Nitish Bharadwaj

2022-01-04T16:17:53Z

103.149.159.255:

{{Short description|Indian actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Nitish Bharadwaj
| image = Nitish-Bharadwaj.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption =
| birth_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1963|6|2}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|director|[[Film producer|producer]]|screenwriter}}
| yearsactive = 1987 – present
| office = [[Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| term_start = 1996
| term_end = 1998
| constituency = [[Jamshedpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jamshedpur]]
| predecessor = Inder Singh Namdhari
| successor = [[Abha Mahato]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Monisha Patil|1991|2005|end=div}}<br>{{marriage|Smita Gate|2009}}
| children = 4
| residence = [[Mumbai]]
}}
'''Dr.Nitish Bhardwaj''' (born 2 June 1963) is an Indian television and film actor, director, screenwriter, film and tv Programm producer, veterinarian (veterinary surgeon) passout from Mumbai Veterinary college and former [[Member of parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]] in [[Lok Sabha]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/people/nitish-bhardwaj-61758|title=Nitish Bhardwaj movies, filmography, biography and songs - Cinestaan.com|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2019-08-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020317/spectrum/main7.htm |title=itihas in Their Modern Avatar |last=Patil |first=Vimla |date=17 March 2002 |website=Spectrum |publisher=The Sunday Tribune |access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref> He is best known for his role as [[Lord Krishna]] in [[B. R. Chopra]]'s television series ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'', as well as for his portrayal of [[Lord Vishnu]] and several [[avatar]]s of [[Lord Vishnu]] in some of Chopra's other great works, such as ''[[Vishnu Puran (TV series)|Vishnu Puran]]''<ref name="Pandit">{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-05/news-interviews/41800792_1_marathi-film-film-yaksha-film-industry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928033719/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-05/news-interviews/41800792_1_marathi-film-film-yaksha-film-industry |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 September 2013 |title=Nitish Bharadwaj dons the hat of a director |last=Pandit |first=Shruti |date=10 September 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv/news/Comparisons-with-Nitish-Bharadwaj-are-most-welcome-Saurabh-Raaj-Jain/articleshow/24253763.cms? |title=Comparisons with Nitish Bharadwaj are most welcome: Saurabh Raaj Jain |last=Trivedi |first=Tanvi |date=17 October 2013 |work=The Times of India |access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref> His debut directorial film in Marathi titled ''Pitruroon'' has won him accolades from both the audiences and critics and he now focuses on his film career entirely through screenwriting, directing and acting.

==Career==
===Theatre and radio===
{{one source section|date=June 2020}}
Before coming into the field of acting, Bharadwaj was a professional veterinary surgeon and had worked as an assistant veterinarian at a racecourse in Mumbai; however, he left the job considering it a monotonous one. He started his arts career with his training in [[Marathi theatre]] as a director, under stalwarts such as [[Sudha Karmarkar]], Dr. [[Kashinath Ghanekar]] and [[Prabhakar Panshikar]]. He then moved on to professional Marathi theatre with Sai Paranjapye and later shifted to Hindi theatre on sound advice from his friend [[Ravi Baswani]]. Baswani was instrumental in getting Bharadwaj from Marathi to the nation-wide Hindi arena and Bharadwaj has always acknowledged Baswani's contribution to his life. He worked with a thespian of Hindi theatre named [[Dinesh Thakur]] and performed in many of his plays till 1987. He later did a Hindi mythological play ''[[Chakravyuh]]'', in which he reappears as Lord Krishna, the role he mastered in the old ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/dramas/hindi/09-hindi-play-preview-chakravyuh.asp# |title=Chakravyuh Hindi Play/Drama |website=www.mumbaitheatreguide.com |access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref> Though the play depicts the story of Abhimanyu's martyrdom, it brings out various issues out of the same story which are relevant to today's times. ''Chakravyuh'' was one of the most successful plays of Hindi Theatre in 2015 and has already had around 75 showings across India, including some theatre festivals like the ''Kala Ghoda Festival'', Mumbai. Bharadwaj also performed in a musical theatre production titled ''[[Motiroti|Moti Roti Patli Chunni]]'' (1993), with a renowned theatre in London (UK) named "Theatre Royal Stratford East". This play won the "London Time Out Dance & Performance Award" and toured across Britain and Canada.{{cn|date=June 2020}}

