# Rahul Dev (राहुल देव)
**Rahul Dev** (राहुल देव; born 1968, birth name Rahul Dev Kaushal) is an Indian actor and former model who works in [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) and a wide range of regional Indian film industries, known especially for villainous and antagonist roles since the late 1990s[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/bio/) • [2](https://www.moviebuff.com/rahul-dev). He was born in Saket, New Delhi, stands 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall, and has appeared in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, and Odia productions[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/bio/) • [2](https://www.moviebuff.com/rahul-dev).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1968, Saket, New Delhi, India; birth name Rahul Dev Kaushal[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/bio/) |
| Breakthrough roles | Antagonist parts in Champion (2000), Asoka (2001, as Bheema), Aashiq (2001), and Awara Paagal Deewana (2002)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/) |
| Languages | Hindi plus Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, and Odia films[2](https://www.moviebuff.com/rahul-dev) |
| Output | Indian Film History lists 93 film titles with a debut year of 1997; IMDb lists 186 acting credits[4](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/rahul-dev) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/) |
| Reality television | Bigg Boss (season 10) and Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi (season 1)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/) |
| Family | Brother of the late actor Mukul Dev; father of Siddharth Dev[5](https://thehillstimes.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/HT-Net-Edition-May-26-Ghy_compressed.pdf) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/) |
| Recent work | Lt Col Hanut Singh in the war film Ikkis (2026); Bihu Attack and Welcome to the Jungle (2026)[6](https://epaper.indianchronicledaily.com/media/2026-01/ic-jan-4-2025.to-2026.pdf) • [7](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/rahul-dev/) |
## Early career and the villain era
Dev began in the entertainment industry as a model before moving into Bollywood acting[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/). He gained recognition for strong, villainous portrayals in the late 1990s and early 2000s, where his physical presence and intense performances set him apart in negative roles[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/). His notable Hindi films from this period include Champion (2000), in which he played Naseer Ahmed; Asoka (2001), [Shah Rukh Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/shah-rukh-khan)'s historical drama, in which he played Bheema; Aashiq (2001); and [Awara Paagal Deewana](https://www.edgepedia.org/awara-paagal-deewana) (2002), in which he played Vikrant[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/). IMDb credits him with bringing depth to negative characters, and he also appeared as the gang lord Shekhar Srivastav in Footpath (2003)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/).
His Hindi filmography through the 2000s and 2010s includes Bardaasht (2004), [Ek Paheli Leela](https://www.edgepedia.org/ek-paheli-leela) (2015), Dishoom (2016), [Mubarakan](https://www.edgepedia.org/mubarakan) (2017), Torbaaz (2020), and Gaslight (2023)[7](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/rahul-dev/) • [8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/rahul-dev). In a 2021 interview he described acting as a craft that improves with effort, saying that no character is big or small[9](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/i-am-only-competing-with-myself-rahul-dev-101638278253177.html).
## Regional cinema
A large share of Dev's work lies outside Hindi cinema. He has worked extensively in Telugu, Malayalam, and Tamil films for years, well before pan-Indian crossover projects became a mainstream topic; in a December 2022 interview with OTTplay he argued that bashing Bollywood was not the way to respond to the South vs Hindi cinema debate[10](https://www.ottplay.com/news/exclusive-actor-rahul-dev-decodes-south-vs-bollywood-cinema-bashing-bollywood-is-not-the-way-walk-with-the-change/2755f3df3c60). His regional credits include the Tamil films Vedalam (2015) and [10 Endrathukulla](https://www.edgepedia.org/10-endrathukulla) (2015), the Malayalam film Rajadhi Raja (2014), the Kannada film Arjun Gowda (2021), the Punjabi films Ramta Jogi (2015) and Yaaran Da Rutbaa (2023), the Marathi film [Shivrayancha Chhava](https://www.edgepedia.org/shivrayancha-chhava), and the Odia film Ram (2023)[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/rahul-dev) • [11](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/rahul-dev/1766/filmography). He has also worked in Bengali cinema, including Shikari (2016)[11](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/rahul-dev/1766/filmography).
In 2014 he took a directing credit on the Malayalam film Laura[11](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/rahul-dev/1766/filmography).
## Television, reality shows, and streaming
Beyond films, Dev participated in the reality shows [Bigg Boss](https://www.edgepedia.org/bigg-boss) (season 10) and [Fear Factor](https://www.edgepedia.org/fear-factor): Khatron Ke Khiladi (season 1)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/). In a 2023 [Hindustan Times](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindustan-times) interview he said that even about 80 films had not saved him from a career lull, and that he took up Bigg Boss 10 after returning to work following a break[12](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/rahul-dev-says-even-80-films-didnt-save-him-and-he-had-to-take-up-bigg-boss-10-101697794711520.html). His streaming and television work includes the series Hunter (2023), in which he played a Haryanvi police officer, the thriller Adhura (2023), in which he played CBI officer Bedi, and the series Reeta Sanyal (2024)[13](https://postbox67.in/rahul-dev-is-versatility-good-looking-talented-actor-having-deep-voice-and-his-talent/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/).
