Versatile personas to watch april2021

2021 | Vol.-04 | Issue-06
Mili d
Gu aji
n
VERSATILE
PERSONAS
TO WATCH
VERSATILE
PERSONAS
TO WATCH
STARTUP RECIPE
How Young
Minds are Shaping
Today's Startups?
GET CREATIVE
How to Promote
Versatility in
Business?
BRAND AMBASSADOR
Maharashtra Forest & Wild Life Department 2008/09

Editor’s Note
J
ack of all trades or master of one,” this classic
statement is most relevant in today’s world of
business whether it's corporate companies or
showbiz. Some might argue that expertise or being
‘master of one’ is rather essential and no doubt it is.
However, in today’s business settings what thrives and
attracts the limelight is versatility.
The zest to keep learning, openness to take on
challenges on diverse platforms, and ﬂexibility to adapt
to the changes are the key to survive amidst daunting
stress and fear of failure. Versatility is often connected
with artists and the need and zeal of inculcating and
performing diverse roles on different platforms.
American actor Rock Carroll perfectly phrases the need
and zeal of an actor to show versatility. “Actors on stage,
you can go from playing myriad roles, from Shakespeare
to a Eugene O’Neil drama and it’s the norm. I came up in
the world where you’re supposed to be able to do three
things very well. Act, sing, dance, paint, do something.
The emphasis was on versatility.”
However, versatility is not limited to the performances
on stage or silver screen. It seeps through the corporate
culture from the CEO to employees. Today, employers
prefer their team to be ﬂexible to adopt both
opportunities as well as challenges. Businesses
ART OF
VERSATILITY
“

appreciate employees that stay with them for long while
showing versatility and adaptability to the company’s
ever-changing needs.
Mastering the art of versatility
#1 Cross-platform performance
Employers often introduce cross-training platforms to
ensure employees have adequate knowledge about
other operations and skillsets. So, when the need comes
employees can fill in another’s place or give a helping
hand to ensure smoother operations on the floor.
Step out of your job role when needed and take the
initiative to do jobs outside your normal roles. This will
help you develop and depict versatility at work.
#2 Going beyond the comfort zone
No matter in which field you work there comes a time
when some challenges at the workplace encourage you
to leave your comfort zone. In today’s fast-paced
environment, the need to adopt new technology,
techniques, and training to survive the stress and thrive
in the competition becomes necessary and thus
extending your comfort zone becomes essential.
#3 Adapting the change
“Change is the only constant,” Greek philosopher
Heraclitus had said. Whether it's to survive in the world
or thrive in a career one has to be flexible in approach
and adaptable towards change in time, technology, or
turn to play a different role in your career.
If you desire to climb up the career ladder and you think
you have what it takes, then it's time to show the world.
Take time to learn and hon relevant skills every day.
Work towards that role or promotion. Take the
advantages of opportunities that come your way
whether it is about learning new skills, gaining
knowledge or experience, or taking on a new
challenging role in your career that shows your
versatility.
After all, it’s not about having versatility in your skillset
but showing it through your actions. When you feel
stuck or lose direction taking inspiration from individuals
who have demonstrated versatility in work will show you
the light.
In the latest edition of Insights Success “Versatile
Personas to Watch” you will get to read about such
personalities who with their passion, dedication, and
versatility have turned their stories of struggles to write
success sagas inspiring thousands of others to believe in
their passion and do what it takes to achieve their
dreams.
Darshan Parmar
Managing Editor
darshan@insightssuccess.com

Mili d
Gu aji
n
A MULTI-FACETED ARTIST
08
C
O
V
E
R
S
T
O
R
Y

C
O
N
T
E
N
T
S
14
Abhinay Berde
A Versatile Persona Ambitious
to Carve a Legacy
20
Sobar Cafe
The Café for Everyone
22
Nishigandha Wad
Esteemed Persona in
Entertainment and Beyond
34
Priyadarshan Jadhav
A Captivating Artist with
the Roots of Promising Talent
38
Sanskruti Balgude
A Dedicated Actor Passionate
about the Crafts of Cinema
and Acting
42
Siddharth Chandekar
A Passionate Actor Upholding
Marathi Culture in Cinema
46
Vidyadhar Joshi
Portraying Effortless Roles,
On and Off-Screen
30
Priya Berde
Valiant Persona
On-Screen and Beyond
50
Start-up Recipe
How Young Minds are
Shaping Today's Startups?
Get Creative
How to Promote Versatility
in Business?
28
Articles

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APRIL, 2021
We are also available on

Brief
Abhinay Berde is an Indian actor who is associated with the Marathi film
industry.
Arindra Saha wanted to focus on local fast food culture, hence his additions to
the menu include comfort food like luchi-mangsho and Chinese items that one
can find at Kolkata street side stalls.
Milind Gunaji (born 23 July 1961) is an Indian actor, model, television show
host, and author, most known for his roles in Marathi and Hindi cinema.
Nishigandha Wad is a revered Marathi Film Actress who has starred in a lot of
Hindi as well ws Marathi movies.
Priya Berde is an Indian actress who works primarily in the Marathi film
industry. She is known for the film, Yoddha (2015).
One of the most popular modern artists of Marathi cinema, Priyadarshan
Jadhav is a stage, TV, and film actor, writer, director, and producer.
Sanskruti Sanjay Balgude is an Indian actress who appears in the Marathi-
language entertainment industry.
Featured Person
Milind Gunaji
Priya Berde
Priydarshan Jadhav
Sanskruti Balgude
Abhinay Berde
Arindra Saha
Nishigandha Wad
Siddharth Chandekar is an Indian film actor. He is known for his work in
Marathi cinema.
Siddharth Chandekar
Vidyadhar Joshi is an Indian actor. He is majorly appeared in supporting and
prominent character roles in the Marathi cinema. He also participated in Big
Boss Marathi Season 2 in 2019.
Vidyadhar Joshi

Mili d
Gu aji
n
A MULTI-FACETED ARTIST
MY FATHER,
TO
WHO USED
TAKE US TO DIFFERENT
FORTS, THE
GAVE ME
AND CLICK3
BLACK WHITE
CAMERA SINCE I HAD
IN
DEVELOPED INTEREST
PHOTOGRAPHY
“
“
C S
OVER TORY

BRAND AMBASSADOR
Maharashtra Forest & Wild Life Department 2008/09

He had a well-planned life ahead of him during his
formative years and being equipped with a
prestigious professional degree of those times, it
was as though he could visualise his life. But destiny had
other plans for actor Milind Gunaji – a path that he never
thought of in his wildest of wild dreams.
A believer in destiny and Karma, he went where the flow
took him. Life could not have been any better for him.
Perhaps what he desired was not what he did the best.
Hence came the strings of failures in what he had planned
but unfathomable success in whatever came his way by
chance.
Indeed, his was the Midas Touch kind of a story. Whatever
he set his foot on by chance, he was successful. A multi-
talented persona, his claim to fame is – Just give your best
to whatever you do.
A successful model (and longest serving at that), a great
actor, a trekker and nature lover, a writer, a poet, a singer
and a spiritual seeker, the larger-than-life persona Milind
Gunaji still has a lot in his kitty. We take through his
journey that has been lesser known until now.
An engineer by qualification, his sports career was well-
planned and he wanted to be a business tycoon, but destiny
had carved a different path for him.
‘I was never inclined towards acting. I had certain
reservations about filmy people. In fact, I used to hardly
watch films. I was more interested in watching Marathi
plays. I liked Western films. I never thought that I would be
acting in films. In fact, I was pursuing sports career mainly
in cricket and badminton. I did my polymer technology and
chemical engineering. I worked with Garware, and later
with Mahindra & Mahindra before venturing out on my
own,” shared Milind going down the memory lane.
Stint in Business
He wanted to start his own business for which his father
sent him to learn marketing for few days. He then started
his own factory.
His father was liberal, sporty but a family person and
Milind said that it was little risky for him to get into
business because financially he could not support Milind in
his business.
“I started injection moulding for Fair and Lovely and
Closeup caps, and eye droppers. But unfortunately, there
was a strike. That particular branch got closed for few days.
I had to wind up the factory. Basically, I started the factory
in Goa because I am half-Goan. My mother is from Goa
and father also got settled there from Maharashtra,” he
narrates.
All this while he kept playing badminton with a focus to at
least play at Maharashtra level.
Meanwhile, he started another factory with two of his
friends who were chemical engineers like him. It was a big
plant manufacturing some sort of plastic bags.
“During erection of the plant there was an accident due to a
pothole. So, my sports career got disrupted. By then the
government policies changed and we had to start again. By
that time, I could get some good orders through my father’s
contacts like RCF, Zuari Agro etc,” shares Milind.
His responsibility was marketing, to get the orders and the
payments while his other two partners took care of the
production. It was only 2-3 components. So, it was not
much work.
But that was when his life took a dramatic turn.
Unexpected Proposal and The Beginning
“Since the work was not much, I was thinking what else I
could do. My sports career had also come to an end. Ace
photographer Jagdish Mali and I played cricket for the same
team - MIG Cricket Club. Then I met renowned
photographer Gautam Rajyadhyaksha. He used to tell me -
you have a good personality. He said - you should at least
do modelling. He had a soft corner for Marathi people. I
thought why not give it a try. I would at least get my pocket
money. I had met him just six months back and during that
time in 1989 he used to charge Rs 3000 which was very
high. We were just upper middle class at that time. And I
did not want to depend upon my father. I was earning but
then I thought if I am getting additional earning then why
not,” he shares.
When the ace photographer looked at him, Milind asked if
he really thought he could model. He also confessed that he
was short of money but would definitely pay him for the
portfolio. To Milind’s pleasant surprise, he did not charge
any money but asked him to come the next day.
Gautam selected few photos and asked the model-to be to
take prints. He gave a list of agencies including big names
like Mudra, Genesis etc and asked Milind to hand it to

