Honestly, if you’ve spent any time on the Indian internet over the last few years, you’ve seen his face. Rohit Saraf has this weird, almost magnetic ability to make everyone feel like they’re watching their best friend—or the guy they had a crush on in eleventh grade—on screen. But calling him just a "National Crush" is kinda doing him a disservice. It’s reductive. People act like he just woke up one day, smiled at a camera for Netflix, and became a star.
The reality of Rohit Saraf movies and tv shows is a lot more interesting than that. It’s a mix of gritty international indies, supporting roles next to legends like Priyanka Chopra, and finally, that massive explosion into the mainstream. He’s been working since he was a teenager, and if you actually look at his filmography, he’s been remarkably picky for someone his age.
From Teen Dramas to the Oscars Shortlist
Most people think Mismatched was his start. Nope. Not even close. Rohit actually began his journey in the trenches of Indian TV. We're talking 2012, Channel V, a show called Best Friends Forever?. He was basically a kid. Then he did Ek Boond Ishq. It was standard TV fare, but it gave him the reps he needed.
Then came Dear Zindagi in 2016. He played Kabir, Alia Bhatt’s younger brother. It was a tiny role. Seriously, if you blinked, you might’ve missed him. But it put him in the room with Gauri Shinde and Shah Rukh Khan. That counts for something in this industry.
But here is the thing nobody talks about: What Will People Say.
It’s a 2017 Norwegian film.
Rohit played Amir.
The movie was actually Norway's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards. It’s a heavy, gut-wrenching watch about a Pakistani-Norwegian girl being sent to Pakistan by her conservative parents. Rohit wasn't just some rom-com lead here; he was part of a critically acclaimed, globally recognized piece of cinema before he even turned 21.
The Big Breakout: The Sky Is Pink and Ludo
If Dear Zindagi was the foot in the door, The Sky Is Pink (2019) was the moment the industry realized he could actually act. Playing Ishaan Chaudhary, the brother to Zaira Wasim’s character, he had to hold his own against Priyanka Chopra and Farhan Akhtar. That’s a tall order.
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The scene where he weeps after his sister’s death while his father rests his head on his lap? That’s probably one of the most honest portrayals of male grief in modern Bollywood. No melodrama. Just raw, quiet pain.
Then came 2020. The year everything changed.
Netflix released Ludo.
Anurag Basu’s chaotic, colorful anthology featured an ensemble cast—Abhishek Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao, Pankaj Tripathi—and there was Rohit Saraf, paired with Pearle Maaney. They barely had any dialogue. Their entire storyline was basically a silent movie about two strangers running away with a suitcase full of cash.
It worked because of his face. He has this expressive, slightly anxious energy that fits perfectly into Basu’s "quirky" world.
Why Mismatched Changed the Game
We have to talk about Rishi Singh Shekhawat.
When Mismatched dropped on Netflix in 2020, it didn't just succeed; it created a phenomenon. Based on Sandhya Menon’s book When Dimple Met Rishi, the show gave us a leading man who wasn't a "toxic alpha."
Rishi was:
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- Traditional (bordering on old-fashioned).
- Deeply romantic.
- Secure enough to let the girl (Dimple, played by Prajakta Koli) be the "genius" gamer.
The chemistry between Rohit and Prajakta—affectionately called #Prowit by fans—is the engine of that show. With Season 3 having dropped in late 2024 and Season 4 expected to be the final chapter in 2026, it’s the defining project of his career so far. It’s what earned him that "National Crush" title, for better or worse.
Stepping Into the "Mainstream Hero" Shoes
Lately, Rohit has been trying to shed the "boy next door" skin.
It hasn't been a perfect ride.
In 2024, he took a huge gamble with Ishq Vishk Rebound. It was his first proper "lead" role in a theatrical Hindi film. He danced. He lip-synced. He did the whole Bollywood hero thing. The movie got mixed reviews and didn't exactly set the box office on fire—making somewhere around ₹6 crore—but Rohit was vocal about it. He told the media he had high expectations and that the mixed response only motivated him to work harder. It was a refreshingly honest take in an industry where everyone pretends their flops are secret hits.
Then came 2025. This was a massive year for him.
He appeared in Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life (yes, the Kamal Haasan starrer), playing Ranvijay "Raanu" Yadav. Even a minor role in a Mani Ratnam film is a badge of honor. He also starred in Dharma Productions' Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari alongside Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor.
Rohit Saraf Movies and TV Shows: The Full List (As of 2026)
If you're looking to binge his work, here’s the roadmap. It’s a weird mix, but that’s what makes it good.
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The Major Films:
- Dear Zindagi (2016): The debut. He plays Kabir.
- What Will People Say (2017): The "prestige" pick. Heavy drama.
- Hichki (2018): He plays Akshay, a rebellious student.
- The Sky Is Pink (2019): Must-watch for the emotional stakes.
- Ludo (2020): Quirky, silent-ish performance.
- Kamali From Nadukkaveri (2021): His Tamil debut.
- Vikram Vedha (2022): Played Hrithik Roshan's younger brother.
- Ishq Vishk Rebound (2024): His shot at being a traditional hero.
- Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari (2025): Big-budget Dharma rom-com.
- Thug Life (2025): The Mani Ratnam project.
The TV and Web Stuff:
- Best Friends Forever? (2012): The very beginning.
- Mismatched (Seasons 1-4): The Rishi Singh Shekhawat era.
- Feels Like Ishq (2021): The "Star Host" episode. Pure fluff, but cute.
- The Revolutionaries (2026): His upcoming Amazon Prime series directed by Nikkhil Advani. This is a period drama, and honestly, seeing him in a non-romantic role is going to be the real test.
What Most People Get Wrong About Him
People assume he’s just playing himself.
"Oh, he’s just the cute guy."
But if you look at his 2025 inclusion in the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list, it becomes clear that there's a strategy here. He’s building a brand that bridges the gap between the "digital/OTT" world and the "big screen" cinema world. That is a notoriously hard gap to bridge.
He’s also one of the few actors who has successfully navigated different industries—Hindi, Tamil, and even Norwegian—without making a huge deal out of it. He doesn't have the typical "Bollywood brat" energy. Maybe it’s because he lost his father at 12 and had to grow up fast, or maybe it’s just that he’s genuinely a bit of a nerd about acting.
What to Watch Next
If you've only seen him in Mismatched, you're missing out.
Go watch The Sky Is Pink first. It’ll show you his range.
Then, check out Ludo for the vibes.
Finally, keep an eye out for The Revolutionaries on Amazon Prime later this year. It's supposed to be a total departure from his "chocolate boy" image, focusing on Indian freedom fighters.
The smartest way to follow his career now is to look past the "crush" edits on Instagram. He’s clearly trying to position himself as a versatile actor who can lead a Dharma movie on Friday and a Mani Ratnam ensemble on Saturday. Whether he can fully transition into a box-office powerhouse remains to be seen, but the foundation is solid.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Viewers:
- Skip the TV soaps: Unless you’re a completionist, his early TV work like Ek Boond Ishq is skippable.
- Watch the indies: What Will People Say is arguably his best "acting" work, even if it’s not his most famous.
- Follow the directors: Rohit tends to work with great directors (Anurag Basu, Shonali Bose, Mani Ratnam). If a top-tier director casts him, there’s usually a good reason for it beyond just his looks.