Sumit Nijhawan

Nijhawan was born and brought up in Meerut and holds a Masters in International Business from the Delhi School of Economics. He has modelled for brands like Mitsubishi, Globus, Vitara and Larsen & Toubro.

Sumit Nijhawan made his debut in Bollywood in 2004 with Girlfriend. His second film was Jackie Shroff's Tum... Ho Na! in 2005, which was followed by Ram Gopal Varma's Aag in 2007 and Sarkar Raj (2008).{{cite web|title=Sarkar Raj|url=https://bharatmovies.com/hindi/info/sarkar-raj.htm|publisher=Bharat Movies|accessdate=9 June 2012}} He also played the role of RD in Ram Gopal Varma's Contract{{cite web|last=Filmvala|first=Aniz|title=Contract|url=http://www.filmytown.com/contract.htm|publisher=Filmytown.com|accessdate=9 June 2012}} and received appreciation for his performance.{{cite web|last=Roy|first=Priyanka|title=Don't sign it|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080719/jsp/entertainment/story_9568903.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080728092050/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080719/jsp/entertainment/story_9568903.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 July 2008|publisher=The Telegraph (Calcutta)|accessdate=11 April 2012}}{{cite web|last=Mohamed|first=Khalid|title=On Planet Kill Time|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/cinema-news/reviews/Review-Contract/Article1-324866.aspx|publisher=Hindustan Times|accessdate=11 April 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111231035037/http://www.hindustantimes.com/cinema-news/reviews/Review-Contract/Article1-324866.aspx|archivedate=31 December 2011}} In 2010, his portrayal of Ali in multi-starrer Phas Gaye Re Obama,{{cite web|last=Nahta|first=Komal|title='Phas Gaye Re Obama' Review By Komal Nahta|url=http://www.koimoi.com/reviews/phas-gaye-re-obama-review-by-komal-nahta/|accessdate=9 June 2012}} won him much critical acclaim. Nijhawan was then seen in Jannat 2 in 2012, where he played one of the main negative characters, Sarfaraz,{{cite web|last=Adarsh|first=Taran|title=Jannat 2 {{!}} Latest Hindi Movie Review by Taran Adarsh - Bollywood Hungama|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/reviews/type/view/id/1186/Jannat-2|website=Bollywood Hungama|accessdate=9 June 2012}}{{dead link|date=July 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite web|last=Vats|first=Rohit|title=Tweet Review: 'Jannat 2', first day, first show|url=http://m.ibnlive.com/news/tweet-review-jannat-2-first-day-first-show/254670-8.html|publisher=IBN|accessdate=9 June 2012}} and left quite an impact on the audience with his performance. He was also seen in Mahesh Bhatt's Jism 2 where he played the role of Randeep Hooda's friend and confidant.

He played his first lead role in the film Maazii, produced and directed by newcomer Jaideep Chopra. Though the film saw a limited release, it received great critical acclaim. It was nominated in the Best Film category for Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival 2014 and received a Special Mention in the Indian Cine Film Festival 2014. It was also the official Best Foreign Film nomination at Sunset Film Festival, L.A, and Indie Film Festival, California, where it won an "Honorable Mention" and an "Award of Merit" respectively. Faheem Ruhani of India Today praised Sumit's performance saying he "plays the lead protagonist with the subtlety that is required of him. He portrays restrained anger with the indomitable spirit of a hero".{{cite web|last1=Ruhani|first1=Faheem|title=Movie Review - Maazii|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/movie-review-maazi/1/311875.html|website=India Today|accessdate=17 October 2014}} Film critic Subhash K. Jha called Maazii the "shocking surprise of the season" and stated that the lead was "a complex role which Sumit Nijhawan plays with stoicism and smothered anger which works fine for the character."{{cite web|last1=Jha|first1=Subhash|title=Maazii: Movie Review|url=http://skjbollywoodnews.com/2013/09/maazii-movie-review/412981.html|website=SKJ Bollywood News|accessdate=17 October 2014}} IBN Live's review by Rohit Vats emphasized that Sumit's "body language separates him from the superheroes we see in usual Hindi films" and that "this works amazingly in his favor."{{cite web|last1=Vats|first1=Rohit|title='Maazii' review: It transports the audience to a dark, unseen world|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/maazii-review-it-transports-the-audience-to-a-dark-unseen-world/424991-8-66.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929202607/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/maazii-review-it-transports-the-audience-to-a-dark-unseen-world/424991-8-66.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 September 2013|website=IBN Live|accessdate=17 October 2014}}

