Virat Kohli's brother-in-law was once a professional cricketer, then joined merchant navy at 17. Who is Karnesh Ssharma?

Anushka Sharma’s brother Karnesh Ssharma today is known to be a producer behind some of the most interesting Bollywood films and TV series, such as NH 10, Bulbbul, Qala, Paatal Lok, etc. However, unlike his sister, he was not always associated with showbiz. Like his famous brother-in-law Virat Kohli, Karnesh too was a cricketer. However, he also dabbled in various other careers, such as Merchant Navy before Bollywood called. Along with his sister, he floated the production company Clean Slate Filmz in 2013.

In a chat with Man’s World, Karnesh recalled how being a cricketer and a Merchant Navy officer shaped his character. Cricket helped him become a team player, while working in the Merchant Navy helped him explore many cultures.

“I was a professional cricketer in the beginning. Cricket made me realise that you need to back your strength, play on the front foot, and work with others. The Merchant Navy was a thrilling experience because it exposed me to many cultures when I was 16 years old. I got to travel around 60-70 countries across the globe, so I met people across countries, languages, and cultures and saw their content from Scandinavian countries to Latin America. In the early 2000s, the internet and broadband weren’t as advanced as they are today, so watching films from the ship’s library was the only source of entertainment. Those films were very different from Indian films…” he reminisced.


He later became an assistant director and a unit manager at Yash Raj Films.

Karnesh’s understanding of the film business developed significantly during his time at Yash Raj Films. He has recalled that, when he joined the production house, he had not even watched many of its movies. His experience there nevertheless became an important learning phase, teaching him professional ethics, management skills and the intricacies of how the film industry operates. He also came to understand the significance of decision-making and accountability, particularly because creative freedom comes with the responsibility of dealing with the consequences of every choice.

He was initially expected to work on Jab Tak Hai Jaan, but after director Maneesh Sharma fell ill and Shuddh Desi Romance was brought back into production, Karnesh ended up working on the latter project. The experience transformed his understanding of a producer’s role. He realised that producing a film involved far more than financing it. Every component of filmmaking needs to be carefully managed, supported and developed for the final product to succeed. These lessons eventually influenced the way he approached filmmaking when he and Anushka launched Clean Slate Filmz.

With the exception of Paatal Lok, many of the production house’s projects have centred on women and their experiences. Films such as NH10, Phillauri, Pari and Bulbbul have featured female protagonists and perspectives. Karnesh has emphasised that the primary consideration has always been the strength and appeal of the story.

While working on NH10, the team recognised the potential of powerful storytelling and noticed that narratives centred on women were comparatively underexplored. Movies such as Kahaani and Queen had demonstrated how audiences could connect with unconventional stories led by women. For Karnesh, bringing a woman’s viewpoint to the forefront was particularly meaningful because such perspectives had often remained under-represented in mainstream cinema.

His sister, Anushka Sharma, is a well-known Bollywood actress who starred in hits such as Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, PK, NH10, Sultan, etc. She is married to former all-format captain of the Indian national cricket team, Virat Kohli.