Suraj Sharma
{{short description|Indian actor (born 1993)}}
{{use Indian English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Suraj Sharma
| image = Suraj sharma life of pi.jpg
| caption = Sharma promoting Life of Pi in 2012
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|3|21|df=yes}}{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Michael|date=13 September 2012|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/suraj-sharma-pi-player-1118058877/|title=Suraj Sharma: 'Pi' player – Entertainment News, Youth Impact Report, Media|work=Variety|access-date=3 December 2012}}
| birth_place = New Delhi, India
| alma_mater = St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2010–present
}}
Suraj Sharma (born 16 March 1993) is an Indian actor who made his debut in the 2012 film Life of Pi.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/us|title=Ang Lee praises Suraj Sharma's work in 'Life of Pi'|date=8 April 2012|work=The Times of India|access-date=9 September 2012}} Directed by Ang Lee, the film was adapted from the novel of the same name, and earned Sharma critical acclaim as well as a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/movies/life-of-pi-is-new-ang-lee-film-based-on-yann-martel-tale.html?ref=movies|title=Adrift With a Tiger and the Film God|work=The New York Times|date=6 September 2012|access-date=9 September 2012}} In 2014, he portrayed Aayan Ibrahim in season 4 of the Showtime series Homeland.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/life-of-pi-man-suraj-sharma-chats-about-choosing-to-pursue-a-career-in-the-west-but-being-open-to-bollywood/cid/1798147 |title=Life of Pi man Suraj Sharma chats about choosing to pursue a career in the west but being open to bollywood |work=The Telegraph |location=India |author=Priyanka Roy |date=21 November 2020 |accessdate=26 July 2021}} From 2018 to 2020, he starred as Rakesh Singh in the CBS comedy-drama series God Friended Me.
Life and career
Sharma was born and brought up in an Indian family in New Delhi, India.{{cite web|title='Life of Pi' star Suraj Sharma is a Malayalee and the film also shot in Munnar|url=http://www.ukmalayalee.com/movie-news/news.php?id=MTE4Mg|date=7 January 2013|publisher=UK Malayalee|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328182800/http://www.ukmalayalee.com/movie-news/news.php?id=MTE4Mg|archive-date=28 March 2013}} His father, Gokul Churai, is a software engineer from Thalassery, Kerala and a professional chess player, while his mother, Shailaja Sharma, is an economist from Palakkad, Kerala.[https://ratings.fide.com/profile/25794027 Gokul Churai]. FIDE. He has a younger brother, Sriharsh Sharma, who has also acted in two films, and a younger sister, Dhruvatara Sharma. He attended Sardar Patel Vidyalaya secondary school, and later studied at St. Stephen's College, Delhi University. With no prior acting experiences, he auditioned along with his brother for the role of Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel in Life of Pi (2012). Sharma went through several rounds of auditions before winning the title role, beating out 3,000 other young men.{{cite web|url=http://www.nextmovie.com/blog/suraj-sharma-life-of-pi-interview/|title=Next Factor Q&A: 'Life of Pi' Star Suraj Sharma|publisher=NextMovie|date=21 November 2012|access-date=3 December 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/17/suraj-sharma-actor-role-life-of-pi-life-changing_n_2150375.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060515/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/17/suraj-sharma-actor-role-life-of-pi-life-changing_n_2150375.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |title=Suraj Sharma: Actor's Role In 'Life of Pi' Proves Life-Changing|work=HuffPost|date=17 November 2012}}[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/memoir-by-rajiv-surendra-traces-actors-parallels-with-life-of-pi/article32930166/ "Memoir by Rajiv Surendra traces actor’s parallels with Life of Pi"]. The Globe and Mail, 18 November 2016. Director Ang Lee has stated that he selected Sharma primarily based on his expressive eyes and innocent appearance. According to him, Sharma had not only the emotion, but also the "look" of Pi. His "medium complexion" and "average build" were deemed perfect for the role.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/life-pi-suraj-sharmas-odyssey-392176|title='Life of Pi': Suraj Sharma's Odyssey From Typical Teen to Leading Man|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=20 November 2012|access-date=3 December 2012}} The film was met with critical acclaim, winning four Academy Awards; Sharma's performance received positive reviews, and he was nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award.{{cite web|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/hollywood/suraj-sharma-nominated-for-bafta-rising-star-award-630940|title=Suraj Sharma nominated for BAFTA rising star award|publisher=NDTV Movies|date=7 January 2013}}
After filming Life of Pi, Sharma returned to studying philosophy at St. Stephen's College, with the intention of continuing to work in filmmaking in some capacity. He subsequently undertook a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at New York University Tisch School of the Arts.{{citation needed |date=April 2020}} In 2014, he portrayed Aayan Ibrahim, nephew of a terrorist, in season 4 of the Showtime political thriller series Homeland.{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/hollywood/suraj-sharma-to-star-in-homeland-4/ |title=Suraj Sharma to star in 'Homeland 4' |work=Press Trust of India |date=6 June 2014 |accessdate=26 July 2021}} That same year, he portrayed Rinku Singh in the sports biopic Million Dollar Arm.{{cite work|url=https://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/life-pi-star-suraj-sharma-winds-million-dollar-arm-exclusive-86276|title='Life of Pi' Star Suraj Sharma Joins Jon Hamm in Disney's 'Million Dollar Arm'|publisher=TheWrap|first=Jeff|last=Sneider|date=17 April 2013|access-date=16 June 2013}} He then co-starred with Tony Revolori in the Indian comedy-drama Umrika,{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/hollywood/report-dna-exclusive-the-illegal-life-of-pi-actor-suraj-sharma-on-brown-representation-in-hollywood-2882617 |title=DNA Exclusive! 