Viraf Patel

{{short description|Indian model and television actor (born 1980)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Viraf Phiroz Patel

| image = Viraf Patel.jpg

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_place = Pune, Maharashtra, India

| spouse = {{marriage|Saloni Khanna|2021}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1980|06|12}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|model|screenwriter}}

| height =

| nationality =

| years_active = 2005–present

| website =

}}

Viraf Patel (born Viraf Phiroz Patel on 12 June 1980) is an Indian actor, model and screenwriter. He was a sailor in the merchant navy between 1999 and 2004 and was titled as The Grasim Mr. India 2005. He is best known for his roles in Mahi Way, Kismat, Teri Meri Love Stories and Ek Boond Ishq. He made his debut in Theatre with Vikram Kapadia's Bombay Talkies in 2012.

Early life

Viraf was born and brought up in a Parsi Zoroastrian family in Pune, Maharashtra, India. Following encouragement from his brothers, he participated in Grasim Mister India Contest by Aditya Birla Group in 2005 and won the title of Grasim Mr India. He has two elder brothers.

Personal life

Viraf got engaged to his long-time girlfriend Saloni Khanna on 20 February 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/viraf-patel-gets-engaged-actress-saloni-khanna/ | title=Viraf Patel gets engaged to actress Saloni Khanna : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama | website=Bollywood Hungama | date=24 February 2021 }}{{Cite web|url=https://news.abplive.com/entertainment/popular-tv-actor-viraf-patel-engaged-to-girlfriend-saloni-khanna-1445662|title=POPULAR TV Actor Viraf Patel Engaged to Girlfriend Saloni Khanna|date=24 February 2021}} The couple got married on 6 May 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://news.abplive.com/entertainment/television/naamkarann-actor-viraf-patel-saloni-khanna-wedding-date-couple-to-get-married-on-may-6-in-mumbai-1457014|title = Congrats! 'Naamkarann' Actor Viraf Patel to Marry His Fiancée Saloni Khanna on THIS Date|date = 6 May 2021}}{{Cite web|date=2021-05-06|title=Viraf Patel ties the knot with Saloni Khanna, gives her a rubber band instead of wedding ring|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/television/viraf-patel-ties-the-knot-with-saloni-khanna-gives-her-a-rubber-band-instead-of-wedding-ring-7304718/|access-date=2021-05-07|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}

Career

After completing five years of sailing in the Merchant Navy, Patel participated in the Grasim Mister India Contest in 2005, which he won.{{cite web |date=2 February 2005 |title=Mr. India: Adonis with brains! |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/02sld01.htm |access-date=21 December 2018 |work=www.rediff.com}} He would go on to pursue a modelling career where he would feature in various shows and TV commercials.{{cite web |date=7 September 2012 |title=Meet Viraf 'Gentleman 2.0' Phiroz |url=https://www.ciol.com/meet-viraf-gentleman-patel/ |access-date=21 December 2018 |publisher=www.ciol.com}} He most notably modeled for Limca in 2010.

Patel was the face of India's largest garment retail brand Pantaloon from 2005 to 2009. Prior to his acting career, he modeled for many designers and was seen modelling at the India Fashion Week and Lakme Fashion Week.

In 2010, he made his acting debut in the mini-series Mahi Way. The following year he acted in another TV series Kismat where he played the lead character of Aditya Raj Merchant. Patel portrayed the role of a businessman in the BBC telefilm Tere Meri Love Stories where he starred alongside Shilpa Anand. He also acted in the drama, Ek Boondh Ishq, a BBC worldwide production and his first daily soap. The show stopped airing in October 2014.

From 2016-2017, Patel featured in Mahesh Bhatt's Naamkaran as Ashish Mehta, which aired on StarPlus. In addition to acting, he is also pursuing screenwriting under actor Boman Irani.{{Cite web |date=18 March 2021 |title='Three things that COVID-19 pandemic gave me' - TV actor Viraf Patell |url=https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood-news/article/three-things-that-covid-19-pandemic-gave-me-tv-actor-viraf-patell-23164172}}

Patel had also directed and produced a documentary based on the daughters of sex workers.{{cite web |date=28 February 2015 |title=Viraf Patel busy at Kamathipura |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/Viraf-Patel-busy-at-Kamathipura/articleshow/46397491.cms |access-date=14 December 2018 |publisher=www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com}} He made his web-series debut with 13 Mussoorie which aired on Viu.

