Lakshya
Who Is Lakshya?
Laksh Lalwani, known mononymously as Lakshya, is an Indian actor born on April 19, 1996, in Delhi, India.
His journey is extraordinary. He arrived in Mumbai from Delhi with no industry connections. He faced years of setbacks, shelved projects, and uncertainty. But he never stopped pushing.
He played the titular warrior in the period drama series Porus (2017–2018) and made his feature film debut with a starring role in the action film Kill (2024), which earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut.
He was featured in Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 list — a milestone that confirmed him as one of India’s most important young stars.
Early Life: A Delhi Boy With a Dream
Family and Background
Lakshya belongs to a middle-class family from Delhi with no contacts in the film or acting industry in Mumbai. His father’s name is Romesh Lalwani and his mother’s name is Savita Lalwani. His mother practices Buddhism, a value system that has shaped the family’s grounded approach to success. He has a younger sister named Poorvi Lalwani.
Education
Laksh completed his schooling at St. Xavier’s School, Delhi, and earned a bachelor’s degree in arts and photography from the University of Delhi. This academic background in the creative arts gave him a strong visual sensibility that would later translate into his precise, physical screen presence.
The Decision to Move to Mumbai
Laksh never thought of becoming an actor until he got his first role in the TV serial Yoddha Uchh. After that, the dream became clear. He packed his bags, left Delhi, and moved to Mumbai — a city where nobody knew his name. Yet he carried, in his own words, “conviction, determination, and a strong ZIDD (stubbornness).”
Early Television Career: Building the Foundation (2015–2018)
Debut in Warrior High (2015)
He began his acting journey on television in 2015, quickly becoming one of the most recognisable young faces on Indian TV. His debut came through the teen drama Warrior High, where he played the role of Parth. The show introduced him to a young national audience and planted the seeds of his public profile.
Adhuri Kahaani Hamari and Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil
Lakshya played Madhav Shekhawat/Krish in the supernatural series Adhuri Kahaani Hamari (2015–2016) and briefly appeared in Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya. In November 2016, Lakshya joined Ekta Kapoor’s romantic drama series Pardes Mein Hai Meraa Dil (2016–2017). Each role built his range. Each show brought new lessons. He was learning on some of India’s biggest television platforms.
Porus (2017–2018): The Role That Changed Everything
The defining chapter of his television career arrived in 2017. He gained further attention for his portrayal of the titular warrior in the historical TV show Porus (2017–2018), which is among the most expensive Indian television shows in history.
Laksh took special training for his show Porus. He learned rowing, fencing, and horse riding to make his character more convincing. The commitment was total. The show, produced by Sony Entertainment on a budget of ₹500 crore, was a massive production that demanded physical and emotional transformation.
The role paid off immediately. He even won the prestigious Lions Gold Award for Best Actor for his stint in Porus and also received recognition at the Asian Television Awards.
The Road to Bollywood: Setbacks, Patience, and Persistence
The Dharma Productions Deal (2019)
In 2019, Lakshya signed a three-film deal with Dharma Productions, marking a decisive shift toward cinema. It was a massive vote of confidence from Bollywood’s most influential production house. However, the path forward was far from smooth.
Shelved Projects: Dostana 2 and Bedhadak
The years that followed tested Lakshya’s patience deeply. He was first cast alongside Kartik Aaryan and Janhvi Kapoor in Dostana 2, but the film ended up being shelved. Then, another one of his projects, Bedhadak with Shanaya Kapoor, was also cancelled.
Kill (2024): The Breakthrough That Was Worth the Wait
A Film Like No Other
Kill premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2023, and was theatrically released on July 5, 2024, to positive reviews from critics, who praised its cinematography, visuals, soundtrack, cast performances, and action sequences.
Lakshya made his Bollywood debut as Captain Amrit Rathod in the Dharma Productions action film Kill (2024), directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat. The character is a stoic army man who has to fight off dacoits in a running train. The film drew comparisons to action legends like John Wick and Oldboy.
Seven Months of Training
The performance did not happen by accident. Lakshya underwent 7–8 months of training in martial arts for the movie Kill, practicing martial arts for four to five hours every day. He rehearsed every day with 40 goons, fighters, and co-actors. The film contains 40 to 45 killings, and they trained accordingly.
Awards and Recognition
The accolades came fast. Lakshya won the Best Debut Actor Award for his performance in Kill at the 70th Filmfare Awards. During his acceptance speech, he said: “Today, my dream has come true.” He received the award trophy from Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar and specifically thanked Karan Johar for mentoring him through the film’s journey.
