Mohan Agashe is an Indian actor, theatre artist and psychiatrist who is popularly known for his predominant work in the Indian film industry. He was conferred Padma Shri Award in 1980 and Sahitya Akademi Award in 1996.
Wiki/Biography
Mohan Agashe (Dr Mohan Agashe) was born on Wednesday, 23 July 1947 (age 75 years; as of 2022) in Bhor, Bombay Presidency, British India. He did his schooling at a Marathi medium school, NVM High School & Junior College, in Budhwar Peth, Pune. He earned his MBBS degree and Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree in Psychiatry from B. J. Medical College in Pune.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 10″
Hair Colour: Salt & Pepper
Eye Colour: Black
Mohan Agashe’s image
Family
Parents & Siblings
His father, Mahadeo Agashe, was a Collectorate Stenographer. In an interview, Mohan shared that his paternal grandfather didn’t allow his father to study. Mohan has an elder sister.
Wife & Children
Mohan Agashe is unmarried.
Career
President- Theatre
In 1980, Mohan Agashe along with Jabbar Patel and Satish Alekar founded the Theatre Academy in Pune where Mohan was the Honorary President till the year 1986.
Director & Professor
In e was appointed as a Director at the In 2010, he became a member of the .
Psychiatrist
Mohan Agashe worked as the Agashe was then appointed as the Principal Investigator for an Indo–US joint project on Cultural Disorders of Fatigue and Weaknesses.
Dr Mohan Agashe during a seminar on ‘Cinematic Diet for Health’ at National AIDS Research Institute in 2018
Theatre Artist
He made his theatre debut as a child artist in Sai Paranjape’s group ‘Children’s theatre.’ When Mohan was 12 years old and studying in school, his teacher called him to his home to rehearse for a play. After the play, he was offered to participate in state-level theatrical competitions. When Mohan was studying in college, he acted in a play titled ‘Jara Samjhun Ghya,’ which he presented for The Indian Medical Association’s awareness drive in Pune. He has appeared in several plays such as Daakghar, Dhanya MI Kritarth, Ashi Pakhare Yeti, and Katkon Trikon. From 1972 to 1992, Mohan Agashe portrayed Nana Phadnavis in a play titled Ghashiram Kotwal by Vijay Tendulkar.
Mohan Agashe as Nanasaheb on the set of the play ‘Ghashiram Kotwal’ with Dilip Kumar and Shashi Kapoor
Actor
Film
Marathi
In 1975, Mohan made his Marathi debut with the film Samna in which he played the role of Maruti Kamble. He appeared in many Marathi films including Ek Hota Vidushak (1992), Kaasav (2017), and Chandramukhi (2022). The 2015 film ‘Astu: So Be It’ featured Mohan Agashe as Dr. Chakrapani Shastri.
Mohan Agashe as Dr Chakrapani Shastri on the official poster of the film ‘Astu So Be It’ (2015)
Hindi
Mohan made his Hindi debut with the film Aakrosh (1980) in which he played the role of Bhonsle, chairman of Zilla Parishad. His role in the film Gangaajal (2003) was critically acclaimed.
Mohan Agashe as Deputy Inspector in a still from the film ‘Gangaajal’ (2003)
He has appeared in many popular Hindi films including Patang (1999), Rang De Basanti (2006), Jolly LLB (2013), and Bachchhan Paandey (2022).
Bengali
In 1996, he made his Bengali debut with the film ‘Feluda 30’ in which he played the role of Maganlal Meghraj.
Mohan Agashe in a still from the Bengali film ‘Feluda 30’ (1996)
In 1999, he was cast by director Sandip Roy to play the role of Maganlal Meghraj in the film ‘Jato Kando Kathmandu Te.’
Mohan Agashe in a still from the Bengali film Jato Kando Kathmandu Te (1990)
He appeared in other Bengali films such as Feluda 30 (1996) and Golapi Mukto Rahasya (1999).
English
He made his English debut with the film Gandhi in 1982 in which he played the role of Tyeb Mohammed’s friend.
Tamil
In 2016, he made his Tamil debut with the film Manithan in which he played the role of Ram Dewan. He appeared in the 2022 film ‘Vezham.’
Television
He made his Hindi debut with the 1986 Hindi mini-series ‘Kissa Kathmandu Ka’ in which he played the role of Jatayu.
Mohan Agashe in a still from the Hindi TV series Kissa Kathmandu Ka (1986)
Mohan appeared in many TV series including Guntata Hriday He (2011) and Eka Lagnachi Teesri Goshta (2012) on ZEE Marathi, and Rudram (2017) on ZEE Yuva.
Awards & Honours
- 1996: Sahitya Akademi Award
- 2002: Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- 2017: Thespo Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2018: Vishnudas Bhave Puraskar
- 2018: Pride of Planet Award
- 2019: Lotu Patil Theatre Award
Favourites
- Playwright: Vijay Tendulkar
- Director: Sumitra Bhave, Dr Jabbar Pate, and Satyajit Ray
Facts/Trivia
- He was awarded Homi Bhabha Fellowship (1984-86) to study Art & Therapy.
- Apart from acting, Mohan also produced the 2019 Marathi film ‘Dithee,’ which was directed by Sumitra Bhave.
- In 1993, Mohan Agashe was heading a five-year study on the trauma of the 1993 Latur earthquake for the Indian Council Of Medical Research and found many people suffering from psychological distress. He then initiated psychosocial rehabilitation for the earthquake victims.
- In an interview, Mohan shared that he did theatre as a hobby. He didn’t take it as seriously as his academics.
- In 1997, when Mohan Agashe was the Director of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, he introduced a new idea to put an end to the ongoing strikes which included freezing admissions until every student had finished his or her course. The FTII Students’ Association (FSA) appealed to the Bombay High Court altercating that FTII was wasting government resources by refusing to take new students and thus, won the case. Following this, Dr Mohan Agashe resigned from FTII Pune.