Amar Upadhyay is an Indian television actor and producer born on 1 August 1976 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, into a Gujarati family, and raised in the Malad area of Mumbai. He completed his college studies in Chemical Engineering, and after graduating joined the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune for formal acting training. He married Hetal Upadhyay on 23 March 1999; they have two children. His television debut came with Jaya Bachchan's 1994 comedy serial Dekh Bhai Dekh, followed by several smaller roles before he was accidentally discovered at age 10 on a biscuit brand commercial shoot. He rose to unprecedented fame as Mihir Virani — the beloved male lead of Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms production Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (Star Plus, 2000–2002). When Mihir was written out of the serial through an emotional 'death' episode in 2001, fans across India staged public protests, flooded the channel with phone calls and letters, and forced Balaji Telefilms to bring the character back to life — one of the most famous fan intervention incidents in Indian television history. He subsequently appeared in multiple Ekta Kapoor productions including Kalash, Kasautii Zindagii Kay, and Kkusum. He ventured into films with Dhund – The Fog (2003) and LOC Kargil (2003), later returning to television with Chand Ke Paar Chalo and Saath Nibhaana Saathiya (2015–17, winning the Gold Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dharam). His more recent film appearances include 13B (2009), Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022), Bob Biswas (2021), and Kaagaz (2021, directed by Satish Kaushik). In 2022, he produced and starred in the TV film Kyunkii Tum Hi Ho, and in 2025 he reprised the iconic role of Mihir Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2. In October 2011, he entered Bigg Boss 5 on Colors TV as a wildcard contestant in Week 2, ultimately reaching the grand finale and finishing fifth on 7 January 2012.

His portrayal of the beloved character Mihir Virani in Ekta Kapoor's Star Plus mega-serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (2000–2002) — whose scripted 'death' in 2001 provoked unprecedented fan protests forcing producers to revive the character; his role as Dharam Suryavanshi in Saath Nibhaana Saathiya (Star Plus, 2015–17), for which he won the Gold Award for Best Supporting Actor; his Bollywood appearances in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022), Bob Biswas (2021), and Kaagaz (2021); finishing as fourth runner-up (fifth place) in Bigg Boss 5 (2011–12).

Frequently Asked