Paras Kalnawat
{{Short description|Indian model and actor (born 1996)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Paras Kalnawat
| birth_name = Paras Bhushan Kalnawat
| image = Paras Kalnawat at the special screening of film Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Kalnawat in 2024
| occupation = {{hlist|Model|Actor}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1996|11|09}}
| birth_place = Bhandara, Maharashtra, India
| years_active = 2017–present
| nationality =
| known_for = Meri Durga
Ishq Aaj Kal
Anupamaa
Kundali Bhagya
| alma_mater = S.K. Somaiya College, Mumbai
}}
Paras Kalnawat (born 9 November 1996) is an Indian model and actor best known for portraying Sanjay Singh Ahlawat in Meri Durga, Faraz Sheikh in Ishq Aaj Kal, Samar Shah in Anupamaa and Rajveer Arora Luthra in Kundali Bhagya.
Early and personal life
Kalnawat, belonging to a Brahmin family, was born on 9 November 1996,{{Cite news |title=Paras Kalnawat celebrates 26th birthday with Anupamaa family and friends |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/tv/hindi/paras-kalnawat-celebrates-26th-birthday-with-anupamaa-family-and-friends/videoshow/95425070.cms |access-date=10 November 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en}} to a Nagpur-based businessman Bhushan Kalnawat and Anita Kalnawat in Bhandara, a district near Nagpur.{{Cite news |last1=Trivedi |first1=Tanvi |title="Like my onscreen mother I'm close to my mother in real life too", Paras Kalnawat on portraying Samar in Anupamaa |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/paras-kalnawat-like-my-onscreen-character-i-am-close-to-my-mother-in-real-life-too/articleshow/77167929.cms |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en}} He has an elder sister named Pragati Kalnawat Sharma.{{Cite news |title=Paras Kalnawat opens up about his sister's sacrifices on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/anupamaa-fame-paras-kalnawat-on-his-bond-with-elder-sister-on-raksha-bandhan-pragati-di-offered-her-own-salary-and-savings-to-cover-the-cost-of-my-acting-course/articleshow/93481837.cms |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}
He completed his schooling from a local school in Nagpur,{{Cite news |title=Jhalak's Paras Kalnawat misses his dad while visiting hometown Nagpur after years, writes, "The city won't feel the same without Papa's presence" |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/jhalaks-paras-kalnawat-misses-his-dad-while-visiting-hometown-nagpur-after-years-writes-the-city-wont-feel-the-same-without-papas-presence/articleshow/95299702.cms |access-date=4 November 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en}} and later joined S. K. Somaiya College to earn his Bachelor of Commerce degree. Later, he moved to Mumbai in 2014 to become an actor and completed his dance diploma from Terence Lewis Dance Academy.{{Cite news |title=Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10: Paras Kalnawat reveals how Terence Lewis has been a guiding force in his career; says, "Looked back just to see how far I've come" |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-10-paras-kalnawat-reveals-how-terence-lewis-has-been-a-guiding-force-in-his-career-says-looked-back-just-to-see-how-far-ive-come/articleshow/95104376.cms |access-date=26 October 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en}} He also took formal training in acting from Barry John's Acting Classes.{{Cite web |date=19 October 2022 |title=Taking inspiration from Sidharth Malhotra to participating in JDJ 10: All about Paras Kalnawat |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/tv/news/taking-inspiration-from-sidharth-malhotra-to-participating-in-jdj-10-all-about-paras-kalnawat-1195612 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528122345/https://www.pinkvilla.com/tv/news/taking-inspiration-from-sidharth-malhotra-to-participating-in-jdj-10-all-about-paras-kalnawat-1195612 |archive-date=28 May 2023 |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=Pinkvilla |language=en}}