Post-Maazii, Sumit was seen in a substantial role in Shilpa Shetty's home production Dishkiyaoon where he played a gangster, Iqbal Khaleefa, and gave "an implosive performance that ignites the frames".{{cite web|last1=Jha|first1=Subhash| authorlink = Subhash K. Jha|title=Subhash K Jha speaks about Dishkiyaoon|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/features/type/view/id/6364/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026220954/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/features/type/view/id/6364/|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 October 2014|website=Bollywood Hungama|accessdate=17 October 2014}} Though the film as a whole did not work commercially and the lead protagonist was weak, Sonia Chopra, a critic for Sify wrote that "the talented supporting cast – Prashant Narayanan, Anand Tiwari and Sumit Nijhawan among others— salvaged the film."{{cite web|last1=Chopra|first1=Sonia|title=Dishkiyaoon review: Yet another formula gangster flick|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/dishkiyaoon-review-yet-another-formula-gangster-flick-review-bollywood-15052102.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328220803/http://www.sify.com/movies/dishkiyaoon-review-yet-another-formula-gangster-flick-review-bollywood-15052102.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 March 2014|website=Sfy.com|accessdate=17 October 2014}} The review in Hindustan Times mentioned that Khaleefa, as a "character artist stood out" and though Taran Adarsh was critical of the film, he approvingly wrote that Sumit "played the bad guy without much effort.".{{cite web|last1=Uniyal|first1=Parmita|title=Movie review: Harman Baweja, Sunny Deol's Dishkiyaoon doesn't make for a gripping thriller|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/reviews/movie-review-harman-baweja-sunny-deol-s-dishkiyaoon-misses-the-bull-s-eye/article1-1201506.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328152711/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/reviews/movie-review-harman-baweja-sunny-deol-s-dishkiyaoon-misses-the-bull-s-eye/article1-1201506.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 March 2014|website=Hindustan Times|accessdate=8 October 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Adarsh|first1=Taran|title=Dishkiyaoon|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/criticreview/id/582419|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016220209/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/criticreview/id/582419|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2013|website=Bollywood Hungama|accessdate=17 October 2014}}

His role as the cop, Mr. Singh, in the Emraan Hashmi starrer Raja Natwarlal received a lot of appreciation. As Raja Sen of Rediff wrote, he had "a solid, menacing presence as a bad cop."{{cite web|last1=Sen|first1=Raja|title=Review: Raja Natwarlal lacks directorial finesse|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-raja-natwarlal-lacks-directorial-finesse/20140829.htm|website=Rediff|publisher=Rediff|accessdate=17 October 2014}} Vishal Verma of IndiaGlitz wrote "Sumit Nijhawan as a greedy cop is fantastic" and Subhash K. Jha said that Nijhawan was "brilliant as a corrupt cop."{{cite web|last1=Verma|first1=Vishal|title=Raja Natwarlal Review - Strictly for Emraan Hashmi's fans|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/raja-natwarlal-review-hindi-movie-review-18611|website=indiaglitz.com|accessdate=8 October 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Jha|first1=Subhash|title=Raja Natwarlal: Dapper Capper|url=http://skjbollywoodnews.com/2014/08/raja-natwarlal-movie-review/4121491.html|website=SKJ Bollywood News|accessdate=17 October 2014}} Renowned film critic Komal Nahta mentioned in his blog review that Nijhawan provided "terrific support".{{cite web|last1=Nahta|first1=Komal|title=Raja Natwarlal|url=http://komalsreviews.wordpress.com|website=Komal Nahta's blog|accessdate=8 October 2014}} Sweta Kaushal of Hindustan Times appreciated Sumit's performance saying, "Sumit Nijhwan, who plays a corrupt cop, fits the bill perfectly and the lusty, evil look he has on his face each time he talks to Humaima just hits the nail."{{cite web|last1=Kaushal|first1=Sweta|title=Movie review: Emraan Hashmi's Raja Natwarlal is a fun, one-time watch|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/reviews/movie-review-raja-natwarlal-is-a-fun-one-time-watch/article1-1257767.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829183614/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/reviews/movie-review-raja-natwarlal-is-a-fun-one-time-watch/article1-1257767.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 August 2014|website=Hindustan Times|publisher=Hindustan Times|accessdate=17 October 2014}}

