Yashpal Sharma

Biography

Yashpal Sharma is an Indian actor primarily working in Hindi-language films and theatre. He is best known for his role as Randhir Singh in Sudhir Mishra's 2003 Hindi movie Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, apart from Lagaan (2001), Gangaajal (2003), Ab Tak Chhappan (2004), Apaharan (2005), Lakshyam (2007), Singh Is Kinng (2008), Aarakshan (2011) and Rowdy Rathore (2012), Ayothi (2023).

He also played the role of Don Rana in a sequence of the popular TV sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (2008–present) on SAB TV. He played Kuwar Singh in Zee's Mera Naam Karegi Roshan. Yashpal is also a stage actor and appears in live plays.

He formerly starred in Zee's Neeli Chhatri Waale. The Haryanvi film Pagdi: The Honour was awarded at the 62nd National Film Awards.

Sharma was born and brought up in a lower-middle-class family in Hisar in the state of Haryana. Since childhood, he has been interested in acting and used to actively organize and participate in Ramlila during Dasara (also called Navaratri) festivals.

He graduated from the National School of Drama, Mandi House, New Delhi in 1994, the lead role of his theatre play franchise (Koi Baat Chale) with writer and director Ramji Bali.

After his graduation, he joined the National School of Drama Repertory Company in Delhi, where he worked for about two years before moving to Mumbai in 1997.

His first big break was Govind Nihlani's film, Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1998), which gave him a chance to act alongside Jaya Bachchan and Nandita Das. He also started appearing in commercial films, like Shool and Arjun Pandit.

However, it was the Academy Award-nominated Lagaan (2001) that brought him to the limelight, and thereafter he appeared in Gangajal (2003) and Ab Tak Chhappan. He has been a regular in films of Shyam Benegal and Prakash Jha and continues to work as a stage actor in Mumbai.

In 2010, he acted in Rage productions' bilingual play, One on One and the play Lakeerein, written by Gulzar and directed by Salim Arif, opposite actor, Lubna Salim