One of the finest actors ever to grace the silver screen, Ashutosh Rana is a celebrated actor, producer, television personality, and much more than that. A deeply spiritual person, Rana is also a statesman and author who has the ability to see beyond the facade. Over the years, Rana has continuously enriched the lives of his fans with his acting skills as well as his wisdom.
Early Life
Ashutosh Rana was born Ashutosh Ramnarayan Neekhra on November 10, 1967, in Gadarwara, Madhya Pradesh. His father, Ram Narayan Neekhra, was a respected figure in the community, and his mother was a homemaker. Ashutosh has four elder brothers named Prabhat Neekhra, Nand Kumar Neekhra, Jayant Kumar Neekhra, and Madan Mohan Neekhra, and a sister named Kaamini Gupta.
Ashutosh completed his schooling at a primary school in Gadarwara and later attended Christ Church Boys’ Senior Secondary School in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. However, his father did not like the culture of the school, so he asked Ashutosh to leave it. He then completed his schooling in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. During his childhood, Ashutosh used to play the character of Ravana in the Ramleela in his village, showcasing his early inclination toward acting.
Ashutosh pursued his higher education at Dr. Hari Singh Gour University in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, where he completed his B.A. and LLB. However, his passion for acting led him to the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi, where he completed his M.A. in Dramatics from 1991 to 1994.
Debut and Breakthrough
Ashutosh Rana’s career in the entertainment industry began with his debut in Mahesh Bhatt’s television serial “Swabhimaan,” where he played the role of Tyagi, a badass character with a heart of gold and an unwavering loyalty. Rana’s performance in the serial gave him a loyal fan following and much-needed exposure.
Following this, he made appearances in other television serials like “Farz,” “Sazish,” “Jax Kabhi,” and “Waris.” His performances in these serials earned him recognition and further established him as a seasoned performer.
Ashutosh made his film debut in 1993 with a small role in Keshu Ramnsy’s Kannada-Hindi bilingual Ashaant (Vishnu Vijay) with Vishnuvardhan and Akshay Kumar. He then acted in Govind Nihalani’s “Sanshodhan” in 1996. Early in his career he did some small but memorable roles in films like “Tamanna (1997), “Ghulam (1998),” “Zakhm (1998),” and “Jaanwar (1999).”
However, it was his role as Gokul Pandit in the 1998 film “Dushman” that catapulted him to fame. His portrayal of a cold-blooded psychopathic killer in the film earned him widespread acclaim and the Filmfare Award for Best Villain.
Ashutosh Rana The performer
Following the success of “Dushman,” Ashutosh Rana became a household name. He continued to impress audiences with his powerful performances in various films. In 1999, he played the role of Lajja Shankar Pandey in the film “Sangharsh,” which earned him another Filmfare Award for Best Villain. His ability to portray negative characters with depth and authenticity made him one of the most sought-after actors in the industry. In 2000 he played the crouppt DIG Jai Singh Rana in Badal.
He also had memorable roles in “Kasoor (2001),” “Raaz (2002),” and “Gunaah (2002).” One of his most iconic roles came in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s “Haasil (2003).” In the film he played the budding politician and student leader Gauri Shankar Pandey. The epic show down between Rana and Irrfan Khan is a treat to watch.
Throughout his career, Ashutosh has worked in films across various languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil. Some of his notable works include “Annarth (2002),” “LOC: Kargil (2003),” “Kalyug (2005),” “Shabnam Mausi (2005),” and “Awarapan (2007),” among others.
Rana also acted in many regional films like Venky (2004), Okka Magadu (2008), Victory (2008), Tadakha (2013), Nene Raju Nene Mantri (2017), Jai Simha (2018), Saakshyam (2018), Viswamitra (2019), and Kalki (2019) in Telugu, Vettai (2012), Meaghamann (2014), Tamilselvanum Thaniyar Anjalum (2016), Johnny (2018), Sangathamizhan (2019), and Maaligai (2021) in Tamil, Vishnu Sena (2005), Kshana Kshana (2007), Avatara Purusha (2022) and Avatara Purusha 2 (2024) in Kannada.
Later Career
Ashutosh Rana faced a challanging phase post his early sucees. He transition himself with time and made a powerful comeback with character roles. His acting in films like “Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2017),” “Mulk (2018),” “Dhadak (2018),” was widely apreciated. Rana acted in many critically acclaimed films like “Simmba (2018),” “Sonchiriya (2019),” “Milan Talkies (2019),” and “Pagglait (2021).” Ashutosh Rana is also the part of Yashraj’s spy universe film like “War (2019),” and “Pathaan (2023).” He also acted in Anubhav Sinha’s “Bheed (2023),” a film based on the mass migration after covid lockdown. He also played important roles in historical films like “Samrat Prithviraj (2022),” and “Chhaava (2024).”
More recently, he was seen in web series like Chhatrasal (2021), Aranyak (2021), The Great Indian Murder (2022), Khakee: The Bihar Chapter (2022), Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond (2024), Murder in Mahim (2024) and The Mystery of Moksha Island (2024).
His acting work also extended to the theatre, as he practically started his acting career on stage and trained at the National School of Drama. Over the years, Ashutosh has been involved in various stage performances, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
A multifaced Personality
One of his notable stage performances is in the play “Humare Ram,” where he portrays the character of Ravana. The play, which is a grand theatrical experience, takes the audience on a journey through the epic Ramayana, exploring the trials and triumphs of Lord Rama and Sita. Ashutosh’s portrayal of Ravana is both powerful and nuanced, earning him widespread acclaim.
Apart from his acting career, Ashutosh Rana is also a prolific writer and author. His literary works reflect his deep understanding of human emotions and his ability to convey them through his writing. He has written several books, including:
“Maun Muskaan Ki Maar” is a collection of satirical essays on different aspects of society and people’s behaviour. His writing shows his keen observational skills and his with written words. In “Ramrajya,” Ashutosh explores the concept of an ideal society, drawing inspiration from the ancient Indian epic, Ramayana. He delves into the principles of governance, justice, and morality, offering a thought-provoking perspective on contemporary issues.
He also wrote “Ashutosh Neeti Jeevan Ki Reeti,” a compilation of Ashutosh’s thoughts and reflections on various aspects of life. It offers readers a glimpse into his philosophical musings and his views on spirituality, relationships, and personal growth.
Personal Life
Ashutosh Rana is married to renowned actress-writer-director Renuka Shahane, and the couple has two sons, Shauryaman and Satyendra. The couple first met on the sets of Hansal Mehta’s Hindi film “Jayate,” and their shared interests and mutual admiration led to a strong bond. They got married on May 25, 2001, in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh.
In recent years, Ashutosh Rana has continued to make significant contributions to the entertainment industry. He continues to take on challenging roles and deliver compelling performances, showcasing his dedication to his craft. His ability to portray diverse characters with depth and authenticity has earned him a special place in the hearts of audiences.
Ashutosh Rana on IMDB
