Paresh Rawal (May 30, 1950) is an Indian actor from Bollywood, Mumbai. He plays several roles ranging from the comedian to the villain. He is of a Gujarati background. He made his film debut in director Ketan Mehta's 1985 film Arjun. This was followed by many supporting and villain roles throughout the 80s and early 90s.

His notable films include Sardar (1992) in which he plays the lead role of freedom fighter Vallabhbhai Patel, Maya Memsaab (1992), a film based on Madame Bovary, in which he played a scheming shop-owner who entraps the title character into a series of financial schemes and the critically acclaimed Tammanna (1996) where he played the challenging and ground-breaking role of a hijra (Hope, or Desire) who raises a young, orphaned girl, played by Pooja Bhatt.In 2000, Rawal played a dim-witted and boisterous, but kind-hearted Marathi landlord Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in the film Hera Pheri who takes in Raju (Akshay Kumar) and Shyam (Sunil Shetty) in adverse times, and ends up in a get-rich-quick scheme when a kidnapper of the granddaughter of a wealthy businessman accidentally calls them to demand ransom. Rawal's acting was a key reason for the major nationwide success the film received. He reprised his role as Baburao in Phir Hera Pheri (2006) which was also successful. In 2002, Rawal portrayed one of three blind bank robbers in the hit film Aankhen.Rawal has since played many comedy roles in successful films including Awara Paagal Deewana (2002), Garam Masala (2005), Deewane Huye Pagal (2005), Malamaal Weekly (2006), Golmaal (2006 film) (2006) and Bhagam Bhag (2006). He is also a famous theatre personality. He is married to Swaroop Sampat.Paresh Rawal has won the Filmfare Best Comedian Award and the Filmfare Best Villain Award. He has also been awarded the prestigious National Award by the President of India for his roles in Sardar and Tammanna. Paresh Rawal is an alumunus from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce & Economics (NMIMS), Vile Parle, Mumbai