Arif Zakaria
Biography
Arif Zakaria, born 11 November 1966 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India, is an Indian actor who began his performance career in college theatre before moving to film. He made his cinematic debut with the 1997 film Darmiyaan and subsequently appeared in titles such as 1947 Earth (1998) and Dance Like a Man (2004). His later work includes biographical projects like Mardana and the controversial Nanak Shah Fakir. Zakaria graduated from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics. He is the nephew of veteran Indian National Congress politician Rafiq Zakaria, brother of INC politician Asif Zakaria, and cousin of American journalist Fareed Zakaria. He married fashion writer Namrata Sharma in 2002; the couple divorced in 2010.
Career overview
Arif Zakaria, born on 11 November 1966 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India, is an Indian actor whose career began in theatre while he was a student at Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics. After moving from stage work to the screen, he made his film debut with Darmiyaan in 1997. The following year he appeared in 1947 Earth, and in 2004 he was cast in Dance Like a Man. Zakaria’s filmography includes a range of projects, notably biographical works such as Mardana and the controversial Nanak Shah Fakir. Television work also forms part of his portfolio, with credits that include the series Special Ops 2. More recent screen appearances feature the film Kaun Pravin Tambe?, adding to a body of work that totals 47 known acting credits according to the Movie Database. Throughout his career Zakaria has been recognized primarily for his acting contributions across both film and television, building a diverse résumé that spans over two decades of Indian cinema and series production.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
47 titles- Kaptaan (2026) as Shaheen
- Heer Sara (2026) as Dharamvir
- Freedom at Midnight (2024) as Muhammad Ali Jinnah
- Mission Raniganj (2023) as DG Om Chakravarti
- Mastaney (2023) as Wazir
- Kaun Pravin Tambe? (2022) as Jamil Jalali
- Qubool Hai 2.0 (2021) as General Bakhtiyar Farouqi
- 420 IPC (2021) as Sinha
- Ahaan (2021) as Ozzy
- Special Ops (2020) as Dr. Piyush Bhargav
- Avrodh: The Siege Within (2020) as Ali Raza Khan
- Gul Makai (2020) as Sufi Mohammed
- War (2019) as Utpal Bisbas
- Leila (2019) as Dr. Iyer
- Cutting Pyaar (2019)
- The Warrior Queen of Jhansi (2019) as Gaus Khan
- The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir (2018) as Deva (voice)
- Raazi (2018) as Abdul
- Spotlight (2017) as Devv Benerjee
- Poorna (2017) as Col. Khan
- Rahenge Sadaa Gardish Mein Taare (2017) as Dev Dutt
- Anna (2016) as Master
- Nanak Shah Fakir (2014) as Bhai Mardana
- Darr @ the Mall (2014) as Manchanda
- Krrish 3 (2013) as Dr. Varun Shetty
- Lootera (2013) as Bajpai
- Shootout at Wadala (2013) as Sadiq
- Jism 2 (2012) as Guru Saldanah
- Agent Vinod (2012) as Suicide bomber
- Jannat 2 (2012) as Police Chief
- Haunted (2011) as Professor Iyer
- My Name Is Khan (2010) as Faisal Rahman
- Rokkk (2010) as Healer
- Kahaani Gudiya Ki (2008) as Aslam
- Banaras (2006) as Inspector Satpal Shukla
- Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2005) as Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon
- Home Delivery (2005) as P3P
- Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2005) as Daryll
- Deewaar: Let's Bring Our Heroes Home (2004) as Rajan
- Asambhav (2004) as Dabral
- Dance Like a Man (2004) as Jairaj Parekh
- Footpath (2003) as Shyam
- Shirdi Sai Baba (2001) as Young Sai Baba
- Refugee (2000)
- Earth (1998) as Rustom Sethna
- Darmiyaan: In Between (1997) as Immi / Mazhudin Khan / Sitara
- Kaali – Ek Agnipariksha as Virendra, Rachana's father
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Arif Zakaria best known for?
Arif Zakaria is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Heer Sara (2026), War (2019), The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir (2018), Haunted-3D (2011).
When and where was Arif Zakaria born?
Arif Zakaria was born on November 11, 1966 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India.
How many credits does Arif Zakaria have?
Arif Zakaria has accumulated over 47 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1997 to 2026.
What is Arif Zakaria's background in cinema and television?
Arif Zakaria, born 11 November 1966 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India, is an Indian actor who began his performance career in college theatre before moving to film. He made his cinematic debut with the 1997 film Darmiyaan and subsequently appeared in titles such as 1947 Earth (1998) and Dance Like a Man (2004). His later w...