Vicky Kaushal

Vicky Kaushal is an Indian actor who has become one of Hindi cinema's most reliable leading men. Born in Mumbai in 1988, he swapped a corporate career for the chaos of film sets, working as an assistant director on Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) before stepping in front of the camera. His first lead role in Masaan (2015) won him the IIFA and Screen Awards for Best Male Debut, and he hasn't looked back since.

Over the past decade, Kaushal has built a filmography that spans indie gems like Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016) to blockbusters such as Sanju (2018) and Dunki (2023). His portrayal of an army officer in Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor, and his 2025 historical action film Chhaava became his highest-grossing release. He's also a brand endorser and a familiar face on award show stages.

As of 2026, Kaushal remains one of the most sought-after actors in the industry, known for his intense preparation and ability to disappear into roles. He is married to actress Katrina Kaif, and they have a son born in 2024. [edit]

Vicky Kaushal was born on May 16, 1988, in Mumbai, into a Punjabi Hindu Brahmin family with ancestral roots in Hoshiarpur, Punjab. He grew up in a suburban chawl in Mumbai, the son of Sham Kaushal, a well-known action director, and Veena Kaushal, a homemaker. His father wanted him to have a stable career outside show business, so Vicky pursued engineering. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology in 2009.

The turning point came during an industrial visit to an IT company. Watching employees sit at their desks, he realized he couldn't see himself doing that for the rest of his life. After earning his degree, he was offered a corporate job, but he tore up the offer letter on the spot and decided to try acting.

He joined Kishore Namit Kapoor's acting academy and spent two years doing theatre and attending auditions. His first stage appearance was in the play Laal Pencil in 2011. He then worked as an assistant director on Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). During this period, he reportedly walked the streets of Bandra, Oshiwara, and Versova looking for auditions, carrying a bag full of clothes from casuals to formals to kurta-pajamas. [edit]

Vicky Kaushal's breakthrough came in 2015 with the independent drama Masaan, which won him the IIFA and Screen Awards for Best Male Debut. That same year, he worked with a speech therapist for Zubaan to accurately portray stammering, a role that temporarily affected his own speech.

In 2016, he starred in Raman Raghav 2.0 as a drug-addict cop opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui. His dedication included isolating himself and undergoing intense physical strain, including heavy smoking and dehydration. The film screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

2018 was a breakout year. He delivered strong performances in Raazi and Sanju, winning his first Filmfare Award for the latter. He also appeared in the Netflix films Love per Square Foot and Lust Stories.

His role as an army officer in Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) was a career-defining moment. He underwent five months of military training to gain muscle weight, and the film grossed over Rs. 340 crores. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor, sharing it with Ayushmann Khurrana for Andhadhun. He also appeared in Bhoot: Part One – The Haunted Ship (2020).

In 2021, he played the freedom fighter Udham Singh in Shoojit Sircar's Sardar Udham, earning the Filmfare Critics Award and IIFA Award for Best Actor. He continued with Govinda Naam Mera (2022) and a string of 2023 releases, including Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Sam Bahadur (as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw), and Dunki opposite Shah Rukh Khan, which brought another Filmfare for Best Supporting Actor. In 2025, Chhaava became his biggest hit. [edit]

Vicky Kaushal is seen as one of the hardest-working actors in Bollywood, someone who earned his place through sheer dedication rather than connections. His public persona is grounded and family-oriented, and he often shares behind-the-scenes moments from his films on social media.

Fans appreciate his chameleon-like ability to shift from intense dramas to lighthearted comedies. He doesn't have an official fandom name, but his followers are highly active on Instagram and Twitter, where his posts regularly rack up millions of likes.

