# Sharman Joshi (शर्मन जोशी)
**Sharman Joshi** (शर्मन जोशी; born 1979) is an Indian actor who works in [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema), known for ensemble-cast hits such as *Rang De Basanti* (2006), *Golmaal: Fun Unlimited* (2006), and *3 Idiots* (2009), in which he played Raju Rastogi[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0430817/). He won the IIFA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for *3 Idiots*[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0430817/awards/) and has worked in film, theater, television, and streaming series across a career of about 25 years[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sharman-joshi-on-his-struggle-journey-actor-celebrates-25-years-in-cinema/articleshow/126172941.cms).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1979, Mumbai, India[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0430817/) • [4](https://indianexpress.com/about/sharman-joshi/awards/) |
| Film debut | *Godmother* (1999), a small role in Shabana Azmi's film[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0430817/) • [5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/sharman-joshi) |
| Signature role | Raju Rastogi in *3 Idiots* (2009), directed by Rajkumar Hirani[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0430817/) |
| Major award | IIFA Best Actor in a Supporting Role, *3 Idiots* (2010)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0430817/awards/) |
| Theatre background | About 8 years in Gujarati theater; his play *All the Best* ran over 550 shows[5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/sharman-joshi) |
| Biggest commercial films | *Mission Mangal* (Super Hit, ₹1,926,700,000 net in India), *3 Idiots*, *Rang De Basanti*, *Hate Story 3* (Hit)[6](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/actor.php?actorid=189) |
| Digital work | *Baarish* (2019, ALTBalaji) and *Kafas* (2023)[7](https://yourstory.com/weekender/bollywood-actor-sharman-joshi-three-idiots-golmaal) • [4](https://indianexpress.com/about/sharman-joshi/awards/) |
## Early life and theater
Joshi was born in Mumbai into a family connected to the entertainment industry; his father, Arvind Joshi, was a noted theater and film actor[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0430817/). As a child he traveled with his father across Gujarat to cities such as Jamnagar, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and [Bhavnagar](https://www.edgepedia.org/bhavnagar), and when his father noticed his interest in drama he began training him in voice modulation, expressions, and character work[5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/sharman-joshi).
His first play, *All the Best*, in which he played a deaf man, became a hit, and he performed it for three years in more than 550 shows at venues including the Thakorebhai Desai Hall in [Ahmedabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/ahmedabad)[5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/sharman-joshi). He worked about eight years in Gujarati theater before entering films[5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/sharman-joshi). His father held that work should come through ability rather than influence, so Joshi approached producers on his own and entered [Amitabh Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/amitabh-bachchan)'s ABCL talent hunt, where he was selected among the top ten actors from about a lakh of aspirants[5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/sharman-joshi).
## Film career
**Debut and early films.** Joshi made his film debut with a small role in *Godmother* (1999), starring [Shabana Azmi](https://www.edgepedia.org/shabana-azmi)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0430817/) • [5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/sharman-joshi).
**Ensemble successes.** In 2006 he appeared in two films that defined his career. In [Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra](https://www.edgepedia.org/rakeysh-omprakash-mehra)'s *Rang De Basanti*, he played Sukhi (Sukhi Ram / [Shivaram Rajguru](https://www.edgepedia.org/shivaram-rajguru)) in an ensemble cast with [Aamir Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/aamir-khan), Siddharth Suryarayan, Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Kapoor, R. Madhavan, and Atul Kulkarni[8](https://www.zee5.com/zee5news/sharman-joshi-bday-special-golmaal-kaashi-style-other-movies-you-need-to-watch/). In *Golmaal: Fun Unlimited*, he played Laxman in a comedy with Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Rimi Sen, and Paresh Rawal[8](https://www.zee5.com/zee5news/sharman-joshi-bday-special-golmaal-kaashi-style-other-movies-you-need-to-watch/). He followed these with *Life in a... Metro* (2007) and *Dhol* (2007)[9](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/sharman-joshi/filmography/).
**3 Idiots.** Rajkumar Hirani cast him as Raju Rastogi in *3 Idiots* (2009), reuniting him with his *Rang De Basanti* co-stars Aamir Khan and [R. Madhavan](https://www.edgepedia.org/r-madhavan)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0430817/) • [10](https://web.library.yale.edu/film/notes/fn00026). Hirani had noticed Joshi's work in *[Style](https://www.edgepedia.org/style-2001-film)* and told him he had always intended to work with him[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sharman-joshi-on-his-struggle-journey-actor-celebrates-25-years-in-cinema/articleshow/126172941.cms). Joshi has said the film gave him recognition under his own name and that the love he received was unexpected[11](https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/entertainment/interviews/sharman-joshi-exclusive-interview-share-upcoming-projects-reveal-got-name-fame-from-3-idiots/amp_articleshow/110388708.cms) • [12](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/the-highs-and-lows-of-filmdom-sharman-joshi/story-IVM1kFvcLabze8IsOt8DfO.html). The role earned him the IIFA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 2010, along with nominations from Filmfare, Screen, and Stardust[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0430817/awards/).