{{cite web |date=19 June 2018 |title=Viraf Patel replaces Harman Singha in Viu's next series |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/viraf-patel-harman-singha-5224339/ |access-date=31 May 2019 |publisher=www.indianexpress.com}}

Television

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#f9c; text-align:center;" ! Year !! Show !! Role !! Channel !! Co-Star
rowspan="2" \| 2010	Mahi Way	Shiv Deshraj	Sony Entertainment Television (India)	Pushtiie Shakti
Rishta.com	Arjun Khanna(cameo)	Sony Entertainment Television (India)	Shruti Seth
2011	Kismat{{cite web\|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/yrf-show-inspired-by-jeffrey-archer-book/story-APBAkdpHTvZChucAVvo9yJ.html \|title=YRF show inspired by Jeffrey Archer book? \|publisher=www.hindustantimes.com \|date=20 August 2010 \|access-date=14 December 2018}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.tellychakkar.com/tv/tv-news/yrfs-bhagya-gets-new-name \|title=YRF's Bhagya gets a new name \|publisher=www.tellychakkar.com \|date=4 January 2011 \|access-date=14 December 2018}}	Aditya Raj Merchant{{cite web\|url=http://www.tellychakkar.com/tv/tv-news/yrfs-version-of-kane-and-abel-launch-decemberanother-new-show-october \|title=YRF's version of Kane and Abel to launch in December;another new show in October \|publisher=www.tellychakkar.com \|date=28 June 2010 \|access-date=14 December 2018}}	Sony Entertainment Television (India){{cite web\|url=https://www.bizasialive.com/sony-tv-confirms-launch-of-two-new-yrf-shows/ \|title=Sony TV confirms launch of two new YRF shows \|publisher=www.bizasialive.com \|date=13 January 2011 \|access-date=14 December 2018}}	Khalida Turi
2012	Teri Meri Love Stories	Shreshth Kashyap{{cite web\|url=https://www.adgully.com/shilpa-anand-viraf-phiroz-in-star-plus-teri-meri-love-stories-51411.html \|title=Shilpa Anand & Viraf Phiroz in STAR Plus' Teri Meri Love Stories! \|publisher=www.adgully.com \|date=13 July 2012 \|access-date=27 January 2018}}	Star Plus	Shilpa Anand{{cite web\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/Shilpa-Anand-to-romance-Viraf-Phiroz-in-Star-Plus-telefilm/articleshow/14691161.cms \|title=Shilpa Anand to romance Viraf Phiroz in Star Plus' telefilm \|publisher=www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com \|date=5 July 2012 \|access-date=5 January 2019}}
2013–2014	Ek Boond Ishq	Mrityunjay Singh Shekhawat{{cite web\|url=http://m.tellychakkar.com/tv/tv-news/viraf-patel-excited-be-back-small-screen-life-oks-ek-boond-ishq \|title=Viraf Patel is excited to be back on small screen with Life OK's Ek Boond Ishq \|publisher=www.tellychakkar.com \|date=24 August 2013 \|access-date=27 January 2018}}	Life OK	Chhavi Pandey
2015	Hunnarbaaz Season 2	Host	DD National
2016-2017	Naamkarann	Ashish Mehta	Star Plus	Barkha Bisht
