Aanjjan Srivastav (born 2 June 1948) is an Indian film, television and stage actor, associated with Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) in Mumbai of which he remained Vice-President for several years. Outside theatre, he is best known as a character actor in Marathi and Hindi films, most notably, Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay!, Mississippi Masala, and Anupam Mittal's Flavors and Bollywood films like Gol Maal, Bemisal, Khuda Gawah, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, and Pukar. He has also acted in the TV shows Wagle Ki Duniya (1988) and Wagle Ki Duniya – Nayi Peedhi Naye Kissey (2021).
On television, Srivastav made his mark as the quintessential "common man" in the TV series Wagle Ki Duniya (Wagle's World) (1988–90) and Wagle Ki Nayi Duniya, where he played the lead role, apart from Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi (1984) and Nukkad.Profile of Anjan Shrivastava: The Uncommon Common man www.indiantelevision.com. The Hindu, 16 September 2003. He has also acted for more than 40 years in over 30 plays, many of them jubilee hits, including Bakri, Moteram Ka Satyagrah, Shatranj Ke Mohre, Ek Aur Dronacharya, and Chakkar Pe Chakkar.IPTA will never close down Indian Express, 1 May 1997. One of his serials is Bharat Ek Khoj, based upon Jawaharlal Nehru's Discovery of India, wherein he played various roles.
Early life and education He was born and brought up in Calcutta (now Kolkata), into a family from Uttar Pradesh and his father was a banker with Allahabad Bank. Anjan did his B.Com. and LLB from Calcutta University, it was here that he started taking part in local Hindi and Bengali theatre groups in 1968, and did plays for All India Radio. Meanwhile, he also did a small role in the film Chameli Mem Shaeb. Soon he acted with noted groups in the city like Kala Bhavan, Sangeet Kala Mandir and Adakar and acted in a few Bengali films.
Career As per his fathers wishes, he joined the Allahabad Bank, and continued acting in plays on the side. It was only after the death of his sister in 1976 that his father relented and allowed him get transferred to Bombay (now Mumbai) to pursue his acting career further.
Upon arrival, he immediately joined Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and worked in its several productions, and remained with it ever since, after staying its General Secretary of IPTA for a while, he went on to become the Vice-President. He also worked with Prithvi Theatre in the city.The show must go on!: The Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) moves into the 60th year of its formation The Tribune, 18 August 2001.
Anjan started his career with Bengali plays like Neel Darpan, Kayakalp and Anwar around the year 1967. In Mumbai, with Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA), he contributed to several plays including the most renowned Safaid Kundali (The Caucassion chalk circle) by M. S. Sathyu and other Stage plays in the social category with association of the same theatre group. Theatre led to film roles like in Kundan Shah's Saza-E-Maut, Hrishikesh Mukherjee's comedy classic, Gol Maal (1979) and JP Dutta's Ghulami (1985). Then he moved in Television with Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi and went on act in notable TV series like Manoranjan, Tamas, by Govind Nihlani, Nukkad and Katha Sagar, finally in 1987, he received the lead in comedy series, Wagle Ki Duniya, based on R.K. Laxman's common man, which brought him his place in the limelight. He also acted in Shyam Benegal's epic series, Discovery of India.
He often plays skeptical bureaucratic roles, sometimes the conventional narrow-minded father character, and as the veteran actor who effectively enacted the troubles and ways of life of a common-middle-class man in Wagle Ki Duniya, a creation by known cartoonist R.K. Laxman and director Kundan Shah. He has acted in over 127 Hindi films including Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, as head hockey official, Mr. Tripathi in Chak De! India, and in other films like Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman and No Entry and many other characters in various films. In 2005, he played the lead in M.S. Sathyu's production Raat, written by Javed Siddiqui and based on Ariel Dorfman's play Death and the Maiden. Night to remember: M.S. Sathyu's `Raat' is being staged in the city The Hindu, Hyderabad, 4 August 2005. Other plays Anjan continues to do include Moteram Ka Satyagrah, directed by M. S. Sathyu, based on the writings of Munshi Premchand and Safdar Hashmi and Kashmakash, directed by Ramesh Talwar. These plays mostly run at Prithvi Theatre, Mysore Association-Sion, TejPal Auditorium. Anjan's Moteram Ka Satyagrah and Shatranj Ke Mohre are some plays which have been running now for more than 20 years.
