Neeraj Kabi is an Indian film entertainer and theatre actor, theatre director, and acting coach known for his works in International films and Hindi cinema, theatre, and television.[1][2]

Neeraj Kabi
Kabi in 2018
Born (1968-03-12) 12 March 1968 (age 56)
Occupation(s)Film Theatre actor
Theatre director
Years active1996–present
AwardsBest Actor at the 4th Sakhalin International Film Festival, Russia

Best Actor for Cinematic Excellence at the 4th Jagran Film Festival

Newsmakers Achievers’ Award for Best Actor for his contribution to the Indian theatre and cinema

Early life

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Neeraj Kabi was born on 12 March 1968 in Jamshedpur, Bihar, now in Jharkhand. He did his schooling from Loyola School, Jamshedpur. Later, he did a diploma in computer science from Symbiosis College, Pune.

Personal life

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His father's name is Tushar Kabi, and his mother's name is Zarin Kabi. He has one brother, Partha Kabi and sister Radhika Virdi. He is married to the fashion designer, Deepali Kosta, and the couple is blessed with a daughter, Shatakshi Kabi. He is odia from his father’s side.

Career

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Neeraj Kabi is a self-taught actor, director, trainer who is working towards building a Theatre and Film Residency involved in performance, directing, training and research.[3] The techniques he uses are his own discoveries and experiments that he has been working on for many years to evolve his skill of acting in films and theatre.[4]

Since the last two decades, he has been working as a professional actor with renowned national and international theatre and film directors. As a theatre director, he's been exploring the concept of collaborating Indian traditional artistes with urban actors to interpret Indian and Global theatre texts. Neeraj has travelled across the country since 1996 to conduct theatre and acting workshops for actors, children and other industries. As theatre and films deal with advanced levels of behavioural sciences which can be life changing, these workshops are based on the foundations of deep explorations of theatre philosophies, theatre sciences and theatre arts.

Theatre

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Neeraj began work as a professional theatre actor in 1998 in Mumbai. He has performed in major or lead roles in plays by Shakespeare (as Banquo), Tom Stoppard (as Hamlet), Molière (as Sganarelle), Marivaux (as Harlequin), Chekov (as Gurov & Chekov), Oscar Wilde (as King Herod), Ibsen (as Tesman), Margurite Duras (as Peter Morgan), Florian Zeller [ Pierre] amongst others and has worked with International and Indian directors such as Jean Jacques Bellot and Eric Vigner from France, Gil Alon from Israel, Rene Migliaccio from USA and with Atul Kumar, Rehaan Engineer and Naseeruddin Shah from India.

His theatre production of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' which he directed and produced in 2006 with support from the British Council Division of Mumbai, was performed at The Nehru National Theatre Festival in Mumbai, the National School of Drama's Bharat Rang Mahotsav and opened at the Kala Ghoda Festival in Mumbai, the same year. The production involved actors from Mumbai and original artistes from Indian traditions of Dhrupad singing and Yakshagana dance-drama.

Cinema

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Neeraj's work in cinema began in 1997 with the film "The Last Vision",[5] a feature film directed by Mr. A.K. Bir and produced by the NFDC which won a national award in 1998 and made it to the competition section of Cairo and Singapore International Film Festivals.[5] Thereafter, he performed in the lead role as an Indian monk in Anand Gandhi's hugely acclaimed international award-winning feature film, "Ship of Theseus". (BEST ACTOR - Jury Special Mention at the 4th Jagran Film Festival, 2013)[6] (BEST ACTOR at the 4th Sakhalin International Film Festival, Russia).

He played various distinctive roles, from performing as Mahatma Gandhi in Shyam Benegal's television series, 'Samvidhaan', to a Villain in Dibakar Banerjee's "Detective Byomkesh Bakshy" (Yash Raj Films) and the role of a convicted father in "Talvar", based on a true life story directed by Meghna Gulzar and produced by Vishal Bharadwaj. (Nominations for ACTING at Sony Guild Awards, Zee Cine Awards, Stardust Awards in 2016) (Newsmakers Achievers' Award for BEST ACTOR).

He's also been a part of multiple web-series projects for Netflix, Amazon and others. He performed as DCP Parulkar in a Netflix Original, 'Sacred Games'. (BEST ACTOR in a Supporting Role at the Indian Television Academy Awards in 2019) (Nomination at the Asian Academy Creative Awards in Singapore). He also won BEST ACTOR in a Supporting Role at the Indywood Academy Awards in Hyderabad for his performance in the feature film, 'Hichki' (Yash Raj Film Productions). His latest Lead Role performance as a Romantic Actor in an Indo-German Feature film called "Once Again" was honoured by the Times Now 2019 edition of Power Brands: Bollywood Film Journalist's Award with the title of "Editor's Choice BEST ACTOR".