I NEVER THAT I WOULD
THOUGHT
BE IN FILMS. IN ,
ACTING FACT
I WAS PURSUING
SPORTS CAREER
IN BADMINTON
“
“
“
“
VERSATILE PERSONAS TO WATCH

them. During those days, they used to paste stickers at the
backside of the photos mentioning name, address and
phone number (if any).
“I had a bullet and a Mahindra & Mahindra jeep. Those
were my two earnings then. I distributed all the copies
travelling by my jeep across the city on one single day. The
last one was then top photographer Shantanu Sheorey
where I had to deliver the photos. He was associated with
all big brands like Vimal, Gwalior, Raymonds, Digjam and
the like. After I came home, I got a call from him. I was
very tired but thought let me see what it was all about.
When I went back, he clicked me again and also shot a
video in all angles. That was my first video,” he recollects
vividly.
He was asked not to confirm any assignment to the other
agencies till he got a call from Sheorey’s office that night.
True to their words and to Milind’s pleasant surprise, they
called the same night informing him that he was selected
for Digjam.
“Digjam was a big brand then. Shekhar Kapoor modelled
for them then. They wanted to replace him and were
looking for a similar looking person, as his contract was
getting over. I had beard and they asked me to keep the
beard. It was a two-year contract during which I could not
model for anyone else. I used to get a remuneration of Rs
one lakh then. During that period, it was a totally different
kind of ad world. I was instantly famous as the Digjam
model,” Milind reminisces.
But they wanted a celebrity as model and suggested that
Milind should join the film industry. They were even ready
to sponsor his fees in an acting institute. He made it very
clear to them that he was not interested in acting.
After modelling with Digjam for five years at a stretch,
he began thinking of trying his luck with other brands as
well and expressed his desire to model for other brands.
“I asked them why they insisted on exclusivity. I told them
that it would be my last year with them. They signed me for
one more year but did not keep compulsion of exclusivity. I
began modelling for other brands,” he shared.
The Big Break and The Glory
During the shooting of an ad, he met filmmaker Govind
Nihalini who used to also make ad films. He was shooting
for Surf when he asked Milind if he was interested in films.
“He said - I have seen your ads. You have an excellent
screen presence. If you are ready to express yourself, I will
give you a role. I told him I did not know how to act. He
told me take your time. The role was not very dialogue-
oriented but the scene rotated around the character. Actors
like Om Puri, Amrish Puri, Nasiruddin Shah were in the
cast and Ashish Vidyarthi was introduced. Manoj Bajpayee
was in a small role in Droh Kaal. After Droh Kaal, Om Puri
was not available, so I did his role and Ashish Vidyarthi got
award for his role. Somebody saw me and informed Sai
Paranjape who was looking for a central charcater for her
film on forest, Papeeha. Her daughter Winnie Joglekar was
also among the star cast. It was about tribals in which her
daughter was also cast. She was looking for a person to play
the forest officer’s role. It was a beautiful film with
beautiful songs. The main character was the forest officer
and his tribal assistant played by Raghuveer Yadav,” shared
the actor.
During that time, he was also into trekking. In fact, he was
into trekking and photography since school days.

“Click3 camera was given by my father who used to take us
to different forts. I developed interest and he gave me the
black and white camera. Everyone used to say I click good
photographs. Later I started trekking myself with the help
of maps by Harish Kapadia, the doyen of trekking.
“Every fort has a history. To fulfil my interest in history I
started using his maps that were very detailed. I used to go
to the interiors in my jeep. However, his maps did not have
any description. Every fort has a history. I used to take
some villagers along with me to climb the mountains. I
trekked most of the mountains and clicked photographs in
different seasons, sunset and sunrise. I was a great reader
also - I had spectacles since standard four and it was of
thick glasses. I started finding out more about the forts –
virtual and actual. I learnt how a particular fort was built,
the strategies. I went on gathering information,” he shared
passionately about mountains.
While modelling one day he met Pradeep Verma of Lok
Prabha publication. Long before his modelling days I had
showed him those photographs casually.
“He asked me to write about my experiences. I wrote about
Malshej ghat which got a huge response. He asked me to
keep writing and to also share my photographs,” he added.
The column went on for five years. In 1998 he published
Majhi Mulukgiri – a compilation of his Lok Prabha articles.
Later he began doing a TV series on forts of Maharashtra,
Bhatkanti, which went on for three years. He is the
Government of Maharashtra’s brand ambassador for forest
and wildlife.
Coming back to the initial days of his break he said, “Sai
Paranjape told me that I had the perfect personality for
forest officer. I was not a great actor then. I had acted in
Kurukshetra written by Kamlesh Pande and it became an
instant hit. He gave me a secretary. Based on this role I was
asked for Papeeha. Zee TV’s Subhash Chandra Goel and
his family used to come for the shooting. He offered me a
role in the Hindi film Fareb for a negative role. This too
became a hit. I was not known but once the film released, I
was among the main stars instantly. I got few more films in
a row. After 40 films, including Sarkarnama, I started doing
some Marathi films. I did around 250 films. I acted in South
Indian and Bengali films too. Even today I am getting
offers.”
He was Cotton King’s longest serving model and modelled
for Soft Corner also for a long time. At the same time, he
was modelling for 5-6 different top brands and 8-10 other
brands. “This is maximum number of advertisements for an
actor.”
His son, an IT engineer, signed as a hero after working in an
industry for a brief period. He started liking direction. He
also produced few short films.
Milind’s wife Rani too was an actress but quit acting after
marriage. She hosted some cookery shows on television.
Spiritual Journey
The actor is deeply into meditation and can share lot of
knowledge on spirituality. It all percolates down from his
ancestors.
“My ancestors wrote Gita Rahasya. The first biography of
Saibaba was written by my great, great, great grandfather
which is the property of Sai Sansthan now. I was fascinated
by Gajanan Maharaj. I am into meditation. Once in a year, I
visit Shirdi. I am an explorer. Now, I am also getting into
astrology. I was with late Bhaiyyu Maharaj for some time. I
was trying to learn as much as possible. I wrote a book on
basic meditation. I learnt Maharshi Mahesh Yogi’s
transcendental meditation (TM). Becoming thoughtless and
TM are different, but the goal is the same. Some focus on
breath and stop the thoughts. I can go into this stage,” he
shared.
In the future, he would like to come out of this material
world and do something good for nature, wildlife and
tourism.
I TREKKED MOST OF THE
AND
MOUNTAINS CLICKED
PHOTOGRAPHS IN
,
DIFFERENT SEASONS
SUNSET AND SUNRISE. I WAS
A ALSO
GREAT READER
“
“
“
“

I want to carve
my own path.
I want to create
my own legacy.
And I want to
honour my parents
with my legacy
“
“
Abhinay Berde
APRIL 2021 | 14 | www.insightssuccess.in

