His early schooling occurred across various cities including Jodhpur, Aligarh, Dehradun, and Delhi, following his family’s migration from Pakistan to India after the partition in 1947.
During his formative years, he attended STS School (Minto Circle), in Jodhpur, gaining a diverse educational foundation across different regions.
Kulbhushan first gained recognition in Shyam Benegal’s film “Nishant” (1975), which marked the beginning of a successful collaboration. He continued to work with Benegal in several acclaimed films such as “Manthan” (1976), “Bhumika: The Role” (1977), “Junoon” (1978), and “Kalyug” (1980).
He won the Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards (BFJA) for “Best Supporting Actor” for his performance in “Manthan” (1976).
He also became a fixture in parallel cinema, collaborating with directors like B. V. Karanth in “Godhuli” (1977). His association with these filmmakers solidified his reputation as a versatile actor in Indian cinema’s parallel film movement.
His career extended across a diverse spectrum of films. In addition to mainstream successes like “Shakti” (1982), “Ghayal” (1990), “Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar” (1992), “Gupt” (1997), “Border” (1997), “Yes Boss” (1997), and “Refugee” (2000), he continued to feature prominently in art films.
He has also acted in films such as “Chakra” (1981) with Smita Patil and Naseeruddin Shah, “Arth” (1982) with Shabana Azmi, Buddhadeb Dasgupta’s “Andhi Gali” (1984), “Ek Chadar Maili Si” (1986) alongside Hema Malini, Girish Karnad’s “Utsav” (1984), “Mandi” (1983), “Trikal” (1985), J.P. Dutta’s “Ghulami” (1986), Shyam Benegal’s “Susman” (1987), Saeed Akhtar Mirza’s “Naseem” (1995), and Mira Nair’s “Monsoon Wedding” (2001). This diverse repertoire underscored Kharbanda’s versatility as an actor across different genres and cinematic styles.
He was part of the cast for the film “Mandi” (1983), directed by Shyam Benegal, which won the National Film Award for “Best Feature Film” in Hindi.
He played the villainous character, Raja Puran Singh, in the acclaimed film “Lagaan” (2001). His portrayal added depth to the narrative and contributed to the film’s success and cultural impact.
He was nominated for the IIFA Award for “Best Supporting Actor” for his role in “Lagaan.”
He has acted in six of Deepa Mehta’s movies, including all three films in her trilogy: “Earth,” “Fire,” and “Water.”
Kharbanda acted in a German film titled “The Girl with the Indian Emerald” in 2009. The film is a romantic drama that tells the story of an Indian-German love affair and the search for a precious emerald. He played a significant role in this cross-cultural narrative, showcasing his versatility as an actor on an international platform.
In 2018, Kulbhushan portrayed Satyanand Tripathi, also known as Bauji, in the action crime thriller web series “Mirzapur.” He appeared in both Season 1, which premiered on November 16, 2018, and Season 2, which premiered on October 23, 2020, in Season 3, which premiered on July 5, 2024.
“Mirzapur” marked his debut in web series