Every year, thousands of aspiring actors pack their bags and head to Mumbai with dreams of becoming the next big movie star. Few realise that the journey rarely runs in a straight line. Mohammed Iqbal Khan, better known as Iqbal Khan, is a prime example — his career began with a couple of unsuccessful Bollywood films, nearly ended with him considering a return home, and eventually led him to become one of Hindi television’s most popular romantic leads.
Iqbal Khan’s Bollywood career
Born in Kashmir, Iqbal moved to Mumbai in 2001 in his 20s with high hopes. He aspired to become like Shah Rukh Khan and believed he would enter Bollywood and achieve stardom almost instantly. However, fate had a very different plan for him. His initial break came with Hindi films, including Fun2shh… Dudes in the 10th Century (2003) and Bullet: Ek Dhamaka (2005).
However, his films released alongside massive star-studded projects such as Shah Rukh Khan’s Kal Ho Naa Ho, Sanjay Dutt’s Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. and LOC Kargil. This made it difficult for his early films to gain traction. When both films failed to perform, the work dried up.
In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Iqbal recalled his early days and said, “When I moved to Bombay, I thought that perhaps I would become Shah Rukh Khan as soon as I arrived. I think everyone who moves there feels that way — that it will happen. But nothing like that happened initially. And the films I started my career with didn’t work.”
Faced with rising expenses, Iqbal found himself struggling to cover basic expenses such as rent and phone recharges. He didn’t have work for almost two years and even had to sell his car due to the financial crunch and then travelled by bus. Facing the harsh financial reality, he seriously contemplated packing his bags and leaving Mumbai.
The TV turnaround: Becoming the ‘SRK of television’
Just when he was on the verge of returning home, an opportunity arrived that changed the trajectory of his career. He accepted the lead role in Balaji Telefilms’ romantic drama Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai (2005), a decision that was initially driven by his need to pay his rent.
Playing the charismatic rock star Angad Khanna, Iqbal became an overnight sensation. His intense screen presence, deep baritone voice and bad-boy charm captivated audiences across the country. When Ektaa Kapoor cast Iqbal as the lead in Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai, the show became an instant prime-time hit.
His immense romantic appeal, persona and massive female fan following led Ektaa to publicly refer to him as the “Shah Rukh Khan of the small screen”, or television.
A string of television hits followed, including Kavyanjali, Kahiin To Hoga, Tumhari Pakhi and Sanjog Se Bani Sangini, solidifying his position among television’s leading actors. He also became one of the highest-paid actors in the television industry. Over the years, he went on to feature in shows such as Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani, Bahu Hamari Rajni Kant and Dil Se Dil Tak.
Redefining his career beyond TV
Rather than staying within one domain, Iqbal used his television success to explore films and digital streaming as well. Over the years, he has built a diverse portfolio across film and OTT.
He transitioned into the digital space with high-octane thriller series such as Crackdown and Commander Karan Saxena. He also returned to feature films, appearing in projects such as the critically acclaimed thriller Jalsa (2022), which starred Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah, and Indoo Ki Jawani.
Iqbal is currently leading the show Yaadien. The medical drama is an official adaptation of the Italian series Doc – Nelle tue mani. It also stars Gulki Joshi and Srishti Singh in lead roles. The show premiered on April 6, 2026, and has completed more than 100 episodes. It is available to watch on Sony SAB and streams on SonyLIV.
