Parikshit Sahni (born 1 January 1944) is an Indian film and television actor, who is most known for playing the lead in TV series Barrister Vinod, Gul Gulshan Gulfaam (Doordarshan ) and Gaatha (STAR Plus). He has also appeared in three of Rajkumar Hirani's blockbuster films Lage Raho Munna Bhai , 3 Idiots , and PK .
He is the son of noted actor Balraj Sahni and nephew of writer Bhisham Sahni.
He was born while his father was teaching English at Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan of Rabindranath Tagore, and his mother was doing her Bachelors. Schooled at Lawrence School, Sanawar, he went to study at Delhi's prestigious St. Stephen's College. Later, he began his career as a child artist.
Parikshit's parents were both theatre and film actors, although his mother acted in only a couple of films before her death at an early age in 1947. His father subsequently married his own cousin sister Santosh Chandhok two years later.
He is married to director Shekhar Kapur's sister Aruna, and they have three children.
He was a good friend of late actor Sanjeev Kumar. Parikshit even changed his screen name to Ajay Sahni at the suggestion of Sanjeev Kumar during the shooting of their 1968 film Anokhi Raat , before eventually reverting to his own name a few years later.
One of his most famous films is 3 Idiots . where he got appreciation for playing R. Madhavan's father. He had a major role in the TV series Heena as Nawab Mirza, Heena's father. Heena ended in 2003. Sahni played the role of Veer Singh (Kaka-sa) on the popular Zee serial Saat Phere opposite Nivedita Bhattacharya .
He starred in the classic Punjabi film Marhi Da Diva (1989), with Raj Babbar , Pankaj Kapur , Kanwaljit Singh, and Deepti Naval . He played a remarkable role in the Hindi film Pavitra Paapi (1970) which was based on a Punjabi novel by Nanak Singh (a famous novelist).
He acted in the Doordarshan television series The Great Maratha as Malhar Rao Holkar .
Actor
2024
Hawayein (post-production) as
Mike Paul
2022
Pyaar Ki Roshni as
Brijbhushan
2022
Pyaar Ki Roshni as
Brijbhushan
2021
Ek Tera Sumiran Hey Ram (Video short)
2020
Starting Troubles (TV Series) as
Dean
- Complications (2020) - Dean
- Etiology (2020) - Dean
2019
Housefull 4 as
Bala's Father
2018
Home (TV Series) as
Brij Sethi
- Let's Take It To The Masses (2019) - Brij Sethi
- Prayers For A Miracle (2018) - Brij Sethi
- Time Is Up (2018) - Brij Sethi
- When It All Begins To Collapse (2018) - Brij Sethi
- Lives Plunged Into Darkness (2018) - Brij Sethi
- Push Comes To Shove (2018) - Brij Sethi
- The Beat Of The Heart Is Anxiety (2018) - Brij Sethi
- The Moment Of Rekoning (2018) - Brij Sethi
- Our Parents Are Hiding Something (2018) - Brij Sethi
- Secrets And Lies (2018) - Brij Sethi
- Be Wise And Apologize (2018) - Brij Sethi
- The Birthday Gift (2018) - Brij Sethi
2019
One Day: Justice Delivered as
Colonel Sahab
2019
Ek Bhram - Sarvagun Sampanna (TV Series) as
Mr. Mittal
- Episode #1.1 (2019) - Mr. Mittal
2018
Who Am I? - A Father Asks (Short) as
Bhatia
2016
Desi Munde as
Gurmukh Singh
2016
Sultan as
Gyan Singh Oberoi
2015
Santoshi Maa (TV Series) as
Raghavendra Mishra
2015
Gulmohar Grand (TV Series) as
Mr. Devdhar
- Mr. And Mrs. Devdhar's Anniversary (2015) - Mr. Devdhar
2015
Hum Tum Dushman Dushman
2013
Enemmy as
Mr. Karmakar - Eklavya's father
2012
Goodbye (Video short) as
Geeta's Husband
2011
Mere Brother Ki Dulhan as
Colonel Agnihotri (as Parikshet Sahani)
2010
Dunno Y Na Jaane Kyun...