2017	MTV Big F S2E06{{cite web\|url=http://www.tellychakkar.com/tv/tv-news/big-f-deal-the-issue-of-sexual-harassment-170414 \|title=Big F to deal with the issue of sexual harassment \|publisher=www.tellychakkar.com \|date=14 April 2017 \|access-date=14 December 2018}}	Samrat S.{{cite web\|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment/telly-talk/article/its-time-people-celebrate-women-for-their-strengths-viraf-patel/152889 \|title=It's time people celebrate women for their strengths: Viraf Patel \|publisher=www.timesnownews.com \|date=13 April 2017 \|access-date=14 December 2018}}	MTV	Charu Mehra
rowspan="3" \| 2018	Showbiz with Vahbiz E09	Guest	Indian WikiMedia	Freddy Daruwala
13 Mussoorie	Rishi Pant	Viu	Shriya Pilgaonkar{{cite web\|url=http://www.tellychakkar.com/tv/tv-news/i-was-shy-performing-romantic-scenes-13-mussorie-viraf-phiroz-patel-180923 \|title=I was shy performing romantic scenes for 13 Mussorie: Viraf Phiroz Patel \|publisher=www.tellychakkar.com \|date=23 September 2018 \|access-date=14 August 2019}}
Laal Ishq E38{{cite web\|url=http://www.tellychakkar.com/tv/tv-news/debina-bonnerjee-viraf-patel-and-sheena-shahabadi-tvs-laal-ishq-181005 \|title=Debina bonnerjee, Viraf patel and Sheena Shahabadi in & TV's Laal Ishq \|publisher=www.tellychakkar.com \|date=5 October 2018 \|access-date=14 December 2018}}	Amar	&TV	Debina Bonnerjee
rowspan="3" \| 2019	Flip E03 - "Massage"{{cite web\|url=https://www.iwmbuzz.com/digital/celebrities-digital/full-marks-creator-bejoy-nambiar-flip-viraf-phiroz-patel \|title=Full marks to creator Bejoy Nambiar for Flip: Viraf Phiroz Patel \|publisher=www.iwmbuzz.com \|date=6 April 2019 \|access-date=31 May 2019}}	Navzar	Eros Now{{cite web \|url=https://www.thedigitalhash.com/erosnow-promises-a-compelling-series-with-flip/ \|title=ErosNow promises a compelling series with FLIP \|publisher=www.thedigitalhash.com \|date=14 March 2019 \|access-date=31 May 2019 \|archive-date=30 May 2019 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530203455/https://www.thedigitalhash.com/erosnow-promises-a-compelling-series-with-flip/ \|url-status=usurped }}	Sandeepa Dhar
Heartbreak Hotel E01 - "Phenomenal"{{cite web \|url=https://www.televisionpost.com/sonyliv-beefs-up-content-line-up-with-the-launch-of-three-new-web-originals/ \|title=SonyLIV beefs up content line-up with the launch of three new web originals \|publisher=www.televisionpost.com \|date=17 July 2019 \|access-date=16 August 2019 \|archive-date=15 August 2019 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815220406/https://www.televisionpost.com/sonyliv-beefs-up-content-line-up-with-the-launch-of-three-new-web-originals/ \|url-status=dead }}	Vikram	Sony Liv{{cite web\|url=https://www.adgully.com/outdoor-is-a-very-brand-friendly-medium-for-ott-platforms-uday-sodhi-87058.html \|title=Outdoor is a very brand friendly medium for OTT platforms: Uday Sodhi \|publisher=www.adgully.com \|date=17 July 2019 \|access-date=16 August 2019}}	Saloni Khanna
The Verdict - State vs Nanavati	Prem Bhagwandas Ahuja	ALTBalaji and ZEE5	Elli AvrRam
2020	Taish	Shozi	ZEE5	Pulkit Samrat

