Hobbies play a vital role in our lives, offering a refreshing break from our daily routines. Engaging in hobbies can help reduce stress, improve mental and physical well-being, boost creativity as well. Hobbies allow us to express ourselves, explore new interests, and develop new skills.
Drawing, painting, nature photography and listening to music are some of the things I like. But somehow Acting is what I love the most. I started liking acting from my childhood. For me it all started when I was a student of class 4. In my first stage appearance ever, I was made up as Mahadev in an opening song and dance sequence in a school gathering. After that I enthusiastically participated in all the school annual days and interhouse competitions too.
My father was a great drama enthusiast…and a great inspiration for me. He was a Mining engineer and was posted in a remote coal mine in Chhindwara District of MP. There during Diwali he used to stage a Hindi play every year with the employees . He prepared the script by saying the lines in his toota phoota Hindi and someone else wrote the correct lines , directed the plays, did the makeup, prepared the sets, costumes and acted in the plays too. My mother actively helped him in these by stitching the dresses, preparing tea and snacks for the whole team. What better inspiration could I have than them. So apart from the school gathering plays I had started acting in the plays directed by my father too. I used to so eagerly wait for my diwali holidays…as I not only could go home but participate in those plays too.
In 1976 I got admission in GMC Nagpur for my medical course. So now came the college annual day functions. I did not miss acting in a single play staged during the annual gatherings, till I became a PG stueldent and was not allowed to take part in them anymore. While doing PG in GMC Nagpur I came in contact with a theatre group named Bengali Association and started performing with them too. Did many plays in Bengali, Hindi and Marathi with them. They were big learning experiences for me as an actor. I loved participating in them.
Not only that, I got many awards for acting at National and Maharashtra State Level. Naturally they were big sources of encouragement for me , so I kept on doing more and more plays.
Court Martial…Ghar Zameen….Apna To Bhai Aisa Hi Hai….are names of just some plays that we did and were appreciated very much. Often it would so happen that I used to leave home at 6.30 am for my surgeries…finish my medical practice at 9 pm and then go for my drama rehearsals . I used to feel tired…but stepping in the rehearsal hall used to make me all fresh and enthusiastic again.
Then came a call to act in a Hindi Serial. I was practicing as an Ophthalmologist in Nagpur then…It was a Serial named Bandhan…Produced by Balaji Telefilms of Ekta Kapoor. I came to Mumbai from Nagpur, shot for the serial and went back. Thus my journey as a professional actor began.
2005 was another landmark in my acting career when I was selected for my first feature film…Munnabhai MBBS….which was incidentally a super duper hit.
I kept enjoying this new role of a professional actor and thus slowly the hobby became a second profession for me. Finally I took another bold step of leaving Nagpur and shifting to Mumbai. I must admit it was a very tough decision. But support of my family and friends is what I needed to push it further. Obviously now I am enjoying every bit of it….having done about 15 feature films, more than 75 TV Serials , Ad films, Web series, Corporate films, Short films etc. Apart from Munnabhai I have acted in films like Three Idiots, Mumbaikar, Mujib…Making of a Nation, Minus 31 the Nagpur Files, Khelein Hum Jee Jaan se, Maidaan, Article 370 etc. These gave me the opportunity to work with great directors like Rajkumar Hirani, Shyam Benegal sir, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Santosh Shivan etc.
Reference:3 Idiots
Reference: Mumbaikar
Reference: Article 370
Among the tv serials I have done several episodes of Crimepatrol, CID, Savdhaan India to just name a few. In the process I have played so many characters…ranging from Doctors…. Police officers… to so many Positive and Negative Characters too.
In the mean while I have not neglected my Medical Profession too. I am still working as a Consultant in hospitals here in Mumbai. Trying hard to strike a balance between the two professions….and I must admit that’s a real tough job. Very often I am asked which profession I like the most. Honestly its very difficult to choose one between them….when patients get cured and thank you, gives as much satisfaction as playing different characters as part of acting and being appreciated for them.
So I hope and wish to carry on doing both….my hobby cum second profession and medical practice as long as I can.
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