Sarita Joshi (; born 17 October 1941) is an Indian actress. Cited amongst the finest and most significant actors of Gujarati and Marathi theatre, Joshi is known for her Gujarati plays done with her husband Pravin Joshi in the 1970s. She garnered widespread recognition for her role as the matriarch Godavari Thakkar in the Star Plus hit dramedy Baa Bahoo Aur Baby (2005–2010). In 1988, she was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Acting in Gujarati by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. In 2020, she has been awarded with Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award for her contribution in Art. She was recently seen in (2019) Zee TV's Hamari Bahu Silk as a hard-working business woman who hates films especially 'A' grade films. Sarita Joshi was seen on Anupama: Namaste America, a prequel web series to the Star Plus show Anupamaa in 2022.
She is currently playing the character of Radha Limaye aka Radha Tai/Kaku in Sony Sab's Pushpa Impossible.
Early life Sarita was born in a middle class Marathi family in Pune, on 17th October 1941, though she grew up in Vadodara. Her father, Bhimrao Bhosle, was a barrister and mother, Kamlabai Rane, was from Goa. She began acting on stage at the age of nine along with her sister Padmarani, due to financial problems that her family found itself in. Though she started with traditional theatre, she soon started working with noted artists like Shanta Apte. She is often confused with her sister, Padmarani, who is also an actress.
Career After working as child actor for six years, Joshi got her first lead role at age 16. She went to act with Indian National Theatre Gujarati, and it was here that she met her future husband Pravin Joshi.
She made her television debut in the 1980s, with the TV series, Titliyan (Butterflies), directed by Nadira Babbar, followed by numerous series in the 90s, including, Zee TV's Hasratein. She is best known for portraying Baa aka Godavari Labhshankar Thakkar a tough yet fair and loving matriarch in the household hit serial Baa Bahoo Aur Baby in which she was cast opposite a renowned theatre, film and television actor Arvind Vaidya with whom she also did the play named Masala Mami, which stopped on 28 March 2009 for a temporary seasonal break, but was renewed on popular demand. It is a popular show among masses and is still loved by the audience and are waiting for its next season. It ran for five years on television owing to its cast, storyline and performances. In 2009, Joshi played in the serial Kuchh Kook Hota Hai as Rani on 9X. Joshi played Asha Parekh's friend in the movie Kanyadaan in 1968 and also appeared in the song "Mil Gaye Milgaye Aaj Mere Sanam" from the same film. Joshi played Vijayanthimala's friend in the movie Pyar Hi Pyar in 1969. She also portrayed Abhishek Bachchan's mother in Guru, directed by filmmaker Mani Ratnam. She also played a central character in the 2008 movie Dasvidaniya. Joshi then travelled to the United States that year to be part of the crossover film, Bollywood Beats, starring alongside Lilette Dubey and Pooja Kumar, in a film directed by Mehul Shah. Out of all the mediums, she holds a special corner for theatre and stage performances. She claims that the joy of performing on stage is any time better than anything else and that theatre will always be her first love.
She stars in Star Plus' Chand Chupa Badal Mein, which is produced by Rajan Shahi as the caring, confident grandmother of female lead Nivedita, played by Neha Sargam. Her film Gangoobai has been released in theatres in January 2013 in which she plays the protagonist. She appeared in Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi in 2015 as female lead (Radhika Madan's) grandmother aka Hansa Govardhan Parekh. She was also seen playing the character of Lalita Swamy "Amma" and as "daadi maa" in the episodic story 9 saal ki dadi maa in Sab TV's serial Khidki. She played the character of Bakula - the lead role in the &TV serial Bakula Bua Ka Bhoot in 2017.She also played cameo as Champa Kaki in (2005–2006) Star Plus's Khichdi Returns.
She played the character of Subhadra in the Colors TV show Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka (2018). She was seen in Zee TV's Hamari Bahu Silk (2019) in pivotal role as Aruna Parekh aka Baa— a wealthy and hardworking business woman who hates films especially 'A' grade films, she was also reunited with her onscreen son (Subodh) played by Rajesh Kumar in Baa Bahoo Aur Baby after 9 years on television.
Personal life Joshi was first married to Rajkumar Khatau. Later, she married theatre director and playwright Pravin Joshi. She is the mother of actresses Ketki Dave, who played the role of Daksha in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and of Purbi Joshi, who appears on Comedy Circus as a host. Aruna Irani is her sister's niece from husband side. Her niece is Manasi Joshi Roy (wife of Rohit Roy) and nephew is actor Sharman Joshi (son in law of Prem Chopra), son of theatre veteran Arvind Joshi.