Bharadwaj also did 2 radio shows for BBC Radio 4 (London, UK), namely ''Bhagvad Geeta'' and ''Ramayan''. He was nominated for the "Sony Radio award" for ''Ramayan'' in the UK in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahabharata's Krishna, Born of a Mother From Belagavi, Wants to Act With Mohanlal|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2016/may/07/Mahabharatas-Krishna-Born-of-a-Mother-From-Belagavi-Wants-to-Act-With-Mohanlal-933715.html|access-date=2020-06-14|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

===Television career===
In 1988 Bharadwaj was selected to play the lead role of Lord [[Krishna]] in [[B. R. Chopra]]'s classic television series [[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]. He played the role at the age of 23 and became an overnight star.<ref>{{Cite web|last=N|first=Patcy|date=22 May 2013|title=I did not want to play Krishna in 'Mahabharat'|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-mahabharats-krishna-is-back-tv/20130522.htm|access-date=6 April 2016|website=Rediff Movies}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Verma|first=Sukanya|date=18 September 2012|title=Reader's Pick: The 25 greatest characters on Indian TV|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-reader-s-pick-the-25-greatest-characters-on-indian-tv/20120918.htm#19|access-date=6 April 2016|website=Rediff Movies}}</ref> His performance was loved and appreciated by audience. He also did a cameo in the show [[Buniyaad]]'s episode 51.

He directed a philosophical TV series titled ''Gita Rahasya'', ''Apraadhi'' for Star TV and a few documentary films.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rediff On The NeT: The Rediff Election Interview/Nitish Bharadwaj|url=https://www.rediff.com/election/1999/sep/10nitish.htm|access-date=2020-06-14|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref>

In 2000, Bharadwaj appeared in B.R. Chopra's another mythological show [[Vishnu Puran (TV series)|Vishnu Puran]], where he played role of [[Lord Vishnu]] and his various incarnations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Television|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000123/spectrum/tv.htm|access-date=2020-06-14|website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref> In 2001 he played the role of [[Rama]] in Chopra's [[Ramayan (2002 TV series)|Ramayan]] with [[Smriti Irani|Smriti Malhotra Irani]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 4, 2002|first=Methil|last=Renuka|title=Now, B.R. Chopra to present silicon graphics-driven Ramayan on Zee TV|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/eyecatchers/story/20020204-br-chopra-to-present-silicon-graphics-driven-ramayan-on-zee-tv-795802-2002-02-04|access-date=2020-06-14|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

=== Film career ===

Bharadwaj starred as the Main Lead in many [[Marathi cinema|Marathi]] movies such as ''Khatyal Sasu Nathal Soon'', ''Nasheebwan'', ''Anapekshit'', ''Pasanta Ahe Mulgi'', ''Trishagi'' (with Nana Patekar) and the highly acclaimed [[Malayalam]] movie ''[[Njan Gandharvan]]'', (1991) directed by [[P. Padmarajan]]. After ''Njan Gandharvan'', Padmarajan was planning a film with [[Mohanlal]] and Bharadwaj in lead roles, but he died before it could materialise. In a later interview in 2019, Bharadwaj said that, if that film had happened, he might have settled in [[Kerala]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kumar|first=K. P. Nijeesh|title=Padmarajan's demise made me to exit from mollywood, says 'Njan Gandharvan' actor|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/padmarajan-s-demise-made-me-to-exit-from-mollywood-says-njan-gandharvan-actor-1.3955257|access-date=16 July 2019|work=[[Mathrubhumi]]|date=14 July 2019}}</ref> He judged a Marathi dance reality show on [[ETV Marathi]]; ''Jallosh Survanayugacha'', with Sudha Chandran and Ramesh Deo.

