Gautam Gulati is an Indian television and film actor from Delhi and the winner of Bigg Boss 8 (2014–15). He became known for Diya Aur Baati Hum, played cricketer Ravi Shastri in the film Azhar, and led gangs on MTV Roadies in 2023 and 2025. In September 2026 he went back into a reality format as a contestant, this time on Virender Sehwag’s Rise and Fall 2.
| Gautam Gulati — Quick Biography & Personal Details | |
|---|---|
| Name | Gautam Gulati |
| Profession | Television and Film Actor, Host |
| Date of Birth | 27 November 1987 |
| Age | 38 years |
| Birthplace | Delhi, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| TV Debut | Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki (2008), as Duryodhana |
| Best-Known Serial | Diya Aur Baati Hum (2011–2014), as Vikram Rathi |
| Bigg Boss | Bigg Boss 8 (2014–15), Winner |
| Film Debut | Azhar (2016), as Ravi Shastri |
| Hosting | MTV Big F (2015), Mujhse Shaadi Karoge (2020) |
| Roadies | Gang leader, Roadies 19 (2023) and Roadies 20 (2025) |
| Current Show | Rise and Fall 2 (2026, Prime Video), contestant |
| Net Worth | No reliably verified figure has been published |
Gautam Gulati in a photo published by The Times of India in September 2026.
Early Life
Gautam Gulati was born on 27 November 1987 in Delhi, according to Wikipedia. India Today marked his birthday on 27 November 2015 with the line that he had “turned 28 today”, which matches a 1987 birth. The same piece called him a “Delhi dude” who started out in daily soaps.
His first try at television was not as an actor. He auditioned for MTV Roadies 5 and was turned down. Years later he told India Today that his very first audition had been that Roadies one, some 16-17 years earlier.
Career
Daily soaps (2008–2014)
Gulati’s acting career began in 2008 with Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki, in which he played the young Duryodhana. He followed it with a supporting part as Varun in the Zee TV serial Kasamh Se and the role of Teji in Tujh Sang Preet Lagayi Sajna.
In 2010 he took on Shaurya Khanna in Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani, and he appeared in CID as Abhimanyu. His longest run came next: from 2011 to 2014 he played Vikram Rathi in the high-rated Star Plus serial Diya Aur Baati Hum. He left it to go into Bigg Boss.
Films and web series
Before his Bollywood debut he acted in Darpok, a short film by Rakesh Mehta that was shown at the 67th edition of Cannes, and he played Devadutta in the international epic Sri Siddhartha Gautama. His first mainstream film was Azhar (April 2016), the biopic of Mohammad Azharuddin, in which he played Ravi Shastri.
He went on to play Rahul in Behen Hogi Teri (2017), appeared in Virgin Bhanupriya (2020) and played Girgit in Salman Khan’s Radhe (2021). On streaming, he played a RAW agent in the Eros Now series Operation Cobra (2019).
Looking back on that stretch in a September 2026 interview, The Times of India wrote that he had stepped away from daily soaps after Bigg Boss to concentrate on films, and that his film career did not grow the way he had hoped. “I am not desperate for work and prioritise quality over quantity,” he told the paper.
Selected credits
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki (TV) | Duryodhana |
| 2008–2009 | Kasamh Se (TV) | Varun Sahil Bali |
| 2010–2011 | Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani (TV) | Shaurya Khanna |
| 2011–2014 | Diya Aur Baati Hum (TV) | Vikram Rathi |
| 2014–2015 | Bigg Boss 8 | Contestant, Winner |
| 2015 | MTV Big F | Host |
| 2016 | Azhar (film) | Ravi Shastri |
| 2017 | Behen Hogi Teri (film) | Rahul |
| 2019 | Operation Cobra (web series) | RAW agent |
| 2020 | Mujhse Shaadi Karoge | Host |
| 2021 | Radhe (film) | Girgit |
| 2023 | MTV Roadies: Karm Ya Kaand | Gang leader |
| 2025 | MTV Roadies XX: Double Cross | Gang leader |
| 2026 | Rise and Fall 2 | Contestant |
Bigg Boss 8 Win (2014–2015)
Gulati entered Bigg Boss 8 on Colors TV in September 2014 as a celebrity contestant. He went the distance and won the season in January 2015. The Hindustan Times reported that he beat Karishma Tanna in the finale, with Pritam Singh as second runner-up. Since then he has gone back into the Bigg Boss house as a guest in later seasons, among them Bigg Boss 9 and Bigg Boss 15.
