Ashutosh Rana

Ashutosh Ramnarayan Neekhra, professionally known as Ashutosh Rana, was born on 10 November 1967 in Gadarwara, Madhya Pradesh, and spent his early life in Ahmedabad . After earning a master’s degree in dramatics from Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, he joined the National School of Drama in Delhi, where he honed his craft under Satyadev Dubey’s mentorship at Prithvi Theatre.

Rana began his professional journey in television, debuting with Swabhimaan (1995), followed by roles in Farz, Aahat, Saturday Suspense, Jax Kabhi, and Waris. He also hosted television programs, including Baazi Kiski and Sarkaar Ki Duniya.

His breakthrough came with the chilling antagonist Gokul Pandit in Dushman (1998) and the equally intense Sangharsh (1999), which firmly established him as one of Bollywood’s most formidable villains. These performances earned him consecutive Filmfare Awards for Best Villain, along with Zee Cine and Screen Awards .He extended his range by working across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi cinema, delivering memorable performances in films like Raaz, Haasil, Tadakha, and Pathaan.

In the OTT era, Rana won the 2021 Filmfare OTT Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a grieving father in Pagglait. He also received nominations and digital-era accolades for roles in Aranyak, The Great Indian Murder, and Khakee: The Bihar Chapter.His recent films include the 2023 release Tiger 3 (as Colonel Sunil Luthra) and 2025’s Kaushaljis vs Kaushal on Disney+ Hotstar, where his performance garnered praise for its emotional depth and authenticity.

Beyond acting, Rana is a published author, having written two Hindi books: Maun Muskaan Ki Maar (2019) and Ramrajya (2024). He is married to acclaimed actress Renuka Shahane since 25 May 2001, and the couple has two sons, Shouryaman and Satyendra. Known for his spiritual depth and disciplined lifestyle, Rana attributes much of his career and personal guidance to his spiritual guru,