Manoj Joshi is an Indian theater artist, actor, and film and theater director. In 2018, he was awarded the Padma Shri Award for his work in the field of performing arts. He is famous for his role as Chanakya in the Hindi-Gujarati drama Chanakya for 25 years.
Wiki/Biography
Manoj Joshi aka Manoj N Joshi was born on Friday, September 3, 1965 in Goregaon, Maharashtra (age 58; as of 2023). His zodiac sign is Virgo. He pursued his BA from Mithibai College of Art, Mumbai. Later, he obtained a diploma in commercial art from Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai. While studying at university, he attended drama and painting classes. He wrote a Marathi play called Karma while in college.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′8″
Hair color: black
Eye color: brown
family
He belongs to a Brahmin family from Apodala village near Himmatnagar in northern Gujarat.
Parents and siblings
His father Navneet Joshi was a Sanskrit vidvaan, kirtankara and astrologer. He has two sisters. His younger brother, Rajesh Joshi, an actor, died in a traffic accident in 1998.
Manoj Joshi and his father
Manoj Joshi and his mother
Manoj Joshi’s younger brother
wife and children
On March 1, 1988, he married Charu Joshi, who owns a theater production company. He has two sons named Dharmaj Joshi (actor) and Rudra Joshi.
Manoj Joshi and his wife
Manoj Joshi with wife and son
address
202, Koteshwar Darshan, Hanuman Cross Road, Vile Parle (East) Mumbai 400057
Profession
Manoj started his career as a cashier at Sidharth Hotel in Mumbai. However, he left after a few months because he was not good at handling finances. Later, he worked for several magazines including Janmabhoomi, Esquire and Economic and Political Weekly. He used to draw cartoons for magazines and earn 50 to 100 rupees a month. Later, he joined a company called EPW Communist Trust, where he earned a monthly salary of Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000.
theater
Manoj started his acting career as a theater artist. He has acted in plays in various languages including Hindi, Gujarati, and Hindi.
marathi
In 1995, he performed in the play “Sarvasvi Tuzich” at Marathi Theatre.
gujarati
In 1986, he appeared in the Gujarati drama “Tak Dhina Dhin”. His other Gujarati theater credits include Ghashiram, Kotwal Doctor Tame Pan, Man Male Tya Melo and Gandhi Virudh Gandhi.
Manoj Joshi in Man Male Tya Melo drama
Hindi
In 1996, he performed in “Chanakya” in Hindi theatre. He gained huge popularity with this drama. He has performed the play in different states of India for more than 25 years.
Manoj Joshi in Chanakya drama
He has also acted in several other Hindi dramas such as Goal Maal Pyar Ka, Rangila Re and Alibaba Aur Chalis Ke Chor.
Movie
gujarati
He made his debut in 1990 with a supporting role in the National Film Development Corporation of India’s film “Hun Hunshi Hunshilal”.
Honhonsh Honhilal
Some of his other Gujarati films include Bey Yaar (2014), Thai Jashe! (2016), IMA Gujju (2018), Nayika Devi: Warrior Queen (2022) and Nava Pappa (2023).
navapapa
Hindi
Manoj made his Bollywood debut in the film Sarfarosh (1999), in which he played the role of Sub-Inspector Bajju.
Stills of Manoj Joshi in Hindi movie Sarfarosh
He has appeared in many Hindi films such as “Chandni Bar” (2001), “Satta” (2003), “Dhoom” (2004), “Vivah” (2006), “Bhool Bhulaiyaa” (2007), “Hasee” Toh Phasee” (2014) and “Prem Ratan Dhan Payo” (2015).
Stills of Manoj Joshi from the Hindi film Vivah
He is popular for playing various comedy roles in Hindi films. Some of these roles include ‘Sub Inspector Anand Waghmare’ in ‘Hungama’ (2003), ‘Advocate Namdev Mishra’ in ‘Hulchul’ (2004), ‘Nageshwar’ in ‘Garam Masala’ (2005), ‘Kachra Seth’ “Kachra Seth” in “Phir Hera Pheri” (2006) and “Harichandra Ramchandra Mirchindani aka Harami” in “Golmaal: Fun Unlimited” (2006).
Phil Heraferi
He played Indian politician Amit Shah in the Hindi film Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2019).
Manoj Joshi plays Amit Shah in Prime Minister Narendra Modi
marathi
In 2011, he made his acting debut in the Marathi film Fakt Ladh Mhana, playing the role of Veer Dhwal.
Facts Rad Mana
He has also appeared in several other Marathi films such as ‘Bharatiya’ (2012), ‘Narbachi Wadi’ (2013) and ‘Dashakriya’ (2017).
