Mandeep Roy (13 April 1949 – 29 January 2023) was an Indian actor known for his work in Kannada cinema. After beginning his career on stage in Marathi theatre, he transitioned into film acting with the Kannada film, Minchina Ota (1980). He is noted for his frequent collaboration with actor and filmmaker Shankar Nag. Born as Maanu Ulpe, he renamed himself as Mandeep Roy owing to "his fascination for trendy names".

Known for playing comedic roles, Roy was noted for his performances in Aakasmika (1993), Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu (2001), Amrithadhare (2005), Aaptha Rakshaka (2010) and ...Re (2016). He appeared in more than 500 Kannada films. Additionally, he also appeared in a handful Tamil and Malayalam films, and one television serial in Marathi.

Early life Roy was born on 13 April 1949 in Bombay (now Mumbai) into a Konkani-speaking family. However, his parents hailed from South Canara (today Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka). They moved to Mumbai and settled in Talmakiwadi where Roy was born and grew up in. He completed his schooling at a boarding school near Thane. Roy obtained two undergraduate degrees in engineering: in automotive from M. H. Saboo Siddik College of Engineering, and in computer science from VJTI, Matunga in Mumbai. His first job was in a garage, which he would do alongside pursuing the computer science degree. After a minor mishap at the garage, he changed his job, and upon obtaining the latter degree, began working for Tata Consultancy Services as a computer science engineer. He later worked as a cab driver, and during this time, also learned film editing.

Career

In the 1970s, Roy was drawn to amateur theatre, influenced by actor and friend Amol Palekar. As a youngster, Roy had also been friends with brothers Anant Nag and Shankar Nag, and followed them later into stage acting in Marathi. Roy became popular for his role in Palekar's play Pandhari, in which he played a waiter "who becomes a victim of exploitation" after having been subjected to child abuse. He also acted in a Kannada play during this time titled Poorva Janmada Preethi directed by Venkata Rao Talegiri. Based on S. L. Bhyrappa's novel Naayi Neralu, the play explored themes such as reincarnation, and had Roy playing an elderly character. The play was later adapted into the film, Janma Janmada Anubandha (1980) by Shankar Nag, who reasoned that Roy not play the role considering it was too early in the latter's film career. The role was played by K. S. Ashwath. Subsequently, to pursue a career in Kannada films, he followed the Nag brothers to Bengaluru.

Roy made his film debut as a corrupt cop in Shankar Nag's Minchina Ota (1980). Nag's wife and actress Arundathi helped him with the dialogues, since he could not speak in Kannada during the time. Nag cast Roy again in his television series, Malgudi Days (1986). The two would collaborate multiple times until Nag's death in 1990, in films such as Geetha (1981) and Accident (1984). His final appearance came in Made in Bengaluru (2022). He would go on to appear in comedic roles in films starring Dr. Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan and Ambareesh. Roy was hired to play a comedic sequence in Singeetam Srinivasa Rao's Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma (1986) starring Rajkumar. However, his bit did not make the final cut. Rao then signed Roy again for his next, Pushpaka Vimana (1987).

Roy first suffered a cardiac arrest in December 2022 and was admitted to a hospital in Bengaluru. He was receiving treatment, when he suffered another attack on the early hours of 29 January 2023. He died from it, aged 73.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes 1980 Minchina Ota Thimmaiah 1981 Devara Aata Geetha Hanumantha 1982 Baadada Hoo 1983 Benkiya Bale Hosa Theerpu Mootayya 1984 Makkaliralavva Mane Thumba 1985 Bidugadeya Bedi Hendthi Beku Hendthi Basava 1986 Nannavaru 1987 Digvijaya Constable Ranga Pushpaka VimanaSilent film Anthima Ghatta 1988 Elu Suttina Kote 1989 Gajapathi Garvabhanga Manmatha Raja Thimmanna Yuga Purusha Dr Dayal 1990 Mathsara Dilip Chenji Aasegobba Meesegobba Ashwamedha "Sautu" Michael Madana Kama Rajan Office colleague Tamil film; uncredited 1991 Bhairavi Golmaal Part 2 Motu Mal 1992 Maavanige Takka Aliya Nair Agni Panjara Bombat Hendthi Bharjari Gandu 1993 Aathanka Vishwanath Aakasmika Srikanth Kumkuma Bhagya Brahma 1994 Apoorva Samsara 1995 Bal Nan Maga 1996 Aayudha 1997 Agni IPS 1998 Arjun Abhimanyu King Preethsod Thappa 1999 Rambhe Urvashi Menake Chandramukhi Pranasakhi 2000 Nan Hendthi Chennagidale Raja Deepavali 2001 Aunty Preethse Chitte Vaalee Detective Uncredited Kurigalu Saar Kurigalu Seetapathi 2002 Nagarahavu Aathma 2003 Pakka Chukka Cook Kushee 2004 Avale Nanna Gelathi 2005 Ayya Thunta Seth Ghanshyam Das 2006 Hatavadi 2007 Sixer Professor Ganesha 2008 Beladingalagi Baa 2009 Taxi No-1 2010 Aptharakshaka 2011 Rangappa Hogbitna Physician 2012 Alemari Building contractor 2013 Paraari Victory Physician 2014 Amanusha 2015 Ond Chance Kodi Ranna Buguri Physician 1st Rank Raju Principal of college Care of Footpath 2 Angry Customer at Petrol Pump Kannada-Hindi bilingual film 2016 Maduveya Mamatheya Kareyole ...Re Physicist Kotigobba 2 Shopowner 2017 Pushpaka Vimana Raajakumara 2018 Sankashta Kara Ganapathi Ashok 2021 Auto Ramanna 2022 Trikona Annayya Made in Bengaluru 2023 Mandala: The UFO Incident Raju

See also

List of people from Karnataka

References

External links

Biography of Mandeep Roy on Bookmyshow.com