Dr. Shreeram Lagoo

Dr. Shreeram Lagoo is an Indian film and theatre actor, both in Hindi and Marathi, where he was most known for his character roles in films.

Dr. Shreeram Lagoo has acted in over 100 Hindi and Marathi films, over 40 Marathi, Hindi and Gujarathi plays, and has directed over 20 Marathi plays. He is considered one of the greatest actors of Marathi stage during the second half of twentieth century. He has also been very vocal and active in furthering progressive and rational social causes, for example in 1999, he and social activist G P Pradhan be undertook a fast in support of anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare. He won the 1978 Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Hindi film Gharaonda.

Early life and education

He was born on 16 November 1927 at Satara district, in Maharashtra state of India to Dr. Balakrishna Chintaman and Mrs. Satyabhama Lagoo, the eldest of four children. He attended Bhave High School, Fergusson College (University of Pune), and B.J. Medical College in Pune (Poona), India.

Career

He started acting in plays while attending Medical School. Once bitten by the theater bug, he continued his dramatic activity through the anvant garde group "Progressive Dramatic Association" which he started with like-minded senior friends like Bhalaba Kelkar. Meanwhile he trained as an ENT surgeon in Mumbai in the early fifties and practiced in Pune for 6 years before going to Canada and England for additional training.

He practiced medicine in Pune, India and Tabora, Tanzania in the sixties but his theater activity through Progressive Dramatic Association in Pune and "Rangaayan" in Mumbai continued when he was in India. Finally, in 1969 he became a full time actor on Marathi stage, debuting in the play "Ithe Oshalala Mrityu" written by Vasant Kanetkar.

He was the first protagonist of the famous Marathi play Natasamrat written by Kusumagraj (Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar) and is best remembered for that role.

His wife, Deepa Lagoo is also a noted theatre, television and film actress.

Filmography

Pinjra (1972) Samna (1974) Mere Saath Chal (1974) Ponga Pandit (1975) Chalte Chalte (1976) Barood (1976) Aaj Ka Ye Ghar (1976) Hera Pheri (1976) Aaj Ka Ye Ghar (1976) Bullet (1976) Shankar Hussain (1977) Kinara (1977) Inkaar (1977) Gharaonda (The Nest) (1977) Agar (1977) Immaan Dharam (1977) Kitaab (1977) Shalimar (1978) Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan (1978) Mera Rakshak (1978) Devata (1978) Des Pardes (1978) Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan (1978) Naya Daur (1978) Damaad (1978) College Girl (1978) Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) Saajan Bina Suhagan (1978) Muqabla (1979) Magroor (1979) Dooriyaan (1979) Sargam (1979) Jurmana (1979) Manzil (1979) Meera (1979) Tarana (1979) Hum Tere Ashiq Hain (1979) Ladke Baap Se Badke (1979) Swayamvar (1980) Nishana (1980) Kasturi (1980) Bin Maa Ke Bachche (1980) Do Aur Do Paanch (1980) Lootmaar (1980) Thodisi Bewafaii (1980) Jyoti Bane Jwala (1980) Zaakol (1980) Neeyat (1980) Gehrayee (1980) Awards and recognitions In 1978, Lagoo won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for his work in Gharaonda. 1997: Kalidas Samman In April 2006, he was awarded the Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratisthan for his contribution to cinema and theater. 2007: ‘Punyabhushan’ Puraskar.