Plays
Ame Paranyaa (1948-50) Aaj ni Vaat (1948-50) Dil ki Pyaas, Aankh ka Nasha Ra Mandalik Malavpati Munj Prithvi Raaj Chauhan Kuleen Kanya Bal Kanaiyo Gunhegaar Inquilaab (Hindi) Anokhi Pooja Mangal Moorty Jojo Moda Na Padaota (1962) Prithvi Vallabh Saccha Bola Jutha Laga Balwant ni Baby Moti Veraana Chok ma Mograna Saap (1963) Chandarvo (1963) Saptapadi Veni Ma Char Phool Evam Indrajit Dhummas Sapna na Vavetar Sahebo Gulab no Chod Kaanch no Chandramaa Vaishaki Koyal Sharat Manju Manju Santu Rangili (1973) Kumarni Agashi (1975) Mausam Chalke Lady Lalkunwar Savita Damodar Paranjpe Do Diwane Shaher Mein Devki Gup Chup Gup Chup Sakha Sahiyara (also directed by her) Wrong Number Sambhav Asambhav Masala Mami (Gujarati)– with Arvind Vaidya and Disha Vakani in the cast Avsar Aavi ne Ubho Aangane Tu Chhe Lajawaab(2012) Ladies Special (2017) Sakubai (Hindi) Shyamchi Aai (Marathi)
Filmography Television Year Title RoleNotes 1989 Titliyan 1993JunoonRanibaiEpisodes 1–3 Hasratein Shanta Ben1999–2002Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka. Sumitra 2000 CID Suhasini Khandra2 episodes 2005 Khichdi Champa KakiGuest appearance 2005–2010 Baa Bahoo Aur Baby Godavari Labhshankar Thakkar 2009 Kuch Kook Hota Hai Rani 2010–2011 Chand Chupa Badal Mein Naintara Sharma 2012Savdhaan IndiaSeason 1; Episode 209 Byaah Hamari Bahoo Ka Tuljabai Dolkar 2013 Adaalat Kavita Bh Se Bhade Kalyani Joshi 2014–2016 Meri Aashiqui Tumse Hi Hansa Govardhandas Parekh 2016 Khidki Lalita Swami / Gomati 2017 Bakula Bua Ka Bhoot Bakula Ayushman Bhava Payal Herself 2018 Silsila Badalte Rishton Ka Subhadra Cameo Khichdi Champa Kaki Guest 2019 Hamari Bahu Silk Aruna Parekh 2022–present Pushpa Impossible Radha Kulkarni Limaye
Films YearTitleRoleLanguage 1967Parivar AmbaHindi 1968 Kanyadaan Hindi 1972 Janam Tip Gujarati 1974 Trimurti Hindi 1983 Khamma Mara Lal Gujarati 1988 Main Zinda Hoon Hindi 1992 Karm Yodha Mrs. Dasgupta Hindi 2005 Nazar Hindi 2006 Darna Zaroori Hai Satish's Mother Hindi 2007 Guru Mrs. Desai Hindi 2008 Dasvidaniya Maa Hindi 2009 Bollywood Beats Vina English 2010 10ml LOVE Hindi 2013 Gangoobai Gangoobai Hindi 2014 Singham Returns Mrs. Jadhav Hindi 2016 Samuel Street Sarita Joshi English 2018 Simmba Bharti Ranade Hindi 2021 Roohi Budhiya Hindi 2023 12th Fail DadiHindi
Web series Year Title Role Notes Ref. 2021Metro Park 2 Mummy 2022Anupama: Namaste America Moti Baa 2026 ChiraiyaJioHotstar series
Awards
In 2020, the Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India. In 1988, she was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Acting in Gujarati. In 2007, for her role as Godavari Labhshankar Thakkar in Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, she was awarded a Best Actress in a Drama award by the IDEA Indian Television Academy Awards.
Other awards include:
Lifetime Achievement Award for Gujarati Theatre in 2007 by Transmedia (Organization felicitating artist on Gujarati Theatre & TV) Mumbai Nagar Palika – Gold Medal Marathi Natya Parishad – 1988 Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar – 1990 Bank of India- Utkrushta Puraskar – 1997–98 Indo-American Society Award for Excellence – 1998 Gujarat Government Award – 1998 Bruhad Mumbai Gujarati Samaj – 2000 National School of Drama – (Delhi 2001) RAPA Award – 2008 Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar – 2010 Dhirubhai Thakar Savyasachi Saraswat Award (2023)
References
External links
Sarita Joshi Interview with Gopi Desai at EpLog Media podcast Sarita Joshi Bio - Mumbai Theatre Guide Biography of actor with an Interview