Manoj Joshi Wiki, Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More

Manoj Joshi is an Indian theatre artist, actor, and film & theatre director. In 2018, he received the Padma Shri award for his work in the field of art-acting. He is known for portraying Chanakya in the Hindi-Gujarati theatre play ‘Chanakya’ for more than 25 years.

Wiki/Biography

Manoj Joshi aka Manoj N Joshi was born on Friday, 3 September 1965 (age 58 years; as of 2023) in Goregaon, Maharashtra. His zodiac sign is Virgo. He pursued BA at Mithibai College of Arts, Mumbai. Later, he did a diploma in commercial art at Sir J.J. School of Arts, Mumbai. While he was studying in college, he attended theatre classes and painting classes. He wrote a Marathi play titled ‘Karma’ during his college days.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 8″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Brown

Family

He belongs to a Brahmin Gujarati family from Adpodara Village, near Himatnagar in North Gujarat.

Parents & Siblings

His father, Navneet Joshi, was a Sanskrit vidvaan, kirtankara, and astrologer. He has two sisters. His younger brother, Rajesh Joshi, was an actor, who died in a road accident in 1998.

Wife & Children

On 1 March 1988, he got married to Charu Joshi, who owns a theatre production company. He has two sons named Dharmaj Joshi (actor) and Rudra Joshi.

Address

202, Koteshwar Darshan, Hanuman Cross Road, Vile Parle (East) Mumbai 400057

Career

Manoj started his career as a cashier at Sidhharth Hotel in Mumbai. However, he left the job within a few months because he was not good at handling finances. He then worked for a few magazines like ‘Janmabhoomi,’ ‘Gentleman,’ and ‘Economic and Political Weekly.’ He used to paint caricatures for magazines and monthly earned Rs 50 to Rs 100. Later, he joined a firm named EPW Communist Trust where he used to get a monthly salary of Rs 35000-Rs 40000.

Theatre

Manoj started his acting career as a theatre artist. He has performed in theatre plays of various languages such as Hindi, Gujarati, and Hindi.

Marathi

In 1995, he performed in the Marathi Theatre play ‘Sarvasvi Tuzich.’

Gujarati

In 1986, he appeared in the Gujarati play ‘Tak Dhina Dhin.’ Some of his other Gujarati theatre plays are Ghashiram, Kotwal Doctor Tame Pan, Man Male Tya Melo, and Gandhi Virudh Gandhi.

Hindi

In 1996, he performed in the Hindi theatre play ‘Chanakya.’ He gained immense popularity with the play. He has been performing the play for more than 25 years in different states of India.

He has appeared in a few other Hindi plays like ‘Goal Maal Pyar Ka,’ ‘Rangila Re,’ and ‘Alibaba Aur Chalis Ke Chor.’

Film

Gujarati

In 1990, he made his acting debut with the film of National Film Development Corporation of India ‘Hun Hunshi Hunshilal’ in a supporting role.

Some of his other Gujarati films are ‘Bey Yaar’ (2014), ‘Thai Jashe!’ (2016), ‘I.M.A. Gujju’ (2018), ‘Nayika Devi: The Warrior Queen’ (2022), and ‘Nava Pappa’ (2023).

Hindi

Manoj made his Bollywood debut with the film ‘Sarfarosh’ (1999) in which he played the role of Sub-Inspector Bajju.

He has appeared in various Hindi films like ‘Chandni Bar’ (2001), ‘Satta’ (2003), ‘Dhoom’ (2004), ‘Vivah’ (2006), ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ (2007), ‘Hasee Toh Phasee’ (2014), and ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ (2015).

He gained immense popularity for playing various comic roles in the Hindi films. Some of such roles are ‘Sub-Inspector Anand Waghmare’ from ‘Hungama’ (2003), ‘Advocate Namdev Mishra’ from ‘Hulchul’ (2004), ‘Nageshwar’ from ‘Garam Masala’ (2005), ‘Kachra Seth’ from ‘Phir Hera Pheri’ (2006), and ‘Harichandra Ramchandra Mirchindani aka Harami’ from ‘Golmaal: Fun Unlimited’ (2006).

He portrayed the Indian politician Amit Shah in the Hindi film ‘PM Narendra Modi’ (2019).

Marathi

In 2011, he made his Marathi film debut with ‘Fakt Ladh Mhana’ in which he played the role of Veer Dhwal.

He has appeared in a few other Marathi films like ‘Bharatiya’ (2012), ‘Narbachi Wadi’ (2013), and ‘Dashakriya’ (2017).

Other Languages

In 2003, he appeared in the English-Hindi film ‘Jogger’s Park’ as Tariq Ahmed.