All through his acting career, he remained a bank employee from where he later retired in 2001.
Theatre shows YearPlay Direction Language1967–1978KayakalpSushila MishraBengaliBaati GharBijon Chatterjee BengaliThe Chinese WallSushila MishraBengaliAll My SonsSushila Mishra - Arthur Miller'sBengaliNeel Darpan (Bengali)Jnanesh Mukherjee - Bandhu Mitra'sBengaliAashad Ka Ek DinBadri Prasad Tewary - Mohan Rakesh'sBengaliChakkar pe ChakkarRajendra SharmaBengaliKachwa Aur KhargoshRajendra SharmaBengaliAasman Se GiraRajendra SharmaBengaliKisi Ek Phool Ka Naam LoRajendra SharmaBengaliBarf Ki MinarRajendra SharmaBengaliEk Aur DronachaaryaBadri Prasad TiwariBengaliThe Good Woman of SetzuanShyamaland Jalan - Brecht'sBengali1978–presentThe Ghost (Ateet Ki Parchaaiyan)R. M. Singh - Ibsen'sHindi2000BakriM. S. Sathyu - Saxena'sHindi1978Hum Farishtey NahinJaved KhanHindi1979Aap Kaun Hai, Kya Karte Hai, Kya Karna Chahte HaiBaasu Bhattacharya(adaptation)HoriKamlakar SontakeHindi1979–1980The Caucassion chalk circle as Sufaid KundaliM. S. Sathyu - Brecht'sHindi1980Dande Ka GhodaM. S. Sathyu- Brecht'sHindiDekha AndekhaAshok LalHindi1983Lok KathaRamesh TalwarHindi1983RakshasM. S. SathyuHindi1985Ek Aur DronacharyaS. Dangayach - Dr. Shankar Shesh'sHindi1984The Dragon as RakshasM. S. SathyuHindi1986RajdarshanWaman KendreHindi1987Saiyyan Bhaye KotwalWaman KendreHindi1989–90Moteram Ka SatyagrahaM. S. Sathyu - Premchand'sHindi1989Aakhri PeshiJaspal SandhuHindi1991–92Temp Me NotWaman KendreHindi1999Shatranj Ke MohreRamesh Talwar - P. L. Deshpande'sHindi1999Ek Mamooli AadmiRaman Kumar - Akiru Kurusawa's IkiruHindi2000Kurukshetra Se Kargil TakM. S. Sathyu - K. V. PuttappaHindi2001Surya Ke WarisJaydev HattangadyHindi2002Tajmahal Ka TenderSalim ArifHindi2002Aakhri ShamaM. S. Sathyu - Kaifi Azmi'sUrdu2002Raat (Based on 1994 Mystery Death & the Maiden)M. S. Sathyu - Javed SiddiquiHindi2002Doodh KingJhaHindi2004Kashmakash (Based on Bengali Play Tamrapatra)Ramesh TalwarHindi/ Bengali2007Orange JuiceHindi2007Hum Deewane Hum ParwaneRamesh TalwarHindi/Urdu2013Darindey: The VillainsRamesh TalwarHindi2012–13Rishton Ka Live TelecastPrasad Khandekar (Non IPTA production)Hindi2017Ek Aur Dronacharya (Revived)S. Dangayach - Dr. Shankar Shesh'sHindi2017Ek Mamuli Aadmi (Revived)Raman Kumar (AShok Lal)Hindi2017Bakri (revived) M. S. SathyuHindi
Selected television shows Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi (1984) Nukkad (1986–1988) Bharat Ek Khoj (1988) Wagle Ki Duniya (1988–1990) as Srinivas Wagle Naya Nukkad (1993–1994) Paltan (1997) Alpviram (1998) as Amrita's grandfather Bhanwar (1998–1999) Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki (2005) Virrudh (2007–2008) as Pandeyji Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale (2010) as Sarveshwarprasad Mukteshwarprasad Sharma Na Bole Tum... Na Maine Kuch Kaha (2012) as Vedkant Vyas Samvidhaan (2014) as Pandit Balkrishna Sharma Chandrashekhar (2018) as Lala Lajpat Rai Out of Love (2019–2021) as Dr Pradhan Wagle Ki Duniya – Nayi Peedhi Naye Kissey (2021–2025) as Srinivas Wagle Operation Safed Sagar as Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Selected filmography Hindi films
