| Birbal Khosla was an Indian actor known for his work in Bollywood films until his passing due to a cardiac arrest at the age of 84 in 2023. |
| During his college days in Jalandhar, he drew inspiration from Kishore Kumar's films, sparking his interest in acting. |
| His film industry debut was a single shot in the music video of a song from the movie ‘Raja’ in the early 1960s, offered by director Ram Dayal. |
| In his early acting career, he worked various odd jobs for daily wages to sustain himself. |
| His breakthrough role as Baanchcharam in V. Shantaram’s ‘Boond Jo Ban Gayi Moti’ in 1967 earned him significant acclaim. |
| Crediting his success to directors Raj Khosla and Manoj Kumar, he appeared in multiple of their films like ‘Upkar,’ ‘Mera Saaya,’ ‘Mera Gaon Mera Desh,’ ‘Roti Kapda Aur Makaan,’ and ‘Kranti.’ |
| In 1970, he portrayed a circus surgeon in Raj Kapoor's ‘Mera Naam Joker.’ |
| Known for his role with a half-shaven moustache in the iconic 1975 film ‘Sholay’ alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra, he is a recognized figure in Indian cinema. |
| Birbal acted in over 500 films across different languages such as Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi, and Bhojpuri. |
| While filming ‘Anita’ in 1967, Manoj Kumar and Raj Khosla renamed him ‘Birbal’ as they felt his original name wasn't suitable for Bollywood. |
