Ram Gopal Bajaj Explained

Ram Gopal Bajaj
Birth Date:1940 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Darbhanga, Bihar Province, British India
Nationality:Indian
Known For:Director of NSD, Delhi
Height:5'8"
Alma Mater:National School of Drama, Delhi
Yearsactive:1965–present
Spouse:Sulochna Devi and Chandrakala Khemchand Prakash
Children:Prakash Bajaj, Riju Bajaj, Aseem Bajaj
Awards:1996: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
2003: Padma Shri
2017: Kalidas Samman
Relatives:Leena Yadav (daughter-in-law)

Ram Gopal Bajaj is an Indian theatre director, academician, and a Hindi film actor. He has also been a faculty member and a former director of National School of Drama, New Delhi (1995 – September 2001).[1]

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2003 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1996 for his contribution to theatre.[2]

Biography

Ram Gopal Bajaj graduated from the National School of Drama (NSD) in 1965. He became a member of its faculty and eventually its Director (November 1995 – September 2001).[3] During his tenure as the head of NSD he started two theatre festivals, Bharat Rang Mahotsava (National Theatre Festival) and Jashn-e-Bachpan (National Children's Theatre Festival).

Over the years, he directed numerous plays with the National School of Drama, NSD Repertory Company, starting with Surya Ki Antim Kiran Se, Surya Ki Pehli Kiran Tak in 1974, Jai Shankar Prasad’s Skand Gupta in 1977, followed by Quaid-E-Hayaat in 1989. His other noted production was Ashadh Ka Ek Din by Mohan Rakesh in 1992. He also was the Chief of the National School of Drama, Repertory Company from 1988 to 1994. He translated Girish Karnad's Rakt Kalyan (Taledanda) into Hindi, first directed by Ebrahim Alkazi for NSD and then by Arvind Gaur (1995) for Asmita Theater.[4]

In 2017, he was honoured with Kalidas Samman by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Career

Bajaj has been connected with the film industry for over three decades, first as an assistant director in art films like Utsav (1984) and Godhuli (1977), later appearing in character roles in films like, Masoom (1983), Hip Hip Hurray (1984), Mirch Masala (1985), and Chandni (1989). His most noted film roles have been in Parzania and as the Guru, in Jackie Chan starrer, The Myth, both in 2005. He starred as Dr. Amit Singh in Mango Dreams (2016) and in Jolly LLB 2 as Advocate Rizvi Sahab.

He also starred as "Shankar Dayal Bajpai" and Vikramaditya Singh" in the popular StarPlus TV serials, Navya..Naye Dhadkan Naye Sawaal (2011) and Rishton Ka Chakravyuh (2017) respectively.[5] His latest serial was Sufiyana Pyaar Mera that aired in 2019 on Star Bharat, where he played the character of Sayyed Shehriyat "Miajaan" Shah Ghazi.

He will be seen in LSD Pvt Ltd next TV show for zeetv

His upcoming Web series is Fittrat Season 2

He is a member of the academic council of National School of Drama, New Delhi.

Filmography

Assistant Director

YearTitleRole
1984UtsavAssistant Director
1977GodhuliAssistant Director

Actor

YearTitleRole
2017Jolly LLB 2Rizvi Sahab
2016Mango DreamsDr. Amit Singh
2007ParzaniaGuru
2005The Myth
1989Chandni
1985Mirch Masala
1984Hip Hip Hurray
1983Masoom

Web series

YearTitleRolePlatformNotes
2019FittratALTBalaji and ZEE5Season 2
2019The Verdict - State vs NanavatiBhai PratapALTBalaji and ZEE5

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.nsd.gov.in/nsd_pdirectors.htm Past Directors
  2. http://www.sangeetnatak.com/programmes_recognition&honours_oc.html Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards
  3. http://www.nsd.gov.in/Annual_Report_2005-06.pdf NSD Annual Report
  4. Web site: Girish Karnad's Rakt Kalyan (Tale-Danda) . 2008-12-19 . Drama critics . 9 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150209103633/https://sites.google.com/site/asmitatheatre/girish-karnad-s-play . dead .
  5. News: Ram Gopal Bajaj to get Kalidas Samman . Business Standard. 2017-10-26. 2017-11-06.