Kalnawat dated his Meri Durga co-star Urfi Javed for six months in 2017.{{Cite news |date=2022-11-08 |title=From an ugly break up to now being good friends; Here’s how Urfi Javed and Paras Kalnawat turned their bitter relationship into a good friendship |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/from-an-ugly-break-up-to-now-being-good-friends-heres-how-urfi-javed-and-paras-kalnawat-turned-their-bitter-relationship-into-a-good-friendship/photostory/95378691.cms?picid=95378728 |access-date=2024-11-17 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} In 2021, he revealed that he is in a serious relationship with someone outside the entertainment industry.{{Cite news |title=Exclusive: I'm dating someone and we are very serious about each other, says Paras Kalnawat |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/exclusive-im-dating-someone-and-we-are-very-serious-about-each-other-says-paras-kalnawat/articleshow/81393990.cms |access-date=9 March 2021 |work=The Times of India|last1=Wadhwa |first1=Akash }}
On 27 March 2021, while shooting for Anupamaa, he received the news of his father's sudden demise due to heart attack.{{Cite web |last1=MumbaiMarch 27 |first1=Vishal Sharma |title=Anupamaa actor Paras Kalnawat's father dies of massive heart attack |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/television/celebrity/story/anupamaa-actor-paras-kalnawat-s-father-dies-after-a-massive-heart-attack-1784361-2021-03-27 |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=India Today |date=27 March 2021 |language=en}}
In November 2022, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Spondylitis during his stint on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10.{{Cite web |date=7 November 2022 |title=Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10: Evicted Paras Kalnawat reveals he was on pills during the show – Exclusive |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/tv/news/jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-10-evicted-paras-kalnawat-reveals-he-was-on-pills-during-the-show-exclusive-1197964 |access-date=7 November 2022 |website=Pinkvilla |language=en}}
Career
= Modelling and early work (2016–2020) =
Kalnawat began his career with modelling in 2016,{{Cite news |title=Jhalak DIkhhla Jaa 10's Paras Kalnawat on his body transformation; says 'Everyone make an effort to body shame and ridicule you' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-10s-paras-kalnawat-on-his-body-transformation-says-everyone-makes-an-effort-to-body-shame-and-ridicule-you/articleshow/94453828.cms |access-date=1 October 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en}} and later started his acting career in 2017 by appearing in an episodic role as Dhruv in Aye Zindagi. In July 2017, he made his television debut opposite Srishti Jain in Meri Durga on StarPlus, where he portrayed the lead role of Sanjay Singh Ahlawat until the show went off-air in March 2018.{{Cite web |title=Rupali Ganguly To Gaurav Khanna; How Anupamaa's Star Cast Has Transformed Since Their Debut Shows |work=The Times of India |date=August 2022 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/rupali-ganguly-to-gaurav-khanna-how-anupamaas-star-cast-has-transformed-since-their-debut-shows/etphotostory/93267872.cms |access-date=2 October 2022}}
In May 2018, he was cast to play Rehaan Thakur opposite Priyanka Kandwal in Mariam Khan - Reporting Live by StarPlus, however, he quit the show in September 2018 due to some personal reasons.{{Cite news |title=Paras Kalnawat pens down an emotional goodbye post for his entire team of Mariam Khan - Reporting Live; see pic - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/paras-kalnawat-pens-down-an-emotional-goodbye-post-for-his-entire-team-of-mariam-khan-reporting-live-see-pic/articleshow/65820383.cms |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en}} Later in the same year he portrayed episodic roles in Kaun Hai? and Laal Ishq.
In 2019, he made his digital debut by portraying Shivam Noon in ALT Balaji's Dil Hi Toh Hai 2 opposite Palak Purswani. He went on to play the antihero Faraz Sheikh in Ishq Aaj Kal alongside Ankitta Sharma, Angad Hasija, and Puneett Chouksey in the same year,{{Cite web |title='Bigg Boss 12' fame Roshmi Banik to make acting debut with 'Ishq Subhan Allah' spin-off; Paras Kalnawat & Ankitta Sharma finalised as leads? |url=https://news.abplive.com/entertainment/television/ishq-subhan-allah-spin-off-ishq-aaj-kal-bigg-boss-12-contestant-roshmi-baniks-acting-debut-with-paras-kalnawat-ankitta-sharma-in-zee5-show-994549 |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=ABP Live |date=21 May 2019 |language=en}} and reprised his role as Shivam in Dil Hi Toh Hai 3 opposite Poulomi Das in early 2020.