Stepping into the world where your parents have already
created milestones brings both opportunities as well as
challenges. Not everyone can stand up to those challenges
or make their mark. But Abhinay Berde, among the rising
stars of the Marathi film industry, has left his mark with his
first Marathi film and he plans to keep doing so with every
kind of role he will be portraying whether it is the main
lead, a romantic hero, or a villain. Abhinay firmly believes
in versatility and creating films that are entertaining with
the characters and the situations that truly resonate with the
audience.
For our latest edition of Insights Success, we got Abhinay
Berde candid about his journey as an actor, how he entered
the Marathi film, and his goals for himself as well as to be
instrumental in reviving the golden era of the Marathi film
industry. Read on to know more about Abhinay Berde and
his exciting journey so far and to be continued.
What was your inspiration behind becoming an actor?
As a kid, I have always dreamt of becoming an actor even
before I knew anything about my parents’ work in the
industry. Films have had a huge influence on me not only
during my childhood but even on my journey as an actor.
For me, it was never about just being an actor, it is also
about making good films and entertaining the audience. I
always wanted to become an actor, cinema has been my
passion, and if my parents were not in the acting field, I
would still have chosen to be an actor.
You said you want to make good films. What drives you
more – acting or direction? Do you see yourself in a
director’s role in the future?
I recently directed a short film, which was a small stepping-
stone for me in the field of direction. I think acting and
telling a story go hand in hand. These two complement each
other. The actors convey the story to an audience that the
writer wrote, and the director has directed.
I believe as an actor you need to know how to tell a story.
People should be convinced by the story you are telling or
the role you are portraying.
How did the work of your parents – Priya Berde and
late Mr. Laxmikant Berde – influenced you and helped
you shape as an actor?
Their work taught me to be different. I realized early on I
didn’t want to follow the same path as my parents as an
actor. Both my parents created their style and it suited them
and their time well. My style of entertaining people is
different. I admire my parents as actors. My father had
played fantastic roles and characters throughout his career.
He took the entertainment to another level. Both my parents
have inspired me with their hard work. One important thing
I have learned from both my parents is to be different. I
want to make something different from what my parents
did.
How were you offered a role in your first Marathi film
‘Ti Sadhya Kay Karte’?
I was doing theatre at that time. I was working in
Intercollege Drama Team at Mithibai College, Mumbai. We
performed in one of the reputed competitions held under the
Mumbai University. Students from all over Maharashtra
had come to compete. Also, renowned directors and
producers have been attending these inter-college competi-
tions and events in search of fresh talents. Our play won the
gold medal, and I won the Best Actor award for the play
that year.
Abhinay
Berde
A Versatile Persona
Ambitious to Carve
a Legacy

During that time Satish Rajwade who has directed my first
film Ti Sadhya Kay Karte, came to know about my work in
Marathi theatre and that I was doing well. So, he
approached my mom with this film offer. I was a little
sceptical about taking the offer as I hadn’t completed my
graduation yet. But Satish Rajwade encouraged me to at
least listen to the script. I liked the script and the role I was
offered. So, I decided to take this opportunity.
And I liked the way I was going to be launched, which was
different from how every rising star is been launched today
with a romantic and stylish persona around them. I didn’t
want to be launched like that and I am glad that I didn’t. I
liked that my debut role was a boy-next-door. The film was
the blockbuster of the year and I won several awards for the
film as a debut actor. This has encouraged me more to keep
learning to be a better actor and performer.
You have had a glimpse of both worlds – Marathi
theatre and films. So, what drives you more – theatre or
films?
I haven’t been able to work in theatre since after I com-
pleted graduation. I am desperate about working in theatre
again. If someone offers me a script tomorrow, I will start
rehearsing the next day. What drives me more is that the
theatre polishes you as an actor and working in films has
always been my dream.
So, I want to keep working in both mediums, I want to
improve myself as an actor. And I want to do different roles,
be it the main lead, a romantic hero, or a villain. I am a firm
believer in versatility, and I would like to do everything that
will come my way.
Do you have any dream roles? Is there a certain role you
want to be offered?
I am drawn towards negative characters or characters with
grey shade. Maybe it’s because I am a Scorpion. But I think
grey-shade characters attract me more because no one in the
real world is black and white. Everyone has a hero as well
as a villain in them.
I would love to explore these characters on-screen. I like to
do action sequences. In my upcoming film, I’ve done a
small action scene and I loved shooting it. I loved the rush,
the energy, and the style that is required for the main lead to
perform an action sequence. I would love to do an extended
action sequence; I would love to do a musical as well.
Basically, I want to do films that I grew up admiring.
As a rising star of the Marathi films, how do you think
the perspective of the audience has changed over the
years towards Marathi films?
I feel that somehow Marathi audience has moved away
from Marathi cinema. Sure, people are more supportive
through other platforms such as sharing and commenting on
videos on social media or showing their support and
appreciation by watching reality shows where we promote
our films.
But in the end, something stands in between Marathi films
and their audience, which is why the audience is not
When you convince
and convey that
you are different
that is the time
when you actually
shine out
“
“

coming to the theatres. I think the entire
industry should collectively search for the
reasons. People spend their money to watch
films in theatre and they deserve the kind of
entertainment they ask for. And as a part of this
industry, it’s our job to deliver that kind of
entertainment to make the audience happy.
Another factor why the audience loved certain
Marathi films like Sairat, Duniyadari,
Timepass, and Ti Sadhya Kay Karte was the
entertainment factor and the relatability. People
could relate to the characters or the situations
that were portrayed in these and more such
films. These films depicted the reality or a part
of it that resonated the real-life society. That’s
why these films did well in terms of business as
well as popularity even after.
As directors and writers, artists have complete
freedom to tell the stories in whichever way
they want. But for the entire industry to work
we should also consider what our audience
expects from us. The whole industry needs to
work together to bring the audience back to the
theatre.
The Marathi film industry has so much talent
that it could put us on the map. We need to
explore what is working for us. We need to
motivate that talent to come forth and shine
through. The entire Marathi industry has so
much love and acceptance within. I feel
gratitude for working here. I want to do
something for the audience and the Marathi film
industry through my work as an actor.

T
he love for food is in their
bloodline. So, when Arindra
Saha came back to his
hometown in Kolkata after
completing his degree in business
management, it was but natural for
him to try his hand at satiating the
gastronomic delights of the food-
loving Kolkata.
He started Sobar Café which in
Bengali means Everyone’s Café and
true to its name, the café serves
platter that is appealing to everyone
as per their choice of food. We got
the opportunity to steal some time
with the restaurateur to learn about
his venture into the food business
and what makes his food joints a hit
among the food connoisseurs.
Please tell us about yourself
I am a true-blue Bengali who grew
up in Kolkata and lived most of my
Sobar
Café
The Café for Everyone

life here, barring the brief
relocation to Mumbai where I had
gone to pursue my MBA from
Whistling Woods International.
I did my schooling from a premier
institute in Kolkata - St. James
School, post which I graduated
with a degree in Commerce from
Bhawanipore College, Kolkata.
Whistling Woods International
happened right after that and I
learnt that doing what you “love”
is probably the single most
important thing in life.
How did you venture into the
restaurant business?
Going back a little, my paternal
grandfather owned a restaurant in
Bangladesh (my father migrated
to India in 1971). I believe it had
always been in my blood – I had
always harboured dreams of being
the restaurateur. Why? Because I
love to eat, I love to feed, and I
love cooking. My favourite
pastime is watching cooking
shows and learning about cuisines
from all around the world. Not
ﬁbbing, no.
When I came back to my
hometown after my MBA, the
only thing that I could think of
doing was giving shape to my
dream, and so I did, without any
delay. I did not face as many
hurdles as others would do, for
which I have only my parents to
thank.
Please elaborate about your
restaurants and the cuisine
offered.
Today, I am the owner of three
restaurants in my city – Café
Aamar Kolkata, Tandoor Box, and
C for Chinese. My ﬁrst baby - Café
Aamar Kolkata (translation: My
Kolkata) is a tribute to my
hometown, cherishing the love I
have for Bengali cuisine. It gives me
immense joy to say that it would
turn three this April. I succeeded in
making my dream come true.
Tandoor Box, my second baby, is
comparatively new. Its journey
started only in 2019. The cuisine it
serves is self-explanatory. C for
Chinese is a dark kitchen and it
operates from Café Aamar Kolkata
itself.
What is your mantra for success?
Three years in this industry (forever
to go, of course!), and I have learnt
that following WWI’s mantra of
doing what you love was the best
thing I did.
Versatile Personas to Watch

