Jayshree Gadkar Wiki, Age, Death, Husband, Family, Biography & More

Jayshree Gadkar was an Indian actress who is best known for playing the role of “Kaushalya” in Ramanand Sagar‘s epic television series “Ramayan.” She is also known for her work in Marathi films and theatres. Jayshree Gadkar is considered one of the last living legends of the golden age of Marathi cinema in the ’60s and ’70s.

Wiki/Biography

Jayshree Gadkar was born on Saturday, 21 February 1942 (age 66 years; at the time of death) in Karwar, Bombay Presidency, British India. Since her childhood, she was passionate about dancing and acting; the traits which led her to become one of the most renowned and versatile Marathi actresses.

Family & Case

Jayshree Gadkar belonged to a Konkani-speaking family of Maharashtra.

Parents & Siblings

There is not much information about her parents and siblings.

Relationships, Husband & Children

Jayshree Gadkar was married to Bal Dhuri who is also a Marathi actor and the on-screen husband of Jayshree Gadkar in Ramanand Sagar‘s Ramayan. She had a son with Bal Dhuri. ^[1]Outlook

Career

Marathi Films

Jayshree Gadkar began her career as a child dance artist. She made her Bollywood debut with V Shantaram’s ‘Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje’ (1955) in which she appeared as a group dancer alongside leading lady Sandhya.

Then, she appeared in a small role in Dinkar D Patil’s “Disat Tasa Nasat” opposite Raja Gosavi. Thereafter, she appeared in ‘Sangtye Aika,’ a tamasha-based movie which was also the first film in which she played a leading role.

Thereafter, there was no looking back for Jayshree, and with her charismatic looks and superb acting skills, she ruled the Marathi film industry in the ’60s. Jayshree Gadkar gave many celebrated movies, such as ‘Aaliya Bhogasi,’ ‘Gath Padli Thaka Thaka,’ ‘Sangtye Aika,’ ‘Avghachi Sansar,’ ‘Mohityanchi Manjula,’ ‘Saadhi Mansa,’ and ‘Manini.’

Television

Jayshree Gadkar made her television debut with Ramanand Sagar‘s epic mythological series “Ramayan” (1987). In Ramayan, she played the role of “Kaushalya” (Lord Rama’s mother); a role that made her a household name in India.

Awards

She won a National Award for her performance in the Marathi film “Manini.” Besides this, she had won several awards and accolades for her contribution to the Marathi cinema. ^[2]Outlook

Death

Jayshree Gadkar died at the age of 66 on the morning of 29 August 2008 (Friday) following a brief illness. The funeral took place at the Shivaji Park crematorium in Mumbai. ^[3]Outlook

Facts/Trivia

• Jayshree Gadkar acted in about 250 films in a career that spanned almost four decades.
  

  Jayshree Gadkar in Various Roles

• Her Marathi film ‘Sangtey Aika’ (1959) ran for 132 weeks in a theatre, and her dance number ‘Bugdi Majhi Sandli Ga Jata Sataryala’ had become a rage at that time; a performance that is still remembered. ^[4]Outlook
  

  Jayshree Gadkar Dancing

• She was paired opposite several leading heroes of the ’60s and ’70s, including late Suryakant and Arun Sarnaik.
  

  Jayshree Gadkar With Suryakant

• When she did ‘Manini,’ several bigwigs of the Marathi cinema thought that she could not do justice with the role; as she had done mostly ‘tamasha films;’ however, she went on to silence her critics by bagging a National Award for her performance in the film.

• She had a brief stint in Hindi films. She appeared opposite Ashok Kumar in ‘Private Secretary’ (1962). Her other Hindi films included ‘Madari,’ ‘Tulsi,’ ‘Vivah,’ ‘Bajrang Bali,’ and ‘Saranga.’

• She also appeared in a Bhojpuri film “Seeta Maiya” (1964).
  

  Jayshree Gadkar in the Bhojpuri Film Seeta Maiya

• In Ramanand Sagar‘s Ramayan, her on-screen husband, Dashrath’s role was played by her real-life husband, Bal Dhuri. Even before Ramayan happened, Bal Dhuri and Jayshree Gadkar had already married.
  

  Bal Dhuri as Dashrath and Jayshree Gadkar as Kaushalya in Ramayan

• Reportedly, when Ramanand Sagar invited Jayshree Gadkar to his office to offer her the role of “Kaushalya” in Ramayan, Jasyhsree reached his office along with her husband Bal Dhuri. When Sagar saw Bal Dhuri, he was impressed with his personality and offered him two roles – Meghnad and Dashrath in Ramayan. Although Ramanand Sagar wanted him to play the role of Meghnad, Bal Dhuri chose Dashrath’s role.

• Although most of her films had a rich repertoire of tamasha stories, she also did some social issue-based films and love stories.

• In the fag end of her career, she turned director, and her directorial efforts include ‘Saasar Maher’ and ‘Ashi Asavi Saasu.’

• Her husband, Bal Dhuri has authored a book titled “Suvarn Nayika Jasyhree Gadkar,” which is based on her life.
  

  Suvarn Nayika Jasyhree Gadkar by Bal Dhuri

• In 1986, she published her autobiography “Ashi Me Jayshree.”
  

  Jayshree Gadkar’s Autobiography Ashi Me Jayshree