Manoj Joshi is an Indian theatre artist, actor, and film & theatre director. In 2018, he received the Padma Shri award for his work in the field of art-acting. He is known for portraying Chanakya in the Hindi-Gujarati theatre play ‘Chanakya’ for more than 25 years.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Manoj Joshi aka Manoj N Joshi [1]Facebook – Manoj Joshi was born on Friday, 3 September 1965 (age 57 years; as of 2022) in Goregaon, Maharashtra. His zodiac sign is Virgo. He pursued BA at Mithibai College of Arts, Mumbai. Later, he did a diploma in commercial art at Sir J.J. School of Arts, Mumbai. While he was studying in college, he attended theatre classes and painting classes. [2]PressReader [3]YouTube – The Bollywood Dynasty He wrote a Marathi play titled ‘Karma’ during his college days.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 8″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Brown
Family
He belongs to a Brahmin Gujarati family from Adpodara Village, near Himatnagar in North Gujarat. [4]YouTube – The Bollywood Dynasty
Parents & Siblings
His father, Navneet Joshi, was a Sanskrit vidvaan, kirtankara, and astrologer. He has two sisters. His younger brother, Rajesh Joshi, was an actor, who died in a road accident in 1998.
Manoj Joshi with his father
Manoj Joshi with his mother
Manoj Joshi’s brother
Wife & Children
On 1 March 1988, he got married to Charu Joshi, who owns a theatre production company. He has two sons named Dharmaj Joshi (actor) and Rudra Joshi.
Manoj Joshi with his wife
Manoj Joshi with his wife and sons
Address
202, Koteshwar Darshan, Hanuman Cross Road, Vile Parle (East) Mumbai 400057
Career
Manoj started his career as a cashier at Sidhharth Hotel in Mumbai. However, he left the job within a few months because he was not good at handling finances. He then worked for a few magazines like ‘Janmabhoomi,’ ‘Gentleman,’ and ‘Economic and Political Weekly.’ He used to paint caricatures for magazines and monthly earned Rs 50 to Rs 100. Later, he joined a firm named EPW Communist Trust where he used to get a monthly salary of Rs 35000-Rs 40000. [5]YouTube – The Bollywood Dynasty
Theatre
Manoj started his acting career as a theatre artist. He has performed in theatre plays of various languages such as Hindi, Gujarati, and Hindi.
Marathi
In 1995, he performed in the Marathi Theatre play ‘Sarvasvi Tuzich.’
Gujarati
In 1986, he appeared in the Gujarati play ‘Tak Dhina Dhin.’ Some of his other Gujarati theatre plays are Ghashiram, Kotwal Doctor Tame Pan, Man Male Tya Melo, and Gandhi Virudh Gandhi.
Manoj Joshi in Man Male Tya Melo theatre play
Hindi
In 1996, he performed in the Hindi theatre play ‘Chanakya.’ He gained immense popularity with the play. He has been performing the play for more than 25 years in different states of India.
Manoj Joshi in Chanakya theatre play
He has appeared in a few other Hindi plays like ‘Goal Maal Pyar Ka,’ ‘Rangila Re,’ and ‘Alibaba Aur Chalis Ke Chor.’
Film
Gujarati
In 1990, he made his acting debut with the film of National Film Development Corporation of India ‘Hun Hunshi Hunshilal’ in a supporting role.
Hun Hunshi Hunshilal
Some of his other Gujarati films are ‘Bey Yaar’ (2014), ‘Thai Jashe!’ (2016), ‘I.M.A. Gujju’ (2018), ‘Nayika Devi: The Warrior Queen’ (2022), and ‘Nava Pappa’ (2023).
Nava Pappa
Hindi
Manoj made his Bollywood debut with the film ‘Sarfarosh’ (1999) in which he played the role of Sub-Inspector Bajju.
A still of Manoj Joshi from the Hindi film Sarfarosh
He has appeared in various Hindi films like ‘Chandni Bar’ (2001), ‘Satta’ (2003), ‘Dhoom’ (2004), ‘Vivah’ (2006), ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ (2007), ‘Hasee Toh Phasee’ (2014), and ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ (2015).
A still of Manoj Joshi from the Hindi film Vivah
He gained immense popularity for playing various comic roles in the Hindi films. Some of such roles are ‘Sub-Inspector Anand Waghmare’ from ‘Hungama’ (2003), ‘Advocate Namdev Mishra’ from ‘Hulchul’ (2004), ‘Nageshwar’ from ‘Garam Masala’ (2005), ‘Kachra Seth’ from ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ (2006), and ‘Harichandra Ramchandra Mirchindani aka Harami’ from ‘Golmaal: Fun Unlimited’ (2006).
Phir Hera Pheri
He portrayed the Indian politician Amit Shah in the Hindi film ‘PM Narendra Modi’ (2019).
Manoj Joshi as Amit Shah in PM Narendra Modi
Marathi
In 2011, he made his Marathi film debut with ‘Fakt Ladh Mhana’ in which he played the role of Veer Dhwal.
Fakt Ladh Mhana
He has appeared in a few other Marathi films like ‘Bharatiya’ (2012), ‘Narbachi Wadi’ (2013), and ‘Dashakriya’ (2017).
Dashakriya
Other Languages
In 2003, he appeared in the English-Hindi film ‘Jogger’s Park’ as Tariq Ahmed.
Jogger’s Park
He has also appeared in the 2017 Malayalam film ‘Odiyan’ in which he played the role of Mootha Manickan (Muthappan).
Odiyan
TV Serial
Hindi
He made his Hindi TV debut with ‘Chanakya’ (1991; DD National) in which he played the role of Shriyak.
Chanakya
He has acted in many Hindi TV serials like ‘Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka’ (1999; Sony), ‘Kehta Hai Dil’ (2002; Star Plus), ‘Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat’ (2015; Colors), ‘Mangalam Dangalam’ (2018; SAB TV), and ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ (2020; Star Plus).
Manoj Joshi on the sets of Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat
Marathi
In 1990, he made his Marathi TV debut with the serial ‘Rau’ in which he portrayed Bajirao, the 7th Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy.
A still from the TV serial Rau
In 1999, he appeared in Alpa TV Marathi serial ‘Abhalmaya’ in which he played the role of Sharad Joshi. In 2015, he appeared in another Marathi TV serial ‘Honar Sun Me Hya Gharchi,’ which aired on Zee Marathi.
Honar Sun Me Hya Gharchi
Short Film
He has also appeared in various Hindi short films like ‘The Mumbai Trilogy’ (2012), ‘After He Left: Chronicle of Shankar Pratap Singh’ (2018), and ‘Gunchakkar’ (2023).
Gunchakkar
Other Work
In April 2016, he became an assembly member of ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relationships). In 2017, he appeared in the promotional video of the Gujarat BJP campaign.