Media coverage often highlights his preparation for roles, from gaining muscle for Uri to learning new skills for Sam Bahadur. He comes across as a regular guy who happens to be a movie star. [edit]

Vicky Kaushal commands a dedicated following that operates without a singular, formalized moniker. Unlike peers with branded armies, his supporters coalesce organically around specific projects, most notably the "Team Chhaava" movement that rallied behind his 2025 biopic and subsequent award recognition. This audience values his grounded authenticity and physical dedication over performative stardom, engaging primarily through social media rather than organized fan clubs or ritualistic campaigns. His reputation as a chameleon actor who shifts seamlessly between intense dramas and lighthearted comedies has cultivated a loyal base that tracks his career evolution closely. Within the broader landscape of Hindi cinema, this organic support translates into significant cultural resonance, particularly for his portrayals of national heroes. In August 2026, iFANN Global Fame Rankings placed him as the 79th most famous person in Bollywood, a position he has held steady from the previous cycle. This standing reflects a career built on consistent output and critical acclaim rather than fleeting viral moments. The rankings track global attention across media coverage, search, and consumption signals worldwide, positioning Kaushal among the industry's most reliable leading men. While his wife Katrina Kaif maintains a massive separate profile, Vicky Kaushal has established a distinct legacy defined by method acting and patriotic iconography. His ability to embody historical figures like Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Mangal Singh has cemented his status as a modern war hero archetype in the public imagination.[edit]

Vicky Kaushal once described himself as a "silently mischievous" child who excelled academically while maintaining a passion for sports and cinema. Before launching his acting career, he served as an assistant director on Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). For his role in Uri: The Surgical Strike, he underwent military preparation training in Siberia. He is known for carrying a bag containing multiple outfit changes during auditions to accommodate any sudden casting requirements. He stands approximately 6 feet tall. A defining legend of his career involves his extreme physical transformation for the film Chhaava, where he gained over 25 kilograms of weight to portray the character accurately. Industry folklore also recounts how coaches had to instruct him to curb his natural expressiveness to achieve the internalized performance required for his career-best roles. These feats of endurance have become central to his mythology, distinguishing him as an actor willing to sacrifice his physique for authenticity.[edit]

Vicky Kaushal's father, Sham Kaushal, is a respected action director in Indian cinema, known for his work on major films like Lagaan and Dangal. His mother, Veena Kaushal, is a homemaker. His younger brother, Sunny Kaushal, is also an actor who made his Bollywood debut in 2016.

Vicky married actress Katrina Kaif on December 9, 2021, in a private ceremony. The couple welcomed a son in 2024. They are known for keeping their family life relatively private, but Vicky has spoken warmly about becoming a father. [edit]

Vicky Kaushal is closely associated with director Anurag Kashyap, who gave him his first break as an assistant director and later cast him in Raman Raghav 2.0 and Manmarziyaan. He has shared the screen with Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Raman Raghav 2.0 and with Shah Rukh Khan in Dunki. His wife, Katrina Kaif, is one of Bollywood's biggest stars, and his brother Sunny Kaushal is also an actor. [edit]

Vicky Kaushal was in a long-term relationship with casting director and producer Harleen Sethi from around 2015 to 2018. The couple reportedly dated for several years before parting ways amicably. Neither party made extensive public statements about the breakup, but it was confirmed through media reports.

In 2021, he married actress Katrina Kaif on December 9 in a lavish ceremony. Kaushal had once admitted to having a crush on Kaif before they started dating. The couple welcomed a son in 2024. As of 2026, they remain married and are considered one of Bollywood's most admired power couples. [edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Vicky Kaushal's net worth in 2026 is estimated at $15 Million. His primary income stream consists of film salaries, which have risen steadily since the commercial success of Uri. For a leading role in a major Hindi production, he reportedly commands fees between Rs. 10-15 crore per project. Brand endorsements constitute a significant portion of his earnings, with deals covering mobile phones, clothing lines, and food products adding several crore to his annual revenue. He has also generated additional income by co-hosting award ceremonies and performing at various events. While specific figures regarding his earnings from Chhaava remain undisclosed, his status as one of the industry's most bankable actors remains unchallenged. His wife Katrina Kaif holds a separate net worth estimate of around $30 million, though their combined household wealth is substantial.[edit]

Vicky Kaushal has won the National Film Award for Best Actor for Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) and three Filmfare Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Sanju and Dunki, and the Critics Award for Best Actor for Sardar Udham. He also received IIFA Awards for Best Male Debut (Masaan) and Best Actor (Sardar Udham), plus a Screen Award for Best Male Debut. [edit]