Neeraj's latest feature film "Raahgir" directed by the legendary Goutam Ghosh premiered at the Busan International Film festival in October 2019.

He has also been a parr of acclaimed web-series such as Paatal Lok and Avrodh and Sacred Games.

In an interview, he shared the story of his struggling days in the film industry, he said, “Just nothing worked. Nobody called me. It went on and on, endlessly, relentlessly... I’ve [taken up jobs such as] production work, AD, spot boy, all kinds of things. I was the junior copywriter in certain ad agencies. I used to sell books from door to door for many, many years. I gave tuitions, home to home, all over the city. All kinds of tuitions: elocution, speech, mathematics, English. And that's where I learned a very important thing in my life: humility. My ego got crushed because I was pulped to the ground by everything that was happening to me. You never [imagine] that doors would be slammed on your face, you will be abused, you will be pushed, you will be kicked, so many things will happen to you. And, not for one year, two years, but for ten, 15, 18 long years. That's where the survival issue came in, and I started to teach [acting]. Because when you get so abused all the time, you lose faith in yourself. And, you think, ‘If you don't get out now, you'll fall sick.’ Because you can't take it every single day of your life.”

Neeraj Kabi essays pivotal role in “Sherni”, directed by the award-winning filmmaker Amit Masurkar.[7]

Awards

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  • Best Actor at the 4th Sakhalin International Film Festival, Russia, in the International competition section in 2014 for his performance in Ship of Theseus[8]
  • Best Actor [Jury Special Mention] for his performance in the internationally acclaimed and celebrated film Ship of Theseus in recognition of Cinematic Excellence at the 4th Jagran Film Festival, 2013[9]
  • In May 2015, the NBC honoured Neeraj Kabi with the Newsmakers Achievers' Award for Best Actor for his silent and steady contribution to Indian theatre and cinema.
  • Best Actor in a supporting role at the ITA awards for Sacred Games in 2019
  • Best Actor in a supporting role at the Indywood Academy awards 2019 for Hichki
  • Best Actor (Editor's Choice) at the Times Now 2019 Edition of Power Brands: Bollywood Film Journalist's awards for Once Again

Nominations

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  • Nominated for Best Actor in a negative role for Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! at the IBNLive Movie Awards 2016
  • Nominated for Best Actor in a negative role for Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! at the Zee Cine Awards 2016
  • Nominated for Best Actor in a negative role (Readers Choice) for Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! at the Stardust Awards 2016
  • Nominated for most promising newcomer (Male) for Ship of Theseus at the 20th Annual Screen Awards 2015
  • Nominated for Best Actor in a supporting role for Talvar at the 11th Sony Guild Awards 2015
  • Nominated for Best Actor in a supporting role for Sacred Games at the Asian Academy Creative Awards 2019 in Singapore

Filmography

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Films

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Year Film Role Language Notes
1997 The Last Vision (Shesha Drushti) Sangram (lead) Oriya National Award for Best film
2012 Ship of Theseus Maitreya English, Hindi Best Actor at the 4th Sakhalin International Film Festival, Russia[10]

Best Actor [Jury Special Mention] at the 4th Jagran Film Festival, 2013

Nominated for most promising newcomer (Male) at the 20th Annual Screen Awards 2015

2013 Monsoon Shootout Inspector Khan Hindi Nominated for Golden Camera award at Cannes Film Festival

Nominated for Audience Choice Award at Chicago International Film Festival

2014 Gandhi of the Month Mr. Giri English, Hindi
2015 Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! Dr. Guha/Yang Guang Hindi Nominated for Best Actor in a negative role at the IBNLive Movie Awards 2016

Nominated for Best Actor in a negative role at the Zee Cine Awards 2016

Nominated for Best Actor in a negative role (Readers Choice) at the Stardust Awards 2016

2015 Talvar Dr. Tandon Hindi Nominated for Best Actor in a supporting role at the 11th Sony Guild Awards 2015
2015 35 mm (short film) Guru Hindi
2017 Viceroy's House Mahatma Gandhi English
2017 Gali Guliyan Liakat Hindi Finalists at Sundance screenwriting lab, 2015

