Gufi Paintal

Gufi Paintal (1944–2023), the Indian actor, director, production designer, casting director and a lyricist, portrayed several important roles in many television serials as well as movies, the most memorable one being that of Shakuni in Mahabharat. Initially trained as an engineer, Gufi was part of the Indian Army during defence emergencies prompted by the Sino-Indian conflicts in the 1960s. While acting in Ravi Chopra’s The Burning Train, he also joined the production team of B.R. Chopra and later undertook many responsibilities under the banner. In 2010, he was appointed head of facility at the Abbhinnay Acting Academy in Mumbai, a school established by his Mahabharat co-star Pankaj Dheer.