Nirmal Pandey was born on August 10, 1962, in Nainital, Uttar Pradesh, India. He was an accomplished Indian actor known for his diverse roles in Bollywood films and television. Pandey graduated from the National School of Drama in Delhi and began his career in theater before transitioning to film. He gained significant recognition for his portrayal of Vikram Mallah in Shekhar Kapur's critically acclaimed film "Bandit Queen" (1994) and for his role as Dajjal in the television series "Hatim." His performance as a transvestite in "Daayraa" (1996) earned him the Best Actor award at the Valenciennes Film Festival in France. Nirmal Pandey was married twice; he had two children with his second wife, Archana Sharma, whom he married in 2005. He passed away from a heart attack on February 18, 2010, in Andheri, Mumbai.