Quick Info → Age: 30 Years | Known For: Pinku in TMKOC | Religion: Islam
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Azhar Mukhtar Shaikh |
| Profession | Actor, Cinematographer |
| Known For | Pinku (Pankaj Sahay) in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (2008–present) |
| Physical Stats | |
| Height | in centimeters – 173 cm / in meters – 1.73 m / in feet inches – 5′ 8″ |
| Weight (approx.) | 68 kg / 150 lbs |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 5 July 1995 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 30 Years |
| Birthplace | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Religion | Islam |
| Caste | Muslim (Shaikh community) |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Education | |
| School | Cardinal Gracias High School, Mumbai |
| College | Not publicly disclosed |
| Family | |
| Father | Mukhtar Shaikh (former policeman; also an actor in younger days) |
| Mother | Nazma Shaikh (homemaker) |
| Sister | Asafia Shaikh (fashion designer) |
| Wife | None (unmarried) |
| Girlfriend | Zeel (relationship not formally confirmed) |
| Career | |
| TV Debut | Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (2008) |
| Film | Aa Jao Please (2016) |
| Other Work | The Legend of Hanuman (Disney+ Hotstar, 2021 – lighting artist); Ramnami Samuday (2023) |
| Net Worth | |
| Estimated Net Worth | ₹50 Lakh – ₹1 Crore (approx.) |
Azhar Shaikh Biography
Born 5 July 1995 in Mumbai. Father Mukhtar Shaikh was a policeman — also tried acting in his youth but financial pressures killed that career. Mother Nazma Shaikh is a homemaker. Younger sister Asafia works as a fashion designer. Muslim family, Shaikh community.
Went to Cardinal Gracias High School in Mumbai. As a kid, wanted to be a cricketer — not an actor. Acting found him before cricket could.
Career
Started in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah in 2008 at age 13. Played Pinku — full name Pankaj Sahay — one of the child characters in the Gokuldham Society. Seventeen years later, still associated with the show. That kind of longevity on a single project is rare in Indian TV.
In 2016, appeared briefly in the Hindi film Aa Jao Please — small role, more of a testing-the-waters move than a career shift.
In 2021, worked behind the camera as a lighting artist on The Legend of Hanuman for Disney+ Hotstar — which tells you he’s interested in filmmaking, not just acting.
In 2023, appeared in Ramnami Samuday.
He also does cinematography work — music videos and commercial projects — separate from his acting career.
GF, Wife and Personal Life
Unmarried as of 2026. Has been in a relationship with a girl named Zeel — no surname publicly known, no formal confirmation from either side. He keeps personal life tightly private. No photos with her on public social media in any confirmed capacity.
No engagement, no marriage news as of 2026.
Religion and Caste
Muslim. Shaikh community — a common Muslim surname community across Maharashtra and UP. He has never hidden his religion and it hasn’t been a controversy point in his career. He plays a Hindu character (Pinku) on TMKOC — same as many Muslim actors playing characters of different faiths on Indian TV.
Net Worth
Estimated ₹50 Lakh to ₹1 Crore as of 2025–26. Seventeen years on one of India’s most-watched shows — he’s been earning TV fees since he was 13. Add cinematography and commercial work on top. He doesn’t flaunt money publicly — no car or property talk on social media.
Some Lesser Known Facts About Azhar Shaikh
- His father tried acting before becoming a policeman — financial pressure ended that. Azhar picked up where he couldn’t.
- Wanted to be a cricketer as a child. Ended up on TV instead.
- Has worked as a lighting artist on an animated series — not many TV actors cross over to technical film crew work.
- In 2020, TMKOC storyline got trolled online. He responded publicly and didn’t stay quiet about it.
- Girlfriend’s name is Zeel — no other details confirmed. He’s managed to keep that almost entirely off the internet.
- Been playing the same character on the same show for 17 years — started at 13, still going at 30.