Biography of Viraj Ghelani: Actor, Art Director, Comedian, YouTuber & Social Media Influencer
Biography of Viraj Ghelani:
Viraj Ghelani kicked off his acting career with the web
series 2By3, where he played the role of Veer in the episode “Humse Na Ho
Paayega” in 2017. This series was available on the Dice Media YouTube channel.
He made his film debut with Govinda Naam Mera, portraying the character Baldev
Chaddha, also known as Ballu.
Personal Details
Born in 1993, Viraj Ghelani turned 31 in 2024. He hails from
South Borivali, Mumbai, Maharashtra, and holds Indian nationality. Although he
started several college programs in Mumbai, including Abhinav Hi-Tech College
of Engineering and NMIMS, he eventually earned a diploma in Electronics and
Communication Engineering from Thakur College of Science and Commerce.
A Struggle with School
In his school years, Viraj struggled academically and faced
significant challenges, including being expelled due to poor performance. This
was a tough period for him, but it didn’t deter his spirit.
Finding His Passion
While studying at Thakur College of Science and Commerce in
Mumbai, Viraj found his calling in comedy. During a college event, he performed
as Dolly Bindra, a former contestant from the show Bigg Boss. His performance
was met with enthusiastic applause, sparking his interest in comedy and
hosting. He began taking part in and hosting various college events.
Shifting Gears
Viraj decided to drop out of NMIMS, Mumbai, where he had
been studying engineering, realizing it wasn’t the right path for him. He then
worked in a few corporate jobs in HR and sales. However, these jobs didn’t
fulfill his passion.
Pursuing Entertainment Dreams
Determined to follow his dream, Viraj shifted his focus to
the entertainment industry. He auditioned at several film production houses but
faced rejections along the way. Despite these setbacks, he remained committed
to his goal of making it in entertainment.
Early Ventures and Growing Fame
In 2015, Viraj began making comic videos on Dubsmash, an
online video-creating app. By 2016, he expanded his creative horizons and took
on the role of assistant art director for Dice Media's Hindi digital series
Tittle Things. His acting skills shone through in several Dice Media web
series, including Adulting (2018), Fairy Lights (2019), What the Folks (2019),
and Firsts (2020).
Rising Popularity on Snapchat
Viraj began creating comic videos on his Snapchat account,
and his content quickly gained traction. His career received a significant
boost when BuzzFeed featured him in their article "Top 20 Indians on
Snapchat You Should Follow," which brought him more recognition.
A New Opportunity with FilterCopy
Following this newfound fame, Viraj shared his work with
various digital platforms, including TVF and FilterCopy. FilterCopy noticed his
talent and offered him a position to manage their Snapchat account. He accepted
the job and earned a monthly salary between Rs 16,000 and Rs 17,000.
Biography of Viraj Ghelani: Actor, Art Director, Comedian,YouTuber & Social media Influencer/Success story of Viraj Ghelani/Journey, Life story Viraj
Expanding Horizons in Content Creation
After his stint with Snapchat, Viraj transitioned to working
as a content creator for FilterCopy, along with its sister channels Dice Media
and Gobble. He also contributed his creative skills to Pocket Aces Pictures
Pvt. Ltd., an Indian media company.
Expanding Influence and New Projects
In 2019, Viraj was a guest on the digital talk show Trending
Talents. He also launched his own merchandise clothing website, Creative Ideas
Store, and bought a Hyundai car, which he gifted to his mother. His
collaborations extended to major brands such as FBB, MX Player, Tinder, and
Hotstar.
YouTube Success and New Beginnings
On November 16, 2020, Viraj started his YouTube channel,
That's So Viraj, where he posts a variety of content, including sketch videos,
podcasts, and comic videos. Before this, he had a YouTube channel named Fifty
Shades Of Ghe, with "Ghe" representing his last name, Ghelani. His
videos featuring his maternal grandmother, Bhanuben Thakkar, became
particularly popular, further cementing his online presence.
A Rising Star with a Twist
Viraj Ghelani is an Indian actor, comedian, and social media
influencer known for his appearances on popular YouTube channels like Dice Media,
Gobble, and FilterCopy. Despite his current success, his journey started off
quite differently.