He has also appeared in the 2017 Malayalam film ‘Odiyan’ in which he played the role of Mootha Manickan (Muthappan).

TV Serial

Hindi

He made his Hindi TV debut with ‘Chanakya’ (1991; DD National) in which he played the role of Shriyak.

He has acted in many Hindi TV serials like ‘Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka’ (1999; Sony), ‘Kehta Hai Dil’ (2002; Star Plus), ‘Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat’ (2015; Colors), ‘Mangalam Dangalam’ (2018; SAB TV), and ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ (2020; Star Plus).

Marathi

In 1990, he made his Marathi TV debut with the serial ‘Rau’ in which he portrayed Bajirao, the 7th Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy.

In 1999, he appeared in Alpa TV Marathi serial ‘Abhalmaya’ in which he played the role of Sharad Joshi. In 2015, he appeared in another Marathi TV serial ‘Honar Sun Me Hya Gharchi,’ which aired on Zee Marathi.

Short Film

He has also appeared in various Hindi short films like ‘The Mumbai Trilogy’ (2012), ‘After He Left: Chronicle of Shankar Pratap Singh’ (2018), and ‘Gunchakkar’ (2023).

Other Work

In April 2016, he became an assembly member of ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relationships). In 2017, he appeared in the promotional video of the Gujarat BJP campaign.

He has also translated Vijay Tendulkar’s theatre play ‘Ghashiram Kotwal’ from Marathi to Gujarati. In 2021, he was appointed as the Vice President of the Cine And TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA). He is also the vice president of the Bombay Art Society.

Awards & Honours

• 1990: Best Actor by Abhiyaan Natyaspardha for the Hindi theatre play Chanakya

• 1997: Best Actor by Maharashtra State Vyavasayik Gujarati Natyaspardha for Gujarati theatre play Gandhi Virudh Gandhi

• 2009: Best Actor in Negative Role in Serial (Hindi) Kehta Hai Dil by Indian Tele Awards

• 2010: Gujarat Sangeet Natak Kala Akademy Gaurav Award for theatre by the Government of Gujarat

• 2014: Sabarkatha Ratna Awards by the Government of Gujarat

  Manoj Joshi receiving Sabarkantha Ratna Puraskar

• 2015: Best Supporting Actor, Critic Gold Award for the Hindi serial Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat by ABP News

• 2015: Impact Markers Awards on Television by ITV

• 2015: Chhatrapati Award by Hindi Bhashi EktaParishad, Rajasthani Sewa Samiti and Brahman Parishad

• 2015: Lifetime Achievement Award by Glorious Gujarat, New Jersey, USA

• 2015: Sangeet Natak Kala Akademi Award for contribution to the theatre

• 2015: An honour to present the play Chanakya at Indian Parliament

• 2016: National Award for the Marathi film Dashakriya

  Manoj Joshi receiving National Award

• 2016: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Theatre

• 2018: Padma Shri for his work in the field of art-acting

  Manoj Joshi receiving Padma Shri

• 2021: ABP Asmita Award

  Manoj Joshi receiving ABP Asmita Award

Favourites

• Playwright(s): Mahesh Elkunchwar, Madhu Rye

• Film: The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

• Food: Khaman Dhokla, Kadhi, Sukhandi

Facts/Trivia

• In childhood, he wanted to become a painter and never thought that he would make his career in acting.

• When he was in class 4, he performed in a school play for the first time.

• After class 7, he changed his school from a village school to a school in Mumbai. He could not cope with his studies and failed in class 8 and class 9.

• At the beginning of his theatre career, he worked with various famous theatre artists like Satyadeb Dubey, Vijay Mehta, and Shafi Inamdar. He has performed in various theatre plays organised by theatre groups like the Indian Peoples’ Theatre Association, Indian National Theatre, and Unmesh One Act Play.

• At the time of his marriage, he took a loan for his marriage from a firm where he used to work, but he used that money to make the theatre play Chanakya.

• He follows a vegetarian diet.

• In 2022, he campaigned for the BJP and attended a few political events of the party.

  Manoj Joshi’s Instagram post in support of the BJP

• In his leisure time, he enjoys listening to music and watching TV.

• He has been associated with the NGO Divya Prem Seva Mission, Haridwar, for a very long time. The NGO helps people suffering from leprosy. He also supports The Friends of Tribals Society (FTS), a voluntary organisation working to educate tribal students.

• In 2021, he tweeted a cryptic post which hurt the sentiments of the people from the Muslim community.

  Manoj Joshi’s tweet

• In 2022, he posted a video on Twitter complaining about the services of Air India.

  Manoj Joshi’s tweet on Air India services