Additionally, he won the IIFA Award for Star Debut of the Year (Male), along with the Zee Cine Award and Pinkvilla Screen & Style Icons Award for Best Male Debut.
Kill received fifteen nominations at the 70th Filmfare Awards, including Best Film, Best Director (Nikhil Nagesh Bhat), Best Male Debut (Lakshya), and Best Supporting Actor (Raghav Juyal).
The Ba***ds of Bollywood (2025): The Netflix Chapter
Aryan Khan’s Directorial Debut
Lakshya has since starred as an aspiring actor in the satirical drama series The Ba***ds of Bollywood (2025) for Netflix, directed by Aryan Khan, which opened to positive reception.
In Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, Lakshya plays Aasmaan Singh — a self-assured, rough-around-the-edges, and very impulsive character.
The role struck a deeply personal chord. “I immediately felt a connection with the material because there was a part of me that used to feel like this and think like this,” Lakshya revealed. “Like Aasmaan, I’m also very close to my family.”
He also described working with Aryan Khan as a unique experience. “Aryan has this habit of enacting every character because he needs perfection,” Lakshya revealed. The series brought a new dimension to Lakshya’s public image — showing audiences that he could carry both physical action and nuanced character-driven drama.
Chand Mera Dil (2026): A New Chapter in Romance
In 2026, Lakshya starred as a troubled young man struggling with his girlfriend’s unexpected pregnancy in the romantic drama Chand Mera Dil, produced by Karan Johar, opposite Ananya Panday.
The film was released in theatres on May 22, 2026, and received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics. Despite the commercial outcome, the film demonstrated Lakshya’s range — proving he could step outside the action genre entirely and carry a sensitive, emotionally complex love story.
What’s Next: An Exciting Pipeline
Lakshya’s upcoming slate is already generating significant buzz. He is set to collaborate with filmmaker Prosit Roy on a new untitled feature that blends romance with psychological drama, with filming scheduled to begin in December 2026. The project promises to push him into entirely new emotional territory.
Additionally, reports suggest he is attached to several other Dharma Productions projects. His TMDB profile lists upcoming films including Lag Jaa Gale, Rowdy Rathore 2, Kill 2, and a project titled Dostana 2 — confirming that, despite past setbacks with shelved films, his pipeline with Karan Johar’s studio remains full and ambitious.
Personal Life: Grounded, Private, and Purpose-Driven
Lakshya keeps his personal life largely private. He is unmarried and tends to keep his romantic life out of the public eye.
His family, however, remains a central pillar in his life. He has spoken warmly about their role in his journey — from his mother’s Buddhist practice to his father’s steady support through years of uncertainty.
His favourite actors are John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, and Hrithik Roshan — a trio that reflects his admiration for performers who combine physical excellence with deep craft.
Filmography at a Glance
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Kill | Captain Amrit Rathod | Nikhil Nagesh Bhat | Filmfare Best Male Debut |
| 2026 | Chand Mera Dil | Aarav Rawat | Vivek Soni | Opposite Ananya Panday |
| 2027 | Lag Jaa Gale | TBA | — | Upcoming |
| TBA | Kill 2 | Amrit Rathod | — | Announced |
| TBA | Rowdy Rathore 2 | TBA | — | Announced |
| TBA | Untitled Prosit Roy Film | TBA | Prosit Roy | Filming Dec 2026 |
Television & Streaming
| Year | Title | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Warrior High | Parth | Disney+ Hotstar |
| 2015–2016 | Adhuri Kahaani Hamari | Madhav / Krish | — |
| 2016 | Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya | Guest role | — |
| 2016–2017 | Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil | Veer Mehra | Star Plus |
| 2017–2018 | Porus | Porus | Sony Entertainment |
| 2025 | The Ba***ds of Bollywood | Aasmaan Singh | Netflix |
Awards and Recognitions
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Lions Gold Award | Best Actor | Porus | Won |
| 2018 | Asian Television Awards | — | Porus | Nominated/Won |
| 2025 | 70th Filmfare Awards | Best Male Debut | Kill | Won |
| 2025 | 25th IIFA Awards | Star Debut of the Year (Male) | Kill | Won |
| 2025 | Zee Cine Awards | Best Male Debut | Kill | Won |
| 2025 | Pinkvilla Screen & Style Icons | Best Male Debut | Kill | Won |
| 2026 | Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 | — | — | Featured |
