Sheetal Agashe Explained
Sheetal Dnyaneshwar Agashe (IAST: Śītala Jñāneśvara Āgāśe; born 17 May 1977) is an Indian businesswoman and former actress, who has served as managing director of Brihans Natural Products since 2013, for which she has received various accolades, including a Times Visionary Award, a Femina Pune's Most Powerful Award, and two Times Women of the Year Awards. A former actress, she had a recurring role from 1999 to 2003 on the sitcom Yes Boss (1999–2009), and a leading role in the independent film Minus One (2005).
Biography
Early life and family: 1977–2005
Agashe was born on 17 May 1977 in Pune, Maharashtra, into an aristocratic and entrepreneurial Chitpavan brahmin family of industrialist Dnyaneshwar Agashe of the Agashe gharana of Mangdari, and wife Rekha Gogte, of the Gogte gharana of Belgaum.[1]
Through her father, Agashe is a granddaughter of Chandrashekhar Agashe, a niece of Panditrao Agashe and Shakuntala Karandikar, a younger sister of Mandar and Ashutosh Agashe, of distant relation to Third Anglo-Maratha War general Bapu Gokhale,[2] musician Ashutosh Phatak,[3] historian Dinkar G. Kelkar, and scientist P. K. Kelkar.[4] Through her mother, she is a great-niece of B. M. Gogte,[1] a first cousin to poet Rashmi Parekh, a descendant of the aristocratic Latey (Bhagwat) family, and of relation to Kokuyo Camlin head Dilip Dandekar, and academic Jyoti Gogte.[5]
Agashe grew up in Pune, where she attended Vidya Bhavan school. She then attended the Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce where she acquired a B.Com degree, and was educated further at the University of Pune where she acquired an MBA in marketing and advertising.[6] [7]
Career in entertainment: 1999–2005
Agashe initially began her career as a television and film actress in Bollywood. Between 1999 and 2003, she had a recurring role on the SAB TV sitcom Yes Boss, alongside Aasif Sheikh, Rakesh Bedi, Kavita Kapoor, and Delnaaz Irani. Her eponymous character was the personal assistant to Sheikh's character.[8] [9] In January 2000, she self-published a collection of Hindi poetry titled तुम्हारे लिये, under the mononym Sheital. In April 2002, she contributed an essay titled Father's Daughter to her father's festschrift.
In April 2005, she starred in a leading role alongside Archana Puran Singh and Seema Biswas in the English language independent film Minus One (2005), directed by Renny Mascarenhas.[10] [11] She subsequently left acting, stating that it was her father who encouraged her to transition from acting into business. She then began aiding her father and brothers in the family group of companies.
Career in business: 2005–present
In 2005, Agashe joined Brihans Natural Products Limited, an Ayurvedic skincare products manufacturing company founded by her brother Mandar Agashe in 2000, as their chief executive officer. She had previously been appointed director at her father's investment firm in 1999. In January 2013, she was appointed as the managing director for Brihans Natural Products,[12] becoming the first woman in her family to head a business under their group of companies.[13]
By May 2014, Agashe had limited the range of products being manufactured by the company, choosing to focus on Aloe vera as the prime ingredient in its products.[14] In September 2015, she was an award presenter at the Shraavan Queen beauty pageant held in Mumbai and hosted by the Maharashtra Times.[15] By 2016, she began restructuring the company's range under a single umbrella brand.
In April 2018, The Times of India awarded Agashe with a Times Visionary Award from their Pune chapter. The award was presented to her by Abhay Deol.[16] [17] In June 2018, she was the recipient of a Pune's Most Powerful Award from Femina,[18] being presented the award by Huma Qureshi.[19] In October 2018, she was an award presenter alongside Amyra Dastur for the Mrs. Stylista beauty pageant hosted by the magazine.[20] In December 2018, she was the recipient of a business leadership award by the business research firm White Page India.[21] [22]
By 2019, Agashe had shifted Brihans Natural Products's production to locally sourcing the Aloe vera, Indian gooseberry, and hibiscus used in their products from Indian farmers in drought-prone districts such as Solapur in Maharashtra. She has also leveraged her Bollywood background to secure celebrity endorsements and film sponsorships for the company's brands. In April of that same year, she was the subject of an episode on Marathi businesswomen for Sakal Money. Later that same month, she was the recipient of a Times Women of the Year Award from The Times of India, being presented the award by Kiara Advani.[23] In December that same year, she and Diana Penty presented the Filmfare Award for Woman of Style & Substance to Dia Mirza at the 6th Filmfare Glamour and Style Awards.[24] In January 2021, The Times of India praised Agashe's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in India,[25] [26] awarding her with a second Times Women of the Year Award that same month.[27] The award was presented to her by Anupam Kher.[28] In August 2021, she was one of the women in business featured on the cover of Feminas Independence Day issue of their Pune edition.[29]
In May 2022, Agashe featured on the cover of Feminas Pune issue for their cover story on women in the healthcare industry.[30] In August 2022, at the 67th Filmfare Awards, she and Dia Mirza presented the Filmfare Award for Best Story to Abhishek Kapoor, Supratik Sen and Tushar Paranjape, the writers of Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (2021).[31]
In June 2023, Agashe alongside Jonita Gandhi and Shilpa Rao presented the Grazia Millennial Award for Breakthrough Performer of the Year to Sanya Malhotra.[32]
Selected works
Poetry collections
- Book: Sheital . तुम्हारे लिये . For You . 2000 . . R. D. Agashe . hi . Illustrated by Sagade, Abhijeet . 9798987233498.
