Born in Patna, Bihar, India, he moved to Pakistan in his teens, during the 70s, and despite being inclined towards the arts from an early age (he learned to play the banjo and the Hawaiian guitar), he initially graduated as an engineer from the University of California, also teaching the subject for some time at the NED University, Karachi, before studying theater at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Through his sister, his nephew is Bollywood director Imtiaz Ali.