Rahul Dev Kaushal, born on September 27, 1968, in Saket, New Delhi, is an Indian actor and former model renowned for his compelling portrayals of antagonistic characters across various Indian film industries, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Early Life and Education
Rahul hails from a Punjabi Hindu Brahmin family with ancestral roots in a village in the Jalandhar district. His father, Hari Dev Kaushal, served as an Assistant Commissioner of Police and was fluent in Pashto and Farsi. Rahul completed his schooling at St. Columba’s School in Delhi.
Modeling Career
In 1993, while in his final year of college studying engineering, Rahul was discovered by fashion designer Rohit Khosla, who encouraged him to pursue modeling. He began his modeling career in 1994 and quickly became one of India’s top male models in the 1990s, featuring in advertisements for major brands like Tata and Raymond.
Acting Career
Rahul made his acting debut in the 2000 film “Champion,” where his performance as a villain earned him a nomination for the Filmfare Best Villain Award. He continued to portray negative roles in various films, including “Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded” (2009) and the Punjabi movie “Dharti” (2011). In 2013, he made his television debut as the demon Arunasur in the mythological series “Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev.”
Personal Life
Rahul was married to Rina Dev, who passed away from cancer on May 16, 2009. The couple had a son named Siddharth. As of 2020, Rahul is in a relationship with model and actress Mugdha Godse.
Family
Rahul’s younger brother, Mukul Dev, was also an actor known for his work in films like “Son of Sardaar.” Mukul passed away on May 23, 2025, at the age of 54.
Other Interests
An avid cricket enthusiast in his youth, Rahul represented Delhi at the under-19 level and was coached by Gurcharan Singh.
Rahul Dev’s journey from modeling to acting showcases his versatility and dedication to his craft, making him a notable figure in the Indian entertainment industry.
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