Tahir Raj Bhasin Bio, Career, Movies, Net Worth and More

Tahir Raj Bhasin’s Biography

Early Life, Education and First Brush with Acting

Tahir was born in New Delhi on 21 April 1987 to a family steeped in Indian Air Force tradition his father and grandfather were fighter pilots, and the Armed Forces ethos shaped his formative years.

The frequent postings meant he experienced multiple cities and cultures, picking up a comfort with change that later helped him adapt to varied roles.

His mother worked with the Confederation of Indian Industry and Aptech, and his younger brother would go on to become a commercial airline pilot.

His interest in performance started early. By 13, he’d begun dabbling in acting; at 15, he trained at the Barry John Acting School one of India’s most influential acting institutions.¹

College deepened the passion: he studied political science at Hindu College (University of Delhi), performed theatre, and even worked with Delhi theatre veteran Aamir Raza Hussain.

A turning point came at IIT Bombay’s Mood Indigo festival, where the spark to pursue acting professionally fully ignited.

Academically, Tahir took the less-trodden path for mainstream actors: he earned a master’s degree in media from the University of Melbourne, focusing on screen media and the history and philosophy of film an education that sharpened his analytical lens.

Back in India, he also trained at the Institute of Advanced Acting & Behavioural Studies and did an intensive acting and voice program with Naseeruddin Shah, layering craft onto instinct.

Quick Stats

Moving to Mumbai: Grit, Ads and Small Parts

Tahir moved to Mumbai at 23, facing the usual cocktail of auditions, ads, and fleeting screen moments.

In 2012, he began appearing in short films with FTII collaborators and booked commercials for major brands those early gigs honed camera awareness and stamina.

He made a brief cameo in Kismat Love Paisa Dilli (2012), a tiny appearance in Kai Po Che! (2013), and another small role in One by Two (2014). These were unglamorous steps, but they put him on sets, which is where actors really learn.

Looking back, he has often spoken about the rejection-filled grind of the early Mumbai years and about being stubbornly focused on films. That persistence paid off when director Pradeep Sarkar cast him opposite Rani Mukerji in Mardaani.²

Breakthrough: Mardaani (2014)

As Karan “Walt” Rastogi the baby-faced human-trafficking kingpin Tahir delivered a performance that felt unsettlingly modern.

Critics called him a “revelation,” noting the way he balanced charm and menace without swelling into melodrama.

The industry took note, too: he won the Screen Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role and earned a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actor. For a first major role, it was a landmark.

Mardaani could have typecast him forever as a villain; instead, it became a springboard. He rode the wave but kept steering toward variety.

Consolidation: Force 2 and Festival Circuit with Manto

In Force 2, Tahir returned to the antagonist space, going toe-to-toe with John Abraham and Sonakshi Sinha.

The film entrenched the idea that he could be a high-stakes foil in mainstream action without overplaying the part a tricky line to walk.

Two years later, he appeared in Nandita Das’s Manto as 1940s star Shyam (Shyam Chadda). Walking the Cannes red carpet with that film was symbolic here was an actor comfortable oscillating between multiplex thrillers and quietly significant festival cinema.

It widened his spectrum and connected him to a different cinephile audience.

A Softer Shade: Chhichhore (2019)

Nitesh Tiwari’s Chhichhore brought out Tahir’s warmth and camaraderie in the role Derek one of a tight-knit group of college friends whose bond persists across time and tragedy.

The film was a massive commercial success, crossing ₹200 crore at the Indian box office and later winning the National Award for Best Film (Hindi).

Tahir’s presence in such a beloved ensemble enhanced his mainstream footprint and showed audiences another side of him.

A Real-Life Icon: 83 (2021)

Playing Sunil Gavaskar one of the most technically gifted batsmen ever demands delicacy: the stance, the still head, the back-foot strokes, and the quiet competitiveness.

In Kabir Khan’s 83, Tahir studied the mannerisms and aura, folding them into an ensemble drama about India’s first World Cup cricket triumph. The portrayal earned him credible notice, especially among fans who are exacting about cricketing details.³

Streaming Era Takeover: The 2022 Hat-Trick

Ranjish Hi Sahi (2022)

Set in the 1970s–90s film world and inspired in part by episodes from Mahesh Bhatt’s life, Ranjish Hi Sahi casts Tahir as Shankar Vats, a struggling director whose personal and professional lives collide.

It’s a performance pitched on empathy neither glorified nor vilified and it confirmed his ability to anchor a period relationship drama. ⁴

Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein (2022–present)

As Vikrant, an everyman pulled into a nightmare of obsession and crime, Tahir balanced fear, desperation, and moral slippage. The show shot to No. 1 on Netflix India, and his performance drew consistent praise.

Season 2 (November 2024) doubled down on the moral maze, with reviews again pointing to his layered turn. A Season 3 was subsequently confirmed, underscoring the franchise’s staying power and Tahir’s centrality to it.

Looop Lapeta (2022)

This stylish adaptation of Run Lola Run paired Tahir’s affable, hapless Satya with Taapsee Pannu’s kinetic Savi.

