Divyendu Sharma, now credited as Divyenndu, is the Delhi-born actor best known as Munna Bhaiya in Mirzapur. Interesting facts about him: he studied political science at Kirori Mal College, trained at FTII Pune, debuted as Liquid in Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011) and returns as Munna in Mirzapur: The Film.
Few OTT villains have been as loved as Munna Tripathi. Even after the character died at the end of Mirzapur season 2, fans kept asking for him, and the makers listened. Here are 14 facts about the actor, refreshed for 2026 with his latest work and a few corrections to our original list.
Divyenndu: quick facts
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Divyendu Sharma |
| Born | 19 June 1983, Delhi |
| Education | BA Political Science, Kirori Mal College; acting diploma, FTII Pune |
| Film debut | Aaja Nachle (2007) |
| Breakthrough | Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011) |
| Best known for | Munna Tripathi in Mirzapur (2018 to 2020) |
| Spouse | Akanksha Sharma |
14 interesting facts about Divyendu Sharma
1. He was not a keen student in school
Divyenndu has said he had little interest in studies in his early school years, but improved by Class 12. He went on to graduate in political science from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University, a college with a strong theatre tradition.
2. Acting was a childhood pull
He took part in cultural and extracurricular activities from an early age and enjoyed mimicking actors, which friends and family noticed long before he thought of it as a career.
3. His sister pushed him towards FTII
It was his sister who urged him to take acting seriously. He went on to complete a two-year acting diploma at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.
4. He did three years of theatre in Delhi
Before Mumbai, he spent about three years doing theatre in Delhi, which built the stage discipline that shows in his comic timing.
5. Ads paid the bills
While waiting for film roles, he reportedly appeared in television commercials for brands including Birla Sun Life, Virgin Mobile and Fidelity Mutual Funds.
6. The Mumbai struggle was real
Like most outsiders, he faced repeated rejection in his early years in Mumbai and has spoken in interviews about living on a very tight budget.
7. His first film role was tiny
His first screen appearance was a small part as an MLA’s son in Madhuri Dixit’s comeback film Aaja Nachle (2007).
8. Liquid made him a name
Luv Ranjan’s Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011) gave him his break as Nishant “Liquid” Aggarwal and won him a Screen Award for most promising newcomer.
9. Chashme Baddoor proved it was no fluke
As the poet Omi in David Dhawan’s Chashme Baddoor (2013), he drew praise from audiences and critics for his comic timing alongside Ali Zafar and Siddharth.
10. He dropped “Sharma” in 2019
In 2019 he started using the single name Divyenndu, with the extra “n”. He has explained it as partly numerology and partly a wish to step away from caste identity. His official documents still carry his full name.
11. Supporting roles opened doors
He played Akshay Kumar’s brother Naru in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017) and Sundar in Batti Gul Meter Chalu (2018) with Shahid Kapoor, roles he believes made filmmakers take him more seriously.
12. Munna was almost someone else’s role
According to reports, the makers first approached him for Guddu Pandit, while Ali Fazal was considered for Munna. The roles eventually went the other way, and his Munna won him the iReel Award for best supporting actor for season 2 and a Filmfare OTT nomination.
13. He did OTT before it was cool
Before Mirzapur and around it, he appeared in ZEE5’s Badnaam Gali (2019), the short Fatafat and the series Bicchoo Ka Khel (2020).
14. He married his college friend
He is married to Akanksha Sharma, a long-time friend from his college days, and has credited her support through his lean years in Mumbai.
What Divyenndu has done since Mirzapur 2
Munna died at the end of Mirzapur season 2, so Divyenndu was not part of season 3 in 2024. He used that time to build a varied run:
- The Railway Men (2023, Netflix): the miniseries on the Bhopal gas tragedy, in which he played Balwant.
- Madgaon Express (2024): Kunal Kemmu’s directorial debut, a Goa trip comedy where he played Dodo alongside Pratik Gandhi and Avinash Tiwary.
- Agni (2024, Prime Video): a firefighter drama in which he played a police officer, Samit Sawant.
- Saali Mohabbat (2025, ZEE5): a film in which he played Ratan Pandit.
- Peddi (2026): his Telugu film debut.
- Glory (2026): a new web series in which he plays Devinder Singh.
Munna Bhaiya returns in Mirzapur: The Film
In February 2026, the makers announced Mirzapur: The Film, directed by Gurmmeet Singh, with Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee and Divyenndu returning as Munna. It was given a theatrical release date of 4 September 2026. Follow our web series section and celebs section for updates on the cast.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Divyendu Sharma change his name?
In 2019 he dropped the surname Sharma and began spelling his name Divyenndu, citing numerology and a wish to move away from caste identity.
Is Munna Bhaiya coming back?
Yes. Divyenndu returns as Munna in Mirzapur: The Film, which was announced for a theatrical release on 4 September 2026.
Who is Divyenndu’s wife?
He is married to Akanksha Sharma, his friend from college days.
What was Divyenndu’s first film?
His first screen role was a small part in Aaja Nachle (2007). His breakthrough came with Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011).
Sources: Divyenndu on Wikipedia, The Daily Guardian on Mirzapur: The Film.
