Meet Mohit Malik, internet's new obsession and actor who plays Mirzapur's Birju Lohar

The internet has found a new favourite in Mirzapur: The Movie, and it is not one of the franchise’s familiar faces. Actor Mohit Malik, who plays Birju Lohar, has become one of the most talked-about actors in the film, with viewers drawn to his quiet intensity and complicated love story with Rasika Dugal's Beena Bhabhi.Released on September 4, the film brings the popular Mirzapur world to the big screen, with Pankaj Tripathi returning as Kaleen Bhaiya, Ali Fazal as Guddu and Divyenndu as Munna. But Birju, a new character in the franchise, has managed to grab plenty of attention of his own.So, who exactly is Birju?Birju is a loyal associate of Babban Yadav, played by Ravi Kishan. He is a dangerous man who uses a chhitanki, a small but lethal weapon, to take down his enemies. But there is much more to him than his violent side.At the heart of Birju’s story is his complicated past with Beena Bhabhi, played by Rasika Dugal. The two were once lovers, but Birju was forced to stay away from her after she married Kaleen Bhaiya. Years of separation leave him carrying anger, longing and a desire for revenge. One scene, in particular, has caught the internet’s attention. Set to Saanson Ki Mala, the sequence sees Beena confront Birju and shoot him. As she walks away in tears, Birju responds with a quiet smile.It is a small moment, but it has made a big impact. Social media has been flooded with edits and reactions to the scene, with viewers praising the chemistry between Mohit and Rasika. Many have also found themselves rooting for the tragic love story hidden inside the larger crime drama.All about actor Mohit Malik's TV career For Mohit, Birju is a very different character from the roles that made him a familiar face on television.Born on January 11, 1983, in Delhi, Mohit has spent almost two decades in the Hindi television industry. He first became widely known as Samrat Singh Rathore in Doli Armaano Ki. He later played Sikandar Singh Gill in Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala, another role that earned him a strong television following.His television journey also includes Baatein Kuch Ankahee Si. He participated in Khatron Ke Khiladi 12, where he finished as the second runner-up. He also briefly played Lord Shiva in Gatha Shiv Parivaar Ki – Ganesh Kartikey.Mohit eventually made the move to Bollywood. He made his film debut in Azaad in 2025, where he played Tez Bahadur opposite Ajay Devgn. While the film did not make a major impact at the box office, the role opened another door for the actor.Mohit's performance as BirjuThat door led him to Mirzapur: The Movie.Director Gurmmeet Singh and the makers approached Mohit for Birju, a character who had not appeared in the original series. Mohit has described Birju as a “surprise element” in the film and a “revengeful lover”.The actor also went through a physical transformation for the part. He grew a beard and adopted a more rugged, desi look to fit Birju’s world. But the bigger challenge was understanding the man beneath the violence.Away from the screen, Mohit has been married to actor Addite, also known as Aditi, Shirwaikar, since 2010. The couple have a son, Ekbir, who was born in 2021. They have largely kept their family life away from the spotlight while continuing to work in the entertainment industry.- EndsPublished On: Sep 9, 2026 14:11 IST