Nishigandha Wad, a renowned name in Marathi
films and TV industry. Some might remember her
from Marathi films Shejari Shejari and
Gruhpravesh, some might recognize her from Bollywood
films Wazir and Race 3, while the TV audience knows her
from the popular Hindi TV shows Sasural Simar Ka and
Chehra. But her work has gone far and beyond the
entertainment industry. She is not only known for gracing
the screen with her powerful performances, but also for
supporting the social causes with equal zeal.
Nishigandha runs a trust initiating a success journey for
failed students helping them hone their skills required to set
a foot in their fields of interest. She has been working
alongside like-minded people to help women affected by
domestic violence.
When asked more about her social work, she mentioned
collaborations with MMRDA, projects with Bombay Port
Trust sanctioned by TISS. This has been her dream, to
crossover and dedicating her life to social cause.
While taking joy in supporting social causes, pursuing her
passion, and making mark in the field of acting,
Nishigandha Wad has been also taking further her family
legacy of education with now pursuing her third doctorate.
Read on further to get a sneak-peek at Nishigandha Wad’s
behind-the-screen story.
Glimpse of a journey in Passion and Education
At the age of 11, Nishigandha Wad received a national
scholarship for dramatics by the National Cultural Talent
Search Board. This encouraged her to hone her passion for
acting. She started training to be an actor.
While training to be an actor at the veteran Sulabha
Deshpande’s acting school Avishkar, Nishigandha entered
the Marathi theatre alongside the renowned actor Amol
Palekar at the age of 14. It was the rising era for Marathi
TV industry when Nishigandha was offered her first
th
Marathi serial while she was pursuing her 12 grade in Arts.
Recalling her early days in the Marathi entertainment
industry Nishigandha said, “My TV show written by
Jaywant Dalvi and directed by Atmaram Bhende became
superhit. It earned me recognition in the industry. I set foot
into films during my BA. Then there was no looking back.”
In her 30 years of acting career, Nishigandha got unique
experiences while creating milestones along the way. Some
of her eminent work includes the hit show Dastaan (1995-
96) that aired on Zee Arabia and Zee TV. The show required
the cast and crew to shoot in Dubai for over two years.
Nishigandha recalls few of her earlier work – Hrishikesh
Mukharjee’s Choti Bahu and Noke Jhok. This was her entry
in the Hindi TV industry. “And the work just kept coming,”
she said.
Nishigandha Wad
An Esteemed Persona in Entertainment and Beyond

can’t use their complete potential or hone their talent
because it is not required in marriage.” She says, “When
even a plant kept near the window shows its true nature and
grows in the direction of sunlight, then why should women
keep their talents and dreams in the corner like a bonsai
just to decorate a home? Women also have the right to
nurture their talents and achieve their dreams.”
While strongly putting forth her opinions about women
empowerment Nishigandha talked about her third doctorate
she is currently pursuing in the field of Marathi literature on
seven books of independent poetry by veteran Shantabai
Shelke.
From facing challenges to making mark
"I want to do something splendid before I go into my castle,
something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after
I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it, and
mean to astonish you all someday." Just like Jo March from
Little Women, Nishigandha Wad as well has astonished the
generations with her eminent persona on-screen.
When
you
age
gracefully,
you
keep
growing
gracefully
“
“
While making mark as an actor, Nishigandha managed to
devote her time for studies as well. “My mother was a
teacher and now a veteran writer. My father was in army
and he is the recipient of Raksha Chakra by the hands of
the honorable President.” The support from her family
further encouraged her to continue her study, enough to
pursue three doctorates.
“I have completed my first doctorate in 2003 under the
head of department of history Dr. Varsha Shirgaonkar for
the topic Changing role of women in society reflection from
British and Marathi Creators from 1970 to 2000”
Nishigandha shared.
“I pursued my second doctorate 2013 on women
empowerment – comparison between women in different
patience of life – the rich and the poor, uneducated and
educated.”
While elaborating her point further about importance and
resonance of these subjects today, Nishigandha Wad
depicted a beautiful quote. “Many educated women today
Nishigandha Wad

But this success hasn’t come easily to her. “Training at an
acting school under the legendary Satyadev Dubey, Arvind
Deshpande, Sulabha Deshpande, and Jaydev Hattangadi
was another thing.” Nishigandha said, "But when I first set
foot alongside veterans in professional Marathi theatre it
took me a long time to see myself from my soul sight. Like
any other freshman, I was grasped with worries about what
others and the audience will think about me.” “But ease
comes with experience.” She advised.
Not only in the acting school or while working in theatre or
films, but a true artist is nurtured outside as well. The
stories they read, hear, and live have a huge impact on how
the actor is shaped, how strong their roots become. Talking
about which, Nishigandha shared fond memories of her
childhood, “I grew up listening to the stories of legends like
Geeta Bali and Meena Kumari from Kidar Sharma who was
my uncle’s neighbor.”
The stories and immense struggles of these legends and the
hard work they put to reach the levels inspired Nishigandha
to focus on her roots and strive for excellence from early
age. “When you reach deep within oneself you realize the
roots are so deep, in thoughts, efforts, and endeavors.” She
believes, “When the roots are deep, you aim for skies.”
Gracefully managing professional and personal fronts
While climbing the upward graph in the acting career and
pursuing doctorate alongside how has Nishigandha Wad
managed to maintain healthy work-life balance? We were
curious to know.
To this she answered, “faith I have in myself and the
potential I feel the god has graced me with I should be
honest to that. That honesty has helped me to balance. I
know I can do so much, and I cannot go further than this.”
Setting boundaries is important and the renowned actor has
recited this for younger generation.
“That’s how I’ve been managing it all.” She said, “Be it my
studies, my career, giving time to family and reserving some
more for my daughter, to take interest in her interests, and
to see how I can be instrumental to her achieving her

Authored 9 published books,
3 of which have won the
prestigious State awards.
Worked in 160 films,
TV serials, and still counting.
AWARDS AND ACCLAIMS
dreams. As a mother, it comes natural to me.”
Nishigandha shared a secret of balancing professional and
personal life. “Do things that give you happiness.” She
said, “The definition of you includes yourself, your family,
your passion and that’s how you can allocate time. That’s
how balancing comes easily to you.”
Advice for the aspirants
“Mutability is apt definition of life”, Nishigandha said,
when asked about advising the aspiring actors, “Change is
inevitable, and my generation has experienced plenty of it
whether it is technological or social. The opportunities
were not many in my time.” She said, “But digital
revolution has made the world borderless today. It has
created whole new opportunities for the younger generation
but with it, nature of struggle has also changed for them.”
“Today’s generation is bombarded with information, but
how much of information is translated into wisdom is for
today’s generation to introspect. Introspection is so
important along with observation and imitation even for
acting.”
Wise words on parenthood
As Nishigandha discussed the differences between the two
generations - millennials and their parents, we got her
further share her views and opinions about the burning
issue of generation gap.
“Parents, family, siblings; people who love each other, have
to care for each other. Look out if your child or siblings or
friends are going the wrong way.” She explained.
She also addressed the younger generation, “Once you
reach the skies, don’t forget the relations where you started
from. Your parents will never mention it, but they do need
you, may be not financially but more morally and
emotionally.”
“Young generation today as impressed by the western
culture, wants to branch out early.” She ended the
interview with this beautiful thought, “But whenever
earning child take that step, start saving some amount for
your parents’old age, as they at some point had made
deposits for you.”

In order to stay ahead in the game and to establish
themselves as the top players, businesses have to
follow the latest standards. They must become flexible
and adaptable throughout all levels of workforce hierarchy.
Successful businesses should opt for cultivating versatility
among their workforce so as to achieve the desired
objectives.
Versatility is Essential
Experienced entrepreneurs have sufficient knowledge about
the importance of versatility in a business. However,
sometimes they tend to overlook various important nuances
that come with it.
In business terms, versatility means learning and excelling
new ideas and concepts, being able to work independently
or as a team, juggling between multiple projects, and
handling difficult situations tactfully.
A versatile leader has the ability and is willing to adapt to
different situations. This determines their level of flexibility
and possibly the heights they will achieve in the future.
For further information, let us look at the methods of
promoting versatility in a business:
Taking the Creative Route
Entrepreneurs should encourage their employees to explore
different avenues, which nurture their creativity. This will
help them to achieve their goals with a new mindset. Some
people may be used to the same tried-and-tested methods.
They will possess reduced versatility and will resist change.
This will call for extra time and efforts from the
management to motivate them and help them in achieving
versatile work approaches.
Embracing the Uncertain
Companies should make sure that they encourage an
environment where change is embraced, and employees are
trained to be prepared for any uncertain circumstance. It is
important for the companies to allow their employees to be
versatile and innovate at the face of uncertainty. They
should motivate employees to build a positive mindset and
come up with new ways of tackling situations.
Exerting Emotional Intelligence
To promote versatility in a business, entrepreneurs should
nurture self-management skills among the employees.
Allowing employees to pursue self-management skills
courses will help them to regulate their emotional
intelligence and control and filter their emotions in a
constructive manner. This will help them to easily adapt
with new teams and teammates, working environments, and
to develop a healthy rapport with the colleagues.
Maintaining Focus with Efficiency
It is of utmost importance to maintain or shift focus in
How to Promote
VERSATILITY
inBUSINESS