The film topped Netflix India’s charts on release, and reviewers highlighted how he underplayed the goofball charm without tipping into caricature evidence of a comic rhythm under the dramatic chops.

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Swagger & Grit: Sultan of Delhi (2023)

Based on Arnab Ray’s novel, Sultan of Delhi casts Tahir as Arjun Bhatia, a man carving power in a stylized, retro-noir North Indian landscape.

The show let him lean into old-school heroism and grey ambition costume drama, guns, betrayals, and charisma.

For audiences who met him first as a nuanced villain, this was a full-scale pivot into genre swagger.

Recent Work (2024–2025): New Seasons, New Universes

In late 2024, Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein returned with Season 2, keeping Tahir’s Vikrant at the center of the story’s spirals.

The makers later announced Season 3, signaling confidence in the world and the actor leading it. In 2025, Special Ops returned for Season 2, with Tahir joining the Kay Kay Menon-led spy universe another sign of how seamlessly he slips into established franchises.⁵

He remains actively attached to feature projects as well.

Selected Filmography & Highlights

• Kismat Love Paisa Dilli (2012) – Cameo; first big-screen appearance.

• Kai Po Che! (2013) – Small part that kept him on mainstream sets.

• One by Two (2014) – Pre-breakthrough feature credit.

• Mardaani (2014) – Breakthrough antagonist; Screen Award win; Filmfare nomination.

• Force 2 (2016) – High-octane antagonist opposite John Abraham/Sonakshi Sinha.

• Manto (2018) – Played Shyam; walked Cannes red carpet with the team.

• Chhichhore (2019) – Beloved ensemble; box-office blockbuster; National Award for Best Film (Hindi).

• 83 (2021) – Sunil Gavaskar in India’s 1983 World Cup saga.

• Looop Lapeta (2022) – Netflix chart-topper; showcased comic timing with restraint.

Series

• Ranjish Hi Sahi (2022) – A filmmaker’s life and conflicts; inspired in part by Mahesh Bhatt’s experiences.

• Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein (2022– ) – Breakout OTT lead; renewed through Season 3.

• Sultan of Delhi (2023) – Retro crime saga; swaggering lead.

• Special Ops S2 (2025) – Joins a marquee spy franchise.

Awards, Recognitions, and Reception

• Screen Awards: Best Actor in a Negative Role for Mardaani (2014).

• Filmfare Awards: Best Supporting Actor nomination for Mardaani.

• Forbes India 30 Under 30 (2017): Recognized for his early impact.

• GQ India (2022): Named among “30 most influential young Indians.”

Critical notes:

• Mardaani: “A revelation,” noted several critics, for the ice-cool modern villainy.

• Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein S2: Reviews repeatedly highlight his ability to make a morally conflicted protagonist empathetic.

• Interviews through 2024–2025 show an artist intent on avoiding typecasting, choosing “disruptive” roles over safe bets.

Off-Screen: Causes and Conduct

Tahir has lent support to education-centric initiatives, including fashion-fundraisers for the Smile Foundation an early signal that he’s mindful of the platform fame brings.

He keeps his personal life low-key and prefers to talk about the work more than anything else another trait rooted in his disciplined upbringing.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is Tahir Raj Bhasin’s age and birthday?

He was born on 21 April 1987; he is 38 years old as of October 2025.

2) Where did he study?

He studied Political Science at Hindu College (University of Delhi) and later earned a master’s degree in media from the University of Melbourne, focusing on screen media and film history/philosophy.

3) How did he get into acting?

He began acting as a teenager, trained at the Barry John Acting School, did theatre in Delhi, and later joined advanced programs including a summer intensive with Naseeruddin Shah before moving to Mumbai at 23.

4) What was his breakthrough role?

Mardaani (2014), where he played Karan “Walt” Rastogi. The performance won him a Screen Award and a Filmfare nomination.

5) Which cricketer did he portray in 83?

Sunil Gavaskar.

6) Is Ranjish Hi Sahi a Mahesh Bhatt biopic?

It’s inspired in part by events from Mahesh Bhatt’s life but is not positioned as a strict biopic; Tahir has addressed this in interviews.

7) Is Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein getting more seasons?

Yes. After Season 2 (November 2024), the makers confirmed Season 3.

8) Which OTT series has he joined recently?

He joined the second season of Special Ops (released in 2025), expanding his footprint in marquee streaming franchises.

9) What kind of roles does he like to do?

He’s repeatedly said he wants to avoid typecasting and “break frames,” choosing disruptive roles that challenge him.

10) What are some must-watch Tahir Raj Bhasin performances?

Mardaani, Chhichhore, 83, Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein, Looop Lapeta, and Sultan of Delhi provide a good spread of his range.

Closing Note

Tahir Raj Bhasin’s career so far reads like a series of precise left-turns. He broke out as a villain, then refused to repeat himself.

He navigated from multiplex action and biographical drama to retro crime sagas and binge-worthy OTT thrillers.

He’s as comfortable inside an ensemble as he is shouldering a series.

And he’s deliberately built a filmography that keeps his choices unpredictable. If the last few years are any indication, the next few will be even more interesting because he’s not chasing a “type.” He’s chasing the work.