For a lots of people, Jugal Hansraj, is still the the light-eyed, shy kid of “Masoom,” who captured many hearts with his innocence and charm. Although he can’t relive his childhood success in adult life, he has always remained a beloved figure among movie lovers.
Jugal Hansraj was born on July 26, 1972, in Bombay as the younger son of cricketer Pravin Hansraj. Jugal began his journey in the limelight as a child actor with a heart-touching performance in Shekhar Kapur’s critically acclaimed film “Masoom” in 1983. The film, which also starred Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, was an adaptation of Erich Segal’s novel “Man, Woman and Child” and received a positive response for its portrayal of complex family dynamics.
Hansraj’s early career was marked by his roles in films like “Jhutha Sach (1984),” “Karma (1986),” “Sultanat (1986),” “Loha (1987),” and “Hukumat (1987),” where he continued to showcase his talent as a child actor. Not just confined to the silver screen, he was also a popular face in advertisements, featuring in campaigns for brands like Vicks Vaporub, Saffola, and Nutramul.
Hansraj made his adult debut with the 1994 film “Aa Gale Lag Jaa,” where he was paired with his Masoom, co star Urmila Matondkar. His breakthrough role came with Mahesh Bhatt’s “Papa Kahte Hain,” where he played a boy next door who fell in love with a tourist girl who came to his town to find her dad. The iconic songs “Ghar Se Nikalte Hi” and “Yeh Jo Thode Se” were picturized on him.
His next film was the blockbuster “Mohabbatein” in 2000, where he shared the screen with industry stalwarts like Shahrukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. His subsequent appearances included roles in “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” (2001), ” “Hum Pyar Tumhi Se Kar Baithe (2002),” and “Salaam Namaste (2005).”
In 2008, Hansraj directed the animated film “Roadside Romeo,” which, despite mixed reviews, won the National Film Award for Best Animated Film. He also directed the 2010 romantic comedy, “Pyaar Impossible,” starring Priyanka Chopra, Uday Chopra, and Dino Morea.
In 2017, Hansraj added another feather to his cap by becoming a published author with his children’s book “Cross Connection: The Big Circus Adventure,” further showcasing his creative versatility.
Recently, Hansraj has been seen in films like Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh (2016), Shiv Shastri Balboa (2023), Lust Stories 2 (2023), and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024). He also acted in Netflix’s coming-of-age series, Mismatched (2022).
Hansraj married Jasmine Dhillon, an NRI investment banker from New York, in 2014. Together they have a son named Sidak
