Deepak Antani is an Indian actor and director of Gujarati descent, best known for his role as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in plays and films. These include Gandhi Godse Ek Yudh (2023), Mujib: The Making of Nation (2022) year) and Gandhiji My Guru (2022). 2016). He is famous for his resemblance to Mahatma Gandhi and has played the character in more than 20 short films, TV series, 190 stage plays and many documentaries.
Wiki/Biography
Deepak Madhukant Antani was born on Sunday, September 20, 1964, in Bhuj, Gujarat (age 58; as of 2022). His zodiac sign is Leo. He graduated with a diploma in electrical engineering from the Gujarat Board of Technical Education in 1984 and later worked as an electrical technician with the Indian Petrochemicals Limited, Vadodara. In 1988, with his passion for acting, he was admitted to the Maharaja University of Baroda in Gujarat and received a bachelor’s degree in performing arts.
Deepak Antani was an NCC student when he was young
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′ 9″
Hair color: gray (semi-bald)
Eye color: dark brown
family
Parents and siblings
His father’s name is Madhukant Antani and mother’s name is Jaykumari Antani (late).
Deepak Antani and his father
Deepak Antani’s mother
wife and children
On June 23, 1989, he was married to Deepti Antani, a human resources consultant at Strategy Strides (as of 2022). Together they raised two children, a daughter, Falak Antani, and a son, Tathya Antani. Falak Antani is a freelance artist and Tathya is a business analyst.
Deepak Antani and wife Deepti Antani
Deepak Antani and his daughter Falak Antani
Deepak Antani and his son Tathya Antani
address
C – 13, Nebula Apartment, Near Grand Bhagwati, SG Highway, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad (380054)
religion
He believes in Hinduism.
Profession
actor
Drama and Drama
On June 20, 2000, Deepak performed Sardar Patel, a play he composed to celebrate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 125th birth anniversary. It was through this play that he made his first attempt at playing Mahatma Gandhi.
Deepak Antani as Mahatma Gandhi in a still from the 2006 drama Sardar Patel
Later, he played Gandhi in several Gujarati dramas such as “Yug Purush”, “Bander ki Atmakatha” and “Janta ki Adalat”.
Deepak Antani to star in drama ‘Yug Purush’
Movie
In 2016, he made his debut with the Hindi film “Gandhi My Guru”, in which he played the role of Mahatma Gandhi.
Poster of the movie “Gandhi My Guru” (2016)
He later appeared in several films including Mujib: The Making of Nation (2022), Maare Shu (2022) and Pagal Kar Diya Toone (2019). In 2023, Deepak shared the silver screen with actor Chinmay Mandlekar and played the role of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in the film Gandhi Godse Ek Yudh. The movie is scheduled to be released on January 26, 2023.
Poster of the movie Gandhi Godse Ek Yudh (2023)
short film
Deepak Antani has played Mahatma Gandhi in the short films Jawab La Jawab, Gandhiji Ni Garima, Mahatma ke Mahatma and the Shyam Benegal-produced Jang-e-Azadi.
TV drama
He played the role of a Gujarati driver in an episode of the TV series The Family Man (2019). Later, he appeared in Mubu TV’s serials “Crime Patrol”, “Antral” and “Ajab sas ki Gajab Bahu”. He played the role of Mahatma Gandhi in the TV show “Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah” on Sony SAB TV in 2019 and in the TV show “Barrister Babu” on Colors TV in 2020.
Deepak Antani disguised as Mahatma Gandhi in stills from TV show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah 2019
director
Movie
In 2000, he made his directorial debut with the Gujarati film “Bhav Bhav Na Bharthar”.
Poster of the Gujarati film Bhav Bhav Na Bharthar (2000)
He later directed several Gujarati films including Thank You Boss (2022), Pritam Apni Paheli Prit (2017) and Dil Ma Vasto Desh. (2016)
TV drama
Deepak Antani has directed more than 1000 episodes of Gujarati TV series including Samvad, Sakhi, Sahiyar, Kadaksinh no haya darbar, Hasya Samrat, Kaki Bhare Paki and DD Girnar’s Sankalp.
