Sadashiv Dattaray Amrapurkar (11 May 1950 – 3 November 2014) was an Indian actor, best known for his performances in Marathi and Hindi films from 1983 to 2013.[2] He acted in more than 300 movies in Hindi, Marathi, and other regional languages. Amrapurkar played a negative role against Dharmendra in Anil Sharma's first successful movie Hukumat in 1987.
He received the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role in 1991 for Sadak — the first time the award was instituted. In 1993, he won the Filmfare Award for best actor in a villainous role, when the award was instituted. In 1993, Amrapurkar also played a comic hero, Inspector Pyare Mohan, in Aankhen. In addition to negative roles, he played supporting roles and later, comic roles.
Amrapurkar was born as Ganesh Kumar Narwode (or Nalawade) on 11 May 1950, in Amrapur village of Shevgaon tehsil, Ahmadnagar district in Maharashtra.[1][3]
Amrapurkar began acting during his school days. While completing his master's degree in history at Pune University, he was involved in theatre.
Amrapurkar started his career as an actor in Marathi theatre, eventually acting and directing nearly fifty plays, before transitioning to films. He made his film debut with the role of Bal Gangadhar Tilak on 22 June 1987, a Marathi historical film directed by Jayoo Patwardhan and Nachiket Patwardhan.[4]
He won a number of awards in theatre and film. His first film was Govind Nihalani's Ardh Satya (1983), for which he won a Filmfare Award. He has acted in more than 300 movies in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Oriya, Haryanvi, Telugu and Tamil. In 1993, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in a villainous role, the first time this award was instituted.[citation needed]
In 1981–82, Amarapurkar acted in a Marathi stage play, Hands-Up!, alongside stage actors Avinash Masurekar and Bhakti Barve-Inamdar. This play was successful and Amrapurkar was noticed by director Govind Nihalani, who was searching for an actor to play the central negative character in his movie Ardh Satya. The movie went on to be a hit and Amrapurkar's acting was appreciated. His style of dialogue delivery was considered unique as compared to the popular Hindi movie villains in those days. Amrapurkar won a Filmfare Award for his performance in the film.[citation needed]
After Ardh Satya, Amarapurkar starred in Purana Mandir, Nasoor, Muddat, Jawaani and Khamosh. In 1986, he starred as the villain in the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Aakhree Raasta. In 1987, he starred as the main villain in the Dharmendra-starrer Hukumat, which went on to be a blockbuster that grossed even more than Mr. India. From 1988 he increasingly appeared in villainous roles in films such as Mohre, Khatron Ke Khiladi (1988 film), Kaal Chakra, Eeshwar, Elaan-E-Jung, Farishtay, Veeru Dada, Naaka Bandi and Begunaah.[citation needed]
In the mid-1990s he migrated towards supporting roles and comic roles such as in Aankhen, Ishq, Coolie No. 1, Gupt: The Hidden Truth, Aunty No. 1, Jai Hind, Master and Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United. He played the role of Dr. Khanna in the 1996 film Chhote Sarkar. He did a number of stunning roles in Marathi films such as Kadachit, Vaastupurush, Doghi, Savarkhed ek Gaav and Ara Ara Aaba Ata tari Thamba. His last Hindi screen role was a cameo in the short film by Dibakar Banerjee, Bombay Talkies (2012).[4]
He did a cameo in the Waheeda Rehman-starrer Swayam in 1991. He played the role of a tough, upright cop who reprimands his children for leaving an elderly widow to fend for herself on the streets. The film touched on the problems old people face with the breakdown of the joint family system. It was a subject close to Amrapurkar's heart and he did the role for free.[5]
Amrapurkar was a philanthropist, and social activist, and was engaged in a number of social organizations such as Samajik Krutadnyata Nidhi, Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, Snehalaya, Lokshahi Prabodhan Vyaspeeth, Ahmednagar Aitihasik Vastu Sangrahalaya, and many others. He always had a soft spot for the rural youth and strove for their development.[6]
In March 2013, he protested water waste during the Holi festival near his residence in Mumbai.[7]
Amrapurkar also lent his support to the Anna Hazare movement in 2011 and was active in engaging citizens during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections by holding several discussions to make voters aware of their rights.[citation needed]
He was a philanthropist, social activist, and civically engaged in a number of social organizations including:
After he died in his memory, Ahmednagar's Think Global Foundation started giving the Late Sadashiv Amarapurkar Award which has become very popular in a short span. Kiran Kale, president of Think Global Foundation conceptualized this initiative. In 2016, the Marathi writer and IT expert Achyut Godbole and social worker and writer Deepa Deshmukh were honored with this award. In 2017, the playback singer Suresh Wadkar was honored with this award by the auspicious hands of the veteran actor Vikram Gokhale.
Amrapurkar developed a lung inflammation in October 2014, which resulted in hospitalisation at Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, where his condition became critical.[11] He died on 3 November 2014, at the age of 64.[12][13]
Selected plays he directed and acted in:
He directed some well-known artists like Shanta Jog, Smita Patil, Shreeram Lagoo, Bhakti Barve, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Neena Kulkarni, and Suhas Joshi.
Selected TV series
Playback singer
Books written by him 1.Kimayaagaar (play based on the life of Helen Keller) 2.Abhinayache Saha Paath