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;" ! Year !! Movie !! Role !! Language!! Notes
2011	Mummy Punjabi	Arjun Arora	rowspan="4"\| Hindi	Debut film
2017	Hanuman: Da' Damdaar	Lord Vishnu	Voice role
2021	Koi Jaane Na	Vicky Singhania
rowspan="2" \| 2023	Pathaan	Rishi Arya
Kutch Express	Madan	Gujarati
rowspan="2" \| 2024	Maharaj	Sorabji	rowspan="2"\| Hindi
Doctors	Dr. Abhijat Gupta
2025	Shubhchintak	Sanjay	Gujarati	{{cite news\|url=https://news.abplive.com/entertainment/movies/manasi-parekh-takes-on-a-challenging-role-in-gujarati-film-shubhchintak-also-starring-swapnil-joshi-1738365 \|title=Manasi Parekh Takes On A Challenging Role In Gujarati Film 'Shubhchintak': 'It Will Keep You Hooked' \|date=18 December 2024\|work=ABP News\|access-date=26 April 2025}}

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;" !Year !! Brand !! Director
rowspan="5" \| 2006	Planet Sports	Sameer Puri
onegramoflatex	Vishal Suchak
TVS Apache	Marco Kalantri.
Maruti Alto	Amit Sharma
Sony Handycam	Prahlad Kakkar
2008	Sony Bravia	N/A
rowspan="2" \| 2009	V-Guard pump
ICICI Mutual Funds	Amit Sharma
2010	Limca{{cite web\|url=https://www.indianweekender.co.nz/Pages/ArticleDetails/16/1057/Bollywood/Hrishitta-Bhatt-is-the-new-Limca-girl \|title=HRISHITTA BHATT IS THE NEW LIMCA GIRL\|publisher=www.indianweekender.co.nz \|date=29 April 2010 \|access-date=14 December 2018}}	Vinil Matthew{{cite news\|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/press-releases/limca-unveils-its-splash-of-freshness-summer-campaign-110041300131_1.html \|title=Limca unveils its 'Splash of freshness' summer campaign\|newspaper=Business Standard India\|publisher=www.business-standard.com \|date=13 April 2010 \|access-date=21 January 2013}}
rowspan="2" \| 2011	Chik Shampoo	Pradeep Sarkar
Bank Of India,Home Loans	Shivendra Singh
2013	Vento Volkswagen	Shivendra Singh{{cite web\|url=http://bestmediainfo.com/2013/01/volkswagen-gives-a-fast-start-push-for-polo-and-vento/ \|title=Volkswagen gives a 'Fast Start' push for Polo and Vento \|publisher=www.bestmediainfo.com \|date=18 January 2013 \|access-date=21 December 2018}}
rowspan="2" \| 2015	Indica Easy Hair Colour	Ice Media Lawrance
Mine Diamonds	Bhanuprakash A V
rowspan="4" \| 2016	TVS Victor{{cite web\|url=https://www.campaignindia.in/video/tvs-victor-showcases-features-with-a-song-brings-smiles-to-a-family/424577 \|title=TVS Victor showcases features with a song, brings smiles to a family\|publisher=www.campaignindia.in \|date=28 April 2016 \|access-date=21 December 2018}}	Abhijit Chaudhuri{{cite web\|url=http://bestmediainfo.com/2016/05/tvs-victor-rides-on-comfort/ \|title=TVS Victor rides on comfort\|publisher=www.bestmediainfo.com \|date=13 May 2016 \|access-date=21 December 2018}}
Britannia Nutrichoice Oat Cookies	Kamlesh Pandey
Wild Stone Deo	Vivek Kakkad
Grand Mills Chakki Fresh Atta	Aatish Dabral
rowspan="3" \| 2017	Coolpad Note 5	Robbie Grewal
Wheel 2 in 1	Hemant Bhandari
Saffola Masala Oats
rowspan="3" \| 2018	NetMeds.com	Aatish Dabral
Sufi Banaspati and Cooking Oil{{cite web\|url=https://www.iwmbuzz.com/digital/viraf-phiroz-patel-talks-turkish-short-film/2018/05/12 \|title=Viraf Phiroz Patel talks about his Turkish short film \|publisher=www.iwmbuzz.com \|date=12 May 2018 \|access-date=14 December 2018}}	Shwetabh Varma
Philips Ceiling Secure Downlight{{cite web\|url=https://brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/advertising/philips-ceiling-secure-downlighters-new-ad-campaign-promotes-easy-twist-and-fit-technology/66808866 \|title=Philips Ceiling Secure downlighter's new ad campaign promotes easy 'Twist and Fit' technology \|publisher=www.brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/ \|date=26 November 2018 \|access-date=14 December 2018}}