Chetan Hansraj is an Indian model and actor, who mainly plays negative roles in various TV serials and films.
Wiki/Biography
Chetan Hansraj was born on Thursday, 15 June 1972 (age 50 years; as of 2022) in Mumbai. His zodiac sign is Gemini. He did his schooling at Jamnabai Narsee School, Mumbai.
Chetan Hansraj’s childhood picture
Chetan pursued B.Com from Mithibai College of Arts, Chauhan Institute of Science & Amrutben Jivanlal College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai, from 1990 to 1995. Later, he did a course in computer graphics. During the coronavirus lockdown in 2020, he did an online course in a computer programming language called Python.
Physical Appearance
Height: 6′ 3″
Weight (approx.): 95 kg
Hair Colour: Brown
Eye Colour: Hazel Brown
Body Measurements (approx.): Chest 44″, Waist 34″, Biceps 18″
Family
Parents & Siblings
His father, Kumar Hansraj, is a businessman, and his mother, Shakuntla Hansraj, is a doctor. He has a brother, Nausheel Hansraj.
Chetan Hansraj with his parents
Chetan Hansraj with his brother
Other Relatives
He is the first cousin of the Indian actor Jugal Hansraj.
Wife & Children
On 12 December 2004, he got married to Lavinia (air hostess and athlete). The couple is blessed with a son named Ethan. In an interview, while talking about his son, Chetan said,
When a child comes into your life, you sort of ‘lose’ your wife to the child since all her attention is on him. But at the end it’s a beautiful feeling. Having a family — a loving wife and adorable son is nothing short of eternal happiness.”
Chetan Hansraj’s wedding picture
Chetan Hansraj with his wife and son
Relationships/Affairs
In 2002, he went clubbing alone as his friends were busy, there he met a girl named Lavinia. In an interview, Chetan talked about meeting her for the first time, he said,
At the club I spotted an old friend of mine. Lavinia was with that friend. I got talking to them and with Lavinia too and we all got along like a house on fire. After sometime a girl came next to me and said hello. And suddenly Lavinia told me to go and hang out with her. I was a little taken aback with her response. But somehow that was the first sign that she really liked me.”
He further said,
I used to play cricket then and Sundays were no exception. After the game I was dog tired and went home. Suddenly I got a call from her and realised that I conveniently forgot about the dinner plan. I apologised and we went for our first date.”
During an interview, he said that at that time he was not financially sound, so he made a ring out of aluminium foil and proposed Lavinia for marriage. He further said,
Lavinia met an old friend and got talking. I found myself getting very jealous. I realised what I felt for her was more than friendship and we actually had our first fight. I made a ring out of silver foil and gave it to her. Tears were rolling down her cheeks and she told me that it meant more than a real ring.”
Address
Apartment in Tree-Lined Bylane of Bandra, Mumbai
Career
Model
Chetan started his career as a child model at the age of 5. He has appeared in more than 200 TV commercials and print advertisements including Nycil, Tata Safari, Thumbs Up, Cinthol, Lakme, and Maruti Wagon R. In 1994, he participated in Gladrags Manhunt and Megamodel Contest but could not make his position in the top finalists. He again tried for the contest in 2001 and finished as the second runner-up. He appeared in the Hindi music video ‘Deewane To Deewane Hain’ (1997) sung by Shweta Shetty.
A snippet of the music video Deewane To Deewane Hain
Television
He debuted as a child actor in the epic Hindi TV series ‘Mahabharat’ (1988) in which he played the role of young Balram. In an interview, while talking about playing the role of young Balram, he said,
I was 14-years-old when I played Balram in Mahabharat, and it was completely magical. All of us used to get lots of feedback and messages from fans via letters. I was in school and every day I used to receive gunny bags full of letters. Back then, there was a photograph-autograph system with fan mails. So, fans would mail me an empty envelope with a return stamp attached and had to sign the picture and send it back with the letter. It was my daily routine. Before going to school, I would sign my pictures and put them in envelopes. Every morning my father would give me a stack of envelopes with pictures to sign. It was a wonderful time and I have so many memories attached to the show and I am glad I am getting the opportunity to relive it on Colors.”
After almost 12 years, he appeared in the episodic TV series ‘Ssshhhh…Koi Hai.’ He then appeared in a few Hindi TV serials like ‘Kyun Hota Hai Pyarrr’ (2002) and ‘Kkusum’ (2003). He came into the limelight with his role as a Shashank (Sasha) Garg in one of the popular Hindi TV serials ‘Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii’ (2004).
Chetan Hansraj and Sakshi Tanwar in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii (2000)
He played a negative role in the serial which was liked by the audience and the critics. Subsequently, he started receiving offers to play negative roles in many TV serials. In an interview, while talking about getting typecast for his roles, he said,
Getting typecast in a negative role has never bothered me. Of course, I have played a few good boy roles too. But personally I enjoy playing a bad man on screen as then the character has a lot to do. Positive characters ka ek dayra hota hai and you can not cross that. People have accepted me in a particular genre and I am happy about that. In fact, every time I get an offer of a bad man, I am quite excited about it. The makers sometimes have offered me positive roles too but I have not been kicked about it. I am happy being a professional villain on TV.”
