Manish Goel Wiki, Age, Height, Net Worth 2026

Manish Goel is an Indian television and film actor with a career spanning nearly three decades, best known for playing Tilak Chopra in Star Plus’s Bhabhi and Tushar in Ekta Kapoor’s Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii. A veteran of reality television — runner-up on Nach Baliye 1 with his wife Poonam Narula and winner of the celebrity cooking show Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki — he grabbed national headlines again on 10 October 2026, when host Salman Khan announced him as the first wildcard contestant of Bigg Boss 20. Calling himself a “lone wolf,” the 51-year-old actor entered the house five weeks into the season, promising viewers a look at his real personality after decades of playing scripted characters.

Early Life and Education

Manish Goel was born on 27 August 1975 in New Delhi, a date reported by the Bombay Times, Sunday Guardian and India Forums. (Some older listings such as IMDb give a different year, but the 1975 date is corroborated by The Times of India, which described him as “turning 50” in September 2025.) He attended Fr. Agnel School in New Delhi, according to biographical profiles, and was discovered through the Stardust Academy talent hunt in the mid-1990s.

Before his television breakthrough, Goel was signed by producer Ramesh Sharma for a film to be directed by Deepak Shivdasani, and later attached to film projects including Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, as noted on his IMDb trivia. None of those early film ventures materialised as planned, so his career ultimately found its footing on television instead.

Career

Goel’s television career began in the late 1990s — India Forums lists his TV debut as C.I.D. in 1998, while Wikipedia notes his acting debut with Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, where he played Tushar, the elder son of Prerna and Mr. Bajaj. His career-defining role arrived in 2002, when he was cast as the male lead Tilak Chopra in Star Plus’s long-running daily soap Bhabhi, a part he played for several years.

Through the 2000s he became a familiar face across Hindi television drama: he appeared in Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Ghar Ek Mandir, Saara Akaash (as Saurav Singh), Devi (as Advocate Raj Malhotra), Bhagyalakshmi, Ayushman Bhava, Tantra and Hamari Wali Good News. His film debut came in 2009 with Hum Phirr Milein Na Milein, for which he also earned writing credits on screenplay and story. More recently he played Raghav Singh in Anupamaa in 2025, and he has expanded into production, including the 13-minute short film Azaan (2026) and the TV mini-series Flat No.13B (2025).

Reality television has been a parallel track throughout his career. In 2005 he and his wife Poonam Narula competed in the first season of Nach Baliye, finishing as runners-up. He participated in Say Shava Shava, Ustaadon Ka Ustaad and Zara Nachke Dikha in 2008, won the celebrity cooking competition Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki in 2013, and later hosted Big Memsaab. In a September 2025 interview with The Times of India, Goel spoke candidly about the changing industry — fewer offers, tighter budgets, and the bias TV actors face — while insisting that television would always remain his foundation.

His entry into Bigg Boss 20 arrived dramatically. As reported by Pinkvilla and Variety India, Goel appeared on the 10 October 2026 Weekend Ka Vaar episode ostensibly to promote a film, only for Salman Khan to reveal on stage that he was actually the season’s first wildcard contestant. In an interview with Variety India published the following day, Goel said he wanted to showcase his real personality and described his game as that of a “lone wolf” — competitive, confident but not over-confident.

Personal Life

Manish Goel married television actress Poonam Narula in 2002, and the couple has two children — son Aryaveer Goel and daughter Maliha Goel, per Wikipedia. The pair famously competed together on Nach Baliye 1 and, nearly two decades later, reunited on screen for a short film, which Goel told The Times of India reminded him of the chemistry they still share. He noted that Narula, who stepped away from acting at the peak of her career to raise their children, seemed ready to return to acting with the right opportunity.

His mother is Kusum Goel and his sister is Meghna Sharma, according to India Forums. Goel is known to enjoy dancing and is a fitness-conscious performer, traits that served him well across his reality-show appearances.

Manish Goel Net Worth 2026

No verified public figure exists for Manish Goel’s net worth. Entertainment blogs publish speculative estimates, but none are attributed to a credible financial source, so they should not be treated as fact. What is publicly documented is the structure of his income: nearly three decades of television acting fees, reality-show appearances and prizes (including the Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki win), hosting assignments, writing and production credits, and his Bigg Boss 20 stint.

FAQ

What is Manish Goel’s age?

Manish Goel was born on 27 August 1975, which makes him 51 years old as of October 2026. He turned 50 in August 2025, a milestone covered by The Times of India.

What is Manish Goel’s height?

Wikipedia lists his height as 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm); some biographical profiles approximate it at 5 feet 9 inches.

Who is Manish Goel’s wife?

Manish Goel is married to television actress Poonam Narula. The couple married in 2002 and has two children, son Aryaveer and daughter Maliha.

Which shows is Manish Goel famous for?

He is best known as Tilak Chopra in Star Plus’s Bhabhi and as Tushar in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii. He has also appeared in Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Ghar Ek Mandir, Saara Akaash, Devi and Anupamaa, and won the reality cooking show Welcome – Baazi Mehmaan Nawazi Ki in 2013.

How did Manish Goel enter Bigg Boss 20?

He entered as the season’s first wildcard contestant on 10 October 2026. Salman Khan initially introduced him on Weekend Ka Vaar as a guest promoting a film, then revealed on stage that Goel was actually joining the house as a contestant, as reported by Pinkvilla and Variety India.

What is Manish Goel’s net worth?

There is no verified public figure for his net worth. His documented income streams include television acting, reality-show fees and prizes, hosting, and writing and production credits.