Arjun Mathur Bio, Career, Family, Net Worth, Awards and More

Arjun Mathur’s Biography

Early Life and Education

Arjun Mathur was born on October 18, 1981, in London, England, and grew up in New Delhi and Mumbai.

His father, Rakesh Mathur, worked in hospitality, while his mother, Reynoo Mathur, passed away in a car accident when Arjun was in his early teens an event he has since spoken about with honesty and courage.

He studied at St. Columba’s School (New Delhi), St. Mary’s (Mumbai), and The British School (New Delhi). He later trained at Barry John’s acting institute in Mumbai and the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York. ¹

The formative years were split between India and the UK, which gave him cultural range and comfort in both Indian and international productions.

The loss of his mother, he has said, shaped his outlook and resilience. He has marked anniversaries of that loss on social media and in interviews, underlining the long shadow grief can cast, and the strength it can also forge. ²

Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed it! https://t.co/2YrJdozmrZ

— Arjun Mathur (@mathurarjun) March 13, 2019

Quick Stats

From the AD’s Chair to the Spotlight

Before stepping in front of the camera, Mathur learned the craft on set. He worked as an assistant director on major Hindi films, including Kyun! Ho Gaya Na… (2004), Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005), Bunty Aur Babli (2005), and Rang De Basanti (2006).

This on-set experience became his informal film school, where he observed stars and directors up close and learned how sets run. That grounding shows in his sense of rhythm and his empathy for the process.³

A pivotal moment arrived with the AIDS Jaago short-film project that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2007.

Mathur appeared in Mira Nair’s Migration and Farhan Akhtar’s Positive, and he was suddenly on the radar of serious filmmakers and discerning audiences.

These shorts nudged him toward the indie space, where acting depth mattered more than box-office gloss.

Film Career: Indie Roots, Mainstream Moments

Barah Aana and the Indie Cred

Barah Aana (2009) positioned Mathur alongside stalwarts like Naseeruddin Shah and Vijay Raaz. The film explored the lives of three workers in Mumbai who take a desperate turn toward crime.

Mathur’s work here added to his indie cred at a time when multiplex cinema was opening new doors for character-driven stories.

Luck by Chance and Industry Meta-Drama

The same year, he appeared in Zoya Akhtar’s Luck by Chance, a sly, insider look at the Hindi film industry.

Even in a star-packed ensemble, his presence is felt, and the film remains a touchstone for many actors who experienced hustle culture before the social-media era.

Supporting Turns and Experiments

Over the next few years, Mathur balanced mainstream and indie work, including roles in My Name Is Khan and other features, but he continued to gravitate toward layered, human stories over formula. That instinct would pay off in the streaming era, where nuance finally had room to breathe.

Brij Mohan Amar Rahe (Long Live Brij Mohan)

In 2018, he led the Netflix dark comedy Brij Mohan Amar Rahe as a desperate hosiery shop owner who fakes his death to escape debt, only to be convicted for his own “murder.”

The film drew mixed to negative reviews, but it showcased Mathur’s willingness to take risks and carry a film on his shoulders.

Streaming Breakthrough: Made in Heaven

Karan Mehra, an Era-Defining Role

In 2019, Arjun Mathur headlined Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti’s Made in Heaven, playing Karan Mehra an elite Delhi wedding planner navigating sexuality, class, family, and friendship.

The series placed Mathur at the center of conversations on representation and modern Indian identity.

His portrayal was dignified, complex, and deeply empathetic, earning him a nomination for the 2020 International Emmy Award for Best Actor the first Indian male actor to achieve that honor.

Season 2 and After

Four years later, Made in Heaven returned for Season 2 in 2023, with Mathur once again drawing praise for a performance that avoided stereotypes.⁴

In subsequent interviews in 2025, he indicated there would not be a Season 3, citing the impracticality of multi-year gaps between seasons. Regardless, his work as Karan Mehra stands as a landmark in Indian streaming storytelling.

Other Notable Series: Indian Summers and The Gone Game

Mathur broadened his reach with Indian Summers (2016) on Channel 4, playing Naresh Banerjee in a period drama about the final years of the British Raj.

The show’s scale and international viewership further established him beyond Bollywood circles.

In 2020, he joined The Gone Game, a thriller conceived, filmed, and released during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Produced by Bodhi Tree Multimedia and streamed on Voot (later Voot Select), it was publicized as one of India’s first mainstream shows shot remotely.

