# Praneet Bhat
**Praneet Bhat** (also spelled Praneet Bhatt) is an Indian television actor best known for playing Shakuni, the scheming maternal uncle of [Duryodhana](https://www.edgepedia.org/duryodhana), in the Star Plus mythological series *[Mahabharat](https://www.edgepedia.org/mahabharat-2013-tv-series)* (2013–2014). Born in 1980 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, he worked as a software engineer at [Wipro](https://www.edgepedia.org/wipro) before moving into modeling and then television acting in Mumbai.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1980, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/) |
| Defining role | Shakuni in *Mahabharat* (Star Plus, 2013–2014), 258 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/) |
| Award | Best Actor in a Negative Role, Indian Telly Awards 2014[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/) |
| Before acting | Mechanical engineering degree from K.K. Wagh Engineering College; worked at Wipro; moved to Mumbai in 2002[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/) |
| Reality television | Contestant on *Bigg Boss* season 8 from September 2014; eliminated after 13 weeks[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/) • [2](https://www.indiaforums.com/article/i-want-people-to-see-my-real-side-praneet-bhatt_66785) |
| Spouse | Kanchan Sharma, married November 4, 2015[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/) |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/) |
## Early life and entry into television
Bhat graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from K.K. Wagh Engineering College and then worked at the software company Wipro. He shifted to Mumbai in 2002, worked as a model, and began his television career in 2004 with appearances in shows including *Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi*, *Hotel Kingston*, *Kituu Sabb Jaantii Hai*, *Ssshhhh... Phir Koi Hai*, and *Kaajjal*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/) He had also started in theater before moving into television.[3](https://www.indiaforums.com/article/mahabharat-has-really-given-me-a-creative-challenge-praneet-bhatt_52224)
His first notable role was the geeky character Aditya in the Star One drama *Geet* (2010–2011).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/)
## Shakuni in Mahabharat
In 2013 Bhat was cast as Shakuni in producer Siddharth Kumar Tewary's *Mahabharat* on Star Plus, a role he played across 258 episodes from 2013 to 2014.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/) • [3](https://www.indiaforums.com/article/mahabharat-has-really-given-me-a-creative-challenge-praneet-bhatt_52224) At the audition he was offered two positive roles but asked for the negative part instead, saying he wanted to play Shakuni.[3](https://www.indiaforums.com/article/mahabharat-has-really-given-me-a-creative-challenge-praneet-bhatt_52224)
**Preparation.** Bhat trained for the role for more than a year, taking workshops in which he learned martial arts, the art of war, and horse riding. He grew a natural beard rather than wearing an artificial one, saying it took a year to reach the length he wanted and that a natural beard kept him in sync with the character.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/praneet-bhat-gufi-paintal-mahabharat-br-chopra/articleshow/24547716.cms) Because the character lacks sight in one eye, he kept one eye closed on screen throughout, declining the option of an eye cloth or patch.[3](https://www.indiaforums.com/article/mahabharat-has-really-given-me-a-creative-challenge-praneet-bhatt_52224)
The role invited comparison with [Gufi Paintal](https://www.edgepedia.org/gufi-paintal), who had played Shakuni in B.R. Chopra's earlier *Mahabharat* television adaptation. Bhat said he was initially scared of the comparison and named Paintal as an actor he idolizes.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/praneet-bhat-gufi-paintal-mahabharat-br-chopra/articleshow/24547716.cms) In interviews he described Shakuni as neither wholly negative nor positive, a character whose unconditional love for his sister Gandhari drives the epic's story.[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/praneet-bhatt-who-will-now-be-seen-playing-one-of-the-most-challenging-character-from-mahabharat-says-shakunis-role-is-once-in-a-lifetime-/articleshow/22090292.cms)
The performance won him Best Actor in a Negative Role at the 2014 Indian Telly Awards.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/) He reprised Shakuni in the Tamil-language version *Mahabharatham* (2014–2015, 190 episodes).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/)
## Bigg Boss and later roles
In September 2014 Bhat entered the eighth season of the reality show *Bigg Boss* as a contestant. He survived 13 weeks in the house before being eliminated.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/) • [2](https://www.indiaforums.com/article/i-want-people-to-see-my-real-side-praneet-bhatt_66785) In a 2021 interview he said he would return to the show if given the chance.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/praneet-bhatt-if-i-get-a-chance-i-would-want-to-be-in-bigg-boss-again/articleshow/85399820.cms)
He continued to take negative and gray-shaded parts. In *Razia Sultan* (2015) he played Kasabi Kalandar Lahori, a dual personality described as an effeminate dancer who is also a psychopathic killer.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/) • [7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/praneet-bhat-turns-maniac-in-razia-sultan/articleshow/47443508.cms) He played King Darius III in the historical series *[Porus](https://www.edgepedia.org/porus-tv-series)* (2017, 9 episodes) and Pujan Singh in *[Rishton Ka Chakravyuh](https://www.edgepedia.org/rishton-ka-chakravyuh)* (2017, 15 episodes).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/) In a 2021 interview he listed Shakuni, King Darius, and the genie in *[Aladdin - Naam Toh Suna Hoga](https://www.edgepedia.org/aladdin-naam-toh-suna-hoga)* among the roles he valued, saying he finds gray and negative characters more challenging than conventional hero parts.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/praneet-bhatt-if-i-get-a-chance-i-would-want-to-be-in-bigg-boss-again/articleshow/85399820.cms)
His later mythological work includes Devrishi Narad in *Baal Shiv* (2021–2022, 4 episodes) and Sahastra Ravana in *Shrimad Ramayan* (2024–2025, 104 episodes). In mainstream fiction he played Sartaj Sehgal in *Chand Jalne Laga* (2023–2024, 82 episodes).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/)
## Personal life
Bhat married his longtime girlfriend Kanchan Sharma on November 4, 2015; friends from *Mahabharat* and *Bigg Boss* attended the wedding. He resides in Mumbai.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/)
## References
1. [Praneet Bhatt, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4581068/)
2. [I want people to see my real side - Praneet Bhatt, India Forums](https://www.indiaforums.com/article/i-want-people-to-see-my-real-side-praneet-bhatt_66785)
3. ["Mahabharat has really given me a creative challenge" - Praneet Bhatt, India Forums](https://www.indiaforums.com/article/mahabharat-has-really-given-me-a-creative-challenge-praneet-bhatt_52224)
4. [Like lead actors, character actors too are paid well: Praneet Bhat, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/praneet-bhat-gufi-paintal-mahabharat-br-chopra/articleshow/24547716.cms)
5. [Shakuni's role in Mahabharat once in a lifetime: Praneet Bhatt, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/praneet-bhatt-who-will-now-be-seen-playing-one-of-the-most-challenging-character-from-mahabharat-says-shakunis-role-is-once-in-a-lifetime-/articleshow/22090292.cms)
6. [Praneet Bhatt: If I get a chance I would want to be in Bigg Boss again, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/praneet-bhatt-if-i-get-a-chance-i-would-want-to-be-in-bigg-boss-again/articleshow/85399820.cms)
7. [Praneet Bhat turns maniac in Razia Sultan, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/praneet-bhat-turns-maniac-in-razia-sultan/articleshow/47443508.cms)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 2000s onward › Surnames symbols to B*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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