Shekhar Suman (born 7 December 1962)[4] is an Indian actor, anchor, producer, director, and singer working in the Hindi cinema.

Shekhar Suman
Suman in 2010
Born (1962-12-07) 7 December 1962 (age 63)
Patna, Bihar, India[1]
Occupations
  • Actor
  • politician
  • filmmaker
  • singer
Years active1984–present
Political party
Indian National Congress (2009–2012)[2]
Bharatiya Janata Party (2024–2024)[3]
Spouse
Alka Suman
(m. 1983)
Children2, including Adhyayan Suman

Personal life

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Shekhar Suman belongs to a Bihari Ambastha Kayastha family.[5]

He married Alka Suman on 4 May 1983. Their younger son, Adhyayan Suman, is a Bollywood actor.[6][7][8][9] Their older son, Aayush, died of a heart ailment at age 11 on 3 April 1995.[10]

Career

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Film actor

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Suman debuted in films with the Utsav opposite Rekha, produced by Shashi Kapoor and directed by Girish Karnad. He has worked in nearly 35 films including Manav Hatya, Naache Mayuri, Sansar, Anubhav, Tridev, Pati Parmeshwar, and Ranbhoomi.[11]

Television

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He made his television debut in 1984 with Wah Janaab in which he acted alongside Kiran Juneja. His television career included shows like Dekh Bhai Dekh, Reporter, Kabhi Idhar Kabhi Udhar, Chote Babu, Andaz, Amar Prem, Vilayati Babu, Movers n Shakers, Simply Shekhar and Carry On Shekhar.[11] He hosted Film Deewane, The Great Indian Comedy Show on Star One until February 2006 and appeared in some episodes of Dial One Aur Jeeto on Sahara TV. He has also hosted quiz shows including Nilaam Ghar on Zee TV, He-Man on Star One and Poll Khol on STAR News. In 2015, he began hosting Abki Bari Shekhar Bihari on Aaj Tak.[12][13]

He was one of the judges of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge along with Navjot Singh Sidhu, quitting after three seasons over differences with his co-host. He featured as a judge on several other comedy shows such as Comedy Circus on Sony TV and Comedy Superstar on SAB TV. He hosted the show Jab Khelo SAB Khelo on SAB TV and participated in the fourth season of the popular dance reality show, Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa which aired on Sony TV.

In May 2026, he started hosting the show Shekhar Tonite, which aired on YouTube.[14]

Singer

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He made his singing debut with a music album named, Kuch Khwaab Aise, a collection of eight love ballads whose music was composed by Aadesh Shrivastava and lyrics written by Shyam Raj. In December 2009, he appeared as a participant on the reality TV series, Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka, based on past life regression.[15][16][17] Suman made his directorial debut with 2014 film, Heartless.[18]

Politician

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Suman fought Lok Sabha election in May 2009 from Patna Sahib on Congress ticket and lost to BJP's Shatrughan Sinha, coming up in third place.[19][20]

On 5 May 2024, he joined Bharatiya Janata Party and left the party within 24 hours [21][22][23]

Filmography

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Year Film Role
2017 Bhoomi Tripurari "Taj" Mishra
2014 Heartless Doctor (also director)
2011 Chaloo Police Sherkhan
2004 Ek Se Badhkar Ek Anand Mathur
2002 Chor Machaaye Shor[24] Guru / Vyjayanti / Mala
1998 Ghar Bazar
1994 Insaaf Apne Lahoo Se Mohan Prasad
1993 Professor Ki Padosan Photographer Vinod
1991 Ranbhoomi Dr. Prakash
1989 Waqt Ke Zanjeer
Pati Parmeshwar Vijay
Anjaane Rishte Anil
Tridev Journalist Shrikant Verma
Tere Bina Kya Jeena[11] Amar
1988 Aakhri Nishchay
Insaaf Ki Manzil[11] Prakash
Kharidaar
Woh Phir Aayegi CID Inspector Ratan
Razia
1987 Sansar Peter Fernandes
Yaatna
1986 Anubhav[25] Ramesh
Naache Mayuri[11]
Poojaku Panikiraani Puvvu Telugu film
Manav Hatya[25]
1985 Rehguzar Shekhar
1984 Utsav[11] Charudutt

Television

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Year Title Role
1984 Wah Janaab
1993-1994 Dekh Bhai Dekh[11] Sameer Diwan
1994-1995 Reporter[26]
1995 Andaz[27] Anand
1996 Kabhi Idhar Kabhi Udhar[28]
Ek Raja Ek Rani[26] Ajay Kapoor
1996-1997 Amar Prem[26][29]
1997-2012 Movers & Shakers[11] Host
1998 Dam Dama Dam Sarju/Chichi/Sonu/Karan
1998-1999 Jaal[26]
1999 Hera Pheri Ajay Premi
Main[30] Viren Kumar
2000 Made in India[25] Host
2001 Nilaam Ghar[31][32] Host
Simply Shekhar[24] Host
2004 The Great Indian Comedy Show[11] Host
He Man[33] Host
2004-2009 Poll Khol[34] Host
2005-2007 The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Judge
2007-2008 Jjhoom India[35] Contestant
2008-2010 Comedy Circus[36] Judge
2009 Tedhi Baat Shekhar Ke Saath Various characters
2012 Laugh India Laugh Judge
2015 Comedy Superstar Judge
2018 Saat Pheron Ki Hera Pherie[37] Bhoopi Tandon
2022 India's Laughter Champion Judge
2022-2023 Bigg Boss 16 Big Bulletin Host
2024 Heeramandi Zulfikar
2026 Shekhar Tonite Host