Bharadwaj made his film direction debut in 2013 with a Marathi film starring Tanuja, Suhas Joshi and Sachin Khedekar titled ''Pitruroon''. The film is based on a novella by Sudha Murthy. The film was acclaimed by both the critics and audiences. ''Pitruroon'' received many nominations and awards, and also gave Bharadwaj the Maharashtra State Film Award as the second Best Director of 2013. Recently in 2020 he appeared on screen as a Sudarshan Chakrapani in a Marathi web series Samantar which was telecasted on mx player. <ref name="Pandit" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://rangmarathi.com/first-look-of-nitish-bharadwajs-pitruroon/ |title=First look of Nitish Bharadwaj's Pitruroon |date=23 August 2013 |website=Rangmarathi |access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/krishna-s-confessions/1091171/ |title=Krishna's Confessions |last=Swamy |first=Rohan |date=21 March 2013 |website=The Indian Express |access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-16/news-interviews/37120048_1_marathi-cinema-quality-films-short-films |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928033721/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-16/news-interviews/37120048_1_marathi-cinema-quality-films-short-films |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 September 2013 |title=Nitish Bharadwaj ropes in Tanuja his directorial debut |last=Deshmukh |first=Gayatri |date=16 February 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref> Bharadwaj has also played important roles in movies including [[Mohenjo Daro (film)|Mohenjo Daro]] and [[Kedarnath (film)|Kedarnath]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Nitish-Bharadwaj-My-role-in-Mohenjo-Daro-has-given-me-an-opportunity-to-explore-human-emotions/articleshow/53569751.cms|title=Nitish Bharadwaj: My role in 'Mohenjo Daro' has given me an opportunity to explore human emotions - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>

==Politics==
Bharadwaj contested the parliamentary elections from [[Jamshedpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jamshedpur]] in [[Jharkhand]] and [[Rajgarh (Lok Sabha constituency)|Rajgarh]] (in [[Madhya Pradesh]]) as a [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) candidate and was elected to [[Lok Sabha]] as a Member of Parliament from [[Jamshedpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jamshedpur]] in [[1996 Indian general election|1996 election]], by defeating veteran Inder Singh Namdhari.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1998/feb/12bjp.htm |title=Any party which wants to rule India has to be secular in its true sense |last=Masih |first=Archana |date=12 February 1998 |website=Rediff on the Net |access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref> He lost to [[Lakshman Singh (politician)|Laxman Singh]] (brother of then chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, [[Digvijaya Singh]]) from [[Rajgarh (Lok Sabha constituency)|Rajgarh constituency]] in the [[1999 Indian general election|1999 Lok Sabha election]].
He also worked in BJP's organisational unit of Madhya Pradesh and was also its Spokesperson for a while, till he voluntarily retired from active politics.

==Early life==
Nitish Bharadwaj was born on 2 June 1963 to Janardan C. Upadhye, a Senior Advocate of Bombay High Court and a veteran labour lawyer. He was also a close aide of [[George Fernandes]] in the labour movement in the 60s and 70s. Bharadwaj's mother, Sadhana Upadhye, was the Head of the Marathi Literature department of Wilson College, Mumbai. She was an exponent of the [[Bhagvad Geeta]] and [[Dnyaneshwari]], the knowledge of which she imparted to Bharadwaj from childhood. He has one younger brother, Rahul Upadhye Bharadwaj.

==Personal life==

In 1991, Bharadwaj married Monisha Patil, daughter of [[Vimla Patil]], then editor of ''[[Femina (India)|Femina]]''. They have two children, a son and daughter and divorced in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1041114/asp/look/story_3984806.asp |title=Nitish, Nitish, burning bright |last=Roy |first=Amit |date=14 November 2004 |work=The Telegraph |location=Calcutta, India |access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/1998/feb/13bjp1.htm |title=For how many years do you want the adivasis to wear their traditional finery and dance for you? |date=13 February 1998 |website=Rediff on the Net |access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref> Monisha now lives in Hounslow, Middlesex with her two children, Arrush and Saayli (now called India). Bharadwaj married Smita Gate, an IAS officer (1992 batch) from Madhya Pradesh cadre, in 2009 and they have twin daughters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://archive.mid-day.com/news/2010/jan/110110-Sanjay-Dutt-Samajwadi-Party-politicians.htm |title=Sanjay Dutt resigs from Samajwadi Party |last=Singh |first=Varun |date=11 January 2010 |website=Mid-day |access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref>

