Purab Kohli is a popular Indian actor, video jockey and model. He is best known as a VJ. He has hosted a number of television shows including the well-known travel show `Gone India`. His venture into the film world is also appreciable. He was seen in critically acclaimed films like `My Brother...Nikhil` and `I Am`.
Early Life of Purab Kohli
He was born on 23 February 1979 and hails from Uttar Pradesh state of India. His father owns and manages a hotel and mother is a corporate trainer. Kohli`s uncle is influential filmmaker Shekhar Kapur.
Education of Purab Kohli
Kohli received his school education from various schools of St. Stanislaus, Auxilium Convent and The Bishop`s School in Pune, Maharashtra. He later joined a flying school to be a pilot. However, he did not continue the course. He also switched his education faculty from Science to Commerce and eventually to Arts.
Modelling and Television Career of Purab Kohli
His tryst with the glamour world started with modelling. He has walked for various famous fashion designers. Later, Kohli shifted his focus on television. His first television show was `Hip Hip Hurray` on Zee TV. He earned instant recognition through video jockeying on Channel V. His impressive communication skills then went on to bag him various shows. He hosted the travel show `Gone India` where he toured India on budget trips. Then in the year 2010, he anchored the Zee TV music talent hunt `Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Singing Superstar`. He has also hosted the show `Terra Quiz` on National Geographic Channel.
He has appeared in television ads for Colgate, Pizza Hut, Compaq Presario, Amaron Batteries, and Castrol.
Film Career of Purab Kohli
Kohli debuted as an actor for the silver screen in the year 2003 with the Nandita Das starrer movie `Bus Yuhin`. His other Bollywood films include `Supari` (2003), `Vastu Shastra` (2004), and 13th Floor (2005). It was the Onir directed movie `My Brother...Nikhil` which was also released in 2005 and made him a known face in the film fraternity. He then went on to appear in Mahesh Bhatt`s film `Woh Lamhe` in 2006 and `Awarapan` in 2007. In 2008, he acted in Abhishek Kapoor directed movie `Rock On!!` along with Farhan Akhtar, Luke Kenny and Arjun Rampal. This film garnered him a Special Jury Mention at the 2009 Filmfare Awards. He then again worked with director Onir and actor Nandita Das in `I Am` in 2010-11.
Personal life of Purab Kohli
He was married to Yamini Namjoshi, who is a theatre actress and assistant director. She has worked with director Prakash Jha in the 2010 film Raajneeti. There are reports that the couple later divorced.