Kashinath Ghanekar

Kashinath Ghanekar was a popular stage actor and dental surgeon who also appeared in Marathi films in the 1960s. He was born on 14 September 1930 in Chiplun, Maharashtra, India. He completed his Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai and started his own dental clinic in Dadar. He was passionate about acting and singing and joined the Kalabhavan comedy troupe as a mimicry artist. He made his film debut in 1960 with the Marathi film Gajamukha. He got his first major breakthrough with the play Raigadala Jevha Jaag Yete, written by Vasant Kanetkar, where he played the role of Sambhaji, the son of Shivaji. His performance was highly acclaimed and he became a star overnight. He acted in several other plays, such as Ashroonchi Zhali Phule, Ithe Oshalala Mrutyu, Garambicha Bapu, Anandi Gopal, Shitu, Tujhe Aahe Tujpashi, Sundar Mi Honar, and Madhumanjiri. He was known for his versatility and his ability to play different types of characters, from comic to tragic, from historical to contemporary. He was also known for his charisma and his respect for his co-stars and fans. He appeared in over 70 films in various languages, such as Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam. Some of his most famous films are Madhuchandra (1968), where he played the role of a blind singer, Pinjara (1972), where he played the role of a school teacher, and Dharma Kanya (1975), where he played the role of a lawyer. He also sang many songs in his films, such as "Majhya Mana Lago Chhand", "Sang Sang Bholanath", and "Jeevalaga Rahile Re Door". He was honoured with a stamp by the Indian government in 1972 and a doctorate from the Tumkur University in 2008. He was also the recipient of the Special Jury Award at the National Film Awards and the Kerala State Film Award for his role in Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (1999), where he played the role of a blind singer. He died of a heart attack on 2 March 1986, during one of the tours of his plays, at his hotel room in Amravati, Maharashtra, India, at the age of 55. He was survived by his second wife Kanchan, the daughter of Marathi actress Sulochana Latkar, and his daughter Rashmi from his first marriage. He is still regarded as one of the greatest actors of Marathi cinema and an inspiration for many.