Some of his other TV serials as an actor are ‘Jodha Akbar’ (2013), ‘Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev’ (2014), ‘Chandra Nandini’ (2016), ‘Naagin 3’ (2018), ‘Brahmarakshas 2’ (2020).
Chetan Hansraj’s look in Brahmarakshas 2 (2020)
Reality Shows
In 2006, he participated as a contestant for the first time in the TV reality show ‘Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi.’ He participated in various other Indian TV reality shows such as ‘Nach Baliye 4’ (2008), ‘Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao’ (2009), ‘Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki’ (2013), and ‘Lock Upp’ (2022).
Chetan Hansraj in Lock Upp (2022)
Films
Apart from TV serials, he has also acted in various Hindi films. His debut Hindi film was ‘Asambhav’ (2004) in which he played the role of Gazi. Some of his Hindi films are ‘City of Gold’ (2010), ‘Bodyguard’ (2011), ‘Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara’ (2013), and ‘Shootout at Wadala’ (2013).
A still of Chetan Hansraj from the film Bodyguard
He has also worked in a few south Indian films. In 2007, he debuted in the Telugu film ‘Don’ in which he played the role of Anthony.
Poster of the Telugu film ‘Don’
His debut Tamil film is ‘Anjaan’ (2014) in which he played the character of Manoj.
Poster of the Tamil film ‘Anjaan’ (2014)
He made his Malayalam debut with the film ‘Big Brother’ (2020) as Vinayaraj.
Poster of the Malayalam film ‘Big Brother’
Other Work
In January 2019, he started working as a lead developer in a private company Xtrathin Design Private Limited, Mumbai, and worked there for almost one year. In January 2021, he joined a private firm ‘The Happiness Room’ in Goa as an unreal engine trainer. In the same year, he associated with the Director’s Kcut in Mumbai.
Controversy
He had a tiff with the Indian producer Ekta Kapoor while he was re-hired to play the character of Haider Khan in the Hindi TV serial ‘Jodha Akbar’ (2013-2015). He was rehired with a promise of 20 days shoot a month, but as the story of the serial progressed, his role in the TV serial started reducing. In an interview, while talking about the incident, he said,
My character was going nowhere. Shalu the Associate Creative Head was the reason I continued with the show post leap. But it was all empty promises leading to nothing. Each day became humiliating to shoot, thus I quit. I am a senior actor and one should respect my integrity. Shalu has no idea how to carve a character.”
Later, he tweeted,
I Quit the show people was very unhappy with how my Role Panned out …RIP Adham/Haider Khan Time to quit. I quit my show 2 days ago , so unhappy with the way i was lied to about my role .. this is so disgusting.”
In 2022, while he was on the online TV series ‘Lock Upp,’ he talked about the fight. He said,
I have realized that it was my mistake and I shouldn’t have got angry at that time. Anger is my weakness and I still feel bad about it. I regret my fight with Ekta. But life teaches you with every experience. When they called me for Chandra Nandni, I was happy that they still care for me. Nobody wants to live in the past so let bygones be bygones and move on. It was a home calling for me. I am having superb time shooting with the cast of Chandra Nandni. We shoot round the clock and giving our best to the ability.”
Awards
- 2007: Indian Telly Award for Best Ensemble Cast (along with other actors) for the TV serial ‘Virrudh: Har Rishta Ek Kurukshetra’
- 2008: Boroplus Gold Award for Best Villain (Male) for the TV serial ‘Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii’ (2000)
Facts/Trivia
- In an interview, he shared the fact of how he developed an interest in modelling. He said,
I saw my cousin Jugal Hansraj’s photograph in a magazine and told my mother that I wanted to follow suit. So, we got some photographs clicked and she sent them out, it was all her hard work. I did 250 print media ads, 50 TV commercials and seven-eight movies, too. Then I did ‘Mahabharat’ after which I took a break. A few years later, I got into modelling and eventually returned to acting.”
- While he was in school and college, he used to participate in water polo competitions and won various medals in it. He has also participated in state-level water polo competitions.
- He loves going on motorcycle rides and doing adventure sports.
Chetan Hansraj with his motorcycle
- He has been featured on the cover of various magazines like Parents India (with his son) and Homemaker (with his wife).
Chetan Hansraj featured on the magazine cover along with his wife
- Chetan is an avid animal lover and has a pet dog named Zack.
- He regularly workouts in the gym and practices Yoga & meditation. During an interview, while talking about his morning routine, he said,
When I wake up in the mornings, I do my breathing exercises and meditate almost everyday for about 30 minutes. Later, I workout for 45 minutes. I do these activities daily as they help to relax me and are a great way to kickstart my day. My fitness idol is Arnold Schwarzenegger.”
Chetan Hansraj at the gym
- In his leisure time, he loves to party, watch movies, and hang out with friends.
- He owns a white coloured Hyundai car.
- Chetan Hansraj follows a non-vegetarian diet.
- He was seen smoking while he was a contestant in the online TV series ‘Lock Upp’ in 2022.
- He is often spotted drinking alcohol at parties and events.