Gol Maal (1979) - Inspector Sazaye Maut (1981) Kaalia (1981) ... Constable in central jail Aagaman (1982) Bemisal (1982) - Doctor Saath Saath (1982) - Dr. B.M. Acharya Lorie (1984) Vivek (film) (1985) Ghulami (1985) Jawaab (1985) - Mehta (Journalist) Loha (1987) - Champaklal Mr India (1987) - Baburam Kaash (1987) Aakhri Adalat (1988) - Dr. Abdul Rehman Shahenshah (1988)- Mr. Pathak Salaam Bombay! (1988) - Psychic Superintendent Dayavan (1988) - S.P. Raghavan Abhi To Main Jawan Hoon (1989) Main Azaad Hoon (1989) - Rastogi Awwal Number (1990) - Cricket Commentator Agneepath (1990) Yodha (1991) - Mantri Narasimha (1991) - Narasimha's dad Mississippi Masala (1991) - Jammubhai Khuda Gawah (1992) - Kamaljit Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992) - Race commentator Chamatkar (1992) - Tripathi-Inspector/commissioner Ghar Jamai (1992) - Gopaldas Isi Ka Naam Zindagi (1992) - Doctor Dil Hi To Hai (1992 film) - Minister Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992) - Saxena Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993)- Mr. Narang Damini - Lightning (1993) - Chandrakant (Damini's dad) Dilwale (1994) Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1994) - Vinayak Ghatak: Lethal (1996) - Dhamu Kaka Gupt: The Hidden Truth (1997) - Commissioner Patwardhan Sanam (1997) China Gate (1998) - Pandey/DK Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998) - Shekhar's Father Bandhan (1998) Pukar (2000) Dattak (2001) Little John (2001) Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat (2001) Lajja (2001) Durga (2002) - Gayatri's Father Shararat (2002) Stumped (2003) Flavors (2003) Run (2004) Aan: Men at Work (2004) Vaada (2005) Chak De! India (2007) - Mr. Tripathi Halla Bol (2008) - Amanullah Khan Flavors (2004) - Mr. Gopalkrishna What's Your Raashee? (2009) - Bharatbhai Patel Yuvvraaj (2008) - Om Mama ji Mittal v/s Mittal (2010) - Mitali's Father Paathshaala (2010) as Waghmare Tees Maar Khan (2010) Arjun: The Warrior Prince (2012) - (Animation) Lord Shiva P Se PM Tak (2014) Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017) Amma (2017) Ek Thi Rani Aisi Bhi (2017) Firangi (2017) Sanju (2018) Junction Varanasi (2018) PM Narendra Modi (2019) Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (2021) Sam Bahadur (2023) Murderbaad (2025)
Other language films Chakravyuh (2000) (Bengali) Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (2000) (English) - Sayajirao Gaekwad III Suri (2000) (Telugu) Little John (2001) (English) Nishani Dava Angatha (2009) (Marathi) SEZ (2014) (Marathi) Ek Nadir Galpo: Tale of a River (2014) (Bengali)
References
External links
Anjan Srivastav:Filmography at Bollywood Hungama