Pulkit shifted to Mumbai in 2005, and made his television debut in the role of Lakshya Virani in the long-running television show, by Balaji Telefilms, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi in 2006, which got his first recognition, though he quit the show in 2007.

In 2011, Samrat appeared as the lead in Choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant's musical theatrical Taj Express.

His performance in "Bittoo Boss" (2012) led to his second film Fukrey, produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. The film was released in June 2013 to good reviews, and later became a sleeper hit. In 2014, he appeared in a cameo role in Jai Ho as a police inspector. Then he played the lead in O Teri, produced by Atul Agnihotri, opposite Bilal Amrohi and Sarah Jane Dias. In 2015, his first film was Arbaaz Khan's Dolly Ki Doli opposite Sonam Kapoor and Rajkumar Rao. In 2016, Samrat starred in Divya Khosla Kumar's Sanam Re opposite Yami Gautam. The film was a hit. In the same year, he again paired with Yami Gautam for Junooniyat. The film was a Box office bomb. In 2017, he came back with the second installment of Fukrey titled Fukrey Returns. The film was a box office success. In 2018, Samrat was seen in Veerey Ki Wedding & 3 Storeys and also be seen in Paltan. He has also been signed on for Vicky Bhari's Ticket To Bollywood opposite Amyra Dastur.

He married his long-time girlfriend Shweta Rohira on 3 November 2014. Rohira is also "rakhi-sister" to actor Salman Khan. Khan was even involved in the promotion of Samrat's debut film. The couple separated in November 2015.