Awards

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References

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  1. "Shekhar Suman: The siege within". The Times of India. 5 January 2003. Archived from the original on 9 April 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  2. Khan, M. I. "Shekhar Suman quits Cong due to 'hectic schedule'". Rediff. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  3. PTI (7 May 2024). "Ex-Congress leader Radhika Khera, actor Shekhar Suman join BJP". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  4. Saran, Renu (2014). Encyclopedia of Bollywood–Film Actors. Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd. ISBN 9789350836903.
  5. Mishra, Dipak (30 March 2009). "Shekhar Suman to be pitted against Shotgun". The Times of India. What makes the star war interesting is that both Sinha and Suman belong to the Kayastha(Ambastha) caste which dominates this constituency.
  6. "Top News in India: India News, Bollywood News, Sports News, Business News & Current Affairs, National & International News". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  7. "My father Shekhar Suman can go to any extent to see me happy". Rediff. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  8. "Best of Bollywood, South Cinema, TV and Celebs | MSN India". Entertainment.in.msn.com. 19 September 2017. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  9. "Sachin Tendulkar rubs shoulders with Bollywood stars - Emirates 24|7". Emirates247.com. 20 December 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  10. "Shekhar Suman's 'Heartless' dedicated to elder son". Indian Express. 11 November 2013. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "rediff.com: Movies: Why Shekhar Suman wants to gamble with 7 roles". www.rediff.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  12. Joseph, Krupa (19 January 2020). "Theatre is challenging, but exciting, says Shekhar Suman". Deccan Herald.
  13. "Shekhar Suman gets annoyed when people call him a great comedian: I didn't want to do Dekh Bhai Dekh or Movers and Shakers". The Times of India. 5 May 2023.
  14. Mathur, Abhimanyu (19 May 2026). "Shekhar Suman will not shy away from jokes on government on new show Shekhar Tonite: 'Have to be fearless' | Exclusive". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  15. "Want to know your past?". The Times of India. 4 December 2009. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  16. "Raaz Pichley Janam Ka to peep into celebs' past". India Today. 25 November 2009. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  17. "Want to know about past life?". Hindustan Times. 21 November 2009. Archived from the original on 13 December 2009.
  18. "Shekhar Suman turns director with 'Heartless'". Indian Express. 9 November 2013. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  19. "Congress fields Shekhar Suman against Shatrughan Sinha". India Today. IANS. 7 April 2009. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  20. "Patna Sahib Election Results". www.elections.in. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  21. "Sachin Tendulkar at the music launch of Heartless in Mumbai – The Times of India". "Sachin Tendulkar at the music launch of Heartless in Mumbai – The Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  22. "Pained and hurt that Sonu, Sunidhi backstabbed me: Shekhar Suman". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  23. "Ex-Congress leader Radhika Khera, actor Shekhar Suman join BJP". The Times of India. 7 May 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  24. 1 2 "" Simply Shekhar' has the potential of turning around Zee's fortunes " : Shekhar Suman". Indian Television Dot Com. 16 December 2002. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  25. 1 2 3 "The Badshah of Blah-Blah". Indian Television Dot Com. 8 March 2000. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  26. 1 2 3 4 "Shekhar Suman busiest TV actor, now to appear on new Home TV sitcom". India Today.
  27. "On the list of TV's biggest bigamists, Shekhar Suman is No. 1". India Today. New Delhi: Living Media India Limited. 3 November 1997. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  28. Menon, Bindu; Chpora, Anupama (3 May 1999). "TRPs soar high with extra-marital fling in the family drama". India Today. New Delhi: Living Media India Limited. Retrieved 19 May 2023. Kabhi Idhar Kabhi Udhar: Technically not extra-marital, and unlike other sober serials, this one is for laughs-Shekhar Suman gets in and out of comic situations so that wives Varsha Usgaonkar and Sudha Chandran don't discover the truth. On Home TV.
  29. "From his iconic role in Dekh Bhai Dekh to impressing fans with Heeramandi: A look at the most popular work of Shekhar Suman". The Times of India. 8 May 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  30. "Tribuneindia... Film and tv". www.tribuneindia.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  31. "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories". www.tribuneindia.com.
  32. Staff, exchange4media (17 August 2001). "Shekhar Suman to host new game show on Zee - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 20 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  33. "Men tune in to Star One". 24 October 2004. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  34. "Shekhar on a roll with 'Poll Khol'". Indian Television Dot Com. 2 April 2004. Archived from the original on 27 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  35. "'Shekhar Suman can't sing'". Hindustan Times. 4 January 2008.
  36. "Shekhar Suman quits Comedy Circus - Times of India". The Times of India. 15 May 2010. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  37. "Shekhar Suman and Swati Shah back on TV with 'Saath Phero Ki Hera Pheri' - Times of India". The Times of India. February 2018.
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