Get Creative
accordance with an organization’s changing priorities. This
assists in indicating higher levels of adaptability and
flexibility in employees. Companies can achieve better
results by consistently focusing on individual and team-
based operational goals. Furthermore, they can use creative
and critical thinking processes to solve challenges. This
plays a critical role in dynamic environments.
The above-mentioned methods can play a significant role in
building a versatile business. Emerging leaders can employ
these methods to reap better results. However, they should
nurture these traits at an organizational level and should
outline their approach properly. This will help them to form
a quantitative plan to increase change tolerance levels in the
company.
Achieving versatility in any business can reap various
benefits. However, it should be done in the right way, by
following strict measures and with a firm vision. A carefully
crafted plan with equally efficient execution can lead to
better results.
- Ananda Kamal Das

From her first released Marathi blockbuster Ashi Hi
Banwa Banwi to the latest sports drama Chal Dhar
Pakad, Priya Berde has portrayed versatile roles
on-screen. Her bold presence is what gives an edge to every
character she has played.
From maintaining a family legacy and making a mark in the
Marathi film industry to take on the challenge to start the
second innings of her career while being a single mother
wasn't easy. "But it comes from within," Priya says, "And I
believe every woman has the confidence to face difficult
situations alone, she only has to recognize." This
determination of hers has helped her throughout her life in
glamour and beyond. As a French merchant Jacques Coeur
had said, "For a valiant heart, nothing is impossible.”
The following interview with Priya Berde gives you a sneak
peek of her behind-the-screen persona. Keep on reading to
know about her journey in Marathi cinema, her views on
how women can manage work-life balance, and about the
biopic of legendary actor Laxmikant Berde.
What was yourinspirationbehind becomingan actor?
I entered the industry as a dubbing artist at the age of eight.
I was fortunate to be nourished and nurtured as an artist in
the presence of industry veterans at an early age. My father
Arun Karnataki was a director, and my mother Lata Arun
was a legendary theatre artist. Coming from a family of
legends such as Bhalji Pendharkar and V. Shantaram was a
blessing and a huge responsibility at the same time. And the
audience and my fans have played a huge part in me
maintain that family legacy and continue to live my passion
for the cinema for over 40 years.
From Marathi theatre to films, you have left a huge
mark in the Marathi entertainment industry. Please tell
us about your journey of entering the Marathi film
industry.
I was shooting an ad for Vaishali Ghanekar. At the same
time her brother Girish Ghanekar, renowned film director
was searching for a fresh face with rural innocence for his
next film Rangat Sangat. That's how they came to know
about me, and I was cast in my first Marathi film. Later I
got Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi, which became a hit. And then
there was no looking back.
I recollect the fond memories of my first few films
including Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi and Hum Aapke Hai Kaun.
The industry has become more professional now but back
then it used to feel more snug and homely. We used to
mingle and chat during breaks and even play cricket on
sets. I had a similar experience while shooting Hum Aapke
Hai Kaun as not only most of the cast but the crew
members from a spot boy to Make-up artists were Marathi-
speaking. It created a comfortable and cordial environment
on sets.
During my decades of presence in the industry what I like
more about my work is the happy surprises. Every day
brings new experiences, we get to meet and interact with
different artists and technicians for different projects.
You have shown versatility through your on-screen
roles, especially in the second innings of your career.
What is your opinion about the change in the Marathi
entertainment industry and its audience?
I have experienced a massive change in the films today
from budget and stories to film promotions and most
importantly the audience's taste. Their interest is shifted
from emotional films to more entertainment-rich content
today. So, I as an actor have gotten a chance to portray
grey-shade characters in the second innings of my career.
Priya Berde
Valiant Persona On-Screen and Beyond

Once you step out
every woman has
to deal with the situations
on her own. If women see
that way from the start,
they will feel stronger and more
confident to be the sole support
of their family
“
“
My characters in Natarang, Jogwa, Full-3-Dhamaal,
and Chal Dhar Pakad have been very well
appreciated by the audience.
And I like to play roles I can give justice to, which is
why I have been enjoying playing these roles. And
people will get to see more of it in my upcoming
movies.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has tested
individuals and industries around the world
including the entertainment industry. How has
been Marathi entertainment industry dealing with
the current pandemic situation?
Developing and maintaining hygiene safety habits
outside is essential. And artists must learn to maintain
it outdoor and at shoot locations. COVID-19
pandemic has been there for over a year now and the
entertainment industry, just like any other industry,
has been hit hard by the side effects of lockdown.
Many artists were unemployed and are still struggling
to make the ends meet. So, when the first lockdown
was imposed in 2020, we took steps to help these
artists to survive by distributing essentials to the
industry and theatre artists.
Now that the government is slowly removing the
lockdown restrictions this is the time to move
forward with care and conscious efforts. We can't stay
locked in our homes due to the fear of contamination.
Following precaution is a must for everyone to take
the industry forward and out of the COVID shadow.
And I am glad that many production houses,
organizers, and artists have started taking precautions
by themselves. Wearing masks, regular sanitization,
and maintaining social distance have been our routine
on sets and play rehearsals. We also request the
audience after plays to avoid coming backstage.
While this might offend some people, but this is
necessary during these trying times. Today, not hugs
but keeping distance is the only way to show your
care and affection towards your co-artists and fans.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put the
entertainment in restrictions with theatres opening
with less capacity. As a veteran actor, how do you
see the future of the Marathi Industry post the
pandemic?
Due to the uncertainty of the current situation, we
Priya Berde

can't say how long it will take for the industry to return to
its full-fledged glory. As of now, the government has
allowed theatres and multiplexes to open with 50%
capacity. And we are receiving good response or films as
well as plays from the audience even in this difficult
situation which is a sliver of hope.
The support and affection from the audience have been
encouraging us to do our work with more passion and
diligence. And we are doing so by raising the curtains of
Marathi theatre in 2021. We are set to open 'Dhananjay
Mane Ithech Rahtat', the first Marathi play in 2021 which is
a huge step during this uncertain time. But we have to keep
experimenting to attract Marathi audience to the theatre.
Such risks will also motivate the industry to return to the
work with confidence.
With the hectic schedule of shooting how have you been
maintainingthe work-lifebalance?
After I got married and had kids I chose to stay back at
home. But after my husband and actor Laxmikant Berde's
unfortunate demise I decided to return to work. At that time
Director Kedar Shinde was making a film Jatra and he
asked me if I was interested in playing a role in it, and I
said yes. That's how I returned to Marathi cinema and
started the second innings of my career.
As for work-life balance, I think every woman has her
struggles. There are thousands of women who have been
single working mothers and have to face difficult situations
every day. But I believe you can't choose between your
work and life, rather you shouldn't. Women should be able
to find a balance between both, and they can. Because you
never know what situations you might have to face ahead
and it's your financial independence that will give you more
confidence and courage to deal with difficult situations or
societal elements.
And I believe every woman has in it. It comes naturally to
us, being emotionally strong, and everything else you learn
from your experiences and mistakes and apply what you
learned to make better decisions for yourself and your
family.
One thing I would like to highlight here is that our
perception of a woman as a society. People or rather women
themselves think they are left without strong support to deal
with life struggles and stares of society only after the death
of their parents or husband. But I believe once you step a
foot outside your home you are alone. Your parents,
siblings, friends, or husband don't accompany you to class
or work.
Once you step out of your home every woman has to deal
with the situations on her own. If women see that way from
the start, they will feel stronger and more confident to be
the sole support of their family.
Please share your future projects with us. Where would
yourfans getto seeyou next?
I am at a stage in my career when I would rather choose a
role that is in my comfort zone. And the character I am
playing in my next play was something I have aspired to do
in theatre for a long.
We are also working on late Mr. Laxmikant Berde's biopic.
As much as it is exciting for us, there's also a huge
responsibility considering the magic of his characters and
films that still remains on the audience. We are being more
careful to give justice to his story on and off-screen without
hurting his fans' emotions. If everything goes well, we will
be releasing the biopic at the end of 2022 or early 2023 for
the audience to relive those fond memories again.
I am also working on taking my production house to the
next level. I am focusing on bringing diverse stories to life
under our banner giving chance to the young and aspiring
talent in the industry.
What advice would you give to the aspiring Marathi
actors?
Due to the reality shows and social media, young aspirants
are getting early recognition and opportunities to show their
talent. But it's the experience and technique along with
talent that nurtures the artist within. So, I would advise
aspiring actors to get as much experience as they can before
they leap to enter the film industry. Try taking part in
college-level competitions, ad films, or any other mediums
where you get experience and learn techniques.
I would also like to take this chance to caution these
youngsters aspiring to enter the entertainment industry. Not
everyone enjoys success here and should be prepared for
the failures. One should always have a plan B; in case you
can't make anything fruitful out of your hardships in the
entertainment industry. But never lose hope and zest of life.
There's always something you can do better.