The win opened up hosting work. He fronted MTV Big F in 2015 and, in 2020, the matchmaking show Mujhse Shaadi Karoge.
Roadies Gang Leader (2023 and 2025)
The show that rejected him became a full circle. In 2023 he was one of the gang leaders on MTV Roadies: Karm Ya Kaand (season 19), alongside Prince Narula and Rhea Chakraborty. He was back as a gang leader for season 20, Roadies XX: Double Cross, in 2025.
Gautam Gulati in Rise and Fall 2 (2026)
In September 2026, 11 years after his Bigg Boss title, Gulati returned to reality TV as a participant. Rise and Fall 2 premiered on Prime Video on 26 September 2026, with 15 contestants and Virender Sehwag taking over as host. New episodes drop daily at 12 noon. The show’s first season was won by Arjun Bijlani, with Ashneer Grover hosting.
The format splits players into Rulers, who live in a penthouse, and Workers, who live in the basement, and the positions can change during the game. Gulati was announced as a “Ruler” contestant, Asianet Newsable reported. In the first episode places were decided by cash. In his round, as recapped by Daily Jagran, Priyanka Chahar Choudhary had ₹4 lakh and he had ₹3.5 lakh, so the two pooled their money and went up to the penthouse together.
Gautam Gulati in a portrait published by India Today in 2023.
In the 24 October 2026 episode he beat Rishabh Jaiswal and Manish Kasyap in the task to become the new Ultimate Ruler. That tenure ended in the 1 November episode, according to Filmibeat. Where every player stands in the Tower is tracked on our Rise and Fall 2 contestants list.
Lesser-Known Facts
- Before he ever acted, he auditioned for MTV Roadies 5 and was rejected. He later led gangs on the same show twice.
- One of his early films, the short Darpok, made it to Cannes.
- He played a real cricketer, Ravi Shastri, in his first Bollywood film.
- On Bigg Boss 8 he went the full distance and took the trophy in January 2015.
- Rise and Fall 2 is his first reality show as a competitor since Bigg Boss 8, more than a decade later.
FAQ About Gautam Gulati
How old is Gautam Gulati?
Gautam Gulati was born on 27 November 1987, so he is 38 years old.
Where is Gautam Gulati from?
He was born in Delhi.
Did Gautam Gulati win Bigg Boss?
Yes. He won Bigg Boss 8, beating Karishma Tanna in the finale. Pritam Singh was second runner-up.
Is Gautam Gulati in Rise and Fall 2?
Yes. He is a contestant on Rise and Fall 2, which premiered on Prime Video on 26 September 2026 with Virender Sehwag as host. He entered as a Ruler.
Which role did Gautam Gulati play in Azhar?
He played cricketer Ravi Shastri in the 2016 biopic of Mohammad Azharuddin.
Which serial made Gautam Gulati famous?
Diya Aur Baati Hum, in which he played Vikram Rathi from 2011 to 2014.
Was Gautam Gulati a Roadies gang leader?
Yes, on Roadies 19 (Karm Ya Kaand, 2023) and Roadies 20 (Double Cross, 2025).
What is Gautam Gulati’s net worth?
No reliably verified figure has been published.
Related Biographies
- Prince Narula Biography: fellow Roadies 19 gang leader
- Arjun Bijlani Biography: winner of Rise and Fall season 1
- Karan Patel Biography: fellow Rise and Fall 2 contestant
- Rishabh Jaiswal Biography: a finalist of his Roadies 19 season, now a Rise and Fall 2 wildcard
- Priyanka Chahar Choudhary Biography: fellow Rise and Fall 2 contestant
