Kulbhushan Kharbanda is an Indian actor who works in Hindi and Punjabi films. He is best known for playing Shakaal, the antagonist, in the 1980 film Shaan. He was born in Hassanabdal, Punjab (British India), on October 21, 1944. Maheshwari Devi Kharbanda is his wife.

When he played the bald villain Shakaal in the 1980 film Shaan, he saw his entry into the mainstream of Bollywood. In Shashi Kapoor's Filmwalas Productions' Kalyug, he played Raj Babbar's brother and the husband of Reema Lagoo. He has also appeared in period films like Lagaan and Jodha Akbar. Aloo Chaat and Team: The Force are his most recent films. He has appeared in a few Punjabi films as an actor. He starred in the 1999 Punjabi comedy Mahaul Theek Hai and played the hero in the legendary 1980 film Chan Pardesi. Before his career in mainstream media, he played multiple roles in theater, which helped him refine his acting skills.

Currently, he has been seen on various digital platforms, including Amazon Prime's Mirzapur and Mirzapur 2, in which he portrays Satyanand Tripathi, aka Bauji. The series has also been successful for two seasons, and the third season is currently in pre-production; shooting will begin soon due to the large demand and fan following. AroraKhatri.com wishes him all the best!