Jaishree Gadkar is an Indian actress, best known for her role as ‘Kaushalya’ in Ramanand Sagar’s epic television drama ‘Ramayana’. She is also known for her performances in Marathi films and dramas. Jaishree Gadkar is considered one of the last living legends of the golden age of Marathi cinema in the 1960s and 1970s.
Wiki/Biography
Jaishree Gadkar was born on Saturday, February 21, 1942 (age 66 at the time of her death) in Karwar, Bombay Presidency, British India. From an early age, she had a passion for dance and acting; qualities that made her one of the most celebrated and versatile Marathi actresses.
Family and Cases
Jayshree Gadkar was born in Maharashtra to a Konkani speaking family.
Parents and siblings
There is not much information available about her parents and siblings.
Relationships, husbands and children
Jayshree Gadkar is married to Bal Dhuri, who is also a Marathi actor and the on-screen husband of Jayshree Gadkar in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana. She has one son with Bal Dhuri.
Jayshree Gadkar and her husband Bal Dhuri
Profession
Marathi movies
Jayshree Gadkar started her career as a child dancer. She made her Bollywood debut with V Shantaram’s Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje (1955), in which she acted as a group dancer alongside the heroine Sandhya.
Jayshree Gadkar’s debut film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje (1955)
She then played a small role opposite Raja Gosavi in Disat Tasa Nasat directed by Dinkar D Patil. After that, she acted in Sangtye Aika, a tamasha-themed film and her first film as a lead.
Jayshree Gadkar as Sangtye Aika
After that, Jaishree was unstoppable and dominated the Marathi film industry in the 60s with her charming looks and superb acting skills. Jaishree Gadkar starred in many famous films such as Aaliya Bhogasi, Gath Padli Thaka Thaka, Sangtye Aika, Avghachi Sansar, Mohityanchi Manjula, Saadhi Mansa and Manini.
television
Jaishree Gadkar made her television debut in Ramanand Sagar’s epic mythological series Ramayana (1987). In Ramayana, she played the role of “Kaushalya” (mother of Lord Rama); this role made her a household name in India.
Jayshree Gadkar as Kaushalya in Ramayana
Awards
She won the National Award for her performance in the Marathi film Manini. Apart from this, she has received several awards and honours for her contribution to Marathi cinema.
die
On the morning of Friday, August 29, 2008, Jaishree Gadkar passed away after a brief illness at the age of 66. The funeral was held at the Shivaji Park Crematorium in Mumbai.
Facts/Trivia
- Jayshree Gadkar acted in about 250 films in a career spanning nearly four decades.
Jayshree Gadkar has played many roles
- Her Marathi film Sangtey Aika (1959) ran in theatres for 132 weeks and her dance performance Bugdi Majhi Sandli Ga Jata Sataryala was a rage at the time and her performance is still remembered today.
Jayshree Gadkar Dance
- She has acted opposite several leading heroes of the 1960s and 1970s, including the late Suryakant and Arun Sarnaik.
Jayshree Gadkar and Suryakant
- When she acted in Manini, some bigwigs of Marathi cinema thought she was not up to the role as she had mostly acted in ‘tamasha films’; however, she silenced her critics by winning the National Award for her performance in the film.
- She made a brief appearance in Hindi films. She co-starred with Ashok Kumar in Private Secretary (1962). Her other Hindi films included Madari, Tulsi, Vivah, Bajrang Bali and Saranga.
- She also appeared in the Bhojpuri film Seeta Maiya (1964).
Jayshree Gadkar to star in Bhojpuri film Seeta Maiya
- In Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana, the role of her on-screen husband Dashrath was played by her real-life husband Bal Dhuri. Bal Dhuri and Jayshree Gadkar were married long before the shooting of Ramayana began.
Bal Dhuri plays Dashrath and Jayshree Gadkar plays Kaushalya in Ramayana
- Jaishri Gadkar reportedly came to his office with her husband Bal Dhuri when Ramanand Sagar invited her to play the role of ‘Kaushalya’ in Ramayana. When Sagar saw Bal Dhuri, he was impressed with his personality and offered him two roles – Meghnad and Dashrath in Ramayana. Although Ramanand Sagar wanted him to play the role of Meghnad, Bal Dhuri chose the role of Dashrath.
- While most of her films have a rich Tamasha story content, she has also done some social issue based films and love stories.
- Towards the end of her career, she turned director with films like Saasar Maher and Ashi Asavi Saasu.
- Her husband Bal Dhuri has written a book based on her life titled Suvarn Nayika Jasyhree Gadkar.
Suvarn Nayika Jasyhree Gadkar by Bal Dhuri
- In 1986, she published her autobiography, Ashi Me Jayshree.
Jayshree Gadkar’s autobiography Ashi Me Jayshree
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education