Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Do You Remember Keshav Kulkarni of Shrimaan Shrimati?

Do you have ever watched Doordarshan's television sitcom "Shrimaan Shrimati" which was aired on DD Metro between 1994 to 1999. And In this sitcom some major characters were Keshav Kulkarni, Koki, Dilruba, Prema Shalini, Babloo Prasad Sharma, Gokhale, and Chintu.
The Role of Keshav Kulkarni was played by Indian television actor "Jatin Kanakia". Jatin Kanakia was born on 28th June 1953 in Mumbai. He was well known for his comedy roles and his timing of comedy and earned the title of "Prince of Comedy".

Jatin Kanakia has done many Gujarati plays, Hind television serials and Hindi Bollywoodd movies.
Kanakia's first major television role was in the comedy series, Shrimaan Shrimati, where he played the lead role of Keshav Kulkarni, a married, middle-class house-holder who develops a crush on his movie star neighbour, played by Archana Puran Singh, and a rivalry with her husband, played by Rakesh Bedi, who in turn is drawn to Kulkarni's housewife Reema Lagoo. Broadcast on the national television network, Doordarshan, the series became one of India's most popular television shows. Kanakia also starred in shorter comedy series produced on Doordarshan and played cameos in other comedy series. He worked in many shows produced by the Adhikari Brothers production company. Kanakia's success on television led to minor roles in big-budget Hindi films such as Hum Saath Saath Hain.

Kanakia's career was cut short in 1999 when he died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 46 on 18th July 1999. The news of his death disheartened his fans and many of his co-actors.