Happy birthday Upen Patel: A look back at his glamorous career and unforgettable roles

Upen Patel’s journey from a model to a Bollywood actor is a story of determination, resilience, and the unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry. Born on August 16, 1982, in London, Upen hails from a Gujarati family but grew up in the United Kingdom. His good looks and sharp style helped him make a name for himself in the fashion world, where he won numerous accolades and gained recognition as one of the most promising models of his time. He was named Model of the Year for four consecutive years at the Asia Fashion Award and was consistently featured in the top 10 sexiest men in Asia for five years running. MTV India also awarded him the title of Most Stylish Male for two years in a row.

Upen’s success in modeling opened the doors to Bollywood, where he made his debut in 2006 with 36 China Town, directed by Abbas-Mustan. This role marked his transition to the big screen, where his charming presence won him attention. He followed it up with a notable role in Namastey London in 2007, playing a Pakistani Muslim living in London. The same year, he appeared in Shakalaka Boom Boom, cementing his place in the industry. Over the next few years, Upen featured in films such as Money Hai Toh Honey Hai, One Two Three, and the hit comedy Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009), showing his versatility as an actor.

Despite these early successes, Upen's Bollywood career began to slow down. His last major Hindi film was Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha in 2017. However, his passion for the craft remained undeterred, and he explored other avenues such as regional cinema. Upen made his Tamil debut in 2015 with S. Shankar’s I and later appeared in Telugu films like Boomerang and Chanakya. His Telugu debut in Chanakya (2019) marked his last screen appearance to date.

Before entering Bollywood, Upen also had a stint in television, hosting the cooking show Cook Na Kaho. After his Bollywood career slowed, he returned to the small screen, participating in popular reality shows like Bigg Boss 8 and Nach Baliye 7, where he reached the finals alongside actress Karishma Tanna. Upen and Karishma’s relationship made headlines during the show, and the couple co-hosted MTV Love School before their eventual breakup in 2016. Despite their separation, Karishma described Upen as a "wonderful soul," reflecting on the unpredictable nature of relationships.

While Upen’s career in films may have ebbed, his presence in the industry was significant during his peak years. From being a supermodel to a Bollywood actor, Upen showed his versatility and determination in the world of entertainment. He has also been a part of several iconic music videos, including DJ Suketu’s Kya Khoob Lagti Ho, which was one of the most expensive music videos of its time, directed by Ahmed Khan.

In recent years, Upen has taken a step back from the limelight, with his last post on Instagram in 2021 and his last tweet in 2022.