Aftab Shivdasani’s Bio, Career, Movies, Family, Net Worth & More

Aftab Shivdasani is an Indian actor and producer who has lived many lives on screen. He started as the famous “Farex baby” and a child artist in iconic Hindi films of the late 1980s and early 1990s

He then reinvented himself as a romantic lead in the late 1990s, shifted into thrillers and comedies in the 2000s, and later embraced producing and OTT storytelling.

Across three decades he has worked with celebrated directors, starred in box-office entertainers, taken risks with darker parts, and kept returning with fresh energy.

This biography walks through his early life, formative years, peak runs, experiments, personal milestones, and legacy. It also includes a quick-stats table, a curated filmography and FAQs.

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Aftab Shivdasani’s Biography

Early Life and First Steps in the Industry

Aftab was born and raised in Mumbai. His earliest brush with the camera came at 14 months when he was selected as the “Farex baby,” which led to a wave of television commercials.

Soon after, he appeared as a child actor across several major Hindi films: Mr. India (1987), Shahenshah (1988), ChaalBaaz (1989), Awwal Number (1990), C.I.D. (1990), and Insaniyat (1994).

These sets became his classrooms, teaching him how a film unit moves, how actors adapt between shots, and how directors shape tone.¹

He studied at St. Xavier’s High School in Fort and later graduated from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics in Churchgate.

The education grounded him while he tried to understand whether the child actor could grow into an adult star.

Pehle ki thi Masti, phir Hui Grand Masti, phir Great Grand Masti, Ab hogi #MASTIII4! – iss baar 4x shaitani, 4x dosti aur 4x comedy blast!🔥#Mastiii4 Teaser OUT NOW 🎬
Releasing in cinemas on 21 Nov 2025.@Riteishd @vivekoberoi @MassZaveri @ArshadWarsi @TusshKapoor pic.twitter.com/HVcEoPPEhg

— Aftab Shivdasani (@AftabShivdasani) September 23, 2025

Quick Stats

Adult Debut with Mast (1999)

The late 1990s brought his transition from child artist to leading man. Ram Gopal Varma cast him opposite Urmila Matondkar in Mast (1999).

The film had a romantic heart and a star-struck tone, and it also gave Aftab a platform to show presence, charm, and sincerity.

While the film’s box-office fate has been debated across sources, his work earned concrete recognition: Zee Cine Award for Best Male Debut and Star Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer Male.

 The awards mattered for more than trophies; they signaled industry acceptance of a new leading man.

Breakthrough and Range in the Early 2000s

Dark Shade in Kasoor (2001)

He followed with Vikram Bhatt’s Kasoor, a sleek thriller opposite Lisa Ray. The film leaned on genre twists and a brooding performance from Aftab that caught audiences off guard.

He won the Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role and was nominated for Filmfare Best Villain, proof that he could step outside regular romance and attempt morally complex characters.

Romantic Dramas and Musical Melodrama

In the same period he headlined romantic and musical dramas, such as Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat (2001) and Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai (2002).

These films kept him visible with younger audiences who were buying audio cassettes and CDs and lining up for Friday shows built around big songs and glossy emotions.²

Comedy Ensembles

Aftab also grabbed space in ensemble comedies. Awara Paagal Deewana (2002) paired him with a bustling cast and action-comedy tone.

A year later came Hungama (2003), followed by Masti (2004), where he, Vivek Oberoi, and Riteish Deshmukh riffed on marital chaos and male misadventures.

Masti did more than entertain; it shaped a distinct “adult comedy” sub-genre that would return in sequels and spiritual cousins over the next decade.

Mid-2000s to Early 2010s: Persistence and Experiments

The mid-2000s showed Aftab as a consistent working lead and co-lead. He explored glossy romances like Koi Aap Sa (2005), broad comedies like Deewane Huye Paagal (2005), and concept pieces such as Mr. Ya Miss (2005).

The variety kept him active while the industry itself was shifting toward multiplex-driven storytelling.

He also tried darker and more atmospheric material. 1920: Evil Returns (2012) allowed him to anchor a horror drama with a vintage mood and an emphasis on tone.

The film found an audience among viewers who wanted old-school chills with modern production values.

Producer, Writer and the Impulse to Build

Aftab’s relationship with cinema extends beyond acting. He co-wrote and produced Aao Wish Karein (2009), a gentle fantasy drama with a fairytale core.

Producing gave him another angle on the business: script development, packaging, marketing, and how to survive the uncertainty that every film faces.

His willingness to move behind the camera highlights a practical mindset actors last longer when they understand the full ecosystem.

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OTT Era: Poison 2 and the Digital Pivot

By 2020 the OTT boom had accelerated. Aftab entered the space with Poison 2 on ZEE5, his first digital series.

The thriller format fit him well and introduced him to new audiences who were sampling genre shows at home.

Multiple outlets and the show’s own notes acknowledged it as his digital debut, with the series premiering in October 2020.

The pivot mattered for two reasons. First, it kept him current at a time when streaming was reshaping careers. Second, it brought him into ensemble long-form storytelling, where character arcs can stretch beyond a film’s two and a half hours.

Return to Big-Canvas Ensembles

Welcome To The Jungle (2025)

Aftab reunited with old collaborators for Welcome To The Jungle, the third entry in the Welcome franchise directed by Ahmed Khan.