Won the Grand Jury Prize at MAMI Film Festival, 2017

2017 Tabeer (post-production) Lieutenant General Hindi
2017 The Hungry Arun Kumar English, Hindi
2018 Hichki Prof Wadia Hindi, English Best Actor in a supporting role at the Indywood Academy Awards 2019
2018 Once Again Amar Hindi Best Actor (Editor's Choice) at the Times Now 2019 Edition of Power Brands: Bollywood Film Journalist's awards
2019 Raahgir - The Wayfarers Chopat Lal Hindi
2019 Laal Kaptaan Sadullah Khan Hindi
2019 Line of Descent Siddharth Sinha Hindi Movie released on ZEE5
2020 Freedom Hindi Netflix Original
2021 Sherni[11] Nangia Hindi Amazon Prime Video Release
2022 Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga Hindi
2022 Sita Ramam Pakistani Lawyer Telugu
2023 Neeyat Sanjay Suri Hindi
2023 Sam Bahadur Jawahar Lal Nehru Hindi
2024 Ek Ruka Hua Faisla (remake) Hindi It will be directed by Darshan Ashwin Trivedi. [12] [13]

Television and web series

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Year Show Role Language Network Awards & Nominations
2014 Samvidhaan Mahatma Gandhi Hindi Rajya Sabha TV
2018-19 Sacred Games DCP Parulkar Hindi Netflix Best Actor in a supporting role at the ITA awards 2019

Nominated for Best Actor in a supporting role at the Asian Academy Creative Awards 2019 in Singapore

2019 The Final Call V. Krishnamurthy English, Hindi ZEE5
2019 Taj Mahal 1989 Akhtar Baig Hindi Netflix
2019 The Bear Khader Khan English/Hindi Apple TV
2020 Paatal Lok Sanjeev Mehra English, Hindi Amazon Prime Video
2020 Avrodh Shailesh Malviya English, Hindi Sony Liv
2023 Star Wars: Visions: The Bandits of Golak Inquisitor (voice) English Disney+

Theatre

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Year Play Writer Role Language Director/Producer
1998 Macbeth William Shakespeare Banquo, English Doctor English Salim Ghouse - Phoenix Players
2000 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Tom Stoppard Hamlet English The Company Theatre
2000 Love is the best remedy Molière Sganarelle English Jean Jacques Bellot (from France)
2001 The game of love and chance Marivaux Harlequin English Rene Migliaccio (from USA)
2003 Lady with Lapdog (play adaptation) Anton Chekov Gurov and Chekov English Atul Kumar (The Company Theatre)
2004 Salome Oscar Wilde King Herod English Gil Alon (from Israel)
2004 Aham Experimental work by 13 young workshop actors - English, Hindi Neeraj Kabi
2005 Hamlet William Shakespeare and Harivansh Rai Bachchan - English, Hindi Neeraj Kabi
2010 Hedda Gabler Henrik Ibsen Tesman English Rehaan Engineer / The Company Theatre
2013 Gates to India song Marguerite Duras Peter Morgan English Eric Vigner (from France)
2017 The Father Florian Zeller Pierre English Naseeruddin Shah / Motley

References

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  1. ^ "Neeraj Kabi". IMDb. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  2. ^ "I am hungry for good work: 'Talvar' actor Neeraj Kabi". The Indian Express. 6 September 2015. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  3. ^ Ghosal, Sharmistha (12 July 2019). "Actor Neeraj Kabi on living his dream in Goutam Ghose's Hindi film, Raahgir". Indulge Express. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020.
  4. ^ "4 underrated theatre actors you'd love to watch on stage!". Blogbuster Tata Sky.
  5. ^ a b Khan, Murtaza Ali (4 September 2018). "Neeraj Kabi and his art of transformation". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020.
  6. ^ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (3 August 2013). "The monk and the producer". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Vidya Balan On Her 'Exciting' & 'Fulfilling' Journey In Bollywood: "I Was At The Right Place At The Right Time"". Koimoi. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  8. ^ Korablinov, Alexander (2 September 2014). "Ship of Theseus wins Grand Prix at Sakhalin film festival". Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Curtains fall on 4th Jagran Film Festival". mid-day. 30 September 2013. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  10. ^ "'I don't want to be easily recognised when I come on screen'". The Indian Express. 2 April 2018. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Vidya Balan starrer Sherni to premiere on Amazon Prime Video in June 2021". Bollywood Hungama. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Basu Chatterjee's 'Ek Ruka Hua Faisla' remake to go on floors in December". India Today. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  13. ^ PTI (6 November 2023). "Remake of Basu Chatterjee's cult classic 'Ek Ruka Hua Faisla' in the works". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
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