Piyush Mishra

Biography:

Piyush Mishra, originally known as Priyakant Sharma, was born on January 13, 1963, and is a versatile Indian artist renowned for his roles as an actor, singer, lyricist, playwright, musician, and screenwriter.

Mishra’s birth took place in Gwalior to Pratap Kumar Sharma. He initially went by the name Priyakant Sharma and was adopted by his father’s eldest sister, Taradevi Mishra, due to her lack of children. To alleviate financial strain, his family moved into his aunt’s house. His education at Carmel Convent School in Gwalior was intended to promote academic excellence, but it was his interests in singing, painting, and acting that captivated him. Subsequently, he attended JC Mills Higher Secondary School in Gwalior.

While growing up under his aunt’s authoritative care, he developed a rebellious nature, as seen in his first poem, “Zinda ho haan tum koi shak nahin” (Yes, you are alive; there is no doubt), penned during his 8th-grade year. During his 10th-grade studies, he even legally changed his name to Piyush Mishra through an affidavit filed in the district court, asserting his choice.

His journey commenced in Hindi theatre in Delhi, where he made a name for himself as a director, actor, singer, and lyricist over the next ten years. In 2002, he relocated to Mumbai and gained acclaim for his roles in films like “Maqbool” (2003) and “Gangs of Wasseypur” (2012).

Mishra’s prowess as a film lyricist and singer is evident through songs like “Arre Ruk Ja Re Bandeh” in “Black Friday” (2004), “Aarambh Hai Prachand” in “Gulaal” (2009), “Ik Bagal” in “Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1” (2012), and “Husna” in MTV Coke Studio (2012).

In his film acting debut in 1998’s “Dil Se..” directed by Mani Ratnam, Mishra portrayed a C.B.I Investigation Officer. He continued his involvement in theatre while making the transition to screenwriting. His breakthrough in screenwriting came with Rajkumar Santoshi’s 2001 film “The Legend of Bhagat Singh,” inspired by his own critically acclaimed play about Bhagat Singh, “Gagan Damama Bajyo.”

He won the Zee Cine Award for Best Dialogue (2003) for his work. He moved to Mumbai in 2002 and furthered his career as a film lyricist, screenwriter, and actor. His lyricist journey began with the film “Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar” in 2002, followed by contributions to “Black Friday” (2004), “Aaja Nachle,” and “Tashan.”

Mishra’s performance as Kaka in Vishal Bhardwaj’s 2003 film “Maqbool,” an adaptation of Macbeth, earned him acclaim. He personally scripted his dialogues for his portrayal of Hafeez (Huffy) Bhai in “Jhoom Barabar Jhoom” (2007), delivering them in poetic form.

In 2014, he acted in “The Shaukeens,” alongside Anupam Kher, Annu Kapoor, and Lisa Haydon in the lead roles, featuring Akshay Kumar in an extended cameo. Mishra also appeared on “The Kapil Sharma Show” to promote the film with Kher and Kapoor. Although a remake of the 1982 film “Shaukeen,” directed by Basu Chatterjee, the film received audience appreciation and was hailed as the best comedy film of 2014.