## Recent and upcoming work
Dev remains active across industries. In the war film Ikkis, based on [Param Vir Chakra](https://www.edgepedia.org/param-vir-chakra) awardee Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal and released on 1 January 2026, he plays Lt Col Hanut Singh, the officer under whom the protagonist trains[6](https://epaper.indianchronicledaily.com/media/2026-01/ic-jan-4-2025.to-2026.pdf) • [14](https://thesouthasiantimes.info/uploads/epaper/39beedab5c3ca86b3b609eb87eaf5c45.pdf). His 2025 releases included the Tamil film [Good Bad Ugly](https://www.edgepedia.org/good-bad-ugly) and the Telugu film Jack[15](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/rahul-dev/upcoming-movies.html). For 2026 and 2027, FilmiBeat lists [Bihu Attack](https://www.edgepedia.org/bihu-attack) (16 January 2026), Welcome to the Jungle (26 June 2026), the Kannada film Gharga (6 February 2026), Sadhu (13 December 2026), and Rendu Jella Seetha (21 August 2027)[15](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/rahul-dev/upcoming-movies.html). IMDb additionally lists projects in production or post-production, including Billa Ranga Baasha: First Blood, Remand, and an untitled Salman Khan film[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/).
In a 2026 interview he praised Telugu star Jr NTR, saying his expressions and spontaneity reminded him of Govinda[16](https://www.123telugu.com/mnews/rahul-dev-praises-jr-ntrs-natural-talent-compares-him-to-govinda-avd.html).
## Personal life
Dev's wife died of cancer, and he raised their son Siddharth as a single parent, describing himself in one interview as having become a very intrusive parent during that period[12](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/rahul-dev-says-even-80-films-didnt-save-him-and-he-had-to-take-up-bigg-boss-10-101697794711520.html). He has spoken publicly about his relationship with actress [Mugdha Godse](https://www.edgepedia.org/mugdha-godse), saying that if people are happy, an age gap should not be an issue[12](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/rahul-dev-says-even-80-films-didnt-save-him-and-he-had-to-take-up-bigg-boss-10-101697794711520.html). His younger brother, the actor Mukul Dev, died in May 2025 at 53; press reports identified Rahul Dev as his brother and noted that Mukul had given him the story for a 2017 film[5](https://thehillstimes.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/HT-Net-Edition-May-26-Ghy_compressed.pdf).
Sources disagree on his birth year: IMDb, Indian Film History, and The Times of India list 27 September 1968, while [BookMyShow](https://www.edgepedia.org/bookmyshow) lists 27 September 1967[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/bio/) • [4](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/rahul-dev) • [17](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/-Rahul-Dev/filmography) • [11](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/rahul-dev/1766/filmography).
## References
1. [Rahul Dev – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/bio/)
2. [Rahul Dev, Moviebuff](https://www.moviebuff.com/rahul-dev)
3. [Rahul Dev (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222144/)
4. [Rahul Dev – Filmography & Biography, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/rahul-dev)
5. [Tribute to actor Mukul Dev, The Hills Times (26 May 2025)](https://thehillstimes.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/HT-Net-Edition-May-26-Ghy_compressed.pdf)
6. [Ikkis review and cast details, Indian Chronicle Daily (January 2026)](https://epaper.indianchronicledaily.com/media/2026-01/ic-jan-4-2025.to-2026.pdf)
7. [Rahul Dev – Filmography, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/rahul-dev/)
8. [Rahul Dev – Filmography, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/rahul-dev)
9. [I am only competing with myself: Rahul Dev, Hindustan Times (30 November 2021)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/i-am-only-competing-with-myself-rahul-dev-101638278253177.html)
10. [Actor Rahul Dev decodes South vs Bollywood cinema, OTTplay (30 December 2022)](https://www.ottplay.com/news/exclusive-actor-rahul-dev-decodes-south-vs-bollywood-cinema-bashing-bollywood-is-not-the-way-walk-with-the-change/2755f3df3c60)
11. [Rahul Dev – Filmography, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/person/rahul-dev/1766/filmography)
12. [Rahul Dev says even 80 films didn't save him, Hindustan Times (2023)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/rahul-dev-says-even-80-films-didnt-save-him-and-he-had-to-take-up-bigg-boss-10-101697794711520.html)
13. [Rahul Dev interview on versatile roles, Postbox67](https://postbox67.in/rahul-dev-is-versatility-good-looking-talented-actor-having-deep-voice-and-his-talent/)
14. [Ikkis release coverage, The South Asian Times (December 2025)](https://thesouthasiantimes.info/uploads/epaper/39beedab5c3ca86b3b609eb87eaf5c45.pdf)
15. [Rahul Dev Upcoming Movies, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/rahul-dev/upcoming-movies.html)
16. [Rahul Dev praises Jr NTR's natural talent, 123telugu (13 May 2026)](https://www.123telugu.com/mnews/rahul-dev-praises-jr-ntrs-natural-talent-compares-him-to-govinda-avd.html)
17. [Rahul Dev filmography, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/-Rahul-Dev/filmography)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Hindi film actors, 1990s–2000s › Surnames symbols to J*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license