2010
Right Yaaa Wrong as
Dr. Siddique
2010
Chance Pe Dance as
Mr. Behl
2010
Dulha Mil Gaya as
Ratandeep Kapoor / Bade Pa
2009
3 Idiots as
Farhan's Father (as Pareekshit Sahani)
2007
Eklavya: The Royal Guard as
Omkar Singh
2006
Umrao Jaan as
Ameeran's father
2006
Lage Raho Munna Bhai as
D'Souza
2006
Jadu Saa Chal Gaya as
Vilas
2005
Maa Where Are You... as
Mr. Mohanto
2004
Saarrthi (TV Series) as
Hemraj Goenka
2003
Shararat (TV Series) as
Khushwant Mehra, Sushma's (Nani) Husband
- Suraj, the Pumpkin (2004) - Khushwant Mehra, Sushma's (Nani) Husband
- Jiya, Nani's Time Travel Trip (2004) - Khushwant Mehra, Sushma's (Nani) Husband
- Jiya, The Mediator (2003) - Khushwant Mehra, Sushma's (Nani) Husband
- Sushma Is Jealous (2003) - Khushwant Mehra, Sushma's (Nani) Husband
2002
Mujhse Dosti Karoge! as
Mr. Verma
2002
Yeh Mohabbat Hai as
Bashir Khan
2001
Draupadi (TV Series) as
Drupad
2001
Kasam as
Thakur Jaswant Singh
1999
Gul Sanobar (TV Series)(1999)
1994
Junoon (TV Series)(1994-1998)
1997
Melody as
Dr. Ranjit Samant
1996
Chhota Sa Ghar as
Dhanraj
1996
Ardhangini (TV Series)
1995
Ab Insaf Hoga as
Inspector Khan
1994
Ajnabi (TV Series) - Introductory (1994)
1994
Chandrakanta (TV Series) as
Maharaja Surendra Singh / Maharaja Surendra Singh (1994)
1994
Hatim Tai (TV Series) as
Baba
- Saat Saawal (1994) - Baba
- Be-wafa Shehazaadi (1994) - Baba
1994
The Great Maratha (TV Mini Series) as
Malhar Rao Holkar (1994)
1994
Madam X as
Police Commissioner Mathur
1994
Mr. Shrimati (TV Movie)
1993
Police Wala as
Inspector Rakesh Nath
1993
Shaktiman as
Superintendent of Police
1992
Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh as
Advocate Jagat Narayan Sinha
1992
Waqt Ka Badshah as
Hotel Owner
1992
Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj as
Amar
1992
Yeh Gulistan Hamara (TV Series)
1991
Phool Bane Angaray as
Dutta Babu
1991
Kahkashan (TV Series)
1990
First Rank as
Selection comittee member
1990
Nai Dishayeh (TV Series)
1989
Galiyon Ka Badshah as
Rana
1989
Marhi Da Deeva as
Dharam Singh
1989
Dost Garibon Ka as
Police Commissioner
1989
Shubh Chintak (Video)
1988
Mirza Ghalib (TV Series short) as
Nawab Shams-ud-din
1988
Neeli Aankhen (Video)
1988
Subah Hone Tak as
Lieutenant (Sonali's Father)
1987
Dil Tujhko Diya as
Ajay Sahni
1987
Kalyug Aur Ramayan as
Judge Shyam Diwakar
1987
Zindagi (TV Series)(1987)
1987
Watan Ke Rakhwale as
Madan
1987
Hukumat as
Shankar Dayal Singh (Arjun's Father)
1987
Doctor Sahab (TV Series)
1987
Gul Gulshan Gulfam (TV Series)
1987
Mr. X as
Inspector Rakesh
1986
Insaaf Ki Awaaz as
Police Commissioner
1986
Katha Sagar (TV Series) - Zameen: Part 2 (1986)
- Zameen: Part 1 (1986)
- Tarannum (1986)
1986
Maa Ki Saugandh as
Surinder
1985
Haveli as
Thapa (Commisioner of Goa)
1985
Shiva Ka Insaaf as
Robert
1985
Insaaf Main Karoonga as
Police Inspector
1985
Meri Jung as
Dr. Dinesh Mathur
1985
Ek Se Bhale Do as
David D'Mello
1985
Ramkali as
Thakur Jai Singh
1985
Wafaadar Paagal (TV Movie)
1984
Jaag Utha Insan as
Poojary / Singer
1984
Mera Faisla as
Inspector Anand R. Saxena
1984
Jeene Nahi Doonga as
Fakir Baba
1984
Andar Baahar as
Police Inspector Ajay Sahani
1984
Teri Baahon Mein as
Thakur Vikram Singh
1984
The Far Pavilions (TV Mini Series) as
Mulraj
- Part Three: Wally and Anjuli (1984) - Mulraj
- Part Two: The Journey to Bhithor (1984) - Mulraj
- Part One: Return to India (1984) - Mulraj
1982
Bhai Aakhir Bhai Hota Hai
1982
Waqt Ke Shehzade as
Baano's husband - Sardarji
1982
Desh Premee as
Ghulam Ali
1982
Raaste Pyar Ke as
Sohanlal (uncredited)
1981
Agni Pareeksha as
Siddarth Sharma
1978
Hamaara Sansaar as
Pratap Sharma
1978
Kaala Aadmi as
Aslam Khan
1978
Nawab Sahib as
Shaukat Ali
1977
Jeevan Mukt as
Satish Sharma
1977
Mamta as
Manish Shrivastava
1976
Tapasya as
Dr. Sagar Varma
1976
Kabhi Kabhie as
Dr. R.P. Kapoor
1973
Hindustan Ki Kasam as
Rajesh
1972
Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor
1970
Aansoo Aur Muskan as
Mahesh
1970
Pavitra Papi as
Kedarnath
1970
Samaj Ko Badal Dalo as
Prakash
Director
2008
London Ki Ek Raat (TV Mini Series) (series director - 8 episodes) - Episode #1.8 (2008) - (series director)
- Episode #1.7 (2008) - (series director)
- Episode #1.6 (2008) - (series director)
- Episode #1.4 (2008) - (series director)
- Episode #1.5 (2008) - (series director)
- Episode #1.3 (2008) - (series director)
- Episode #1.2 (2008) - (series director)
- Episode #1.1 (2008) - (series director)
1987
Doctor Sahab (TV Series)
Producer
2008
London Ki Ek Raat (TV Mini Series) (producer - 8 episodes) - Episode #1.8 (2008) - (producer)
- Episode #1.7 (2008) - (producer)
- Episode #1.6 (2008) - (producer)
- Episode #1.4 (2008) - (producer)
- Episode #1.5 (2008) - (producer)
- Episode #1.3 (2008) - (producer)
- Episode #1.2 (2008) - (producer)
- Episode #1.1 (2008) - (producer)