Manish Wadhwa

Manish Wadhwa, born in Mumbai back in '72, has been around the block in Indian TV and cinema—yeah, the guy’s face probably rings a bell if you ever watched NDTV Imagine’s Chandragupta Maurya. He crushed it as Acharya Chanakya. Like, that role? Iconic. People still remember him mostly for that bald, sharp-witted strategist vibe. But that’s barely scratching the surface. He kicked off in the Mumbai theatre scene, doing comedy on a show called Khatta Meetha, so the dude knows his way around a stage too. Not just an actor—he’s got pipes. He’s lent his voice to a ton of commercials and random ads, so you’ve probably heard him selling you toothpaste or some insurance plan without even knowing it. Manish isn’t just a one-trick pony, though. Over the years, he’s flipped between massive mythological roles—like playing Kans in Paramavtar Shree Krishna—and snagging screen time in Hindi films. He popped up in flicks like Peshwa Bajirao (2017), Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi, and Ek Baar Phir (2019). The dude’s range is wild; one minute he’s some evil king, next he’s a historic figure. He’s managed to stay relevant in an industry that forgets people fast, which is saying something. Born and bred in Mumbai, he’s one of those actors who just keeps showing up—whether you’re bingeing TV, catching a movie, or zoning out during ad breaks. Honestly, he’s everywhere.