From hot supermodel to National Award-winning film actor and producer, Arjun Rampal has come a long way in his 10-year Bollywood career. His next release is Prakash Jha's Raajneeti on June 4, 2010. Let's take a look at where and how he began.
Arjun Rampal was born in 1972 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh to a Sikh dad and an Indo-Dutch mom. He schooled at various places in the country and finished his degree at Hindu College, Delhi. It was during his days in Delhi that Arjun was spotted by designer Rohit Bal who launched his modelling career in a big way.
Arjun went to become an international supermodel. But soon, he shifted focus to films and attended acting classes. His first release was Rajiv Rai's Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat (2001), which did not do well. That same year, he had two more releases – Deewaanapan opposite Dia Mirza where he showed off his muscles, and ace cinematographer Ashok Mehta's Moksha: Salvation which was an offbeat film. Both films were duds. But his debut year won Arjun the Screen Most Promising Male Newcomer award.
The actor's career started looking up a bit from Vipul Shah's Aankhen (2002) where he was noticed for holding his own against Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Sushmita Sen and Paresh Rawal. Dil Hai Tumhaara in the same year with Preity Zinta and Mahima Chaudhry was not a hit but did fairly well thanks to good songs and performances.
In his next film, Dil Ka Rishta (2003), Arjun starred with Aishwarya Rai. The film again was not received well. The actor's low phase continued, with films like Tehzeeb (2003) and Asambhav (2004) among others.
Arjun took matters in his hands and became a producer. Along with wife Mehr Jessia (former supermodel), he produced I See You in 2006. The film flopped badly, even with a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan. It was only in Farhan Akhtar's Don in the same year that Arjun was noticed again. He was seen in another SRK film, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna that year.
Arjun grabbed the opportunity and was now in SRK's camp full on. He later starred in King Khan's Om Shanti Om (2007). Winning Zee Cine's Best Actor in a Negative Role award for the film, there was no looking back for Arjun from then on.
In 2008, came his National Film Award-winning performance in Rock On!!. Arjun's intense portrayal of Joe Mascarenhas quadrupled his fan following. He also won the Filmfare, Screen and IIFA best supporting actor awards for the role.
Before Rock On!!, Arjun produced and starred in Rituparno Ghosh's The Last Lear. The film starred Amitabh Bachchan and Preity Zinta and got rave reviews in the festival circuit.
Arjun endorsed Tommy Hilfiger in 2007. Two years later, he was seen in a Schweppes commercial along with Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman and Slumdog Millionaire child star Rubina Ali. The ad was directed by Shekhar Kapur. Arjun gifted Kidman with a Tarun Tahiliani sari.
So far, 2010 has been good for Arjun with a hit, Housefull, under his belt. He stars in another mega multi-starrer releasing June 4 – Raajneeti. The film is a much talked about political thriller, also starring Katrina Kaif, Ranbir Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Naseeruddin Shah, Ajay Devgan and Manoj Bajpai. Arjun's steamy scenes with both Katrina Kaif and an unnamed supporting actress are rumoured to have caused trouble with the Censor Board.
Personally, Arjun leads a happily married life with wife Mehr and two daughters. He also co-owns a resto-bar in Delhi, LAP Lounge and Party.
The actor's future films include SRK's ambitious RA.One and Farhan Akhtar's Don 2. There's also Kunal Avadana (with Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu), directed by Chanakya fame Chandra Prakash Dwivedi.
Here's wishing Arjun Rampal all the luck for Raajneeti.
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