Dashakriya
other languages
In 2003, he appeared in the English-Hindi film Jogger Park as Tariq Ahmed.
jogger park
He also appeared in the 2017 Malayalam film “Odiyan”, in which he played the role of Mootha Manickan (Muthappan).
Odiyan
TV drama
Hindi
He made his debut as Shriyak in the Hindi television show Chanakya (1991; DD National).
Chanakya
He has appeared in several Hindi television series such as Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka (1999; Sony), Kehta Hai Dil (2002; Star Plus), Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat (2015; Colors) , “Mangalam Dangalam” (2018; SAB TV) and “Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai” (2020; Star Plus).
Manoj Joshi on the sets of “Ashoka Chakravartin”
marathi
In 1990, he made his debut in the Marathi TV series “Rau”, in which he played the role of Bajirao, the seventh Peshwa of the Maratha Union.
TV series Rau stills
In 1999, he appeared in the Alpa TV Marathi drama series “Abhalmaya”, playing the role of Sharad Joshi. In 2015, he appeared in another Marathi television series “Honar Sun Me Hya Gharchi”, which was aired on Zee Marathi channel.
Honorary Sunmeihaya Galchi
short film
He has also appeared in several Hindi short films such as Bombay Trilogy (2012), After He Was Gone: The Chronicles of Shankar Pratap Singh (2018) and Goncha Card” (2023).
gonchaka
Other jobs
In April 2016, he became a member of ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations). In 2017, he appeared in a promotional video for the Gujarat BJP election campaign.
Manoj Joshi’s campaign video for Gujarat BJP
He also translated Vijay Tendulkar’s play Ghashiram Kotwal from Marathi to Gujarati. In 2021, he was appointed vice president of the Film and Television Artists Association (CINTAA). He is also the Vice-President of Bombay Art Society.
Awards and Honors
- 1990: Abhiyaan Natyaspardha wins Best Actor for Hindi drama Chanakya
- 1997: Maharashtra Vyavasayik Gujarati Natyaspardha won the Best Actor Award for the Gujarati drama Gandhi Virudh Gandhi
- 2009: Indian Television Awards for Best Actor in a Villain Series (Hindi) Kehta Hai Dil
- 2010: Gujarat Sangeet Natak Kala Akademy Gaurav Drama Award by the Government of Gujarat
- 2014: Sabarkatha Ratna Award from the Government of Gujarat
Manoj Joshi meets Sabarkantha Ratna Puraskar
- 2015: ABP News Hindi drama series Ashoka wins Best Supporting Actor, Film Critics Gold Award
- 2015: ITV Television Impact Mark Awards
- 2015: Chhatrapati Award presented by Hindi Bhashi EktaParishad, Rajasthani Sewa Samiti and Brahman Parishad
- 2015: Lifetime Achievement Award from Glorious Gujarat, New Jersey, USA
- 2015: Sangeet Natak Kala Akademi Drama Contribution Award
- 2015: Honored to perform the play “Chanakya” in the Indian Parliament
- 2016: Marathi film Dashakriya wins National Award
Manoj Joshi wins National Award
- 2016: Sangeet Natak Akademi Drama Award
- 2018: Padma Shri’s work in performing arts
Manoj Joshi meets Padma Shri
- 2021: ABP Asmita Awards
Manoj Joshi wins ABP Asmita Award
Favorites
- Screenwriter: Mahesh Elkunchwar, Madhu Rye
- Movie: Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- Food: Khaman Dhokla, Kadhi, Sukhandi
Facts/Trivia
- As a child, he wanted to be a painter and never thought he would pursue an acting career.
- He first performed in a school play when he was in fourth grade.
- After seventh grade, he shifted school from a village school to a school in Mumbai. He couldn’t cope with his studies and failed in both Class 8 and Class 9.
- At the beginning of his theater career, he worked with many famous theater artists such as Satyadeb Dubey, Vijay Mehta and Shafi Inamdar. He has acted in various plays organized by theater groups such as People’s Theater Society of India, National Theater of India and Unmesh One Act Play.
- When he got married, he took a wedding loan from a company where he had worked, but he used the money to produce the theater’s play Chanakya.
- He follows a vegetarian diet.
- In 2022, he campaigned for the Bharatiya Janata Party and participated in some of the party’s political activities.
Manoj Joshi posts in support of BJP on Instagram
- In his spare time, he likes to listen to music and watch TV.
- He has a long association with Divya Prem Seva Mission, a Haridwar-based NGO. This NGO helps people affected by leprosy. He also supports the Friends of the Tribes Society (FTS), a voluntary organization dedicated to educating tribal students.
- In 2021, he published a cryptic post on Twitter that hurt the feelings of people in the Muslim community.
Manoj Joshi’s tweets
- In 2022, he posted a video on Twitter complaining about Air India’s service.
Manoj Joshi’s tweets on Indian Air Services
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education