Since the release of ‘Kartavya’, audiences have been praising Saif Ali Khan’s powerful performance as a cop fighting against a corrupt system. However, apart from the lead star, another character has left viewers emotional and curious. Harpal, the young Haryanvi boy at the heart of the story, has become one of the film’s biggest talking points. Interestingly, the actor portraying Harpal is not a child artist. His real name is Yudhvir Ahlawat, and he is actually 33 years old. The film is currently streaming on Netflix.
The actor behind Harpal has years of theatre experience
Although many people believe Yudhvir Ahlawat is a fresh face, the actor has spent years working in theatre before stepping into mainstream cinema. He has been actively involved in stage performances for nearly a decade and was also associated with Feroz Abbas Khan’s celebrated production ‘Mughal-e-Azam: The Musical’. Over the years, Yudhvir performed across India and internationally, gradually building his acting career through theatre.
Yudhvir has already worked with several Bollywood stars
Before gaining recognition with ‘Kartavya’, Yudhvir had already appeared in multiple Hindi films. He made his screen debut in Taapsee Pannu and Bhumi Pednekar’s ‘Saand Ki Aankh’, where he played the son of Chandro Tomar. He later featured in Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Shamshera’ and also appeared alongside Bobby Deol and Vikrant Massey in ‘Love Hostel’. Despite these projects, ‘Kartavya’ has become the film that finally brought him mainstream visibility.
Yudhvir belongs to Sheriya village in Haryana’s Jhajjar district. His father, Gyan Singh Ahlawat, served in the Border Security Force, and the actor grew up in a disciplined environment. Unlike his elder brothers, who were much taller and heavily built, Yudhvir had a softer appearance and youthful facial features. Because of this, people often assumed he was much younger than his actual age. Even during the release of ‘Saand Ki Aankh’ in 2019, audiences reportedly believed he was a teenager, despite him being 28 years old at the time. His innocent look eventually helped him land the role of Harpal in ‘Kartavya’.
Yudhvir Ahlawat is now trending online
Following the release of ‘Kartavya’, Yudhvir’s popularity saw a major rise online. In a poll conducted by a popular online database for information related to films, television programs, home videos, video games and streaming content, the actor emerged as the most searched Indian celebrity of the week. His growing popularity reportedly placed him ahead of stars like Aishwarya Rai, Vijay, Jr NTR and Shah Rukh Khan on the trending list.
‘Kartavya’ has turned him into a breakout star
Yudhvir Ahlawat’s portrayal of Harpal has struck a strong emotional chord with viewers. His performance as a vulnerable child trapped in a disturbing situation has been praised for its authenticity and emotional intensity. With ‘Kartavya’, the actor has successfully transformed from a relatively lesser-known performer into one of the most talked-about rising stars in the industry.
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