The film Begum Jaan where he played the strapping Pathan guard to Vidya Balan, got him rave reviews, with Hindustan Times calling him a worthy partner to her {{cite web|last1=Vats|first1=Rohit|title=Begum Jaan movie review|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/begum-jaan-movie-review-vidya-balan-and-her-girls-fight-patriarchy-with-all-their-might/story-ZkxJgAz0WejFVCyEXVSNjK.html|website=Hindustan Times|publisher=Hindustan Times|accessdate=25 May 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Adarsh|first1=Taran|title=Movie Review: Begum Jaan|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/begum-jaan/critic-review/begum-jaan-movie-review/|website=Bollywood Hungama|accessdate=25 May 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Shekhar|first1=Mayank|title='Begum Jaan' - Movie Review|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/bollywood-news-begum-jaan-movie-review-film-rating-vidya-balan-naseeruddin-shah/18161189|website=Mid Day|publisher=Mid Day|accessdate=25 May 2017}} One publication referred to his role as a throwback to Om Puri's role in Mirch Masala, with shades of Govind Nihalani's Tamas and Vinay Shukla's Godmother.{{cite web|last1=Mukherji|first1=Srijit|title='Begum Jaan' review|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-begum-jaan-review-vidya-balan-starrer-is-marred-by-cliched-approach-to-storytelling-2401747|website=DNA|accessdate=25 May 2017}}

He was also seen in Mardaani 2, a sequel of Rani Mukherji's 2014 movie Mardaani. Critics lauded his role as Brij Shekhawat, a jealous senior cop who couldn't stand the success of a woman officer in his department. Vishal Verma, journalist and movie critic, stated that Sumit left a mark with his marvellous performance.{{cite web |last1=Verma |first1=Vishal |title=MARDAANI 2 movie review: Terrifically gripping, gritty, well etched & masterly performed |url=https://www.glamsham.com/en/movie-review-mardaani-2 |website=Glamsham |publisher=Glamsham.com |accessdate=5 February 2020}} Mayank Shekhar felt Nijhawan had been finely hand-picked for the role {{cite web |last1=Shekhar |first1=Mayank |title=Mardaani 2 Movie Review: Much Prefer To Its Prequel |url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mardaani-2-movie-review-much-prefer-to-its-prequel/22262169 |website=MidDay |publisher=Midday.com |accessdate=5 February 2020}} and senior critic Komal Nahta pointed out that Sumit made his presence felt in his role.{{cite web |last1=Nahta |first1=Komal |title=MARDAANI 2 |date= 13 December 2019 |url=https://filminformation.com/featured/mardaani-2-12-december-2019/ |website=Film Information |publisher=Film Information |accessdate=6 February 2020}}

His performance as Omar Siddiqui in Lootcase, received appreciation from critics and audience alike. His next film, Blurr is scheduled to be released in late 2022.

Nijhawan lives in Mumbai and also enjoys writing and directing.

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Category:Living people

Category:1978 births