A Captivating Artist with the
Roots of Promising Talent
Marathi theatre has always been accounted for
its most culturally rich theatre traditions in the
country. Marathi theatre had been exclusively
represented by the folk forms for ages and since then it has
unfolded and evolved into various successful movies with
interesting stories and scripts. The first movie that was ever
made in India was in Marathi - Raja Harishchandra which
was made by Dadashaheb Phalke in 1913.
Mumbai - the land of entertainment and commercial capital,
has given us a mixture of talented artists that are ruling our
hearts with their stunning performance. It is where the seeds
of Marathi theatre were sown for the professional artist
which has now reached a wider audience and is not limited
to the regional crowd. When talking about the market of
Marathi movies, within a narrowed budget, they have
grown larger with a better return on investment compared to
their equivalents.
From comedy to romance, Marathi movies have marked
their names not just in the regional film industry but also in
Bollywood by giving multiple blockbuster movies to the
industry.
Priyadarshan Jadhav - Actor, Director, and Screen-
writer is an acclaimed personality in the Marathi film
industry. Inclined at an early age into acting, he stepped into
D. G. Ruparel College to become a proficient artist. Well-
known for his roles in Timepass 2 as Dagadu, along with
screenplay writer for Timepass, Priyadarshan received huge
applause from the audience and the Marathi industry.
Making his first acting debut in Vijay Aso, he played
distinct roles in various movies that proved he is a brilliant
actor. In addition to acting, he also endeavored his passion
in directing movies and thereafter become associated
director of Hapus which got released in 2010. He enter-
tained his audience with comic roles - Jay Maharashtra
Dhaba Bhatinda and later won the award of the best
supporting actor in 2017 for Halal.
Here are the highlights from the interview where
Priyadarshan has taken us through the journey towards
becoming a skilled performer.
Brief us about your professional journey in the Marathi
Entertainment industry
I came to Mumbai in 1997 and joined D. G. Ruparel
College to gain expertise in theatrical performance. It’s the
college where I initially received admiration on my talent
that I have the caliber to act and the potential to work in

The AUDIENCE
will SUPPORT
a MOVIE
if it is MOUNTED
and PROMOTED
in a GOOD WAY
“
“
Actor, Director & Screenwriter

showbiz. Primarily I was doing lights, background music,
and sets; and therefore getting praised for my work in
college plays was like an achievement for a small-town boy
who stepped his foot in the terrene of entertainment. In
2006, I wrote my first commercial “Jago Mohan Pyare”
which was a huge hit and thereafter got underway with “Fu
Bai Fu” – A Marathi-based comedy show which aired on
Zee Marathi in 2011. My journey elevated when I started
directing my own movies from 2016.
How has been your experience as a screenwriter?
As a screenwriter, the first and foremost thing to do is to
read, observe and write a lot. It is important to develop your
skills as a writer and express your words easily, at the same
time understand it in a way that is more focused towards the
commercial aspect of the film. We need to balance the way
we write because it’s important to know how the film is
shaping. Finally, the whole process of writing is ultimately
connected to rewriting as various questions and doubts are
raised and it then becomes essential to revisit the whole
draft as per our niche audience. Rewriting is a challenging
task when the time is limited but at the same time it helps in
focusing on what we are doing and for whom we are doing
it. I also find it quite helpful to receive genuine reviews
from my well-wishers and friends as it further assists me to
shift my one-way direction and dimension.
Throughout your professional journey, what kind of
challenges have you faced?
Being an actor, writer, and director, I have gone through a
lot of challenges and my biggest hardship was to crack the
first movie that I have directed with a minimal budget. With
changing lifestyles and technology, it’s challenging to make
the audience stay with the stories and characters. Today’s
crowd prefers to watch realistic movies and web series
which are trending now the most, and therefore with
changing times and cultural differences it becomes
significant to treasure the audience with what they are
looking for.
What do you think about making thrilling Horror
Movies in Marathi?
Our culture is more curved towards plays and theatre as
compared to movies and despite being a profitable genre,
horror movies are among the highest-risk group with a
budget that is expensive to work with. The elements and
effects required in making a horror movie are sky-high
which makes it unsustainable to craft a movie within a
desired budget.
What advice would you give to the budding actors and
writers?
I have met with various young aspirers who are looking to
make a career in acting, writing, and directing – and what I
realized is that they instantly jump to the conclusion
without understanding the different medium and
mechanism. I would advise them to read and write a lot,
have observational and interpersonal skills, listen to the
interviews that are available on YouTube and other social
media. This would definitely help them with the insight to
look at the medium in a very objective way. I would
recommend watching movies multiple times with different
perspectives – camera, sound effect, acting, screenplay,
VFX, music, and many more to get a fair amount of
confidence and understanding. It’s essential to grab the
technique and tactics on how a movie is created rather than
assuming the procedure. One need to guide other artists and
collaborate with the same approach so that the movie has
less possibility of mishap.
Where do you envision yourself to be in the long run
and what are your future goals?
My future goals are very specific, I want to do multilingual
movies, and I want to understand the sensibility of the
different states their culture, and their stories. If an
opportunity knocks on my door then I will also take an
active part in making Hollywood movies. On the whole, the
plan is to entertain the audience with good stories and
characters, and I will continue to keep doing this till the
very end.
We need to get this thing out of our mind that we are doing
only regional films; we need to take this jinx out of our
mind. No matter what the movie is, it should appeal to the
world with a wide audience. We have to spread our wings
and present our work to a different world and genre rather
than restricted to our regional language.

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S
ome individuals are driven to
achieve greatness. They are
dedicated towards their craft and
leave no stone unturned to improve
themselves and make a mark in the
industry and the society. They are goal
driven and believe in inspiring others
to attain their dreams.
These personalities believe in
themselves and have a positive
perspective towards things. One such
pragmatic personality who has made a
major impact in the Marathi and Indian
film industry is none other than
Sanskruti Balgude. She is a renowned
actress, who has inspired the audience
through her impressive performances.
Ms. Sanskruti started her acting
journey with the serial, Pinjara. Since
her debut, she has not looked back and
aims to attain numerous landmarks as
an actress.
Experience of Acting in Films
Ms. Sanskruti states that her initial
experience of acting in films was
intimidating. She feels that daily soap
acting is entirely different from acting
in films. She has always been a fan of
the subtle form of acting and has tried
to incorporate it whenever she
performed.
In her debut film, Sangto Aika, Ms.
Sanskruti acted alongside the veteran
actor, Sachin Pilgaonkar, and the film
was directed by Satish Rajwade.
Hence, it was a nerve-racking
experience for her to act alongside such
legends of Marathi film industry in her
first project.
She states, “Mr. Sachin Pilgaonkar is a
veteran. Standing in front of him and
saying a single dialogue is a very big
deal. Moreover, Mr. Satish Rajwade
was directing the film. Hence, working
with them was an amazing experience.”
Ms. Sanskruti states that it is a special
feeling when one sees themselves on
the big screen. It gives a larger-than-
life experience. She says that when she
was shooting for the first film, she had
an extremely stressful experience. “I
understand that when you enter into a
new profession or start something new,
there is always performance pressure
and things are challenging. However,
once you learn skills, things tend to get
easier,” adds Ms. Sanskruti.
Opinions about the Film Industry
Ms. Sanskruti believes that the film
industry has made a massive impact.
The Hindi film industry is delivering
great content. She states, “These days,
Hindi films are focusing on women
empowerment and this change is
commendable”. She believes that Vidya
Balan did an excellent job in upholding
the concept of women empowerment in
various films, and the legacy is being
carried forward by many other
actresses.
She feels proud of the fact that women
actors are being nurtured; they are
training hard, improving themselves,
and are coming out strong. Ms.
Sanskruti is happy about the fact that
many films and shows are nowadays
establishing female protagonists.
However, she feels that the Marathi
film industry is lacking in this aspect.
Although, she feels proud of many
female actors who taking up the
challenge and trying to revolutionize
the industry.
Ms. Sanskruti is also concerned about
the quality of Bollywood songs which
are gradually degrading. She says,
“Every week, a new song releases,
which stays with you for a very short
span of time until another song
debuts.” Songs releasing nowadays do
not have longevity; they are forgotten
easily. The lyrics are very commercial
and lack the desired appeal. However,
Ms. Sanskruti also opines that some
Bollywood songs are exceptionally
Sanskruti
A Dedicated Actor Passionate about
the Crafts of Cinema and Acting

