Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar was a popular Indian film & stage actor, and he was also working as a dental surgeon. In 2018, a Marathi biopic was made on Dr. Kashinath titled ‘Ani… Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar.’
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar was born on Sunday, 14 September 1930 (age 56 years; at the time of death), in Chiplun, Maharashtra. His zodiac sign is Virgo. He did his schooling from Chiplun, and later, he studied dentistry.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 6″
Eye Colour: Blue
Hair Colour: Black
Family & Caste
Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar was born in a Marathi family.
Parents & Siblings
Reportedly, Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar and his father did not share a good relationship with each other. [1]First Post
Relationship, Wife & Children
Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar was married twice. His first wife, Irawati M. Bhide, was a gynecologist and obstetrician. Later, the couple got divorced, and they did not have any child. In 1983, he got married to Kanchan who was very younger to him. The veteran Indian actress, Sulochana (deceased) is Kanchan’s mother. Dr. Kashinath and Kanchan have a daughter together, Rashmi Ghanekar.
Career
He started his career as a dentist, and later, he got an opportunity to work in theatre plays as a part time prompter. His first Marathi theatre play as an actor was ‘Shitu’ which he performed on a public stage in 1952. He performed in many Marathi theatre plays, including ‘Tujhe Aahe Tujpashi’ (1952), ‘Sundar Mi Honar’ (1952), ‘Madhumanjiri’ (1952), ‘Laxmi Aali Ghara’ (1952), ‘Raygadala Jevha Jaag Yete’ (1962), ‘Ashroonchi Zhali Phule’ (1963), ‘Ithe Oshalala Mrutyu’ (1968), ‘Garambicha Bapu’ (1972), ‘Guntata Hruday He’ (1972), and ‘Anandi Gopal’ (1976). He got immense popularity as a theatre actor with the Marathi theatre play, ‘Raygadala Jevha Jaag Yete’ (1962) in which he played the role of Sambhaji. One of the most notable characters played by him is “Lalya” in the Marathi theatre play, ‘Ashroonchi Zhali Phule’ in 1963.
He debuted as an actor in the Marathi film, ‘Laxmi Aali Ghara’ in 1952. Some of his other Marathi films are ‘Dharm Patni’ (1953), ‘Maratha Tituka Melvava’ (1963), ‘Paathlaag’ (1964), ‘Madhuchandra’ (1967), ‘Ghar Gangecha Kathi’ (1975), and ‘Ha Khel Savalyancha’ (1976). He came into the limelight as a Marathi film actor with the film ‘Madhuchandra’ (1967). He acted in two Hindi films ‘Daadi Maa’ (1966) and ‘Abhilasha’ (1968).
Death
On 2 March 1986, at the age of 56, he died of a massive heart attack while he was on a tour for his theatre play in the rural villages of Amravati, Maharashtra. [2]IMDb
Facts/Trivia
- He was so popular that all his theatre shows used to be housefull at that time, and tickets of his stage shows were almost black marketed. Once, some of his female fans had gathered outside Mumbai’s Shivaji Mandir to take him home after his theatre play.
- Dr Kashinath was the first superstar of Marathi cinema. He was the most paid theatre artist of his time and used to get Rs 500 per show. [3]IMDb [4]Mid Day
- He used to smoke and drink alcohol, which is reportedly, one of the reasons of his early death. [5]Pune Mirror
- Reportedly, his immense popularity and growth coincided with the beginning of the political party, ‘Shiv Sena’ (1966).
- He was very close to the Indian stage actor, ‘Prabhakar Panshikar,’ and he did not share good vibes with the Indian film and stage actor, Dr Sreeram Lagoo. [6]Mid Day
- A modern theatre with an auditorium is built in his remeberance and is named as ‘Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar Natyagruha’ by the Thane Municipal Corporation in Hiranandani Meadows, Near Ghodbunder Road, Vasant Vihar, Thane West, Maharashtra 400607.
- A biopic in Marathi was made on Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar titled ‘Ani… Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar’ in 2018; starring Subodh Bhave as Dr Ghanekar, Sonali Kulkarni, Sumeet Raghavan, Prasad Oak, Nandita Dhuri, Anand Ingale, and Mohan Joshi. The film was released on Netflix in 2020.
- After his demise, his wife, Kanchan penned a biography titled “Nath Ha Maza” meaning “such was my husband.”
References
↑1 | First Post |
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↑2, ↑3 | IMDb |
↑4, ↑6 | Mid Day |
↑5 | Pune Mirror |