Ghelani didn’t just stop at online content. He also made his
mark in the entertainment industry with appearances in the web series Little
Things (2016) and What the Folks (2017). More recently, he featured in the 2022
film Govinda Naam Mera, Jawan (2023).
Viraj Ghelani at Cannes Film Festival
Viraj Ghelani, a notable figure in digital entertainment, is
poised to make a significant impact on the international stage with his debut
at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Renowned for his engaging presence on social
media, Ghelani will be showcasing his Gujarati film, Jhamkudi, at one of the
world's most prestigious film festivals.
Blending Cultures on the Red Carpet
The Cannes Film Festival, known for featuring cinema from
around the globe, will see Ghelani walking its red carpet in 2024. His
appearance is aimed at highlighting Gujarati culture and cinema on this
esteemed platform. In collaboration with Bollywood stylist Saloni Parekh,
Ghelani plans to merge Indian cultural elements with international fashion
trends.
From Social Media to the Big Screen
Ghelani's transition from a social media content creator to
a leading figure in Gujarati cinema underscores his versatility. His
achievements include notable roles in Bollywood films such as Jawan and Govinda
Naam Mera. His seamless shift to the big screen is further evidenced by his
Gujarati stand-up show in Mumbai, which attracted an audience of over 1,500
people, highlighting his broad appeal across different age groups.
Family and Relationships
Viraj's family is rooted in education; both of his parents
are school teachers. He has a younger brother, Jayraj Ghelani, who is a
professional footballer. Viraj is currently unmarried and is in a relationship
with Palak Khimavat.
Interests and Favorites
Viraj enjoys watching content from Key & Peele and has a
fondness for street food, particularly Maggie noodles. In the world of sports,
he is a fan of WWE wrestler Randy Orton and supports the Mumbai Indians IPL
team.
A timeline summarizing Viraj Ghelani's career and personal
milestones:
1993
- Birth: Viraj Ghelani is born in South Borivali, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Early 2000s
- School Struggles: Faces academic challenges and is expelled due to poor performance.
2011-2015
- College Studies: Enrolls in Abhinav Hi-Tech College of Engineering and NMIMS, Mumbai. Eventually earns a diploma in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Thakur College of Science and Commerce.
- Corporate Jobs: Works in HR and sales but decides to pursue a career in entertainment.
2015
- Dubsmash Videos: Begins creating comic videos on Dubsmash.
2016
- Assistant Art Director: Works as an assistant art director for Dice Media's digital series Tittle Things.
- Web Series: Appears in Dice Media’s 2By3 as Veer in the episode “Humse Na Ho Paayega”.
2017
- Film Debut: Makes his film debut in Govinda Naam Mera as Baldev Chaddha (Ballu).
- Web Series: Features in Dice Media’s What the Folks.
2018
- Web Series: Appears in Dice Media’s Adulting.
2019
- Popular Content Creator: Gains recognition for comic videos on Snapchat; featured in BuzzFeed’s “Top 20 Indians on Snapchat You Should Follow”.
- FilterCopy: Starts working with FilterCopy, managing their Snapchat account.
- Digital Talk Show: Appears on Trending Talents.
- Merchandise: Launches his clothing website, Creative Ideas Store.
- Car Purchase: Buys a Hyundai car and gifts it to his mother.
- Brand Collaborations: Works with brands like FBB, MX Player, Tinder, and Hotstar.
2020
- YouTube Channel Launch: Starts That's So Viraj, featuring a mix of sketch videos, podcasts, and comic content.
- Previous Channel: Continues success from his earlier YouTube channel, Fifty Shades Of Ghe.
2021
- Gujarati Cinema: Begins making a mark in Gujarati cinema with his film Jhamkudi.
2022
- Film Appearances: Appears in Bollywood films Govinda Naam Mera and Jawan.
2023
- Cannes Film Festival: Prepares for debut at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, showcasing his Gujarati film Jhamkudi.
2024
- Age: Turns 31.
- Cannes Film Festival: Walks the red carpet, blending Indian cultural elements with international fashion.
Family and Personal Life
- Family: Parents are school teachers; younger brother Jayraj Ghelani is a professional footballer.
- Relationship: Currently in a relationship with Palak Khimavat.
- Interests: Enjoys Key & Peele, street food (especially Maggie noodles), WWE wrestler Randy Orton, and supports the Mumbai Indians IPL team.
