Sham Kaushal is an Indian action director and stunt coordinator. Sham Kaushal is the winner of five Filmfare Awards and has acted in films such as “Krrish 3” (2013), “Bajirao Mastani” (2015) and “Padmaavat” (2018). Sham Kaushal has worked as an action director and stunt coordinator for Hollywood films such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011).
Wiki/Biography
Sham Kaushal (also known as Shyam Kaushal) was born on November 24 in Mirzapur, Punjab, India. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
Sham Kaushal as a child
Sham holds an MA in English Literature from Government College, Hoshiarpur, Punjab.
Sham Kaushal received his postgraduate degree from Government College, Hoshiarpur
He moved to Mumbai from Punjab and worked as a sales representative for a year.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′7″
Weight (approximately): 75kg
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
family
Parents and siblings
Sham Kaushal’s parents are deceased. His father had been a shopkeeper. Not much is known about his siblings.
Sham Kaushal and his late mother
Shaam Kaushal and his late father
wife and children
Sham Kaushal married Veena Kaushal. Veena is a housewife. Sham Kaushal has two sons, Vicky Kaushal and Sunny Kaushal. Both his sons are famous actors in the Hindi film industry. Sunny Kaushal worked as an assistant director and actor.
Sham Kaushal with wife, son and Katrina Kaif
Religion/Religious Views
Sham Kaushal follows Hinduism.
Profession
stuntman
Sham Kaushal worked as a stuntman for seven years after working as a sales representative. Sum became a stuntman after meeting other stuntmen in the neighborhood. On August 8, 1980, Sham became a member of the Stunt Artists Guild. He became a member with the help of Veeru Devgn (Ajay Devgn’s father). Sham borrowed Rs. A friend paid a membership fee of 1,000 yuan. Sham Kaushal’s first film as a stuntman was Sawaal (1982), in which he played a policeman.
Sham Kaushal made his debut as a stuntman on the poster of the film Sawaal (1982)
In an interview, Sum shared the story of how he transformed from a stuntman to an action director,
It was fate that I got my first film as an action director. On May 6, 1990, I was shooting at Filmistan Studios, playing a bandit. I was staying in a small hotel in Adarsh Nagar. Production director Ravi Nair knew that I was proficient in action film work and wanted to venture out on my own… He introduced me to Thampi Kannanthanam… They wanted a new action director who could speak English because the director Can’t speak Hindi. The director liked me… When we met, Thampi Kannanathanam told me about the scene and asked me what to do. I shared my perspective and he loved it. ”
30 years ago(07/05/1990) got break to work as Action Director with a Malyalam Film #Inderjalam Directed by Mr. Thampi Kanantham & staring mega star @Mohanlal & Dop @santoshsivan thanking all the wonderful people who gave me the chance to work with them during this journey. 🙏🏻🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/Fl6I41GdRo
— Sham kaushal (@shamkaushal09) May 7, 2020
As a stuntman, Sham Kaushal often puts himself in dangerous situations to perform stunts. Speaking about the lack of safety measures, Sham’s son Vicky Kaushal spoke about his father’s experience in an interview,
He set himself on fire, fell from ten stories without any safety measures… he did it all. One day he told me that the first time he rode a horse, he didn’t know how to ride it. But if he doesn’t, he doesn’t get paid. He fell and broke his hand. But he had no money for treatment because he needed food. So, the bone is still broken. “
Sham Kaushal performs stunt after being set on fire
Sham Kaushal also worked as a stuntman in films like “Aap Ke Saath” (1986) and “Do Qaidi” (1989).
Sham Kaushal (right) pictured while working as a stuntman on the set of Aap Ke Saath with Anil Kapoor
action director
In 1990, Sham Kaushal got his first action director job in the Malayalam film Indrajalam (1990). The film is directed by Thampi Kannanthanam and stars Mohanlal in the lead role.
Poster of Indrajalam (1990), Sham Kaushal’s debut as an action director
In order to work as an action director, Sham Kaushal gave up his membership in the Stunt Artists Guild and obtained an action director’s card. Thereafter, he acted in the Bollywood film Prahal: The Last Attack (1991) directed by Nana Patekar. His work in Prahaar won him the 1991 Salaam Bombay Award for Best New Action Director. Sham Kaushal went on to work as an action director in Bollywood films such as Dhanwaan (1993), Devdas (2002), Kabul Express (2006), Om Shanti Om (2007), Quick Gun Murugan (2009), Guzaarish (2010), Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), Dangal (2016), Padmavati (2018) and Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022), among others. As of 2023, Sham Kaushal has served as an action director in more than 90 Bollywood films. Sham Kaushal has worked in the Malayalam film industry in films such as “Naadody” (1992), “Yoddha” (1992) and “Chukkan” (1994).
Sham Kaushal (far right) on the set of the Malayalam film Yoddha (1992)
In an interview, Sham Kaushal talked about how actor Mohanlal brought him back for more projects after working with him in Indrajalam (1990).