Coverage in 2024–2025 highlighted the film’s massive cast led by Akshay Kumar and included names like Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Johnny Lever, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, and many more Aftab among them.

The film’s rollout shifted to 2025 to accommodate schedules and post-production. ³

Masti 4 / Mastiii 4 (2025)

He also returned to the franchise that helped define adult comedy in Hindi cinema.

Reports and trade listings point to Masti 4 targeting a November 2025 release, with the core trio Aftab, Vivek Oberoi, and Riteish Deshmukh back together, and updates indicating additional cast members and a refreshed “reverse Masti” narrative spin.

Bollywood Hungama’s filmography page for Aftab lists Mastiii 4 dated 21 November 2025.⁴

This late-career loop returning to the genre that clicked shows a performer comfortable with his screen identity yet curious enough to tweak the format for a new audience.

Personal Life

Aftab married Nin Dusanj in a private civil ceremony on 5 June 2014. In 2017, the couple renewed their vows with a traditional wedding celebration in Sri Lanka.

The event drew considerable media attention and gave fans a glimpse of a more intimate side of the actor. In 2020, Aftab and Nin welcomed their daughter Nevaeh, a milestone he spoke about warmly in interviews. ⁵

Acting Style and On-Screen Persona

Aftab’s screen presence sits at the intersection of boy-next-door charm and urbane cool. In romances he plays earnest and steady.

In comedies he leans into exasperation and timing, often the straight man trapped in absurd situations or the overmatched buddy in a chaotic ensemble. In thrillers he underplays, letting tension build.

That range explains why he can jump from something like Kasoor to Masti, then return years later to an OTT thriller such as Poison 2. He is not typecast by temperament; he leans into type when it suits the story and steps out of it when a filmmaker asks for a new color.

Notable Filmography

• Mr. India (1987) – Child role

• Shahenshah (1988) – Child role

• ChaalBaaz (1989) – Child role

• Awwal Number (1990) – Child role

• C.I.D. (1990) – Child role

• Mast (1999) – Adult debut; Zee Cine Best Male Debut; Star Screen Most Promising Newcomer – Male

• Kasoor (2001) – Negative shade; Zee Cine Best Actor in a Negative Role; Filmfare Best Villain nomination

• Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat (2001)

• Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (2001)

• Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai (2002)

• Awara Paagal Deewana (2002)

• Hungama (2003) – Ensemble comedy

• Masti (2004) – Adult-comedy landmark

• Koi Aap Sa (2005)

• Deewane Huye Paagal (2005)

• Mr. Ya Miss (2005)

• Ankahee (2006)

• Nishabd (2007) – Cameo/appearance

• 1920: Evil Returns (2012) – Horror lead

• Grand Masti (2013)

• Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3 (2016)

• Great Grand Masti (2016)

• Setters (2019) – Crime drama

• Poison 2 (2020, ZEE5) – OTT debut

• Welcome To The Jungle (2025) – Ensemble comedy (upcoming)

• Masti 4 / Mastiii 4 (2025) – Adult-comedy franchise return (upcoming)

Awards and Milestones

• Zee Cine Award – Best Male Debut for Mast (2000)

• Star Screen Award – Most Promising Newcomer – Male for Mast (2000)

• Zee Cine Award – Best Actor in a Negative Role for Kasoor (2002)

• Filmfare – Best Performance in a Negative Role nomination for Kasoor (2002)

Impact and Legacy

Calling Aftab “underrated” is common among fans. The label sticks because he has rarely chased headlines or built a personality cult.

Instead, he built a body of work that is easy to revisit: a few thrillers that still grip, comedies that still deliver big laughs, and a handful of romantic tracks that trigger nostalgia.

His journey is also a useful case study in Hindi cinema’s generational shifts:

1. Child-actor era in massive mainstream films.

2. Late-90s romantic lead wave.

3. Early-2000s thrillers and ensemble comedies primed for multiplex growth.

4. Producer-writer turn as the industry diversified.

5. OTT pivot with Poison 2, aligning with audience migration to streaming.

6. Franchise nostalgia with Welcome To The Jungle and Masti 4 in 2025.

The throughline is adaptability. He keeps returning to the spaces that love him and never hesitates to try a new one.

 

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FAQ’s

1) When and where was Aftab Shivdasani born?

He was born on 25 June 1978 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

2) What was his first film?

As a child actor he appeared in films like Mr. India (1987) and Shahenshah (1988). His adult debut was Mast (1999).

3) Which awards did he win for Mast?

He won Zee Cine Award for Best Male Debut and Star Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male for Mast.

4) What are some of his most popular films?

Kasoor, Awara Paagal Deewana, Hungama, Masti, 1920: Evil Returns, Grand Masti, Great Grand Masti, and Setters.

5) Has he worked on web series?

Yes. He made his digital debut with Poison 2 on ZEE5 in October 2020.

Conclusion

Aftab Shivdasani’s career is a reminder that longevity in Hindi cinema comes from flexibility, not only star power.

He has moved from child artist to romantic hero to comic team player to thriller lead to producer and OTT actor, and he is still adding chapters.

With ensemble comedies and franchise revivals queued up for 2025, his story keeps rolling rooted in Mumbai, shaped by many eras of Bollywood, and still open to reinvention.

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1. en.wikipedia.org
2. bollywoodhungama
3. hindustantimes
4. timesofindia.indiatimes
5. economictimes.indiatimes