Vasant Shinde (May 14, 1912 – July 4, 1999) was an Indian actor in

Marathi cinema Marathi cinema is an Indian film industry of Marathi-language motion pictures. It is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Based in old Mumbai, it is the oldest film industry of Indian cinema. The first Marathi film to be released in India was '' ...

, well known for his comedic roles. He began his career in the mid-1920s at

Dadasaheb Phalke Dhundiraj Govind Phalke (Pronunciation: ̪ʱuɳɖiɾaːd͡ʒ pʰaːɭke, popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke () (30 April 1870 – 16 February 1944), was an Indian producer-director-screenwriter, known as "the Father of Indian cinema". His de ...

's Hindustan Film Company, where he worked across various film-making departments. His acting debut was in ''Chaturthicha Chandra'' (1925), where he played Lord Ganpati. Over his distinguished career, Shinde appeared in notable films such as ''Pedgavche Shahane'' (1952), ''Gulacha Ganpati'' (1953), '' Mohityanchi Manjula'' (1963), and ''Manacha Mujra'' (1969). Shinde appeared in 170 films and 100 plays, earning several awards including the Shanta Hubilkar Award, the Balgandharva Award, and the Kalgaurav Award.

Early life

Vasant Shinde was born on 14 May 1912, in

Bhandardara Bhandardara is a holiday resort village near Igatpuri, in the western ghats of India. The village is located in the Akole tehsil, Ahmednagar district of the state of Maharashtra, about from Mumbai and from Ahmednagar. Bhandardara sits by ...

. His participation into the arts began in 1924 when he joined the Hindustan Film Company in

Nashik Nashik (, Marathi: aːʃik, also called as Nasik ) is a city in the northern region of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Situated on the banks of river Godavari, Nashik is the third largest city in Maharashtra, after Mumbai and Pune. Nash ...

, where he was initially employed in the carpentry department. His artistic talents soon led to his transfer to the painting department. Under the mentorship of

, Shinde was exposed to various aspects of film production and developed skills in acting, dancing, and singing.

Career

Shinde made his acting debut in 1925 with a role in the silent film ''Chaturthicha Chandra'', portraying

Ganapati Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is found throughout India. Hindu ...

. He gained prominence with roles in other silent films such as ''Sitavanwas'', ''Ram-Ravan Yuddh'', and ''Bhakta Prahlada''. Over his five-year tenure at Hindustan Film Company, he appeared in 19 silent films. After leaving Hindustan Film Company around 1928-29 due to dissatisfaction with the industry and low pay, Shinde briefly worked with Bal Mohan Theater Company in Pune. He joined Arunodaya Natak Mandali in 1929, where he gained recognition for his stage performances in plays like 'Girnivala,' 'Pranapratishtha,' and 'Sakshatkar.' Shinde later worked with Navjeevan Sangeet Mandali, where his comedic skills shone. His career in the theater continued with Rajaram Sangeet Mandali, where his role in 'Bhaavbandhan' earned him acclaim. He also worked with Lalit Kala Kunj before returning to the film industry. Shinde's film career spanned from silent films to talkies. His first talkie was ''

Mayabazar ''Mayabazar'' () is a 1957 Indian epic Hindu mythological film directed by K. V. Reddy. It was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani under their banner, Vijaya Productions. The film was shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil languages, ...

'' (1939). He appeared in over 190 Marathi films and seven Hindi films, including notable roles in ''Sasurwas'' (1946) under

Bhalji Pendharkar Bhalji Pendharkar (3 May 1897 – 26 November 1994) was a film personality in India, and recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the most prestigious award in the field. Early life and family Born to Radhabai and her husband Dr Gopal Pendharkar ...

's direction. He also acted in nine unreleased films and was celebrated for his performances in around 57 folk dramas.

Death

Vasant Shinde passed away on 14 July 1999 at a private nursing home in Pune. His autobiography Vinodvriksh, published in June 1999, written by Madhu Potdar, chronicles his extensive career. Renowned actor

Sharad Talwalkar Sharad Talwalkar (1 November 1918 - 22 August 2001) was an Indian film and television actor who led the Marathi film industry and theatre for many years. He had performed in more than 180 Marathi films. Childhood He had a passion for acting from ...

praised Shinde as a "season's best," reflecting his significant impact on Indian cinema and theater.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Shinde, Vasant 1912 births 1999 deaths Marathi actors 20th-century Indian male actors Male actors in Marathi cinema Male actors in Hindi cinema People from Nashik district Indian theatre people