Sham Kaushal (left) with Mohanlal on the sets of Indrajalam. Mohanlal was impressed with Sham’s work and called him back for other projects
Sham Kaushal has also worked in Telugu films Panjaa (2011) and Wild Dog (2021). Sham Kaushal has worked in the Punjabi film industry in Shaheed Uddham Singh: Alais Ram Mohammad Singh Azad (2000), Hashar (2008), Sajjan Singh Rangroot (2018) and Ik Sandhu Hunda Si” (2020) and other movies.
Sham Kaushal (fourth from left, wearing white shirt) and his stunt team during the filming of “Ik Sandhu Hunda Si”
He has also worked in Tamil cinema. Sum is the action director of the hit film Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 (2022). Sham Kaushal has acted in the TV series Chanakya (1991) and Shaktimaan (1997). Sham Kaushal has also worked in several TV commercials. Sham Kaushal also worked as a stunt coordinator in the Hollywood film One Night with the King (2006). He was the action director and stunt coordinator on Slumdog Millionaire (2008).
dispute
Sexual Harassment Allegations
In 2018, two film industry workers accused Sham Kaushal of sexual misconduct during the #metoo movement. It was mentioned that during an outdoor shoot in 2006, Kaushal showed her an explicit video on his phone. Another woman provided details of text messages she claimed Sham Kaushal sent her during the filming. Sham Kaushal issued an “unconditional apology” on X (formerly Twitter) for any “unintentional hurt or pain”. Bollywood assistant director Nameeta Prakash shared on Facebook that during an outdoor shoot in 2006, Kaushal suggested she go to his room to drink vodka after get off work. Prakash said she was uncomfortable with the idea and lied to Sham saying she didn’t drink. When she refused, Kaushal allegedly showed her pornographic videos on his phone. Sham Kaushal shared a statement on Twitter saying,
For as long as I’ve been in this industry, I’ve always tried my best to be a good person both professionally and personally, never wishing to hurt or disrespect anyone. I have read the accusations made against me by some of the crew. If I have unintentionally caused any hurt or pain, I unconditionally apologize to the ladies, the production company, and every member of the film community. “
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- In 1991, Sham Kaushal won the Salaam Bombay Award for Best New Director for Prahaar.
- In 1994, Sham Kaushal won the Salaam Bombay Best Jury Award for his performance in the film Pathreela Rasta.
- Sham Kaushal won the 2006 GIFA (Global Indian Film Awards) Best Action Award for the film “Krrish” (2006).
- Sham Kaushal won the 8th IIFA Best Action Award in 2007 for the film Krrish (2006).
- Sham Kaushal won the Filmfare Award for Best for his performance in the films Don: The Chase Begins Again (2006) and Krrish (2006) Action Award.
- Sham Kaushal won the 2007 Filmfare Award for Best Action Director for the film Krrish (2006).
- Sham Kaushal won the 2010 IIFA (11th International Indian Film Academy Awards) Best Art Direction Award for Kaminey (2009).
- Sham Kaushal won the 19th Annual Screen Award 2013 for the film Gangs of Wasseypur (2012).
- Sham Kaushal won the 2013 Filmfare Award for Best Action for Gangs of Wasseypur (2012).
- Sham Kaushal won the IIFA (International Indian Film Academy Award) 2013 for the film Gangs of Wasseypur (2012).
- In 2014, Sham Kaushal won the Best Action Director Award at the 15th IIFA Awards.
- Sham Kaushal won the Zee Cine Award 2014 for the movie “Dhoom 3”.
- Sham Kaushal won the 2015 Filmfare Best Action Award for his work in the film Gunday (2014).
- Sham Kaushal won the IIFA (International Indian Film Academy Awards) 2016 Best Action Director Award for Bajirao Mastani (2015).
Sham Kaushal poses with his Best Action Award at the International Indian Film Academy Awards
- Sham Kaushal won the Zee Cine Award for Best Action Director in 2016 for Bajirao Mastani (2015).
- Sham Kaushal won the Filmfare Best Action Award 2016 for his work in Bajirao Mastani (2015).
- Sham Kaushal won the Best Action Award at the 62nd Jio Filmfare Awards 2017 for his work in the film Baba (2016).
Sham Kaushal poses with the Best Action Award he received at the 2017 Filmfare Awards
- Sham Kaushal won the Best Action Award at the Zee Cine Awards 2018 for the film Kaabil (2017).
Announcement of Sham Kaushal winning Zee Cine Awards 2018
- Sham Kaushal received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 20th Bollywood Film Festival in Norway in 2022.
Sham Kaushal (right) poses with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 20th Bollywood Film Festival in Norway
Facts/Trivia
- In September 2003, Sham Kaushal was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent surgery and, after a struggle, became cancer-free. He said in an interview in 2022,
I wasn’t sure if I would survive. I haven’t shared this with anyone. I stayed in the hospital for 50 days. After that I went back to work. They tested me for a year. But luckily, the cancer didn’t spread. It has been 19 years since that incident. “
- In an interview held in 2022, Sham Kaushal revealed that he serves as the action director for all Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movies. He said,
Sanjay Leela Bhansali has worked only with me in all her films, from Khamoshi (1996) to Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022). To be able to work with a director for 25 years is a huge achievement for me. “
Sham Kaushal (left) and Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education