Vikram Gokhale (1945-2022) was an Indian actor, director, and social activist who primarily appeared in Hindi and Marathi films and television shows. He shot to fame for playing the role in Hindi films Agneepath (1990) as M. S. Gaitonde, Khuda Gawah (1992) as Ranveer Singh, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) as Pundit Darbar, Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) as Acharya Yagyaprakash Bharti, and De Dana Dan (2009) as Paramjeet Singh Lamba. Vikram took his last breath at the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital on 26 November 2022 after suffering from multiple organ failure.
Wiki/Biography
Vikram Gokhale was born on Wednesday, 14 November 1945 (age 77 years; at the time of death) in Poona, Bombay Presidency, British India (now Pune, Maharashtra, India). His zodiac sign was Scorpio.
Vikram Gokhale during his young age
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 6″
Hair Colour: Salt & Pepper
Eye Colour: Hazel Brown
Family
Parents & Siblings
Vikram’s father, Chandrakant Gokhale, was an Indian actor and singer, who died on 20 June 2008, at the age of 87.
Vikram Gokhale’s father, Chandrakant Gokhale
His mother, Hemavati Gokhle, was a homemaker. Vikram has a younger brother, and a younger sister, Aparajita Munje.
Wife & Children
On 12 May 1975, Vikram got married to Vrushali Gokhale, an Indian actress.
Vikram Gokhale with his wife Vrushali Gokhale
Together, they have two daughters, Nisha Kekar Adav and Neha Gokhale Sundriyal; both are married.
Vikram Gokhale with his wife Vrushali Gokhale (right) and daughters
Other Relative
Vikram’s great-grandfather, Anand Nanoskar, was a former professor of history at the Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai, Maharashtra. His great-grandmother, Durgabai Kamat, was an Indian actress, who died on 17 May 1997, at the age of 117. Durgabai, who played the role of Parvati in the Hindi film Mohini Bhasmasur (1913), was the first female actor in Indian cinema. (Mohini Bhasmasur is known to be the first Indian film to have a female actor, which was written, directed, and produced by Dadasaheb Phalke, who is known as the Father of Indian cinema)
Vikram Gokhale’s great-grandmother, Durgabai Kamat
Vikram’s grandfather’s name is Raghunathrao Gokhale. His grandmother, Kamlabai Gokhale, who was an actress, is known to be the first female child actor in Indian cinema for playing the role of Mohini in the Hindi film Mohini Bhasmasur, at the age of thirteen. She passed away on 17 May 1998. (Raja Harishchandra, a Hindi film written, directed, and produced by Dadasaheb Phalke, is observed as India’s first full-length feature film, which had the female role of Rani Taramati played by a male, Anna Salunke, an Indian actor known for appearing in female roles in Indian cinema)
Vikram Gokhale’s grandmother, Kamlabai Gokhale
Caste
Vikram belonged to the Chitpawan Brahmin community.
Career
Vikram, in an interview, revealed that after completing his formal education, he never thought of pursuing a career in acting. He cleared the PSB (now PABT, Pilot Aptitude Battery Test) and SSB examinations to serve the Indian Air Force, but due to unfortunate reasons, he was not able to get into it. Later, he joined as a clerk in a private company with a monthly salary of Rs 135, but he resigned from the company within seven days of joining after he realised that his passion is missing in a private corporate job.
Theatre
After resigning from his job, Vikram started performing in Marathi plays and stage shows after being recommended by Balakrishna Hari Kolhatkar, an Indian actor, poet, and director. He performed in theatre for a few years and acted in some remarkable plays like Jaawai Maajha Bhalaa, Khara Sangaycha Tar, Jawai Majha Bhala, Katha, Ke Dil Abhi Bhara Nahi, and many more. In 2016, Vikram decided to quit theatre after suffering from a prolonged throat illness.
Film
In 1971, Vikram made his Bollywood debut with the film Parwana in which he played the role of a junior police inspector.
In 1973, he made his Marathi debut with the film Varhadi Ani Vajantri.
Poster of Vikram Gokhale’s debut Marathi film Varhadi Ani Vajantri (1973)
In 1979, Vikram made his Gujarati debut with the film Aapo Jadro.
Poster of Vikram Gokhale’s debut Gujarati film Aapo Jadro (1979)
In 1990, Vikram shot to fame with the Hindi film Agneepath, starring Amitabh Bachchan in which he played the role of commissioner M. S. Gaitonde.
Vikram Gokhale as M. S. Gaitonde in the Hindi film Agneepath (1990)
In 2009, Vikram made his Tamil debut with the film Kalavaramaye Madilo in which he played the role of Rao.
Vikram Gokhale (right) as Rao in his debut Tamil film Kalavaramaye Madilo (2009)
Some of his popular films include Bang Bang! (2014) as Narayanan, and Aiyaary (2018) as Pratap Malik (Hindi), Anumati (2013) as Ratnakar, Aamhi Bolato Marathi (2014), and AB Aani CD (2020) as Chandrakant Deshpande, starring Amitabh Bachchan (Marathi).
Television
In 1983, Vikram acted in the Marathi television show Shwetambara in which he played the role of Prataprao Pathwardhan, along with his wife Vrushali Gokhale on Doordarshan Sahyadri.
Vikram Gokhale as Prataprao Pathwardhan in a still from the television show Shwetambara on Doordarshan Sahyadri (1983)
In 1990, Vikram gained fame in the Hindi television industry with his lead role as Akbar in the show Akbar Birbal on Zee TV.
