Sarvadaman D. Banerjee is an Indian film and television actor, best known for his role as Lord Krishna in Ramanand Sagar’s magnum opus Krishna (1993). He is also known for his work in Telugu, Bengali and Hindi films.
Wiki/Biography
Sarvadaman D. Banerjee was born on Sunday, March 14, 1965 (2020, 55 years old) in Magarwara village in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh.
Sarvadaman D. Banerjee’s childhood
He has been interested in the spiritual world since childhood and often practices yoga and meditation in his daily life. After studying at St. Aloysius School in Kanpur, he went to Pune and graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
appearance
Height (approx.): 6′
Hair color: Gray
Eye color: Black
Family and caste
Sarvadaman D. Banerjee belonged to a Bengali Brahmin family.
Parents and siblings
There is not much information available about his parents.
Sarvadaman D Banerjee childhood photo with his mother
He has two elder sisters – Roopali and Navneeta.
Sarvadaman D Banerjee with his sisters Roopali and Navneeta
Relationships, Wife and Children
Sarvadaman D. Banerjee’s wife Alankrita Banerjee assists him in running the meditation centre in Rishikesh.
Sarvadaman D Banerjee and his wife Alankrita Banerjee
He has a daughter named Aalika, who married DJ Chetas Shah in December 2015 in Mumbai.
Sarvadaman D Banerjee and his daughter Aalika
Sarvadaman D Banerjee with his daughter Aalika and son-in-law
Famous Bollywood actress Kajol is his niece.
Sarvadaman D Banerjee’s Bhabhi Tanuja (left), daughter Aalika and niece Kajol
Profession
Movie
Sarvadaman D. Banerjee made his screen debut in the 1983 Sanskrit film Adi Shankaracharya directed by GV Iyer, in which he played the role of ‘Adi Shankara’.
Sarvadaman D. Banerjee as Adi Shankara
After that, he played the role of “Sridatta” in the Telugu film “Shri Datta Darshanam” in 1985. In 1986, Banerjee acted in the Telugu romantic drama “Sirivennela” playing the role of “Pandit Hari Prasad”. He then acted in another Telugu film “Swayam Krushi” (1987) playing the role of “Bhaskar”. In 2015, Sarvardaman acted in the Bollywood blockbuster “MS Dhoni: The Untold Story” playing the role of Dhoni’s coach “Chanchal”.
Sarvadaman D Banerjee plays Chanchal in The Untold Story of MS Dhoni
television
Sarvardaman D Banerjee made his television debut in Ramanand Sagar’s Krishna (1993), in which he played the role of ‘Krishna/Vishnu’. Talking about the moment he entered the sets of Krishna, he said:
I went in and they handed me a stack of papers saying ‘Here is your dialogue…’ I tried to run away but Ramanand Sagar showed up and the rest is history.”
Sarvadaman D. Banerjee and Ramanand Sagar
Krishna later became a cult television show in India and Savadaman D. Banerjee was a revered figure in India; wherever he went, people would start touching his feet as if he was the real Krishna. Talking about the popularity of the show, Banerjee said,
When the cult series Ramayana was aired, it was supposed to run for 2-3 years. It ran for 10 years! I shot the entire series in a meditative state. I signed up for the show in 1990 and by 1994, as the show’s popularity soared, I felt like an atomic bomb had dropped in my bedroom.”
This picture of Sarvadaman D Banerjee was taken by an Italian photographer during the photoshoot of Krishna
After Krishna, he did not get many work opportunities; however, he appeared in more mythological-based television shows, including playing the role of “Vishnu” in “Jai Ganga Maiya” (2001) and “Rajkumar Vrishdwaj” in “Om Namah Shivay” (2005). In an interview, he said,
A few years after Krishna, I asked Sagar, “When are you going to direct me?” He said, “Whenever I see you, I see the Supreme Being, so I can only fold my hands in the end. There is no better compliment a director can give.”
Meditation Center
After his career as a television actor, he left the glamorous world behind to start a meditation centre in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand; a desire that had inspired him since his childhood. In an interview, he revealed,
When I took up Krishna, I decided to work till the age of 45-57, after which I would connect myself with nature and meditate, which I have been doing for many years. ”
Sarvadaman D Banerjee Meditation Center Lighthouse
Sarvadaman D Banerjee and his wife Alankrita Banerjee meditating in Rishikesh
Favorite things
- Holiday destination: Rishikesh
- Philosopher: Rabindranath Tagore
- Drink: Lemon ginger honey
Facts/Trivia
- In an interview, he revealed that he had not watched his TV show Krishna. He said,
I still haven’t watched the show.”
- Initially, Banerjee was not interested in playing the role of Krishna. He said,
I never wanted to do television. I worked in films because a shot in a film would remain for 100 years. Later, Ramanand Sagar called me. I knew the offer would give me a television role, so I didn’t want to go. I didn’t think television was an art; it is not even today.”
Sarvadaman D Banerjee as Krishna
- Sarvardaman D Banerjee and Nitish Bharadwaj (who played Krishna in BR Chopra’s Mahabharata) have always been staunch critics of each other. Once, when Banerjee was asked about Nitish Bharadwaj’s portrayal of Krishna, he did not appreciate his performance and said that he played the role of Krishna better than Nitish.
- His debut film Adi Shankaracharya (1983) won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film.
- Besides running a meditation centre in Rishikesh, he also supports an NGO called ‘Pankh’ that provides education to slum children and helps poor women in Uttarakhand.
Sarvadaman D Banerjee and his wife Alankrita Banerjee distribute sweets at the NGO Pankh
- Banerjee is a nature lover who often goes on trekking trips.
Sarvadaman D Banerjee Skiing
- He enjoys driving alone and often goes on long drives.
- Sarvadaman is a passionate animal lover and is actively involved in the care of stray animals, especially dogs.
Sarvadaman D Banerjee playing with dog
- He advocates tree planting and often participates in tree planting activities with his wife Alankrita.
Sarvadaman D Banerjee and his wife Alankrita Banerjee working on the plantation
- Sarvadaman D. Banerjee often visited Dehradun, where he had a house.
Sarvadaman Banerjee’s Dehradun House
- He is a fitness enthusiast and often spends hours in the gym working out.
Sarvadaman Banerjee working out in the gym
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education