Veteran actor, director, and architect Rajeev Verma has been a well-known face of the TV, Theater and Film industries for more than three decades. He has appeared in iconic films like Maine Pyar Kiya, Nisgchay, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Koi Mil Gaya, and TV shows like Heena (2001), Dishayen (2001), Lipstick (2002), Kaagaz Ki Kashti (2002), Sanjivani (2002), Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein (2002), and many more.
Early Life and Career
Rajeev Verma was born on June 28, 1949, in Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh. His father, Babulal Verma, was a freedom fighter. Rajeev pursued an architectural degree at Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology in Bhopal. He later earned a master’s degree in Urban Design from the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi.
Rajeev Verma has been active in theatre since his college days and has acted in many plays. He later joined the theatre group “Bhopal Theatres.” Apart from acting, he also worked as a director.
Over the years, he directed several theatre plays, including “Bheetari Deewaren,” “Bhag Avanti Bhag,” “Choti-Badi Baatein,” and “Chauthi Cigarette.” He also worked as a set designer for plays like “Bheetari Deewaren” and “Bhag Avanti Bhag.”
Rajeev started his TV career in 1987 with Sanjiv Bhattacharya’s TV series “Chunauti.” It also stars Ajit Vachhani, Mohan Bhandari, Bharat Kapoor, and Arif Zakaria. The serial set in a college deals with the problems of the education system and was a big hit. In 1988, Verma starred in “Mujrim Hazir (1988),” based on Bimal Mitra’s classic novel Asami Hazir.
Rajeev Verma In Films
Verma’s film debut came with Suraj Barjatya’s iconic film ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ (1989). He played the role of Kishan Kumar Chaudhary, Father of Prem, played by Salman Khan. The role, which had some negative shades, was loved by the audience and critics.
The role paved the way for a series of memorable performances in films such as “Nishchay (1992),” “Deedar (1992),” “Prem (1995),” “Jeet (1996),” “Ghatak (1996),” “Biwi No. 1” (1999), “Kachche Dhaage (1999). “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999),” “Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999),” “Mela (2000),” “Kya Kehna (2000),” “Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega (2000),” “Andaaz (2003),” “Chalte Chalte (2003),” “Koi… Mil Gaya (2003),” “Aarakshan (2011),” Bazaar E Husn (2014),” and many more.
Apart from films and theatre, Verma continues to act in TV series like “Giraft,” “Heena,” “Suraag: The Clue,” “Muskaan,” “Rehnuma,” “Dishayen,” “Sanjeevani,” “Lipstick,” “Kaagaz Ki Kashti,” “Kucchh Pal Saath Tumhara,” “Rooh,” “Prratima,” “Ayushmaan,” “Aashiq Biwi Ka,” “Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein,” “Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya,” and many more.
Personal Life
Rajeev Verma is married to Rita Bhaduri, an educationist and theatre artist. She is the daughter of Tarun Kumar Bhaduri and the younger sister of Jaya Bachchan. The couple has two sons, Shiladitya and Tathagat, who have pursued their own professional paths as artists and software engineers, respectively.
Verma has been honoured with awards such as the Kala Saarthi Awards in 2023 and the Kalidas Samman in 2022, recognising his contributions to the arts
Rajeev Verma on IMDB
