By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
Sadashiv Dattaray Amrapurkar’s first passion was cricket & he made Ranji Trophy appearances before he took to acting. He did theatre in Marathi including some films before he was cast opposite Om Puri in Govind Nihalani’s “Ardh Satya” (1983).The film was appreciated by the critics and a ‘select group’ of cinegoers. While Om Puri carried home a National Film Award For Best Actor, Sadashiv won the Best Supporting Actor Award. He played a Don called Rama Shetty while Om Puri did the role of a Police Inspector.
Later, Dharmendra helped him rise and he rose so strongly and convincingly living every character he was asked to portray in films. How a man of his personality transformed himself into a seasoned actor makes an interesting story. His major commercial break – through came with Dharmendra starrer “Hukumat” which turned out to be a super-hit film .The film directed by Anil Sharma also starred Rati Agnihotri, Shammi Kapoor, Swapna & Goga Kapoor.
I met the actor during the marathon location shooting schedule of film “Apna Desh Paraye Log” ( 1988) at & around Chandigarh including at some picturescue Kullu Manali locations. I interviewed him at Timber Trail height. Basically a crime thriller, the story of the film revolves round Sadashiv Amrapurkar who played a fake sadhu( holy man)with his characteristic aplomb. He is engaged in all sort of illegal activities, and is willing to jeopardize the country’s security for a rich pay-off. He is always surrounded by a string of young, voluptuous and sexy ‘sanyasins’. Clad in flawless saffron, like Sadashiv himself, these bewitching beauties are used as baits to bewitch, beguile, bully, and even blackmail the men who matter. Predictably, the ‘holy man’ ( engaged in ‘unholy’ deeds ) lives in style in the company of his luscious female devotees.
The aforesaid Ashram scenes were filmed at ‘Timber Trail, a beautiful hill-top resort situated at a height of above 7000 ft. above sea level. The place captures a panoramic view of the upper range of the Shivaliks . The site is reached by a cable car. Sridhara plays the role of ‘sanyasin-in-Chief’ at the Ashram. I spent more than a week with the star during the shooting. Some portions were later shot at Chandivali Studio Mumbai.
In the mid-1990s he began accepting supporting and comic roles like he did in Aankhen, Ishq, “Coolie No. 1”, “Gupt: The Hidden Truth”, “Aunty No. 1”, & “Hum Saath-Saath Hain” . I met the actor many times, lastly in 1995 during the shooting of “Return of Jewel Thief”. I mostly found him reserved & calm. He played a Sikh character in the film starring Dharmendra, Dev Anand, Pran, Shilpa Shirodkar , Anu Agarwal & Sadashiv Amrapurkar.
Sadashiv also worked in Marathi, Haryanvi, Telugu Bengali, Oriya, and Tamil films. His performance was highly appreciated in film “Sadak” ,winning him Filmfare Best Villain Award in 1991. He played Maharani, the ‘eunuch’. His last role was a cameo in “Bombay Talkies” (2012). Died of Pneumonitis in November 2014.
Amrapurkar is remembered for some of his outstanding performances in Marathi films. Born This Day in 1950 at Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