'Want South Asians in writers' room': 'The Illegal' actor Suraj Sharma on brown representation in H'wood |work=DNA India |date=23 March 2021 |author=Aishwarya Vasudevan |accessdate=26 July 2021}} which premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. In 2016, he starred in the Mongolian-American adventure drama film Burn Your Maps.{{cite web|url=https://www.variety.com/2015/film/news/vera-farmiga-virginia-madsen-burn-your-maps-1201547620/|title=Vera Farmiga, Virginia Madsen Starring in Comedy-Drama 'Burn Your Maps'|work=Variety|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=23 July 2015|access-date=27 July 2015}} He has also portrayed the role of Kanan Gill in his first Bollywood venture, Anshai Lal's romance comedy Phillauri co-starring Anushka Sharma and Diljit Dosanjh.{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-anushka-sharma-announces-new-romantic-movie-phillauri-under-her-production-house-2180757|title=Anushka Sharma announces new romantic movie 'Phillauri' under her production house|work=DNA India|date=22 February 2016|access-date=22 February 2016}} From 2018 to 2020, he starred as Rakesh Singh in the CBS comedy-drama series God Friended Me.{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Bruce R. |title=Suraj Sharma of 'God Friended Me' says he got lucky in show business |url=https://siouxcityjournal.com/entertainment/television/suraj-sharma-of-god-friended-me-says-he-got-lucky-in-show-business/article_52d8dfb4-df1f-55b9-9d35-a95fa3993a54.html |website=siouxcityjournal.com |publisher=Sioux City Journal |access-date=14 January 2021}} In 2019, he appeared in the American science fiction black comedy slasher film Happy Death Day 2U, a sequel to Christopher Landon's 2017 film Happy Death Day.{{cite web|url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/celebs/2020/nov/20/for-a-person-of-colour-its-tough-in-the-us-to-come-across-a-substantial-role-suraj-sharma-29685.html |title='For a person of colour, it's tough in the US to come across a substantial role': Suraj Sharma |work=The New Indian Express Indulge |author=Fathima Ashraf |date=20 November 2020 |accessdate=26 July 2021}} In the same year, he appeared as Hassan in Danish Renzu's Indian American English-language drama film titled The Illegal.{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/actor-suraj-sharma-describes-his-acting-journey/article34132079.ece |title=Ahead of 'The Illegal', Suraj Sharma describes his acting journey |work=The Hindu |author=Mini Anthikad Chhibber |date=21 March 2021 |accessdate=26 July 2021}}
In May 2021, Sharma was cast in How I Met Your Mother spinoff series, How I Met Your Father led by Hilary Duff. In November 2021, Duff and the cast confirmed via social media accounts that the series would premiere on 18 January 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1310073/see-hilary-duff-and-her-how-i-met-your-father-co-stars-reveal-the-premiere-date|title = See Hilary Duff and Her How I Met Your Father Co-Stars Reveal the Premiere Date|date = 17 November 2021}} The series was released on 18 January 2022.{{cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Ryan |title=How I Met Your Father Gets January Premiere Date on Hulu – Watch Video |url=https://tvline.com/2021/11/17/how-i-met-your-father-premiere-date-january-2022-hulu-video/ |website=TVLine |date=17 November 2021 |access-date=17 November 2021}} On 15 February 2022, Hulu renewed the series for a 20-episode second season.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/how-i-met-your-father-renewed-season-2-hulu-1234933788/|title='How I Met Your Father' Renewed For Season 2 at Hulu|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Rosy|last=Cordero|date=15 February 2022|access-date=15 February 2022}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2012
| Pi Patel | Nominated {{ndash}} BAFTA Rising Star Award |
| 2014
| |
| 2015
| Umrika | Older Ramakant | |
| 2016
| Ismail | |
| rowspan="3" | 2017
| Kanan Gill | |
| The Hungry
| Ankur Joshi | |
| The Lost
| Dev Mukherjee | Short film |
| rowspan="3" | 2019
| Samar Ghosh | |
| Killerman
| FedEx | |
| The Illegal
| Hassan | |
| 2022
| Ravi | |
| 2023
| Gulmohar | Aditya | |
| TBA
|TBA | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| 2014–2015
| Homeland | Aayan Ibrahim | 7 episodes |
| 2018–2020
| Rakesh Singh | Series regular |
| 2020
| Kabir | Episode: "The Manager" |
| 2022–2023
| Sid | Main Cast |
| 2022
| Pantheon | IT Officer (voice) | Episode: “The Gods Will Not Be Slain” |
| 2023
| Charuk (voice) | Episode: "The Bandits of Golak" |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result |
|---|
| rowspan="4"| 2012
| rowspan="10"| Life of Pi |{{nom}} |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards
| {{nom}} |
| Las Vegas Film Critics Society
| Youth in Film | {{won}} |
| Phoenix Film Critics Society
| Breakthrough Performance on Camera | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="6"| 2013
| Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"| MTV Movie Awards
| Best Breakthrough Performance | {{nom}} |
| Best Scared-As-Shit Performance
| {{won}} |
| Saturn Awards
| Best Performance by a Younger Actor | {{won}} |
| Empire Awards
| {{nom}} |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards
| Best Breakthrough Performance – Male | {{nom}} |
| 2015
| Pure Heaven Outstanding Young Talent | Himself | {{won}} |
| rowspan="1"| 2021
|Yellowstone International Film Festival | Best Actor | {{won}} |
| 2023
|Best Supporting Actor in a Web Original Film |{{won}} |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Suraj Sharma}}
- {{IMDb name|4139037}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Suraj Sharma
|list =
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Scared-As-Shit Performance}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Suraj}}
Category:21st-century Indian male actors
Category:Indian male film actors