Arif Zakaria is an Indian actor. He has had many roles, beginning with his debut film Darmiyaan (1987), 1947 Earth (1998), Dance Like a man (2004) and other roles, even biographical projects such as Mardana in the controversial Nanak Shah Fakir.

 

Zakaria began acting in theatre while in college and later moved on to television and films. He has acted in numerous television serials in the last decade including Chunauti, Karambhoomi, Mrityudand, Dhund, Aarzoo, Campus, Kaali - Ek Agnipariksha, etc. He has acted in diverse roles in films like Darmiyaan, Hero, Asambhav and Dance Like a Man (English). He has also travelled the globe since 2005 with the Australian musical show Merchants of Bollywood, performing major roles in the production across Europe, China, France, Poland, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia (the last season in Sydney in 2010).

 

He portrayed Rustom Sethna in Deepa Mehta's Earth/1947 and Major Dhillon in Shyam Benegal's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero. He also appeared in Home Delivery: Aapko... Ghar Tak, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Deewaar and the Shah Rukh Khan film My Name is Khan.