Squid Game: Indian actor Anupam Tripathi wins millions of fans

South Korean survival drama Squid Game has become the biggest show in Netflix history.

The dystopian series features some of South Korea’s biggest names, including Lee Jung-jae, Gong Yoo, and Lee Byung-hun, but it’s Indian actor Anupam Tripathi who has become one of the biggest breakout stars.

The 32-year-old won over viewers playing Pakistani migrant Ali Abdul, and as the only non-Korean in the main cast, he stands out in many of his scenes.

Breakout: Indian actor Anupam Tripathi (pictured) has become one of the biggest stars to come out of Netflix’s South Korean blockbuster Squid Game

Despite his impressive skills on screen, Squid Game was Anupam’s first major role.

Before finding fame on the Netflix series, he largely played background characters in South Korean television dramas.

Some of his previous credits include roles like ‘Indian worker’, ‘Nepalese chef’, and ‘Arabian subordinate’.

Now, thanks to Squid Game, Anupam has become one of the hottest actors in the country, earning praise from critics and boasting almost 4 million Instagram followers.

Background: Squid Game is Anupam’s first major role. Before finding fame on the Netflix series, he largely played background characters in South Korean television dramas

Anupam was born in New Dehli and honed his acting chops for four years in the  Behroop theater group under late playwright Shahid Anwar.

According to Variety, he had originally planned to attend India’s prestigious National School of Drama, but instead headed to Korea to study acting at the Korea National University of the Arts under an Arts Major Asian scholarship.

He mastered the Korean language in just two years, and from there started to land background roles in various Korean dramas, including the blockbuster melodrama Descendants of the Sun.

Background: Anupam was born in New Dehli and honed his acting chops for four years in the Behroop theater group under late playwright Shahid Anwar

After struggling with small roles for year, Anupam got his big break as Pakistani migrant worker Ali Abdul in Squid Game.

For the role, the 32-year-old had to put on six kilograms, and spent hours studying BBC documentaries on Pakistani migrants to master the character and dialect. 

When Squid Game was released, Anupam was blown away by the show’s success.

‘We felt that it will be received well, but when it became a phenomenon and sensation, it was not expected – I was not prepared,’ he told Variety.

Claim to fame: The 32-year-old won over viewers playing Pakistani migrant Ali Abdul, and as the only non-Korean in the main cast, he was able to take centre stage in many of his scenes

He’s now focused on continuing his acting career with more roles in South Korea, as well as acting in his home country of India.

‘This was just the starting point for me. Let’s see how far I can move on in a better way as an actor or on my craft,’ he said.

‘I’ve done theater only in India, but I want to see and explore how I will do in my own language,’ he continued. ‘I would love to express myself there. That is my ultimate dream – to perform in front of my own home and own audience.’

Superstar: Now, thanks to Squid Game, Anupam has become one of the hottest actors in the country, earning praise from critics and boasting almost 4 million Instagram followers