Barun Sobti is an Indian actor known primarily for his work in Hindi-language television and digital streaming productions. He came to widespread recognition for portraying Arnav Singh Raizada in the romantic drama Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?, broadcast on Star Plus from 2011 to 2012. He has since appeared in films and web series across Hindi entertainment.
| Full name | Barun Sobti |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 August 1984, New Delhi, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Known for | Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?, Asur |
| Spouse | Pashmeen Manchanda (m. 2010) |
Background
Sobti was born and raised in New Delhi. He completed his schooling at Air Force Bal Bharati School and later studied at Shivaji College, University of Delhi. Before entering acting, he worked briefly in the corporate sector. He married his long-time companion Pashmeen Manchanda in 2010.
Career
Television
Sobti began his television career with Shraddha on Star One in 2009. He went on to appear in Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo on Colors TV, where he played Shravan. His breakthrough came with Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? on Star Plus, in which he played the lead male role of Arnav Singh Raizada opposite Sanaya Irani. The show, produced by 4 Lions Films, ran from June 2011 to November 2012 and gained a substantial domestic and international viewership, particularly across South Asia and within the South Asian diaspora.
He returned to the franchise with Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? 3 (2017), which streamed on Hotstar.
Films
Sobti made his Hindi film debut with Main Aur Mr. Riight (2014), co-starring Shenaz Treasury. He subsequently appeared in Tu Hai Mera Sunday (2017), an ensemble comedy-drama directed by Milind Dhaiya, and 22 Yards (2019), a sports drama. He has also worked in Punjabi cinema.
Web series
Sobti played the lead role of Nikhil Nair, a forensic expert turned criminal investigator, in the Voot Select crime thriller Asur: Welcome to Your Dark Side. The first season premiered in 2020 and the second season released in 2023, both directed by Oni Sen and produced by Tanveer Bookwala's Ding Entertainment. The series received critical attention for its mythology-influenced narrative.
Selected works
| Year | Title | Role | Platform/Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Shraddha | — | Star One |
| 2010 | Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo | Shravan | Colors TV |
| 2011–2012 | Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? | Arnav Singh Raizada | Star Plus |
| 2014 | Main Aur Mr. Riight | Yuvraaj Dixit | Film |
| 2017 | Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? 3 | Advay Singh Raizada | Hotstar |
| 2017 | Tu Hai Mera Sunday | Arjun | Film |
| 2019 | 22 Yards | Ron Sen | Film |
| 2020 | Asur | Nikhil Nair | Voot Select |
| 2023 | Asur 2 | Nikhil Nair | JioCinema/Voot |
Recognition
For Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?, Sobti received recognition at industry awards including the Indian Television Academy Awards and the Star Parivaar Awards in categories associated with popular male leads. The role contributed significantly to his profile within the Indian television romantic drama genre.
Significance
Sobti is regarded as one of the popular Hindi television leads of the 2010s, with the character of Arnav Singh Raizada becoming a frequent reference point in discussions of Indian television romance. His move to longer-form web content with Asur reflected a broader transition by Hindi television actors into streaming originals during the late 2010s and early 2020s.