Ramesh Bhatkar


Ramesh Bhatkar was a Marathi film, stage and TV actor. Of the various roles that Bhatkar portrayed, he was best known for his roles in the TV series Commander and Hello Inspector. He worked for more than 30 years as an actor in the mainstream commercial movie industries of the Marathi and Hindi languages. He died on 4 February 2019 at the age of 69 in Mumbai due to cancer.

Early life

Ramesh Bhatkar was born in 1949. His father was Snehal (Vasudeo) Bhatkar, a music director, composer, and singer. In addition to his artistic background, in his early college days Ramesh Bhatkar was a champion swimmer who played for his college's aquatic team, and was an enthusiastic kho-kho player with the reputed Vijay Club in Dadar and used to participate in Marathi drama society in the evening time as an actor.
Ramesh Bhatkar was the youngest of Snehal's three children, with his older siblings being Snehalata Bhatkar and Avinash Bhatkar.

Career

Movies

Bhatkar's mainstream movie debut was the film Chandoba Chandoba Bhaglaas ka followed by AshtaVinayak, Duniya kari Salam, Maaherchi Manasa, Aapli Maanasa, and Maherchi Sadi. He also played a groom in the film Lek Chalali Sasarla and also small roles in movies like Savat majhi Ladki.
Of his nearly 90 films, most are in Marathi, with a few in the Hindi language. He was last seen in a character loosely based on former CM of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavhan in the film The Accidental Prime Minister.

Television

His prosperous television career included very popular detective serials such as Hello Inspector and Damini on DoorDarshan, Commander on Zee TV, Khoj on DD National and Teesra Dola on DD2; all these made Ramesh a very popular TV personality. He also appeared in Haddapaar, Bandini, Vikram Aur Betaal, Yugandhara. He also appeared in his early days in a small telefilm by B. P. Singh, Sirf Chaar din, a suspense/thriller.
His career includes about 30 series with more than 1,000 episodes aired.

Theatre

Marathi Theatre was Ramesh Bhatkar's first love, with very prominent lead roles in numerous plays. He played a lead role in Ashroonchi Zaali Phule which ran in the Marathi theatre industry for about 28 years. This role of "Lalya" in this play played by him was earlier made popular by Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar. But Ramesh Bhatkar also played it with equal potential and made it popular. Dr Ghanekar also appreciated it lastly.
Bhatkar was noticed in the Marathi play Mukta, where he was cast with lead actor Avinash Masurekar and actress Savita Malpekar in 1986.
For the last 30 years, Ramesh has played lead roles in such plays as Ooghadale Swargache Daar, Denaryaache Haath Hazaar, Shadyantra, Kevha Tari Pahate, Akher Tu Yeshilach, Rahu Ketu, Mukta, The Boss- Sutradhar, Kinara.
He has appeared in about 50 different plays overall.

Death

After a one-year battle with cancer, Ramesh Bhatkar died of cardiac arrest on 4 February 2019 at the age of 69.

Filmography

  1. Ashtavinayak
  2. Aai pahije
  3. Saheb
  4. Tamasha – Hach Khel Udya Punha
  5. Sai Darshan
  6. Aai Raja Udo Udo
  7. Maalik Ek
  8. Umang
  9. Asa Mi Kay Gunha Kela
  10. Zale Mokale Aakash
  11. Mata Ekvira Navsala Pavli
  12. Gondya Maratay Tangada
  13. Maazi Aai
  14. Sakkha Bhau Pakka Vairi
  15. Bharat Aala Parat
  16. Aai Mala Maaf Kar
  17. Mohityanchi Renuka
  18. Munnabhai S S C
  19. Kay Dyache Bola
  20. Khabardaar
  21. Savarkhed: Ek Gaav
  22. Saatchya Aat Gharat
  23. Aai Tuza Ashirwad
  24. Gharandaaj
  25. Shodh
  26. Maratha Battalion
  27. Jaidev
  28. Censor
  29. Ashi Gyaneshwari
  30. Badmaash
  31. Hafta Vasuli
  32. Sarkarnama
  33. Sehme Huay Sitaren
  34. Bedardi
  35. Bomb Blast (1993 film)
  36. Ghayaal
  37. Paisa Paisa Paisa
  38. Savat Majhi Ladki
  39. Maherchi Sadi
  40. Bandhan
  41. Bombay War
  42. Lapwa Chhapwi
  43. De Taali
  44. Gharkul Punha Hasave
  45. Hamaal De Dhamaal
  46. Aai Pahije
  47. Rangat Sangat
  48. Prem Karuya Khullam Khulla
  49. Mi Chairman Boltoy
  50. Vahinichi Maya
  51. Sobati
  52. Duniya Kari Salaam
Player acted
  • Ughadale Swargache Daar
  • Denaryaache Haath Hazaar
  • Shadyantra
  • Kevha Tari Pahate
  • Akher Tu Yeshilach
  • Rahu Ketu
  • Mukta
  • The Boss- Sutradhar
  • Kinara
  • Ashroonchi Zaali Phule
  • Premachya Gava Jave
Serials / Shows acted
A partial list is available on IMDB.