Vikram Gokhale (14 November 1945 – 26 November 2022) was a well-known Indian film, television and stage actor, director and writer, noted for his roles in Marathi theatre, and Marathi and Hindi films.
An actor beyond boundaries, his skills were legendary. Oscillating between the many worlds of entertainment, he was a creative and versatile actor. He was so much into his characters that one never saw Vikram Gokhale, but only the characters he portrayed.
With an ever- smiling countenance, he was also a person with a big heart and broad social consciousness. He was unmatched in skills with body language and eye expression and confidence was second to none. Slipping into diverse roles, he was known for his voice, diction, and dialogue delivery. A master of the dramatic pause and the grandmaster of dialogue delivery, he lent dignity to all his roles.
He felt that an actor should not hard-sell skills. Acting did not have to be about peddling abilities. To him, acting was the art of creating the illusion of the truth.
As a fourth-generation artiste of a family of performers, his great-grandmother, Durgabai Kamat, was a trailblazer as the first Marathi female actor to have acted in the Hindi film industry. Her daughter Kamlabai was the first female actor to act as a child artiste. One of her three sons was Chandrakant Gokhale, Marathi theater singer and film actor who was also a senior journalist and Editor of the weekly Swarajya and Assistant Editor of Sakal in Pune. His younger brother Mohan was also an Indian film, television and theater actor.
His four-decade career started with Marathi stage. He made his mark in films like Natsamrat, Lapandav, Kalat Nakalat, Vazir, Bala Gau Kashi Angar, Anumati and Mukta, Mee Shivaji Park and AB Aani CD, etc. He was last seen in the 2021 Godavari. In February 2016, due to a throat ailment, Vikram quit the stage, but continued to work in films.
His Hindi films began with his debut in 1971 with Amitabh Bachchan’s Parwana. Others include Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Agneepath, Khuda Gawah, Insaaf, Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Mission Mangal, Aiyaary, Hichki, Bang Bang, De Dana Dan, AB Aani CD, etc. His last release was Nikamma, in June 1922.
His popular TV shows included Ghar Aaja Pardesi, Alpviraam, Jaana Na Dil Se Door, Sanjeevni and Indradhanush. Vikram had one unfulfilled dream – that of playing a blind old man, like Naseeruddin Shah in Sparsh.
Vikram debuted in direction with the 2010 Marathi movie Aaghaat, in which he also starred. His mentor was the doyen of Marathi theatre Vijaya Mehta. He had built a library of performances because of her and was eternally indebted to her. Her suggestions of the areas he could have improved in its story gave him the idea of making her his official consultant with a proper fee.
He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for acting in theatre in 2011. He won the National Award for Best Actor at the 60th National Film Awards for the Marathi movie Anumati in 2013, for his portrayal of a man’s desperate attempts to save his wife on life support.
He a Samaritan and director of an acting school in Pune also ventured into real estate business. The social activist in him oversaw a foundation that aided underprivileged kids, wounded veterans, children of lepers and the education of orphan children.
The Natsamrat took his last flight in Pune due to multi-organ failure. He is survived by his wife Vrushali and two daughters.
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A. Radhakrishnan is a Pune based freelance journalist, poet and short story writer.
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