Jugal Hansraj made his debut as a child artiste in Masoom, and his biggest hit still remains Mohabbatein. The actor disappeared from films soon, and is now based in New York.
After making his debut as a child artiste in Masoom, Jugal Hansraj starred alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan in Mohabbatein. The actor was labelled 'jinx' after several of his films got shelved even before their release and he disappeared from the industry. He is now based in New York and here's a look at what he is doing now. (All images; Jugal Hansraj/Instagram)
1. Jugal Hansraj's debut in Masoom
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Born in 1972, Jugal Hansraj made his debut at the age of 11 years in the 1983 film Masoom. The directorial debut of Shekhar Kapur also starred Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi. He then appeared as a child artiste in a few other films such as Jhutha Sach, Karma, Loha, and Hukumat.
2. Jugal Hansraj in Mohabbatein
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Jugal Hansraj started his adult career with the 1994 film Aa Gale Lag Jaa. His second film as the leading hero was Papa Kahte Hain, whose song Ghar Se Nikalte Hi became a classic. But, it was the 2000 film Mohabbatein that earned him recognition in his second innings. Directed by Aditya Chopra, Jugal played one of the six newcomers along with Uday Chopra, Shamita Shetty, Kim Sharma, Jimmy Sheirgill, and Preeti Jhangiani. He was paired opposite Kim Sharma in the movie, which also starred Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Aishwarya.
3. Jugal Hansraj was labelled 'jinx'
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Around 40 films, which Jugal Hansraj had signed, got shelved and the actor was labelled a 'jinx'. Recalling the same, the actor told ETimes in 2023, "Dealing with the failure of my movies was incredibly difficult. Not only did I face criticism from media reviewers, but they also attacked me personally. I've been called various names and labelled as a jinx. Initially, when my projects were shelved, it would bring me to tears when I was 18 or 19. However, over time, I grew immune to such disappointments."
4. Jugal Hansraj has won National Award
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After appearing in small roles in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Salaam Namaste, and Aaja Nachle, Jugal Hansraj made his directorial debut with the animated film Roadside Romeo in 2008. The movie, which had Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor in its voice cast, went on to win the National Film Award for Best Animated Film. His second and final film as a director was Priyanka Chopra and Uday Chopra-starrer Pyaar Impossible, which was a major commercial failure.
5. Jugal Hansraj is now a published author
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Jugal Hansraj has now turned into a published author. He has written three books namely Cross Connection: The Big Circus Adventure, The Coward and The Sword, and The Jewel of Nisawa, which were published in 2014, 2017, and 2024, respectively.
6. Jugal Hansraj personal life
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Jugal Hansraj is now based in New York. His late father Pravin Hansraj was a former Indian cricketer. In July 2014, he married Jasmine Dhillon, an NRI investment banker, and the couple has a son named Sidak.
