Kanwarjit Singh Paintal

Kanwarjit Paintal, better known as Paintal (born 22 August 1948), is an Indian actor and comedian. He started off as a comic actor and moved on to teaching the art of acting. He has extensively worked not only in numerous movies but also television. He was born into a Sikh family in a village named Tarn Taran which is near Amritsar, Punjab. He lived his early life with his family members in Sadar Bazaar, Delhi. Paintal learnt acting at the Film and Television Institute of India and in 2008 was the Head of the Acting Department of FTII. He came to Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1969. His brother Gufi Paintal played the role Shakuni in B.R. Chopra hit show 'Mahabharat (1988 TV series)', in which he himself played the roles of Shikhandi and Sudama. His son, Hiten Paintal, is also an actor, who worked in movies such as Dil Maange More (2004) and Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008).

Some of Paintal's notable roles included Rattan in Jawani Diwani (1972), Salma in Rafoo Chakkar (1975), Guruji in Bawarchi (1972), Arun in Piya Ka Ghar (1972), Panditji (Astrologer) in Parichay (1972), Totaram in Jangal Mein Mangal (1972), Kamal in Heera Panna (1973), Headmaster in Roti (1974), Ramu in Khote Sikkay (1973), and Budh Anand in Satte Pe Satta (1982). One of his most notable roles was as Champak Boomia in Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar (1973). The film became very successful for the character 'Champak Bhumia' played by him. From playing comic roles, Paintal has moved on to play serious character roles, most recent of which is in the television drama Pyar Ka Dard Hain Kuch Meetha Meetha.