Sanskruti Balgude
Actress

Advice for the Budding Generation
Ms. Sanskruti believes that today’s
generation of content creators, writers,
actors, and so on get influenced quickly
by social media. She advises the gen
next not to believe in everything they
see or listen in social media because all
of them might not be true. She says
that social media is interesting, but it
distracts us. Many youngsters do not
even comprehend that social media is
slowly pulling them towards the cycle
of depression and anxiety. They seldom
realize this because they are influenced
by the glitz and glamour of social
media.
She believes that as a social media
influencer, it is her responsibility to
inspire the audience to do something
good. Ms. Sanskruti advises the
youngsters to use social media for
good purposes and to learn positive
things.
Ms. Sanskruti states that we live in a
generation where numerous platforms
are available to explore one’s potential
and learn new things. She advises the
up-and-coming young talents to
concentrate on what they want to
become. In her opinion, social media is
a platform to promote oneself or their
businesses, and to stay in touch with
the public.
Ms. Sanskruti states, “People think
becoming an actor or an actress is the
easiest job, but it is not”. She advises
the emerging artists to work hard and
master their craft. One cannot become
an actor or an efficient artist overnight.
It requires patience, dedication, and
hard work.
Future Vision
Speaking about her future plans, Ms.
Sanskruti states, “There are so many
things that we envision and everybody
wants to see themselves at the top,
which is a basic human need. I also
would love to do that and excel in my
endeavors”. However, she does not
plan things, rather adapts to situations
as they occur.
She says, “I do not know what is going
to happen in the future, however, I do
want to act in a biopic someday”. She
wants to represent a powerful woman
through a biopic. Ms. Sanskruti further
states, “My strongest desire is to work
on a biopic and have a biopic featured
on myself”.
good. She feels that there is a certain
balance between the quality of songs in
Bollywood.
Ms. Sanskruti adds that Bollywood
music today is affecting the younger
generation. They are being bombarded
with excessive rap songs and remixes
of classic songs. She feels that the
younger generation is being deprived
of the essence of quality songs which
released back in 2000s. Moreover, the
widespread of social media has given
an impetus to the popularity of remixed
songs.

I that
believe
the are
actresses
nurturing themselves
and delivering strong
performances

Siddh
andek
A Passionate Actor
Marathi Culture Cinema
Upholding in

Versatile personalities are
creative and have a knack to
achieve their goals by
overcoming difficult situations. They
never give up at the face of adversity
and take up every challenge as an
opportunity to learn and grow. These
people are a source of inspiration for
others because they leave no stone
unturned to transform their dreams into
reality.
One such dynamic personality with the
zeal to make an impact in Indian
cinema is Siddharth Chandekar. He
is a renowned figure and an excellent
actor of the Marathi film industry. In
this issue of Insights Success, lets join
Siddharth on his inspiring journey
towards excellence.
The Beginning of the Voyage
Initially, Siddharth did not have the
aspirations of becoming an actor.
Although he did some acting gigs in
his childhood, he was always
passionate about becoming a chef.
th
After completing his 12 standard,
Siddharth wanted to join a catering
college. However, life took a turn, and
he got an opportunity in his first
television serial, ‘Agnihotra’. After
working in the show, he realized the
vastness and beauty of acting and
decided to choose it as a mainline
career.
Challenges along the Way
Siddharth states that he did not face
major hardships throughout his career.
He was fortunate enough to work with
legendary actors such as Sharad
Ponkshe, Mohan Joshi, Vinay Apte,
and many more in the very first chance.
However, for Siddharth, the greatest
challenge was to live up to the
expectations of his mother and the
great actors he had worked with.
He states, “I was suddenly a star out of
nowhere because of this television
show. And I did not know that people
will start expecting something from me.
And they started, and that was the
challenge to live up to their
expectations”.
Siddharth states that he found two
films quite challenging. The first film
was Dusari Goshta, directed by
Chandrakant Kulkarni. It was an
unofficial biopic of the former home
minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde.
Siddharth played the role of Sushil
Kumar Shinde in that film. Hence, it
was a challenge for him to portray Mr
Shinde properly on the big screen.
The second challenge for Siddharth
was the film Gulabjam, as he had to act
alongside the legendary actress Sonali
Kulkarni. He found the film interesting
because he is a foodie and loves to
My dream
is to
role
do a ,
role
which will
be dream
for other
actors
“

cook. He states that
working with Sonali
Kulkarni was an excellent
experience because she
makes things easy for her
co-actors.
Opinions about Marathi
Theatre Culture
Siddharth believes that
Marathi theatre has always
been the most important
part in Marathi
entertainment industry. He
opines that even the most
talented actors of
Bollywood also have
experience in theatre, and
almost every Marathi actor
has done theatre. Siddharth is of the
opinion that theatre is the first school
for aspirants who want to pursue the
career of acting.
Speaking of Marathi theatre, he states
that it has always been growing and
evolving. However, Marathi films
attained prominence after the success
of ‘Shwaas’. Hence, by judging the
success of Shwaas, many producers
and directors started taking risks in the
film industry.
However, in theatre, every director is
always taking risks of handling
different topics ahead of its time.
Sometimes some topics were socially
connected, while others raised voice
against politics. Siddharth believes that
Marathi theatre has always been brave
in expressing the emotions. He feels
that it will keep on succeeding and will
make huge impact.
Upcoming Projects
Speaking about his future projects,
Siddharth states that he is doing a
Marathi television series known as
‘Saang tu ahes ka’. Apart from that, he
is also a part of an upcoming film
called ‘Jhimma’. It is a travel film
about a women’s only tour to London.
Siddharth is further associated with a
forthcoming romantic web series on
MX Player.
Advice for the Emerging Actors
Siddharth states that the film industry
is ever changing. One may be a
newcomer today but may turn into a
big star tomorrow. advises the young
actors to always stay honest. This will
help them to march forward towards
achieving their goals.
The only thing one can be forever in
the film industry is to be honest. If an
individual is honest with their work
and with themselves, then nobody can
stop them from making their dreams
come true.
He concludes by saying, “If you know
your positive and negative qualities,
then you can work upon them and reap
better results”.

Vidyadhar Joshi
Marathi entertainment industry,
Vidyadhar Joshi has created his own
space among the eminent talents in the
entertainment industry. In the latest
edition of Insights Success, we got an
opportunity to interview Vidyadhar
Joshi on his journey as an actor, his
opinions on the Marathi Bigg Boss
reality show, and practical advice every
aspiring actor must follow before
entering the industry.
Read on the following interview
to get an exciting sneak-peek
into the actor’s journey
and his experience in the
Marathi entertainment
industry as an insider.
What was your
inspiration behind
becoming an actor?
When I was working for
Rashtriya Chemicals and
Fertilizers, I used to participate in plays
during Ganesh Festivals. As our
company comes in the public sector, I
further got a chance to participate in
plays and other events for the All India
Public sector. From there I got a chance
to nurture and hone my passion for
acting. That was the start of my acting
career.
Success is not a destination, it’s a
journey of discovering your
passion and the efforts of being
better at it. This discovery of passion to
pursue as a career happens early and
easily to some, while others have to
take a longer route and discover the
opportunities in disguise. Taking part
in plays during Ganesh Festivals was
one such opportunity that brought out
the fine actor in Vidyadhar Joshi.
From then he started his journey
of being a professional
actor.
In 2004,
Vidyadhar Joshi
made his debut
with the Marathi film
‘Chakwa’. His on-
screen conviction
while portraying
Gosalia Builder in the
Marathi film ‘Me Shivajiraje
Bhosale Boltoy’was well-appreciated
by the audience. His work has not only
been appreciated by the audience but
acknowledged by the juries of the
Maharashtrian State Film Award by
awarding him with the Best Supporting
Actor for the film ‘Arjun’.
Today, fondly known as ‘Bappa’ in the
Portraying Effortless Roles, On and Off-Screen
A good actor
is unbarred of
time, language,
and region

