Remembering Sadashiv Amrapurkar, Bollywood’s most memorable villain

Actor Sadashiv Amrapurkar died on Monday morning (November 3), due to a lung infection. The actor, who was being treated at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai for the past two weeks, was kept in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). During his long career, Sadashiv Amrapurkar gave many memorable performances.

Sadashiv Amrapurkar belonged to an affluent Brahmin family. Growing up in Ahmednagar, he studied at Navin Marathi Shala, Society high school and Ahmednagar college. He took up acting right from his young days and was already pursuing a career in theatre while completing his Masters in History at University of Pune.

It was in 1983 that he acted in a Marathi stage play titled, ‘Hands-Up!’ along with theatre actors Avinash Masurekar abd Bhakti Barve-Inamdar. Director Govind Nihalani, who was looking for an actor to play the leading negative role in his film, ‘Ardh Satya’, noticed him on stage.

He made his first onscreen appearance in Govind Nihalani's 'Ardha Satya' (1983), for which he walked away with the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting actor. The movie went on to become a huge hit and Sadashiv Amrapurkar received much praise for his performance and dialogue delivery.

Sadashiv Amrapurkar is said to have acted in more than 300 films – Marathi, Hindi, Bengali, Haryanvi and Oriya. After ‘Ardh Satya’, he took up various supporting roles in films like ‘Purana Mandir’, ‘Nasoor’, ‘Veeru Dada’, ‘Jawani’ and ‘Farishtay’.

Sadashiv Amrapurkar along with his daughter.

In 1987, he played the central negative character in ‘Hukumat’ that starred actor Dharmendra. The film did well and became a huge blockbuster. He was then considered as a lucky charm for Dharmendra, and the duo later worked together in a number of films.

Year 1991 saw him playing a eunuch in Mahesh Bhatt’s romantic thriller, ‘Sadak’. Amrapurkar’s hard-hitting performance earned him the first ever Filmafare award for Best Villain.

The 90s had Sadashiv appear in more light comic roles in films such as ‘Aankhen’, ‘Coolie No. 1’, ‘Jai Hind’ and ‘Master’. He also acted in ‘Chhote Sarkar’ (1996), as Dr. Khanna, Ishq (1997). However, from 2000 or so, Amrapurkar hasn’t appeared in too many Hindi films.

Apart from films, Sadashiv Amrapurkar was a philanthropist, social activist, and civically engaged in a number of social organizations like Samajik Krutadnyata Nidhi, Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, Snehalaya, Lokshahi Prabodhan Vyaspeeth, Ahmednagar Aitihasik Vastu Sangrahalaya and many others. He’s also said to look out for the rural youth and strived for their development.

In March 2013, the actor was severely beaten while he was protesting against water wastage during Holi festival near his residence in Mumbai.

He was last seen on screen in Bombay Talkies in 2013.

Sadashiv Amrapurkar with Sanjay Dutt.