Other works
After graduation, Deepak worked as a production assistant at Doordarshan for thirteen years. In 2001, Antani joined ETV Gujarati (now known as Colors Gujarati) as a program producer and worked there for two years. From June 2002 to September 2011, he worked at Shree Falak Films, where he directed films, TV series, live events, dramas and documentaries. He is also involved in acting and screenwriting. In August 2011, Deepak was appointed as the Channel Head of Transmedia Limited. From August 2012 to August 2013, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of Pranami Broadcasting Limited, Ahmedabad. He is a B+ grade artist from AIR Aakashwani, DD Girnar and DECU – ISRO.
producer
Antani has worked as program producer for DECU – ISRO’s Divadandi program and DD Gujarati’s T’cast. Apart from this, he has also composed a Gujarati song by singer Mahesh Kanodia.
Literary works and publications
Antani has published several articles in magazines and newspapers such as Chitralekha Magazine, Gujarat Daily and Complete Cinema. He has also written stories for several award-winning Gujarati feature films, plays and TV series, composed hit songs for TV shows, and written scripts for several shows. He even prepared coffee table book content for the Dandy Kutil Museum in Gandhinagar.
Awards and Achievements
- 2004: Won the Best Director Award for the film “Bhav Bhav na Bharthar”
- 2007: Best Director for the movie “Kanku Purayu Maa Amba na Chok ma”
- 2013: Won the Best Director Award for the film “Pritam Aapni Paheli Preet”
- 2019: Listed among the top 100 record holders for the most number of Gandhi-like performances in 2019 by the Indian Book of Records
- 2019: Best Short Film “Gandhi Hatya” in the “Mahatma Gandhi Ideal” Category at the Gujarati International Film Festival in Los Angeles, USA
- 2019: Won the Best Actor at the L’age d” International Art Film Festival for the short film “Jawab La Jawab”
- 2020: Limka Book of Records for looking like the real Bapu in Gandhi attire
Happy to share another achievement. Now comes the Limka Book of Records*, following the India Book of Records – 2019. Playing the role of Mahatma Gandhi provided me with many opportunities to collaborate @ShyamBenegal @RajkumarSanto12 #LimcaBookofRecords#mahatmagandhiji pic.twitter.com/nQOBb20F8q
— Deepak Antani (@ANTANID20) October 12, 2022
Facts/Trivia
- He is fluent in many Indian languages such as Gujarati, Hindi and English.
- Deepak Antani has also voiced Mahatma Gandhi in documentaries and in many museums, including the Mahatma Gandhi Museum in Rajkot.
- In 2016, he received a special award for the play Sardar Patel.
- According to Deepak, he is an All India Radio and Doordarshan recognized artist.
- Deepak appeared as a virtual Mahatma Gandhi at the ‘Walking with Gandhi’ event at the Rashtrapati Bhawan Museum in Delhi. The event was inaugurated by Pranab Mukherjee and Narendra Modi.
- Deepak was felicitated in front of an audience of 8,000 for directing the team and portraying Mahatma Gandhi in the drama “Yug Purush” (Mahatma na Mahatma). Deepak and his team performed 166 shows in less than 240 days, covering around 100+ places in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
- The Hindi feature film Gandhi My Guru (2016) starring Deepak was shortlisted for the Chandler International Film Festival (2016), the 5th New Jersey Film Festival (2016), the New York Indian Film Festival (2016), and the Miami Independent Film Festival (2016) and UK Monthly Film Festival (2016).
- From January 16 to 22, 2019, Deepak Antani walked 150 kilometers in 6 days as Gandhi from Mannar in Bhagwan Nagar district during the ‘PadYatra’ event Depart from Manar village and reach Lok Bharti Sansthan in Sanosara village in Gujarat.
- He was an invited member of the Micro Committee for Development of Film Subsidy Policy of the Government of Gujarat.
- In 2022, Deepak Antani appeared in the music video of the song “Jadu Salona” composed by Amit Trivedi.
Deepak Antani music video stills from the song “Jadu Salona” (2022)
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education