Adil Hussain

Biography

Adil Hussain is a versatile Indian actor renowned for his contributions to both Indian and international cinema, encompassing art films and mainstream Bollywood. He gained recognition for his performances in notable films such as *The Reluctant Fundamentalist* and *Life of Pi*, both released in 2012. His impressive talent earned him the National Film Award (Special Jury) at the 2017 National Film Awards for his roles in *Hotel Salvation* and *Maj Rati Keteki*. Over his career, he has participated in productions across various languages, including English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Tamil, Marathi, Malayalam, Norwegian, and French.

Born in 1963 in Goalpara, Assam, Adil was the youngest of seven siblings, with his father serving as a high school headmaster. He has a rich multicultural heritage, with an Iraqi grandfather and a grandmother of Assamese, English, and Italian lineage. His passion for acting began in school plays and flourished when he left home at 18 to study philosophy at B. Borooah College, Guwahati, where he also performed in college productions.

Adil honed his craft over several years, initially working as a stand-up comedian and later joining the mobile theatre scene. He furthered his training at the National School of Drama from 1990 to 1993 and also studied at the Drama Studio London. His breakthrough performance came with *Othello: A Play in Black and White* in 1999, followed by other significant roles in television and film. His foray into Bengali cinema began in 2004, and he gained wider acclaim in Bollywood with *Ishqiya* and *Agent Vinod* in 2012.