‘I just went blank… in theatre there are no retakes’: An actor’s extraordinary journey from life-changing roles to stage mishaps

The incident occurred at Balgandharva Rangmandir, Pune, in December 2024 when Ponkshe forgot his lines mid-way through the play ‘Purush’. When he couldn’t go on even after a break, he apologised to the audience and left. The show was cancelled. But within hours Ponkshe performed the same play again in the evening – and to perfection.

“It happened so quickly that it was hard to understand and overcome. I’m incredibly grateful to the audience for their love, patience, and faith in me,” says the actor, who has a career spanning over 25 years. He has appeared in more than 65 TV serials and 110 films in both Marathi and Hindi cinema. Throughout his life, he has faced and overcome significant challenges, from starting out as a diesel mechanic to battling cancer.

Balancing a day job with a burgeoning acting career was no easy feat. Despite the initial challenges, his love for the stage pushed him forward. “There were days when I worked from 9 am to 4 pm, then rushed for rehearsals or performances,” he says. His acting journey began in 1978 through one-act play competitions in Mumbai. He earned just seven rupees for his first role, but he persevered, eventually performing in over 14 professional plays and later landing roles in Marathi television serials and films.

“I couldn’t afford to leave my job, but my passion for acting kept me going,” he says. Balancing acting and his job at BST required ingenuity, but as he says, “This industry is full of surprises. It needs a lot of patience, just wait and watch, and have faith.”

Marathi television series a turning point

His breakthrough came with the Marathi television series ‘Damini’, the first daily serial in Marathi television history. Ponkshe also worked as an assistant director on two films, cherishing every opportunity to learn. Despite early struggles and roles with little recognition, he drew inspiration from icons like Amitabh Bachchan, whose performances he mimicked and practised at home.

A turning point came when he bagged the role of Nathuram Godse in the eponymous play ‘Me Nathuram Godse Boltoy’. On July 10, 1998. when ‘Me Nathuram Godse Boltoy’ had its first performance in Shivajinagar, Pune, his life changed. “I became the spotlight. I got the role because of actor and director Vinay Apte.”

The portrayal of Nathuram Godse propelled him to fame and challenged him as an artist. “That role required deep introspection and understanding, pushing me to evolve as an actor,” Ponkshe adds. Drawing inspiration from legends like Vikram Gokhale, Amrish Puri, and Amitabh Bachchan, Ponkshe says, “Success demands relentless effort and perseverance. Amrish Puri started in background roles before becoming a household name. Their journeys remind us to stay determined.”

According to Ponkshe, every play is a teacher, “One thing that plays taught me is that no one is a bad person; it’s the situation that makes them bad. Everyone has their own stories.”

Ponkshe also stars in the upcoming Marathi film Banjara, which is set to release in April. “Notably, it is the first Marathi film to be shot 90 per cent in Sikkim in extreme -8 degrees Celsius temperatures, ensuring breathtaking visuals from the region,” he mentions.

Even after appearing in over 100 films and TV serials, the actor remains grounded. “The stage demands discipline and humility,” he says. “Every time I step on stage, I bow to the goddess of theatre, asking her to guide me and forgive my mistakes.”

His family of four comprises his wife, son Sneh, an actor and daughter Siddhi, a pilot, “My family has always been my strongest support system,” he says. “They always showed a lot of understanding towards me and my profession.”

This is also what gave him the strength to fight the often debilitating cancer, “I consider cancer as one of the barriers that I crossed with Bappa’s blessing. It affected my journey a bit but I resumed it with more positivity.” Ponkshe returned to acting in 2019 after his illness with the play ‘Himalayachi Savali’. He is now most enthused about his upcoming drama ‘Kalchakra’. In addition to playing the lead role of a 75-year-old man, Ponkshe is also the project producer. The drama delves into the emotional struggles of elderly parents in today’s society, where children often move abroad or form nuclear families, leaving their parents isolated.

“It’s a story about the challenges they face and the decisions they must make,” says Ponkshe as he readies it for a 2026 release to mark another milestone in his extraordinary life.