Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Zakir Hussain began their career in 2003. With over 60 credits to their name, Zakir Hussain remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. Spanning 20+ years, Zakir Hussain's career remains one of the longest and most celebrated in Tamil cinema.
Biography
Zakir Hussain is an Indian actor from Jani Khurd, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, who works primarily in Hindi cinema and is a graduate of the National School of Drama (1993), known for his sharp negative and comic character roles. He gained significant recognition for playing Shardul in Sriram Raghavan's Johnny Gaddaar (2007) and Rashid in Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar (2005), for which he won the Stardust 'New Menace' award in 2006. He appeared in critically noted films including Paan Singh Tomar (2012) and played Dev Khatri in the bilingual boxing drama Irudhi Suttru/Saala Khadoos (2016) alongside R. Madhavan. His NSD training has given him a strong stage-rooted command over character work, enabling him to move fluidly between villainous, comedic, and supporting dramatic roles across Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu productions.
Career Milestones
Graduated from National School of Drama, launching professional acting career
Film debut in Ek Hasina Thi
Breakthrough role as Rashid in Sarkar, earning Bollywood Movie Awards nomination for Best Actor in a Villain's Role
Critically acclaimed role as Inspector Rathore in National Award-winning film Paan Singh Tomar
View film →Role as Dev Khatri in acclaimed sports drama Irudhi Suttru / Saala Khadoos
View film →Iconic Roles
Johnny Gaddar
Critically acclaimed role in Sriram Raghavan's noir thriller. The performance was so impactful that people began addressing Hussain as 'Shardul' on the streets, bringing him both fame and recognition.
Sarkar
Cold-blooded villain role that earned Zakir Hussain the 'New Menace' award at the 2006 Stardust Film Awards, establishing him as a formidable screen presence.
Paan Singh Tomar
Played a corrupt police inspector in this National Award-winning biographical sports drama starring Irrfan Khan.
Irudhi Suttru
Played the sports federation head whose power politics and false charges against the protagonist drive the central conflict of R. Madhavan's acclaimed boxing drama.
Revolver Rani
Memorable supporting role in this dark political crime drama featuring Kangana Ranaut.
Defining Moments
Rashid the Dubai don commands a scene with cold, understated menace, earning Hussain the Stardust New Menace Award
First major villain role that established his reputation as a go-to antagonist in Hindi cinema and brought industry recognition
Shardul discovers Vikram's counterfeit money — his face shifts from swagger to stunned betrayal in a single held beat
Breakthrough role that made Hussain a recognisable face; audiences reportedly greeted him on the street as 'Shardul', a rare marker of character-actor impact
View film →Inspector Rathore leads the police sweep into the Chambal ravines, representing the state's pursuit of Paan Singh — authority measured against a folk-hero outlaw
Part of a National Award-winning film; his restrained lawman provided essential dramatic counterweight to Irrfan Khan's towering lead performance
View film →Prakash Rao — the corrupt politician — delivers sharp, arrogant confrontations that critics singled out as 'hitting the bull's eye' in a blockbuster ensemble
Demonstrated his ability to command screen presence in mainstream commercial cinema alongside a superstar cast, broadening his audience reach
Dev Khatri manoeuvres behind the scenes as the corrupt boxing federation chief, engineering systemic roadblocks against the protagonist with bureaucratic ruthlessness
Widely praised by critics for making an institutional villain feel genuinely threatening; played opposite R. Madhavan and held his own in a prestige bilingual production
View film →Zakir Hussain by the Numbers
If you watched every Zakir Hussain film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 5 days and 17h. Most-paired with Sanjay Mishra — 5 films together.
Filmography
See all 60 credits →
Collaboration Network
The Constellation
Top 10 most-paired collaborators. Bubble size and line thickness reflect how many films they share with Zakir Hussain.
Career Analytics
Genre Breakdown
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
See all →Zakir Hussain has worked most frequently with Ram Gopal Varma (4 films), Sriram Raghavan (3 films), Sudha K. Prasad (2 films), Tigmanshu Dhulia (2 films), and Vishram Sawant (2 films).
Did You Know?
Zakir Hussain is a prominent Indian actor known for his work in Hindi and Tamil cinema.
He is known for his intense and often antagonistic roles in films.
He played the role of Inspector Rathore in the critically acclaimed film 'Paan Singh Tomar' (2012).
He portrayed the character Dev Khatri in both the Tamil film 'Irudhi Suttru' (2016) and its Hindi remake 'Saala Khadoos' (2016).
He has collaborated with director Sriram Raghavan in the film 'Johnny Gaddar' (2007).
Legacy & Influence
Zakir Hussain is a distinguished character actor in Indian cinema, renowned for his compelling portrayals of antagonists and complex supporting roles. His career trajectory showcases a deliberate shift from television to film, where he carved a niche with his intense screen presence and nuanced performances. A significant contribution lies in his ability to embody authoritative and often morally ambiguous characters with a palpable authenticity that elevates the narratives. His role as the determined and gritty Inspector Rathore in the critically acclaimed 'Paan Singh Tomar' is a testament to his skill in adding depth to pivotal supporting characters. Hussain's filmography is marked by versatility, spanning Hindi and Tamil industries, as seen in his performance as the boxing coach Dev Khatri in both the Tamil original 'Irudhi Suttru' and its Hindi remake 'Saala Khadoos'. This bilingual presence underscores his adaptability and reach. While often cast in tough, no-nonsense roles, he brings a unique texture and reliability that directors frequently leverage. His work in neo-noir thrillers like 'Johnny Gaddar' further demonstrates his range within genre cinema. Hussain's impact is that of a consummate professional who strengthens films through powerful, understated performances, making him a respected and sought-after figure for directors seeking credible character artists. His consistent output has solidified his position as a dependable pillar in the ensemble casts of many notable Indian films.