Tag Archives: Char Diwas Sasuche

“I would have been a cricketer, if I had not become an actor” – Ajay Padhye

If he had not become an actor, he would have certainly played cricket at the national or international level. When Ajay Padhye completed his schooling from SIES School, Matunga, he joined Jhunjhunwala College, Ghatkoper, as he wanted to play for the college team and was advised accordingly, by his cricket coach Deepak Murekar from Shivaji Park Gymkhana. Ajay had played cricket with all time greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli and had even toured Nairobi to play U-19 cricket on exchange tour basis.

ajay-padhye-actor-imageBut, destiny had something else in his life. Ajay had joined a vacation workshop for acting while he was doing his college and was trained at ARTS by Vinayak Padwal and Suresh Vaidya. Later, while he was doing his MBA after graduation, Ajay had an opportunity to work in few experimental plays; and that inspired him to work on stage. His first professional assignment was in Meena Naik’s play ‘Makada Makada Hoop!’ which was also performed in Hindi with the title “Bandar Tere Peeche Kalandar”. The shows of this play were performed all over India, including NSD, Delhi. And, this boosted the confidence of Ajay, who then joined Yatri Group and performed also in many English and Hindi plays.

Though Ajay had taken up job in Sah – Sanghi and later with Sterling Resorts, after completing his MBA, he did find time for his rehearsals, for his experimental plays. His stage experience enabled him to get into modelling field. Thanks to Model Sujata Pathre, who recommended him to a Model Photographer Ashok Sonpura. Ajay appeared in many print and TV ads like “D cold rub”, ” Fanta”, “Bits Computer”, “Channel V promo”, “Maharashtra Times”, “Kinetic Style”, “Bajaj Bikes”, “Oriental Bank”, “Tata Tea”, etc.

When Ajay made his debut in Uttar ‘Damini’, he came into reckoning. But, when he found an important role into E TV’s Mega serial ‘Char Diwas Sasuche’, Ajay earned name and fame. Simultaneously, he also found roles in Hindi serials like Rajan Waghdhare’s “Do Aur Do Paanch” & “Didi Ka Dulha” as well as Anand Mahendroo’s “Idhar-Udhar”. Recently, he also performed in ‘Hatim’ and ‘Mahadev’ Hindi serials, only to receive more recognition.

Ajay had also made his debut in Hindi films, through ‘Dhoom’ part 1, where he had played Uday Chopra’s friend. But, now, he is all set to establish himself as a Marathi film actor. Watching his performance in latest released film ‘Dhamak’ clearly suggests that Ajay is here to stay, in the long run. He has played an important role Aniket’s close friend – Javed Akhtar, with total conviction. There is one more film in the pipeline and Ajay is all smiles, to make his presence felt with his enormous talent .

“Success is achieved through excellent team work” – Rohini Hattangadi

rohini-hattangadi-interview-image

She was almost nearing 30,when she was playing the role of Kasturba in Richard Attenborough’s English Academy awards winning film ‘Gandhi’. But, that role made her an internationally acclaimed actress. Born as Rohini Oak in Pune, Rohini married Jayadev Hattangadi, who was her batch mate in NSD, Delhi. Today, Rohini Hattangadi, is a renowned personality in films, theatre and television industry. So far, she has won two Filmfare Awards, one National Film Award, and is the only Indian actress to win the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Kasturba Gandhi in Gandhi (1982). Since her childhood, she always wanted to become an actress and began her lessons through theatre. Rohini made her film debut with Saeed Akhtar Mirza’s ‘Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan’ in 1978. The film won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie. This was followed by her appearance in Mirza’s next picture, ‘Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai’ (1980), which won the same award, and Rabindra Dharmaraj’s drama Chakra (1981). Her roles in these films were not big; but after her performance in ‘Gandhi’ in 1982, she was mostly offered character roles in mainstream Hindi cinema and was often typecast in mother’s roles, much ahead of her actual age. Respected for her acting prowess, she has appeared in about 80 feature films, and is today very active on Marathi television.

Rohini Hattangadi, Actress
Being a versatile actress, Rohini has performed in many Hindi and Marathi serials in the recent past; but, her eTV’s serial ‘Char Divas Sasuche’ which made a record run of more than 6 years continuously. Today, she is the most popular TV actress, returning back with another important role of a head of the family in Zee Marathi’s new serial ‘Honar Sunn Mee Hya Gharchi’. Marathi Movie world spoke to this resourceful actress, to know more about her 35 year long acting career.

Q: We have heard that every serial you are part of in Marathi, turns out to be a marathon serial, gaining popularity. What’s your reaction ? A: Yes, I have seen the success and popularity of ‘Char Diwas Sasuche’; and now, being part of ‘Honar Sun Mee Hya Gharchi’, I watching almost the same reactions coming from people, who I come across. They have appreciated the subject and my role. But, I would attribute the credit of popularity of the serial to the entire team, the writer, producer, director and all the artistes. It’ happens because of good team work.

Q: In your acting career, right from the beginning stage, you have played the Mother’s role for actors, who were much elder to you. How did you react to that situation? A: Being a professional actress, I had to be prepared for any role that was offered to me. Yes, some of the actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Jitendra were more than10 years elder to me. But, it all depended, how that actor playing my son, responded in all those important scenes with me. For any actor, it is very important to extract the best out of him or her; with the good support coming from the artiste who is opposite that person in a particular scene.

Q: Recently, we even saw you performing in a Marathi film ‘Premachi Goshta’ after a long time. Your comments. A: Yes, I did accept that role, as I liked the script.

Q: There are many new Marathi stage plays on different subjects. Aren’t you tempted to perform on Marathi stage now? A: I had done stage in the past. But, in the recent past, I had not received any offers with a good script. But, very soon, you will see me performing in a play ‘Jagadamba’ which is on the life of Kasturba Gandhi. The play was already staged in 2009 and is being revived now. I will be playing the lead role with a solo performance in this two act play. There is lot to be told about life of kasturba Gandhi and her actual role in the life of Mahatma Gandhi. The general feeling is that, ‘behind every successful man there is a wife’. But, in the case of Gandhiji, kasturba was always with him and not behind him. That’s what this play will be speaking about. Through this play, the main character will be communicating with the audience. So, just wait. I am getting ready for this play.

Q: Tell us something about this ongoing serial of yours, ‘Honar Sun Mee Hya Gharchi’? A; Well, I liked the concept and even my role in it. The head of the family I play, is very strict, who wants everybody to be disciplined and speak truth. She is taking good care of all the women folks in the house, after getting rid of the useless men; except her Grandson- Shree, who is well behaved and very much attached to her.

Q: So, can we expect this serial also to be the most popular serial in coming days ? A: I Hope so. After all, success is achieved through excellent team work. Thank you.