Dr. Kashinath Ganekhar is a popular Indian film and stage actor who is also a dental surgeon. In 2018, a Marathi biopic about Dr. Kashinath was released titled Animal…Dr. Kashinath Ganekhar.
Wiki/Biography
Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar was born on Sunday, September 14, 1930 (aged 56 at the time of his death) in Chiplun, Maharashtra. His star sign was Virgo. He went to school in Chiplun and later studied dentistry.
appearance
Height (approximate): 5′ 6″
Eye Color: Blue
Hair color: Black
Family and caste
Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar was born into a Maratha family.
Parents and siblings
Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar reportedly did not have a good relationship with his father.
Relationships, Wife and Children
Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar was married twice. His first wife was Irawati M. Bhide, an obstetrician and gynecologist. Later, the couple divorced without children. In 1983, he married Kanchan, who was much younger than him. Veteran Indian actress Sulochana (deceased) was Kanchan’s mother. Dr. Kashinath and Kanchan have a daughter, Rashmi Ghanekar.
Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar and his family
Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar and Kanchan
Kanchan Kashinas Ganeka
Rashmi Ganekar
Sulochina Ratka
Profession
He started his career as a dentist and later, he got an opportunity to work as a part-time prompter in theatre performances. His first Marathi play as an actor was Shitu, which was performed on the public stage in 1952. He acted in many Marathi plays including Tujhe Aahe Tujpashi (1952), Sundar Mi Honar (1952), Mad humanjiri (1952), Laxmi Aali Ghara (1952), Raygadala Jevha Jaag Yete (1962), Ashroonchi Zhali Phule (1963), Ithe Oshalala Mrutyu (1968), Garambicha Bapu (1972), Guntata Hruday He (1972) and Anandi Gopal (1976). He became a popular theatre actor by playing the role of Sambhaji in the Marathi play Raygadala Jevha Jaag Yete (1962). One of his most famous roles was that of ‘Lalya’ in the Marathi play Raygadala Jevha Jaag Yete, ‘Ashroonchi Zhali Phule’ in 1963.
Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar in a theatre performance
He made his debut as an actor in the Marathi film ‘Laxmi Aali Ghara’ in 1952. His other Marathi films include ‘Dharm Patni’ (1953), ‘Maratha Tituka Melvava’ (1963), ‘Paathlaag’ (1964), ‘ Madhuchandra’ (1967), ‘Ghar Gangecha Kathi’ (1975) and ‘Ha Khel Savalyancha’ (1976). He came into limelight as a Marathi film actor with the film ‘Madhuchandra’ (1967). He acted in two Hindi films ‘Daadi Maa’ (1966) and ‘Abhilasha’ (1968).
Stills of Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar
Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar’s film scenes
Dr. Kashinath Ganekhar in the movie
die
On March 2, 1986, he died of a heart attack at the age of 56 while touring a play in Amravati village in Maharashtra.
Facts/Trivia
- His popularity was so great that all his theatre performances were sold out at that time and tickets for his stage performances were almost sold out on the black market. On one occasion, some of his female fans gathered outside the Shivaji Temple in Mumbai to take him home after his performance.
- Dr. Kashinath was the first superstar of Marathi cinema. He was the highest paid theatre artist of his time, earning up to Rs 500 per performance.
Old photo of Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar
- He used to smoke and drink a lot, which is said to be one of the reasons for his early death.
- His huge popularity and growth reportedly coincided with the formation of the political party, the Shiv Sena (1966).
Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar and Balasaheb Thackeray
- He was very close to Indian stage actor Prabhakar Panshikar but not to Indian film and stage actor Dr. Sreeram Lagoo.
Prabhakar Panshikar
Sriram Lake
- In his memory, the Thane Municipal Corporation has constructed a modern theatre with an auditorium at Hiranandani Meadows, near Ghodbunder Road, Vasant Vihar, Thane West, Maharashtra 400607 and named it “Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar Natyagruha”.
Dr. Kashinath Ganekhar Drama Theatre
- In 2018, a biopic on Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar was made in Marathi titled Ani…Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar; starring Subodh Bhave as Dr. Ghanekar, Sonali Kulkarni, Sumeet Raghavan, Prasad Oak, Nandita Dhuri, Anand Ingale, and Mohan Joshi. The film was released on Netflix in 2020.
Ani… Dr.Kashinath Ghanekar
- After his death, his wife Kanchan wrote a biography titled Nath Ha Maza, which means “This is my husband.”
A book on the life of Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education