= Breakthrough and recognition (2020–2022) =
In March 2020, he signed on to portray the role of Samar Shah in Anupamaa opposite Anagha Bhosale and later on opposite Alma Hussein.{{Cite news |title=Paras Kalnawat aka Anupamaa's Samar speaks up about his role and love track in show |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/till-the-maan-wedding-is-over-i-dont-think-there-would-be-any-love-interest-track-for-me-in-anupama-paras-kalnawat/articleshow/91463787.cms |access-date=11 May 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en|last1=Trivedi |first1=Tanvi }} It turned out to be a turning point in his career as he became a household name as Samar due to the show's immediate success.{{Cite news |title=I left a big show like Anupamaa to move on to another big show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa... I am focussed on it now: Paras Kalnawat |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/i-left-a-big-show-like-anupamaa-to-move-on-to-another-big-show-jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-i-am-focussed-on-it-now-paras-kalnawat/articleshow/93834894.cms |access-date=2 October 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en|last1=Trivedi |first1=Tanvi }}
He subsequently appeared in various music videos, including Tere Naal Rehna, Akhaa Vich, Khumariyaan, Yaar Ki Mehfil, and Baadal Barse.
In July 2022, he announced his participation in the dance-based reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10.{{Cite news |title=I believe I made the right decision & I'm very happy with where I'm right now: Paras Kalnawat on his journey from Anupamaa to Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/i-believe-i-made-the-right-decision-im-very-happy-with-where-im-right-now-paras-kalnawat-on-his-journey-from-anupamaa-to-jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-10/articleshow/94598560.cms |access-date=2 October 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en|last1=Maheshwri |first1=Neha }} However, this led to the termination of his three-year-long contract by Rajan Shahi, Anupamaa's producer, who termed the actor unprofessional because the show was scheduled to air on the rival channel Colors TV.{{Cite web |date=26 July 2022 |title=Anupamaa makers terminate Paras Kalnawat's contract after he signs up Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10, actor responds |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/paras-kalnawat-contract-terminated-anupamaa-jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-10-8053372/ |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} Kalnawat revealed that he had already informed the makers about this conflict and they had asked him to choose between both shows. He chose Jhalak for his career growth, claiming his ouster to be a PR tactic in support of his former co-actor Anagha's allegations of set politics by the makers.{{Cite web |title=Exclusive!Paras Kalnawat Calls His Ouster from Anupamaa 'PR Tactic', Reveals Rupali Ganguly Didn't Even Contact Him |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/paras-kalnawat-calls-his-ousting-from-anupamaa-pr-tactic-reveals-rupali-ganguly-didnt-even-contact-him-exclusive-5645179.html |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=News18.com |date=29 July 2022 |language=en}} He later revealed many dark secrets of the production house.{{Cite news |title=Exclusive Interview! "Dark & Shady Things Happened With Me", Paras Kalnawat bares it all |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/paras-kalnawat-bares-it-all-dark-shady-things-happened-with-me-in-anupamaa-exclusive-interview/articleshow/93279372.cms |access-date=2022-08-14 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Anupamaa makers said I can't do Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10 because it's on rival channel |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/tv/news-gossip/paras-kalnawat-exclusive-anupamaa-makers-said-i-cant-do-jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-10-because-its-rival-channel-1168206 |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Pinkvilla |date=27 July 2022 |language=en}} He also confirmed that he would be paired up with choreographer Shweta Sharda for the reality show.