As a versatile
actor, you have left
a mark in Marathi
theatre, TV, and Films. How
has working on these different
platforms changed your craft as an
actor?
Though the mediums are vastly
different, there isn’t much change in
craft. Understanding what my character
demands from me and portraying it
convincingly is a challenge. I try not to
get into certain dialects or mannerisms
for the role unless it’s necessary.
Because when I’m portraying a
character it should feel natural to the
role as well as the audience.
The script plays an important part for
any story to come to life and characters
to feel real. Then comes the director
who we can say works as the captain of
the ship who is responsible for taking
the ship or in our case a story in the
right direction. As an actor, knowing
and understanding the script well is
important, it helps you decide how you
will be bringing your character to life.
Bigg Boss has been a popular reality
show among TV audiences. Please
share your journey to Marathi Bigg
Boss and the experience inside the
house.
The experience was interesting and at
the same time enriching for me. When
the opportunity of participating in
Marathi Bigg Boss came to me, I was
unaware of the process or pursuit of the
show. But when the opportunity came
to me, I decided to take it as a
challenge. What I liked about the show
is that the team has designed it so well.
Your personalities and traits come out
differently when you are in a certain
situation. The tasks and games in-
house test you on different levels. You
don’t get these experiences in everyday
life. And I would say it’s not
everyone’s cup of tea.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has
tested individuals and industries
around the world including the
entertainment industry. How has
been Marathi entertainment
industry dealing with the current
pandemic situation?
The entertainment industry, like any
other industry, has been struggling with
the aftereffects of the COVID-19
pandemic. If anyone has been hit
harder by this pandemic in the industry,
they are the theatre artists and people
who work on daily and weekly wedges.
I with a few of my colleagues have
been contributing towards helping
them throughout the pandemic. We
built funds for 300 artists that were
being credited in their accounts for 8
months during the lockdown. We also
took the initiative to help other artists
receive their salaries which had been
pending with the production houses
due to some reasons.
However, with the multiplexes
reopening there has been a positive
vibe in the industry. People have
started shooting for films and TV
serials. Marathi theatre, however, will
take some time to revive as its soul
recites in the live audience.
Your current role in the popular
Marathi serial ‘Maza Hoshil Na’ has
been well-appreciated by the
audience. Please share your
experience of working in the show.
The interesting character arc and
different storyline encouraged me to
take this role in the first place. I am
glad that the audience is appreciating
our efforts of catering something
different to them. As for my experience
working with the unit, it has been
exciting and thrilling per se. I have
known few of cast members – Nikhil
Ratnaparkhi, Sunil Tawde, Vinay
Yedekar. Working with them again has
been fun.
I would also like to take this
opportunity to appreciate the efforts the
production house has taken to ensure
the safety of the entire cast and crew.
The oximeters are used to record the
temperature before entering the sets.
The production house has also
provided health insurance to artists and
crew members. The first 2-3 months
after the lockdown the management
arranged all the facilities for the entire
cast and crew to stay on-set while
ensuring the social distancing.
What advice would you give to the
aspiring Marathi actors?
My humble advice to every aspiring
BE PREPARED FOR
STRUGGLE
YOUR
PERIOD, BOTH
EMOTIONALLY
FINANCIALLY
AND

actor is, complete your education first.
Take part in plays and other renowned
competitions while pursuing your
education. Nowadays, directors and
producers from the entertainment
industry attend these events in search
of fresh talent, which gives you an
additional benefit of early exposure.
Your passion for reading and fitness are
the basic things an actor should focus
on. These qualities help you project
yourself as a better actor and
performer. Keep watching films, the
work actors from fellow as well as
other industries have been projecting.
Don’t imitate but observe and learn
what is considered good acting. A good
actor is unbarred of time, language, and
region.
Here is practical advice to those who
want to venture into the acting field
professionally, consider your financial
condition before entering the industry.
If you are financially responsible for
your family or dependents, try to get
the work that will earn you decent
money from day one. Be prepared for
your struggle period, both emotionally
and financially.
Social media has opened new avenues
to the younger generation. It’s smart to
use it to your advantage of getting
financial stability and exposure. While
doing so, focus on nurturing and
improving your talent and craft as an
actor. Your popularity on social media
might get you easy entry into the
entertainment industry. From then,
however, your talent and work have to
speak to create your identity in the
industry. Once you are out of sight, you
are out of mind, that’s the unsaid rule
of the industry. So, focus on getting
good work and making most of every
opportunity you get.
As an actor, how have been focusing
on your health and fitness, especially
during the COVID-19 pandemic?
What I like more about today’s
generation is their focus on fitness.
Today I notice young actors and
actresses taking time out from their
hectic schedules to focus more on their
fitness. As for my health is a concern,
I’m not a fitness freak but I do yoga
every morning and other exercises
whenever I get time.
With the hectic schedule of shooting
how have you been maintaining the
work-life balance?
Today, I am at a position in my career
where I don’t need to work every day.
However, I believe in spending quality
time more than quantity. So, I make
sure whatever activity we do be it
watching movies, turns into a fruitful
conversation than silently spending
time in one room. I like to travel more
so I take my family on tour whenever I
can manage. However, the hectic
shooting schedule doesn’t allow us
more time to physically spend it with
our family and friends. But you can
always make time to connect over the
phone.
As for me-time, I get time in between
shots to spend on my passion – reading
as well watching films and series.
Please share your future projects
with us. Where would your fans get
to see you next?
We were rehearsing for a play when the
lockdown was imposed. But seeing the
current situation in major cities,
Marathi theatre will take time to work
on its full fledge and glory. Even the
film industry is taking its time to re-
enter with its massive performance. As
for OTT, I would love to explore the
platform if the opportunity comes. For
now, I am focusing on my on-going TV
serial. I believe in giving my best to
one project rather than being average in
several projects.
UNDERSTANDING
WHAT MY
CHARACTER
DEMANDS FROM ME
PORTRAYING
AND
IT CONVINCINGLY
CHALLENGE
IS A

It is largely accepted now that the youthful ages with a
dynamic mind are disinclined enough to face challenges
and follow their dreams. They are prepared and organized at
an incredibly young age to put their life's investment funds
into their thoughts.
These entrepreneurs need an ecosystem that supports and
nurtures them. It is no secret that more than 40% of
entrepreneurs fail on their first attempt. Regardless, they
bounce back to start their dream by acquiring better
strategies and more knowledge in their niche.
“Emergence of technology becomes a key driver for
creating a benchmark of success.”
Networking with a large audience and clientele on social
media helps entrepreneurs in marking online presence.
Establishing a transparent communication facilitate them to
maximize their ventures with a positive impact on their
start-up businesses.
Today’s young minds are breaking the loop of running a
business – initially, members from a well-established family
who have already flaunted their brand were entitled to
stream their business further. However, with changing
phases of technology and mastering the industry skillset,
wantrepreneurs from the non-business community are
actively accepting the challenges and accomplishing their
visions.
Vividly looking to solve certain problems with a valuable
solution and transform those solutions into a rapidly
growing business is the beginner phase of a free-spirited
mind. The process where one effectively converts their
vision into a business is the moment when a common
S
tarting a new venture is not an easy job; even with an
excess of hard work and expertise, it takes a great
deal of courage and nerve to explore a new direction.
Plenty of entrepreneurs are out there who stepped out of
their comfort zone to walk through the challenging path
leaving behind their comfortable and well-paying jobs.
The visionaries of the new economy and their journeys vary
from the business people with an old economic system in
various aspects. The traditional approach of starting a new
business where one has to step out of their home, find a
location that is feasible to their customers has promptly
replaced in the digital world. Former methods of running a
business that involves labours, paperwork, and payment
system – cheque and cash are all fading out in the digital
world.
With digitization, entrepreneurs are now establishing a
business from the comfort of their homes. Earlier, where
businesses are limited to a particular location, today’s
entrepreneurs are starting to expand their limitations with
innovative ideas to benefit the local communities and at the
same time generating wealth for a growing economy.
Entrepreneurial individuals of the modern age are
encompassed with forward-thinking abilities and consistent
research with changing needs of the market. With a distinct
way to live and run a business, these creators believe in
improving the standards of a product, equipping the
economy with cascading effect. Having a different
perspective to flourish the online market, these modernizers
build their brand with values that not only consider serving
the society with social work but also relinquish modern
ideas with traditional roots.
How
ARE SHAPING
Today’s Startups?
YOUNGMinds

Start-up Recipe
structure a business for the long run. Countless young
minds utilized Covid time to build various organic products
– soap, face wash, immunity booster, terrace plantation, and
many more that are sustainable and eco-friendly for use.
Along with the organic product, myriad entrepreneurs took
risk of exploring new ventures even before turning 30.
Scrutinizing into the domain of hospitality, social media
marketing, manufacturing, and interior designing,
entrepreneurs have achieved several national and
international awards for their savvy concepts and schemes.
Redeﬁning the notion of entrepreneurship, these innovators
are shaping tomorrow’s world with their ground-breaking
ideas and along with that, inspiring younger generations to
revamp their thoughts into a successfully growing business.
- Renuka Singh
person becomes an entrepreneur. Utilizing distinct social
media – Instagram, YouTube, Podcasts, motivation, and
business-oriented books fabricates the thought process and
invites new ideas to their minds to simplify everyday
activity and services.
Breaking the stereotype of doing business with
conventional methods, entrepreneurs are now moving
forward with determining goals to improve the quality of
life and greater freedom from leaning on a system. Through
the uniqueness of their oﬀered product and services, an
upsurge has been seen in demands, which eventually
reduces the dependency of common people on the
traditional methods.
Certain entrepreneurs with their impeccable quality and
remarkable habits are already ruling the online market.
Adopting the traditional touch that has been used in their
family for ages, these entrepreneurs make use of such
secret ingredients and recipes to

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