==Filmography==

=== Films ===
* ''[[Trishagni]]'' (1988) (with Nana Patekar)<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC&q=trishagni+1988&pg=PT578 |title=Encyclopedia of Hindi Cinema |last2=Nihalani |first2=Govind |last3=Chatterjee |first3=Saibal |publisher=Popular Prakashan |year=2003 |isbn=8179910660 |series=Encyclopædia Britannica (India) |page=554 |author=Gulzar |author-link=Gulzar}}</ref>
* ''[[Njan Gandharvan]]'' (1991, Malayalam)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawards2.htm |title=State Film Awards |date=1990 |website=Information & Public Relations Department (I&PRD) |access-date=6 April 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234213/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawards2.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref>
* ''[[Sangeet (1992 film)|Sangeet]]'' (1992) (with Madhuri Dixit)
* ''[[Gruhpravesh]]'' (1992) (with Nishigandha Wad)
* ''[[Prem Daan]]'' (1991) (with Khushboo)
* ''[[Prem Shakti]]'' (1994) (with [[Govinda (actor)|Govinda]], [[Karishma Kapoor]]
* ''[[Nache Nagin Gali Gali]]'' (1991) with [[Meenakshi Seshadri]]
* ''[[Khatyal Sasu Nathal Soon]]'' (1987) with [[Varsha Usgaonkar]]
* ''[[Pasant Aahe Mulgi]]'' (1989) with [[Varsha Usgaonkar]]
* ''[[Tujhi Majhi Jamli Jodi]]'' (1990) with [[Nivedita Joshi]]
* ''[[Nashibwaan]]'' (1988) with [[Alka Kubal]]
* ''[[Pitruroon]]'' (2013) (Writer-Director)
* ''[[Mahabharat Aur Barbareek]]'' (2013) as [[Krishna]]
* ''[[Mohenjo Daro (film)|Mohenjo Daro]]'' (2016) (with Hritik Roshan)
* ''[[Yaksh]]'' (awaiting worldwide release) (title role)
* ''[[Kedarnath (film)|Kedarnath]]'' (2018)as Brijraj Mishra

=== Television ===
* ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'' (1988)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtubevideoepisode.com/mahabharat-br-chopra/|title=Mahabharat B.R. Chopra Serial Episodes (Full 1988 TV Series) |website=Youtube Video Episode|language=en|access-date=23 April 2020}}</ref>
* ''Geeta Rahasya(1999)'' (producer-Director-Co writer) (with Irrfan Khan)
* ''[[Vishnu Puran (TV series)|Vishnu Puran]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Ramayan (2002 TV series)|Ramayan]]'' (2003) with Smriti Irani as Seeta
* ''[[Man Mein Hai Visshwas]]'' (2006-2007, presenter)
* ''Ajab Gajab Ghar Jamai'' (2014, Krishna)

=== Web Series ===

* [[Web series|Samantar]] - in as Sudarshan Chakrapani (MX Player Originals) (2020)

* [[Web series|Samantar season 2]] - in as Sudarshan Chakrapani (MX Player Originals) (2021)

==Awards==
{{BLP unsourced section|date=February 2018}}
* Best Screenplay Writer for Marathi feature film, ''Pitruroon'', Sahyadri Film Awards, 2014
*Nominated - Best Actor for ''Pitruroon'', Screen Awards, 2014
* 2nd Best Director for ''Pitruroon'', [[Maharashtra State Film Awards]], 2014

== See also ==

* [[List of Indian television actors]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{Facebook|nitishbharadwaj.krishna}}
* {{Bollywood Hungama person|nitish-bharadwaj}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bharadwaj, Nitish}}
[[Category:Indian male television actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:11th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:Indian television presenters]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Indian actor-politicians]]
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Jharkhand]]

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Nitish Bharadwaj