Mathur’s participation signaled his readiness to experiment with new formats and constraints. A second season dropped in 2022.

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Craft, Preparation, and Screen Presence

Arjun Mathur’s acting approach reflects his training and early years on sets. He favors internalized performances over bravado.

Whether playing a struggling worker, a conflicted lover, or a closeted entrepreneur finding his voice, he relies on precise body language and conversational realism. This helps his characters feel lived-in rather than “performed.”

Interviews suggest he respects craft text work, listening, and the rigor of theatre and camera blocking and appreciates supportive directors who create safe spaces for difficult scenes.

His Made in Heaven arc demanded an emotional range from suppressed hurt to fearless self-acceptance. Industry profiles and interviews around his Emmy nomination consistently highlight this nuance.⁵

Personal Life

Mathur has spoken openly about losing his mother, Reynoo, in a road accident when he was a teenager.

He has described how grief changes with time and how speaking about it can be healing.

In October 2024, he married production designer Tiya Tejpal in an intimate ceremony, sharing that the two chose a private celebration after years together.

Filmography Highlights

• Migration (short, 2007) — AIDS-themed anthology piece by Mira Nair.

• Positive (short, 2007) — Part of AIDS Jaago, directed by Farhan Akhtar.

• Barah Aana (2009) — Indie dramedy with Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Raaz.

• Luck by Chance (2009) — Ensemble meta-drama on the film industry.

• My Name Is Khan (2010) — Supporting role.

• Indian Summers (2016) — Channel 4 series; Naresh Banerjee.

• Brij Mohan Amar Rahe/Long Live Brij Mohan (2018) — Netflix dark comedy; lead.

• Made in Heaven (2019, 2023) — Lead (Karan Mehra); International Emmy nomination.

• The Gone Game (2020–2022) — Lockdown-shot thriller on Voot.

Awards and Recognition

• International Emmy Awards (2020): Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor for Made in Heaven. This nomination placed him among a small group of global performers recognized that year and marked a milestone for Indian male actors at the International Emmys.

• Popular/Platform Nods: Made in Heaven Seasons 1 and 2 drew strong critical responses, and Mathur’s performance was repeatedly singled out in interviews, profiles, and reader polls.⁶

Legacy

Even as Made in Heaven appears unlikely to return for a third season, Mathur’s impact through Karan Mehra endures.

It arrived at a crucial time for LGBTQ+ representation in Indian mainstream storytelling and showed how a leading man can embody tenderness and defiance without compromise.

Interviews in 2025 indicate he is channeling his focus into new film collaborations, including indie thrillers and character dramas. Regardless of project scale, expect the same commitment to roles that challenge him and engage audiences.⁷

 

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FAQ’s

1) How old is Arjun Mathur?

He was born on October 18, 1981. As of October 2025, he is 44 years old.

2) Where is he from?

He was born in London, England, and grew up in New Delhi and Mumbai.

3) What is Arjun Mathur best known for?

His portrayal of Karan Mehra in Made in Heaven, which earned him an International Emmy nomination for Best Actor in 2020.

4) Did he study acting formally?

Yes. He trained with Barry John in Mumbai and at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York.

5) Did Arjun Mathur work behind the camera?

Yes. He began as an assistant director on films like Mangal Pandey: The Rising, Bunty Aur Babli, and Rang De Basanti.

6) Which international projects has he done?

He appeared in Channel 4’s Indian Summers as Naresh Banerjee.

7) Is he married?

Yes. He married production designer Tiya Tejpal on October 9, 2024, in an intimate ceremony.

8) What are some notable films and shows besides Made in Heaven?

Barah Aana, Luck by Chance, Brij Mohan Amar Rahe, and The Gone Game.

9) Will Made in Heaven get a Season 3?

In 2025 interviews, Mathur indicated there would not be a third season, citing long gaps between seasons as a key issue.

10) What is his acting style?

Naturalistic and detailed. He focuses on internal conflict, grounded dialogue, and character authenticity, which critics praised in Made in Heaven.

Final Word

Arjun Mathur represents a modern Indian screen journey: craft over spectacle, empathy over cliché, and a willingness to let characters breathe.

From assistant director to International Emmy nominee, from indie sets to global streaming, he has built a career on choosing stories with soul.

Whether he’s playing a hustler faking his death, a nationalist in a period drama, or a contemporary man wrestling with love and identity, Mathur brings quiet intensity and credible humanity qualities that keep audiences invested long after the credits roll.