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Arun Bali

Arun Bali

Actor · Born December 23, 1942 (83) · Jalandhar, Punjab, India

Arun Bali was an Indian actor known for his dignified screen presence and impactful performances across films, television, and theatre. Hailing from Punjab, he built a versatile career marked by memorable character roles that connected deeply with audiences. Over the decades, he became widely appreciated for portraying layered, emotionally grounded characters, often bringing warmth, authority, and authenticity to every part he played. His work across genres earned him immense respect in the industry, making him one of the most recognisable and admired senior actors in Indian entertainment.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
December 23, 1942 (83)
From
Jalandhar, Punjab, India
Works as
Actor
Titles
16 on MovieCove · 44 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 14% in 30 days

What are Arun Bali's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
31%
Morality
30%
Self
14%
Society
13%
Survival
6%
Power
4%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 5 · Intense 5

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 6 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 1 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
9
Tense
6
Hopeful
3
Joyful
3
Warm
2
Other
9

How their films linger

Bittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Arun Bali's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 16 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Arun Bali's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

44 credits, 16 with a MovieCove page.

  • Dunki(2023)

    as Manu's Father (Old)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Mushaira (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Bashir Baba

  • Goodbye(2022)

    as Gayatri's father

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Laal Singh Chaddha(2022)

    as Sardarji in train

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Samrat Prithviraj(2022)

    as Arnoraja

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Panipat(2019)

    as Ala Singh

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Interdependence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Akaash's father (segment "Megha's Divorce")

  • Cypher(2019)

    as Monk

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Husband Material(2018)

    as Rumi's Grandfather

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Punjab Singh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Taya

  • Once Upon a Time in Amritsar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Gurtej’s Father

  • Airlift(2016)

    as Bauji

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Utopia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Rajendra

  • Sonali Cable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Old Sikh Gentleman

  • Punjab 1984 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Darshan Singh Poonpuri

  • OMG: Oh My God!(2012)

    as The Good Monk

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Barfi!(2012)

    as Jhilmil's Grandfather

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Ready (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Guruji

  • 3 Idiots(2009)

    as Shamaldas Chanchad

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Apni Boli Apna Des (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Arjun Singh

  • Munde U.K. De (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Gurdit Singh

  • Gumnaam: The Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Dayal Singh / Sardarji

  • Sat Sri Akal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • To Be Continued (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Editor

  • Lage Raho Munna Bhai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as 2nd Innings Resident

  • Veer Zaara(2004)

    as Abdul Malik Shirazi

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Zameen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Pakistani' Home Minister

  • Armaan(2003)

    as Gulshan Kapoor's assistant

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Aankhen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Mr. Goenka

  • Shirdi Sai Baba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Vainku Shah

  • Laado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Nafe Singh

  • Hey Ram(2000)

    as Shaheed Suhrawardy

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • A.K.47 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Mumbai Police Commissioner Bhatnagar

  • Nyaydaata(1999)

    as Navin kumar

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dildara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Shaktimaan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 169 episodes · as Dayal Chopra

  • ...Jayate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Judge

  • The Peacock Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Prof. Asutoth

  • Ram Jaane(1995)

    as Paowala Baba

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Khal Nayak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Commissioner

  • Banegi Apni Baat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 14 episodes · as Mr Seth

  • Karamati Coat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Irani

  • Doosra Keval (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Suswagatam Khushamadeed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 42 titles, 41 of them dated from 1989 to 2023; peak year 2011.

Biggest box office

OMG: Oh My God! (2012)

$12M worldwide

Highest rated

Barfi! (2012)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Laal Singh Chaddha (2022)

Film career

19892023

Peak 2011 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1993Screen debut· Khal Nayak
  • 2009Career best· 3 Idiots

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting41 of 42: 41 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score84thEditing1 of 42: 1 only editing, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s9 · acting2000s13 · 12 acting · 1 crew2010s13 · acting2020s5 · acting

Billing

usually 14th · top billed in 0% of 15 roles
9308

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Arun Bali's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 78th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 50th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 16 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th2
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 16 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Loved with Detractors2
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Laal Singh Chaddha (2022)

99th percentile spread · 58% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

3 Idiots (2009)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 36. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Arun Bali's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles6–43 · median 23 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles6–42 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 15 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 27 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 26 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Arun Bali work with?

People who share at least 2 of Arun Bali's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Akshay Kumar shares the most, 2.

Actors

Composers