Sadashiv Amrapurkar

Biography

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 1999. He acted in more than 300 movies in Hindi, Marathi, and other regional languages.

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 he also played a comic hero, Inspector Pyare Mohan, in Aankhen. In addition to negative roles, he played supporting roles and, later, comic roles.

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 1897, a Marathi historical film directed by Jayoo Patwardhan and Nachiket Patwardhan.

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 dialog 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.

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).

In March 2013, he protested water waste during the Holi festival near his residence in Mumbai.

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.