Vikram Gokhale as Akbar in a still from the Hindi television show Akbar Birbal (1990) on Zee TV
Later, Vikram acted in various Hindi and Marathi television shows like Chandan Ka Palna Resham Ki Dori (2001) as Jitendra Bhimani on Zee TV, Virrudh: Har Rishta Ek Kurukshetra (2007) as Dhirendra Raisinghaniya on Sony TV, Jeevan Saathi (2008) as Vikramaditya Rathore on Colors, Mera Naam Karegi Roshan (2010) as Thakur Veer Pratap Singh on Zee TV (Hindi), and Tuzech Mi Geet Gaat Aahe (2022) as Pandit Mukund Narayan on Star Pravah (Marathi). Vikram was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Award category for the Hindi television show Mera Naam Karegi Roshan at the Indian Telly Awards 2010.
Vikram Gokhale as Pandit Mukund Narayan in a still from the Marathi television show Tuzech Mi Geet Gaat Aahe (2022)
Controversy
FIR registered for cheating in a land deal
An FIR was registered against Vikram Gokhale, the chairman of Sujata Farms Private Limited and its directors, Jayant Mhalgi and Sujata Mhalgi for allegedly defrauding Rs 96.99 lakh from 14 investors against a land deal in Mulshi taluka of Pune district in Maharashtra. The FIR was lodged by Jayant Bhairat, an artist from Kothrud in Pune at the Paud Police Station in Mulshi taluka in which he accused Vikram, Jayant, and Sujata of cheating him and the other investors, who invested in the private hill station project called Girivan, promoted by Sujata Farms Private Limited. He reported that the directors won the trust of the people by showcasing the project as “government-approved.” They took advantage of Vikram Gokhale’s goodwill, lured them with several benefits and eventually convinced the people to invest in the project. After collecting the funds and signing the legal sales deed, the directors provided the plots to the investors, which were completely different in terms of measurement and size as described in the sales deed. The police charged Vikram and the other two directors under sections 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 341 (wrongful restraint), 447 (criminal trespass), 34(common intention), and 427 (mischief causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In an interview, Jayant, the victim, revealed the details of the scam carried out by Vikram’s company and said,
Considering the involvement of Gokhale, we trusted them and invested in the project. The other accused are lawyers so they assured the investors that they need not to worry about the legal part of the deal. In 2016, when we requested the collector to get government demarcation of the land done, the accused objected to it. It was then that we realised that we had been cheated. There are more than 50 people who have been duped by the accused.”
While addressing the reporters, Vikram Gokhale denied the charges levied on him of duping the investors in the land scam and said,
I was the director and the face of the company. I tendered my resignation on January 9 and I am not related to the project as of now. Despite this, my name has been dragged in the FIR. The company has handed over 958 plots in the scheme without any trouble. People mentioned in the FIR have also got their plots, but there are some issues with their measurement. This issue can be sorted out once the government-appointed team measures the land. It is not the case that they have not received their plots. All the documents and agreements have been processed clearly.”
Awards, Honours, Achievements
- 2007: Best Ensemble Cast for the Hindi television show Virrudh: Har Rishta Ek Kurukshetra (2007) at the Indian Telly Award (shared with 11 other co-actors)
- 2011: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to the theatre by the Sangeet Natak Akademi
- 2013: National Award for Best Actor for the Marathi film Anumati at the 60th National Film Awards
Vikram Gokhale receiving the National Award from the former President of India Pranab Mukherjee at the 60th National Film Awards
- 2013: Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th NBC Awards
Vikram Gokhale posing with his Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th NBC Awards
- 2015: Vishnudas Bhave Award by the Akhil Maharashtra Natya Vidya Mandir Samiti
- 2017: Best Supporting Actor for the Marathi film Natsamrat (2016) at the Filmfare Awards Marathi
- 2017: Lifetime Achievement Award at Zee Natya Gaurav Awards
Vikram Gokhale while receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at Zee Natya Gaurav Awards (2017)
Facts/Trivia
- Vikram served as the chairman of Sujata Farms Private Limited, a real estate firm in Pune, which was incorporated on 26 October 1989. He resigned from his post on 9 January 2020.
- Vikram actively participated in various social causes for the upliftment of those in need. He founded a charitable organisation, which laid emphasis on providing financial aid to disabled soldiers, widows, and education to orphan children. In May 2020, Vikram donated land worth Rs 2 crore to Akhil Bharatiya Chitrapat Mahamandal to extend his support towards the senior artists of the Marathi entertainment industry.
- Vikram was the owner of Vikram Gokhale Acting Academy, which is a performing art school in Pune, Maharashtra.
- Vikram, in an interview, talked about the struggles he faced due to poor financial condition and revealed how Amitabh Bachchan extended his support to him when no other did, he said,
I went through a lot of struggle when I entered this Industry. I was going through a huge financial crunch and was looking for shelter in Mumbai. When Amitabh Bachchan came to know about this, he personally wrote a letter to Manohar Joshi, who was a Chief Minister of Maharashtra during 1995-99. And I got a house from the government only because of his recommendation. I still have that letter with me which I have framed it.”
- Vikram Gokhale was admitted to the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune on 5 November 2022 after he reported multiple health issues. On 24 November 2022, a few media sources reported about his death in the hospital. Later, Vrushali Gokhale, Vikram’s wife, while addressing the reporters, denied the rumours of his death and said,
He slipped into coma yesterday afternoon and post that, he has not responded to touch. He is on the ventilator. Doctors will decide tomorrow morning what to do, depending on whether he’s improving, sinking or still not responding. He improved a bit but slipped again. He has had a host of issues, like in heart and kidney. At the moment, he has had a multi-organ failure.”
- On 26 November 2022, Vikram breathed his last at the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune, due to multiple organ failure.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education