | |
| Kotigobba 2 / Mudinja Ivana Pudi | Rich businessman | Kannada/Tamil film | |
| 2017 | Golmaal Again | Vasooli | [9] |
| Bhouri | Manager | ||
| Thodi Thodi Si Manmaaniyan | Ajay Kaul | ||
| Bachche Kachche Sachche | Rana | ||
| Jora 10 Numbaria | Sultan Ahmed Qureshi | Punjabi film; Directed by Amardeep Singh Gill | |
| Anjani Putra | Bairava | Kannada film | |
| 2018 | Nawabzaade | Raghavan Ghatge | |
| Mohini | Vicky (KVR) | Tamil film | |
| 2019 | 72 Hours: Martyr Who Never Died | Hawaldar CM Singh | |
| Pagalpanti | B aba Jani | ||
| 2020 | Jhansi I.P.S | Kannada film | |
| 2021 | Pon Manickavel | Motilal Seth | Tamil film |
| 2022 | Cirkus | Daaku Bagheera | |
| 2023 | Garmi | Dilbag | |
| Bawaal | MLA Vishwas Raghuvanshi | ||
| Scam 2003 | Suryapratap Gehlot | TV series on SonyLIV | |
| The Purvanchal Files | |||
| 2024 | 695 | ||
| Bhimaa | Bhavani | Telugu film | |
| Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video | Sajjan Kumar | ||
| 2025 | Ground Zero | Sanjeev Sharma | |
| Welcome To The Jungle † | TBA | ||
| One Two Cha Cha Chaa | Hindi film |
References
- ^ 'वसूली भाई' के लिए हर फिल्म, हर रोल चुनौती [Every film, every role is a challenge for 'Vasooli Bhai']. Sahara Samay (in Hindi). 8 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Once came to Mumbai by borrowing money from friend, became a hit as villain in films, but in real life he works as hero". NDTV India (in Hindi). 9 May 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ "'Scam 2003' actor Mukesh Tiwari says friends used to help him understand English in NSD". Navbharat Times (in Hindi). 27 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Mukesh Tiwari helps needy people, know the inspiring story of the actor". OneIndia Hindi (in Hindi). 7 May 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ "'Scam 2003' actor Mukesh Tiwari on life after China Gate: 'For 2 years, main khaali baitha tha'". OTTplay. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ "Once came to Mumbai by borrowing money from friend, became a hit as villain in films, but in real life he works as hero". NDTV India (in Hindi). 9 May 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ "Mukesh Tiwari helps needy people, know the inspiring story of the actor". OneIndia Hindi (in Hindi). 7 May 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ Kaur, Jaspreet (12 January 2017). "Mukesh Tiwari makes his Punjabi debut". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ Shukla, Richa (10 June 2014). "Rohit convinced me to do Vasooli's role: Mukesh Tiwari". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.