Kelly Dorji

Biography:

Lynpo Paljor Dorji, also referred to as Dasho Benji and the permanent advisor to Bhutan’s National Environment Commission, is Dorji’s father. His mother is Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) founding member and children’s book author Louise Dorji. Dorji studied at Sherubtse College in eastern Bhutan and St. Paul’s School in Darjeeling. He graduated from Mumbai’s St. Xavier’s College with honours in history. Jigme Palden Dorji, the prime minister of Bhutan, was Dorji’s grandfather. A descendant of the Sikkim Royal Family, Dorji is a member of the Bhutanese Dorji Family.

In India, Kelly Dorji became well-known as a fashion model in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He modelled for print campaigns for Models Out of Town in London and for designers including Shahab Durazi, JJ Valaya, Arun Khanna, Rohit Bal, and Tarun Tahiliani on the runway in India. With co-anchor Lisa Ray, Dorji anchored the English-language television programme “Star Biz” for Star TV.

Over the course of his acting career, Kelly Dorji has been in close to 30 films. In 2005, he made his acting debut in Tango Charlie, directed by Mani Shankar, playing the lead antagonist alongside Ajay Devgan and Bobby Deol. Dorji relocated to the Telugu cinema industry in 2008, where he became well-known for roles in films including the 2007 action smash Don with Nagarjuna and Ek Ka Dum with Mahesh Babu. With the 2011 release of his Dzongkha movie Sem Gawai Tasha, Dorji helped increase interest in Bhutanese films within his own nation.

Dorji is well recognised for creating many of his own choreographed film stunts. He worked with choreographer Lubna Adam and created pageant routines as well. In spite of restricting his stunt work in films following a near-fatal accident in 2013, Dorji is still acting.

Lara Dutta, a Bollywood actress, and Dorji dated for nine years before calling it quits in 2007.

He is presently a resident in Bhutan’s Thimphu. He is the owner of Terton Travel Bhutan, a high-end travel agency.

As a consultant on the board of the Voluntary Artist’s Studio of Thimphu (VAST), Dorji helps the Bhutanese contemporary art sector more widely. For the Tarayana Foundation, Dorji is a member of the executive board. Dorji, a passionate enduro rider, participates in charity events with the Tarayana Dragons.