Adarsh Gourav

Adarsh Gourav Bhagavatula, born on July 8, 1994, is an Indian actor who works in Hindi and English-language films and television series. He first began his acting career as a teenager before gaining international prominence for his performance in the 2021 film adaptation The White Tiger. His career spans independent feature films, streaming series, stage productions, and musical projects.

Gourav was raised in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, in a Telugu-speaking family with roots in Andhra Pradesh. He initially attended Loyola School in Jamshedpur. In 2007, his family relocated to Mumbai after his father, a Central Bank of India employee, received a job transfer. Gourav finished his schooling at Lilavatibai Podar High School and subsequently attended Narsee Monjee College of Commerce. He trained in Hindustani classical music for nine years and participated in television singing competitions, later performing with college bands such as Steepsky and Oak Island, as well as singing for stage productions and movie soundtracks.

While singing at the 2007 Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Gourav was approached to try acting, which led to his film debut as the younger version of the lead character in My Name Is Khan (2010). He decided to pursue acting as a serious career after being cast in the film Banana. During his college years, he appeared in Anurag Kashyap's short film Clean Shaven, the feature drama Rukh, and the thriller Mom. To develop his technical skills, he paused his professional work in 2016 to attend The Drama School in Mumbai. Following his training, he appeared in the theatrical play Lucrece and web productions including Die Trying, Hostel Daze, and Leila.

Gourav achieved a major career breakthrough with his starring role as Balram Halwai in the 2021 Netflix film The White Tiger. His portrayal of an ambitious driver navigating social hierarchies garnered widespread praise from international reviewers and publications. His work in the film earned him nominations for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead.

Following his breakthrough, Gourav continued to take on diverse roles in film and digital media. He starred in the comedy-thriller series Guns & Gulaabs, featured in the Audible podcast series Desi Down Under, and co-starred in the 2023 coming-of-age drama Kho Gaye Hum Kahan. He subsequently starred in the 2026 survival thriller Tu Yaa Main, an adaptation of the Thai film The Pool, playing an aspiring Mumbai rapper.