Essays
Filmography
Television
Bibliography
- Book: Barve . Ramesh . Vartak . Taraprakash . Belvalkar . Sharchandra . 2002 . पुत्र विश्वस्ताचा : गौरव ग्रंथ : ज्ञानेश्वर आगाशे षष्ट्यब्दीपूर्ती निमित्त . Putra Viśvastācā : A Festschrift : In honour of Dnyaneshwar Agashe's 60th Birth Anniversary . . mr . 1st . Pune. Jñāneśvara Āgāśe Gaurava Samitī . 978-1-5323-4594-4 . 2017322864 . 992168227 . Bowker.
- Book: Karandikar, Shakuntala . Shakuntala Karandikar . 1992 . विश्वस्त . Viśvasta . mr . 1st . . Śrī Prakāśana . 9781532345012 . 2017322865 . 992168228 . Bowker.
- Book: Agashe . Trupti . Agashe . Gopal. . Wad . Mugdha . आगाशे कुलवृत्तांत . Genealogy of the Agashe Family . मांगदरी घराणा . The House of Mangdari . 2006 . Surbhi Graphics . . . 2nd . mr . 978-1-5323-4500-5 . Google Books.
- Book: Ranade, Sadashiv. चितपावन कौशिक गोत्री आगाशे कुलवृत्तांत . Genealogy of the Chitpavan Agashe Family belonging to the Kaushik Gotra . मांगदरी घराणा . The House of Mangdari . 1974 . mr . . 74903020 . 20388396 . Sadashiv Ranade . University of Michigan.
Further reading
- Book: Sathe-Patwardhan, Radhika . Femina presents Pune's Most Powerful 2018-19 . 2019 . Worldwide Media . Chaitanya . Tanya . The Boss Lady: Sheetal Agashe, MD, Brihans Natural Products . . . RNI 6253/59.
- Book: Nair . Siddharth . K. . Samir . Pahari . Aishi . Sen . Anusua . Baweja . Garima . Zafar . S. . etal . Research directed by Makky, M. Y. . India's Most Admired Brands 2018-19 : Research by White Page . 2018 . . Pegasus Events & IQ Design Studio . . Sheetal Agashe, MD, Brihans Natural Products Ltd. . VII.
Notes and References
- Book: Kamath . M. V. . The Makings of a Millionaire: A Tribute to a Living Legend, Raosaheb B.M. Gogte, Industrialist, Philanthropist & Educationist . 25 August 2022 . 1 January 1991 . . Jaico Publishing House . 10 . en . M. V. Kamath . University of California.
- Book: Pathak, Gangadhar . गोखले कुलवृत्तांत . 25 August 2022 . Genealogy of the Gokhale Family . पिरंदावण वाडी – तळेखाजण घराणा . The House of Pirandavan Wadi – Talekhajan . 1978 . Gokhale Kulavr̥ttānta Kāryakārī Maṇdaḷa . 2nd . . 976 . mr . 81902590 . Gangadhar Pathak . . WorldCat.
- Book: Ranade . Sadashiv . फाटक कुलवृत्तांत . 26 August 2022 . Genealogy of the Phatak Family . जांभळी घराणा (पहिला) . The First House of Jambli . 1982 . 2nd . . 56 . mr . Sadashiv Ranade . Phāṭaka Kula Samitī . . 84900881.
- Book: Kelkar . Bhaskar . Kelkar . Govind . Kelkar . Yashwant . केळकर कुलवृत्तांत . subscription . 26 August 2022 . Genealogy of the Kelkar Family . कासारवेल – पुणे – धुळे घराणा . The House of Kasarvel – Pune – Dhule . 1993 . 2nd . Yashoda Typesetting . . mr . 82, 89 . . 26 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220826131046/https://www.kelkarkulvruttanta.com/ . dead .
- Book: गोगटे कुलवृत्तांत . 25 August 2022 . Genealogy of the Gogte Family . बेळगाव घराणा (दुसरे) . The Second House of Belgaum . 2006 . Gogaṭe Kulamaṇḍala . 2nd . . . 532 . mr . 2012338796.
