# Surendra Pal
**Surendra Pal** (full name Surendra Pal Singh) is an Indian character actor who works in Hindi films and television series. He is best known for playing Dronacharya in [B. R. Chopra](https://www.edgepedia.org/b-r-chopra)'s television serial *Mahabharat* (1988), Amatya Rakshas in *Chanakya*, Tamraj Kilvish in the superhero show *Shaktimaan*, and Daksha in *Devon Ke Dev... Mahadev*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657184/bio/). He was born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, in 1953[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657184/bio/), although one Hindi film database gives his birth date as 1952[2](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/celebs/surendra-pal.html).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India (one source gives 1952)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657184/bio/) • [2](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/celebs/surendra-pal.html) |
| Signature TV roles | Dronacharya in *Mahabharat* (1988–1990, 94 episodes); Tamraj Kilvish in *Shaktimaan* (1997); Amatya Rakshas in *Chanakya* (1991); Daksha in *Devon Ke Dev... Mahadev* (2011)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657184/) • [4](https://wikibio.in/surendra-pal/) |
| Film work | *Khuda Gawah*, *Sehar*, *Jodhaa Akbar* (Rana Uday Singh, 2008), *Lakshya* (Commandant, IMA, 2004), *Airlift* (Minister, External Affairs, 2016)[5](https://filmibeat.com/celebs/surendra-pal/biography.html) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657184/) |
| Output | About 40 films and over 30 television serials[4](https://wikibio.in/surendra-pal/) |
| Production work | Started a production company in 2007 to produce and direct Bhojpuri films; produced *Bhauji Ke Sister*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657184/bio/) |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657184/bio/) |
## Early life
Pal was born in Lucknow, where his father was posted as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in the [Uttar Pradesh Police](https://www.edgepedia.org/uttar-pradesh-police)[4](https://wikibio.in/surendra-pal/). His father wanted him to join the [Indian Army](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-army) or the police service, and two of his five brothers did join the Army and one the police, but Pal wanted to act[6](https://starsunfolded.com/surendra-pal/). In 1980 he left home and moved to Mumbai to become an actor, at a time when, by his own later account in interviews, he knew little about the film business[6](https://starsunfolded.com/surendra-pal/).
## Television career
**Mahabharat and the 1990s.** Pal's role as Guru Dronacharya in B. R. Chopra's epic television serial *Mahabharat* (1988) made him a household name in India; he appeared in 94 episodes between 1988 and 1990[4](https://wikibio.in/surendra-pal/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657184/). Riding on that success, he received offers for further prominent roles: Mahamatya Rakshas in *Chanakya* (1991), a part in the Ramsay Brothers-produced *Zee Horror Show*, where he played Vikranta Jabbar in the episode *Saya* (1995), and Tamraj Kilvish in the superhero show *Shaktimaan* (1997)[4](https://wikibio.in/surendra-pal/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657184/bio/).
**Later television.** His subsequent roles include Kailashnath in *Shagun* (2001), Guru Shukracharya, teacher of the demons, in *Vishnu Puran*, Guruji in *Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki* Season 2 (2005), and Prajapati Daksha in *Devon Ke Dev... Mahadev* (2011)[4](https://wikibio.in/surendra-pal/) • [5](https://filmibeat.com/celebs/surendra-pal/biography.html). He also appeared in *Left Right Left*[5](https://filmibeat.com/celebs/surendra-pal/biography.html).
## Film career
Sources differ on his start in films. StarsUnfolded records his Hindi film debut as *Shama* (1981), produced by [Kader Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kader-khan)[6](https://starsunfolded.com/surendra-pal/), while Filmibeat dates the beginning of his film career to 1984, with films including *Khuda Gawah*, *Sehar*, and *Jodhaa Akbar*[5](https://filmibeat.com/celebs/surendra-pal/biography.html). Among his later screen appearances are the Commandant of the [Indian Military Academy](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-military-academy) in *Lakshya* (2004), Rana Uday Singh in *Jodhaa Akbar* (2008), and the Minister for External Affairs in *Airlift* (2016)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657184/). He has also worked in Malayalam and [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema), with debuts in *Prayikkara Pappan* (1995) and *Mr. Romeo* (1996) respectively[6](https://starsunfolded.com/surendra-pal/).
## Production work
In 2007 Pal started a production company to produce and direct Bhojpuri films, and he produced the Bhojpuri film *Bhauji Ke Sister*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657184/bio/).
## Public profile
In 2019 the investigative outlet Cobrapost, during a sting operation, named Pal among celebrities who said they would carry out paid promotions for political parties; according to the published account, he agreed to an offered eight-month contract of 15 social media messages a month at Rs 3 million (Rs 30 lakh) per month for the [Bharatiya Janata Party](https://www.edgepedia.org/bharatiya-janata-party)[6](https://starsunfolded.com/surendra-pal/).
In a 2026 interview with Sidharth Kannan, Pal spoke about his long friendship with Mukesh Khanna, his co-star in both *Shaktimaan* and *Mahabharat*, and publicly suggested that Khanna reconsider [Ranveer Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/ranveer-singh) for the [Shaktimaan](https://www.edgepedia.org/shaktimaan) role[7](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/mukesh-khanna-is-too-stubborn-he-should-reconsider-ranveer-singh-as-shaktimaan-says-actor-surendra-pal/articleshow/130832248.cms).
## Personal life
Pal married Barkha Sharma Singh in 1996; the marriage ended in divorce in 2002, and the couple had two children, Shivam and Shivangi[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657184/bio/). StarsUnfolded lists three children, sons Shivam Singh, a television anchor, and Shubham Singh, and daughter Shivangi Singh[6](https://starsunfolded.com/surendra-pal/).
## References
1. [Surendra Pal Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657184/bio/)
2. [सुरेंद्र पाल, Filmibeat Hindi](https://hindi.filmibeat.com/celebs/surendra-pal.html)
3. [Surendra Pal, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657184/)
4. [Surendra Pal Wiki, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More, WikiBio](https://wikibio.in/surendra-pal/)
5. [Surendra Pal Biography, Filmibeat](https://filmibeat.com/celebs/surendra-pal/biography.html)
6. [Surendra Pal Height, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More, StarsUnfolded](https://starsunfolded.com/surendra-pal/)
7. ['Mukesh Khanna is too stubborn, he should reconsider Ranveer Singh as Shaktimaan,' says actor Surendra Pal, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/mukesh-khanna-is-too-stubborn-he-should-reconsider-ranveer-singh-as-shaktimaan-says-actor-surendra-pal/articleshow/130832248.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, 1970s to 1990s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license