{{Cite web |title=Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10 EXCLUSIVE: Paras Kalnawat will dance to the tunes of choreographer Shweta Sharda while Rubina Dilaik and Sanam Johar pair-up to perform some sizzling dance moves! |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/tv/news-gossip/jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-10-exclusive-paras-kalnawat-will-dance-tunes-choreographer-shweta-sharda-1182052 |access-date=26 August 2022 |website=Pinkvilla Telly |date=25 August 2022 |language=en}} On 6 November 2022, he was eliminated in the season's first double elimination, finishing in 10th place.{{Cite web |title=Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10: Amruta Khanvilkar and Paras Kalnawat call their elimination 'painful' |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/tv/news/jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-10-amruta-khanvilkar-and-paras-kalnawat-call-their-elimination-painful-1197858 |access-date=7 November 2022 |website=Pinkvilla |date=7 November 2022 |language=en |archive-date=7 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107075329/https://www.pinkvilla.com/tv/news/jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-10-amruta-khanvilkar-and-paras-kalnawat-call-their-elimination-painful-1197858 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=7 November 2022 |title=Amruta Khanvilkar gets eliminated from Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10 along with Paras Kalnawat, fans call makers unfair over her exit |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/amruta-khanvilkar-gets-eliminated-jhalak-dikhhla-jaa-10-fans-call-makers-unfair-8253945/ |access-date=7 November 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
= Further work (2023–present) =
From March 2023, he portrayed Rajveer Arora Luthra opposite Sana Sayyad and later on opposite Adrija Roy in Zee TV's Kundali Bhagya{{Cite news|title=The 20-year leap will contribute to the freshness in Kundali Bhagya: Paras Kalnawat|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/the-20-year-leap-will-contribute-to-the-freshness-in-kundali-bhagya-paras-kalnawat/articleshow/98690684.cms|access-date=2023-03-16|website=The Times of India|date=16 March 2023 |language=en}} until the show off-aired in December 2024.{{Cite web|title=Kundali Bhagya's Paras Kalnawat pens a heartfelt note as he bids adieu to his character; writes 'Signing off as Rajveer Luthra'|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/kundali-bhagyas-paras-kalnawat-pens-a-heartfelt-note-as-he-bids-adieu-to-his-character-writes-signing-off-as-rajveer-luthra/articleshow/115470618.cms|access-date=2024-11-20|website=The Times of India|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=After Shraddha Arya, Paras Kalnawat announces his exit from Kundali Bhagya; hints at something exciting ahead|url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/tv/news/after-shraddha-arya-paras-kalnawat-announces-his-exit-from-kundali-bhagya-hints-at-something-exciting-ahead-1359056|access-date=2024-11-20|website=Pinkvilla|language=en}} Since June 2025, he is playing Aditya Kashyap opposite Anchal Sahu post generation leap in Colors TV's Parineetii.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=28 May 2025|title='Parineetii' leaps 20 years ahead: Pratiksha Honmukhe and Paras Kalnawat express their happiness over joining the show|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/parineetii-leaps-20-years-ahead-pratiksha-honmukhe-and-paras-kalnawat-express-their-happiness-over-joining-the-show/articleshow/121463980.cms|access-date=2 June 2025|work=The Times of India|language=en}}
Filmography
=Television=
=Web series=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes ! Ref. |
| scope="row"|2019–2020
|Shivam "Shivi" Noon |Seasons 2-3 |{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}} |
| scope="row|2019
|Faraz Sheikh | |
| 2023
|Butterflies |Neeraj |Season 4, Episode 3: "Kebab Mein Haddi" |{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} |
=Audio series=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes ! Ref. |
| scope="row"|2024
| Secret Ameerzada | Ahaan Raizada |Season 2 | |
| scope="row"|2025
| Super Yodha | Prince Dhruv | | |
=Music videos=
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! Ref. |
|---|
| rowspan="2"|2022
| rowspan="2"|14th Gold Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role |rowspan="2"{{nom}} |
| Most Stylish Actor
|{{N/A}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- {{instagram|paras_kalnawat}}
- {{IMDb name|9494664}}
{{Portal bar|India|Television}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kalnawat, Paras}}