- Book: Sathe-Patwardhan, Radhika . Femina presents Pune's Most Powerful 2018-19 . 2019 . Worldwide Media . Chaitanya . Tanya . The Boss Lady: Sheetal Agashe, MD, Brihans Natural Products . . . RNI 6253/59 . 64–65.
- Book: Nair . Siddharth . K. . Samir . Pahari . Aishi . Sen . Anusua . India's Most Admired Brands 2018-19 : Research by White Page . 2018 . Pegasus . . Sheetal Agashe, MD, Brihans Natural Products Ltd.. VII . 86–87.
- News: Sinha . Abhay . Then & Now: अब कैसे दिखते हैं Yes Boss टीवी शो के आपके फ़ेवरेट क़िरदार, इन तस्वीरों में देखें . Then & Now: How your favourite characters of the TV show Yes Boss look now, see in these pictures . . 5 May 2022 . Hindi . 18 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220818131356/https://hindi.scoopwhoop.com/entertainment/yes-boss-tv-show-cast-then-and-now-photos/ . 18 August 2022.
- Book: Rubeena Film Directory . 2004 . Rubeena Collection . 60 . 10 October 2022 . en . University of Michigan.
- News: Minus 1 (2005) . 21 September 2023 . . en.
- Book: Hindi Cinema Year Book . 2005 . Screen World Publication . 60 . 10 October 2022 . 5 . University of Michigan.
- Web site: Sheetal Dnyaneshwar Agashe - Director information . ZaubaCorp . 10 October 2022.
- News: Bold, brave & beautiful . Jasmine . Lily . Sudan . Harshita . . 18 April 2019 . . . 3.
- Naturally yours! . 1 May 2014 . . Acharya . Auyon . 47 . Sheikh . Ghazala . . RNI 6253/59.
- News: Bhor . Vivek . छबीदार...सूरत देखणी! . Pleasing... Beautiful looks! . 20 August 2022 . . 14 September 2015 . . mr . https://web.archive.org/web/20220820112601/https://maharashtratimes.com/?back=1 . 20 August 2022.
- News: Celebration And Recognition of Excellence . 20 August 2022 . . Hemnaney . Jeenal . . 3 . 19 April 2018 . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20180426013531/https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIPU/2018/04/19&entity=Ar02500&sk=78815F33&mode=text . 26 April 2018.
- News: Sane . Shashank . Recognising excellence and contribution to society . . . . 18 April 2018 . 9.
- Leading from the front . 30 June 2018 . Chaitanya . Tanya . . Pune's Most Powerful 2018-19 . . 4.
- News: Pune's Super Achievers Get Felicitated At An Event . 14 August 2018 . . hi . . 19 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190108100233/https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/entertainment/bollywood/punes-super-achievers-get-felicitated-at-an-event-bollywood-news/6708 . 8 January 2019.
- News: An evening of glamour and style saw the crowning of Pune's stylistas . . 7 October 2018 . . 8.
- News: Kulkarni . Praveen . शीतल आगाशे – प्रेरणादायी 'बिझनेस लीडर' . Sheetal Agashe – Inspirational 'Business Leader' . 3 April 2019 . . mr . . 2.
- India's Most Inspirational Business Leader Awards by White Page India . 27 January 2019. . en . India Today.
- News: Sane . Shashank . Felicitating the women of Pune for their contribution in various walks of life . . . 19 April 2019 . 4.
- Seth . Analita . The Victory Wagon . subscription . . 20 August 2022 . January 2020 . . Pillai . Jitesh . Jitesh Pillai . 69 . 0971-7277 . RNI 1619/1957 . 76.
- News: Brihans Natural's "Greenleaf" one of the leaders in the Indian Aloe Vera market even in the new normal . . 22 January 2021 . . 3.
- News: Joshi . Jay . Goyal . Sagar . Climbing the ladder of success naturally! . . Times Power Women 2020 . 28 January 2021 . . 3.
- News: Jadhav . Prashant . Felicitating women achievers . . . 30 January 2021 . 6 . Pune.
- News: Times Women Of The Year 2020 Award . 10 October 2022 . . 2 February 2021 . Mumbai.
- Khanna . Saher . Attar . Samrah . What does freedom mean to you? . August 2021 . . . RNI 6253/59 . Front cover, 10–11.
- Dave . Rushika . All for wellness . May 2022 . . . RNI 6253/59 . Front cover, 12, 16.
- Winners take it all! . October 2022 . . Sharma . Devesh . 90 . 71 . 20 October 2022 . Pillai . Jitesh . Jitesh Pillai . . RNI 1619/1957 . 0971-7277 . subscription.
- All About The Grazia Millennial Awards 2023 . July 2023 . . Lokhandwala . Yusuf . 62–66 . 2023-08-09 . 4 . Dhondy . Mehernaaz . . 16 . . subscription . RNI MAHENG/2008/25042.