Mikhail Yawalkar

Biography

Mikhail Yawalkar is an Indian actor who primarily works in the Hindi film industry. Born in Mumbai, India, he comes from a family deeply rooted in the arts. His father, the late Rajan Yawalkar, was a third-generation sculptor, which exposed Mikhail to creativity from an early age.

Early Life and Education

Mikhail showed an inclination towards the arts as a child. He worked as a child model for brands such as Inter Shoppe and appeared as a child actor in the television series Bible Ki Kahaniyan in 1993.

He completed his schooling at The Cathedral & John Connon School, Mumbai. Later, he moved to the United States, where he spent five years pursuing higher education. He earned an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management. He then worked as an Assistant Food and Beverage Manager at The Peninsula Hotel in New York City.

After returning to India, Mikhail briefly assisted his father at the family art studio. However, his passion for acting soon drew him back to the entertainment industry.

Acting Training and Early Work

To refine his skills, Mikhail enrolled at the Barry John Acting Studio, where he completed a diploma course in acting. During this period, he acted in, co-directed, and produced several award-winning short films, gaining valuable creative experience both in front of and behind the camera.

Film Career

Mikhail began auditioning actively and soon landed his first major film role in Mardaani (2014), produced by Yash Raj Films and directed by Pradeep Sarkar. He played the role of Inspector Balwinder Singh Sodhi. He has credited producer Aditya Chopra for giving him his first big break.

Following his debut, he went on to work with well-known filmmakers such as Prakash Jha, Habib Faisal, Ali Abbas Zafar, Sooni Taraporevala, and later with debut directors Sagar Ambre and Pushkar Ojha in the film Yodha, produced by Dharma Productions.