**Later films.** He played the lead in [Vidhu Vinod Chopra](https://www.edgepedia.org/vidhu-vinod-chopra)'s *Ferrari Ki Sawaari* (2012), which earned ₹305,250,000 net in India and was rated a Semi Hit[6](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/actor.php?actorid=189). Later commercial results were mixed: *Hate Story 3* (2015) was a Hit with ₹435,750,000 net, while *[Wajah Tum Ho](https://www.edgepedia.org/wajah-tum-ho)* (2016), *3 Storeys* (2018), and *Kaashi* (2018) were rated Flop or Disaster[6](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/actor.php?actorid=189). He returned to a major success with *Mission Mangal* (2019), which netted ₹1,926,700,000 in India and was rated a Super Hit[6](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/actor.php?actorid=189). In a 2020 interview he said he had never chased lead roles, preferring good stories, and acknowledged that he had been slow in accepting work early in his career[13](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sharman-joshi-the-industry-at-the-end-of-the-day-works-on-economics-and-talent/articleshow/77172321.cms).
## Digital work and recent projects
Joshi made his digital debut with ALTBalaji's romance drama *Baarish* (2019), playing a diamond merchant opposite [Asha Negi](https://www.edgepedia.org/asha-negi)[7](https://yourstory.com/weekender/bollywood-actor-sharman-joshi-three-idiots-golmaal). His streaming work continued with *[Kafas](https://www.edgepedia.org/kafas)* (2023), for which he won the e4m Play Streaming Media Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2024, and *Medical Dreams* (2025), for which he won a ScreenXX Viewer's Choice Award for Impactful Performer of the Year in Hindi Web Originals[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0430817/awards/). In December 2025 he marked 25 years in the industry, saying he came from theater rather than a film background and had considered becoming an actor, a lawyer, or a businessman before choosing acting[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sharman-joshi-on-his-struggle-journey-actor-celebrates-25-years-in-cinema/articleshow/126172941.cms). Upcoming titles listed for him include *Golmaal 5* and *3 Idiots 2*, both dated 2027[9](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/sharman-joshi/filmography/) • [5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/sharman-joshi).
## Personal life
Joshi is married to Prerana Chopra, daughter of the actor [Prem Chopra](https://www.edgepedia.org/prem-chopra); they have three children, Khyana, Vihaan, and Vaaryan[5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/sharman-joshi). His sister is Manasi Joshi[5](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/sharman-joshi). He remains active in theater as an actor and director of plays, and has said he loves directing plays but cannot imagine directing a film[14](https://planetbollywood.com/wp/interviews/i-love-directing-plays-but-i-cannot-imagine-myself-directing-a-film-sharman-joshi/).
## References
1. [Sharman Joshi (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0430817/)
2. [Sharman Joshi – Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0430817/awards/)
3. [Sharman Joshi on his struggle & journey; Actor celebrates 25 years in cinema, Times of India (IANS), December 25, 2025](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sharman-joshi-on-his-struggle-journey-actor-celebrates-25-years-in-cinema/articleshow/126172941.cms)
4. [Sharman Joshi Awards: Achievements & Honors | The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/about/sharman-joshi/awards/)
5. [Sharman Joshi – Filmography & Biography, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/sharman-joshi)
6. [Sharman Joshi Filmography, Box Office India](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/actor.php?actorid=189)
7. [No shame in taking a U-turn: 3 Idiots actor Sharman Joshi gets candid, YourStory](https://yourstory.com/weekender/bollywood-actor-sharman-joshi-three-idiots-golmaal)
8. [Sharman Joshi B'day Special: Golmaal, Kaashi, Style & Other Movies You Need To Watch, ZEE5 News](https://www.zee5.com/zee5news/sharman-joshi-bday-special-golmaal-kaashi-style-other-movies-you-need-to-watch/)
9. [Sharman Joshi Movies List, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/sharman-joshi/filmography/)
10. [Film Notes: 3 IDIOTS, Yale University Library](https://web.library.yale.edu/film/notes/fn00026)
11. [Sharman Joshi exclusive interview, Navbharat Times](https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/entertainment/interviews/sharman-joshi-exclusive-interview-share-upcoming-projects-reveal-got-name-fame-from-3-idiots/amp_articleshow/110388708.cms)
12. [The highs and lows of filmdom: Sharman Joshi, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/the-highs-and-lows-of-filmdom-sharman-joshi/story-IVM1kFvcLabze8IsOt8DfO.html)
13. [Sharman Joshi: The industry at the end of the day works on economics and talent, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sharman-joshi-the-industry-at-the-end-of-the-day-works-on-economics-and-talent/articleshow/77172321.cms)
14. ["I love directing plays but I cannot imagine myself directing a film" – Sharman Joshi, Planet Bollywood](https://planetbollywood.com/wp/interviews/i-love-directing-plays-but-i-cannot-imagine-myself-directing-a-film-sharman-joshi/)
---
*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 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 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