Parikshit Sahni (born 1 January 1939) is an Indian film and television actor who has worked in Hindi and Punjabi cinema. He is known for his roles in the TV series Barrister Vinod, Gul Gulshan Gulfaam (Doordarshan) and Gaatha (Star Plus).[1] He has also appeared several films including three of Rajkumar Hirani's blockbuster films Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, and PK.

Parikshit Sahni
Sahni in 2011
Born (1939-01-01) 1 January 1939 (age 85)
NationalityIndian
Other names
  • Parikshat Sahni
  • Ajay Sahni
Alma materThe Lawrence School, Sanawar
OccupationActor
Years active1968–present
Spouses
  • Aruna Kapoor (died)
  • Dr. Nandini Sahni
Children3
FatherBalraj Sahni
RelativesBhisham Sahni (uncle)
FamilyAnand–Sahni family
Websiteparikshatsahni.com

He is the son of actor Balraj Sahni and nephew of writer Bhisham Sahni.[2][3]

Early life

edit
 
AI-upscaled image of Parikshit Sahni (right) with Tabassum in the song "Bachpan Ke Din."

He was born in Muree in the Rawalpindi District of the Punjab Province of British India (present day in the Murree District of Punjab, Pakistan), into a Punjabi Hindu family. He was named by Rabindranath Tagore while his father was teaching English at Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, and his mother was doing her Bachelors. Most of his schooling was done at the Lawrence school Sanawar. He then went to study at Delhi's St. Stephen's College.

Later, Sahni began his career as a child artist.[4]

Personal life

edit

Sahni's parents were both theatre and film actors, although his mother acted in only a couple of films before her death at an early age in 1947. After her death, his father married Santosh Chandhok two years later.

He was married to Aruna Kapur. Aditi Sahni, Tania Sahni were daughters from first marriage. Later Sahni married Dr.Nandini and had son Varunjai Sahni.[5]

On the advice of his uncle, Bhishm Sahani, Parikshit Sahni was sent by his father to attend a five-year course in architecture in Moscow. However, since he was poor in maths, he was advised to get admission in Moscow Cinema Institute. He cleared the aptitude test and joined the five-year course in film direction in the Moscow Cinema Institute. He returned in 1966 and started his film career in India. He assisted Raj Kapoor in Mera Naam Joker because Kapoor needed a person who could help him in working with the Russian Circus but he left that to act in Anokhi Raat.[6][7]

Sahni even changed his screen name to Ajay Sahni at the suggestion of his friend Sanjeev Kumar during the shooting of their 1968 film Anokhi Raat, before eventually reverting to his own name a few years later.[8][9]

Career

edit

Sahni starred in the classic Punjabi film Marhi Da Diva (1989), with Raj Babbar, Pankaj Kapur, Kanwaljit Singh, and Deepti Naval. He played a remarkable role in the Hindi film Pavitra Paapi (1970) which was based on a Punjabi novel by Nanak Singh (a famous novelist). Pavitra Paapi also featured his real life father, Balraj Sahni in a pivotal role.

He acted in the Doordarshan television series The Great Maratha as Malhar Rao Holkar. He produced and acted in the popular TV series Gul Gulshan Gulfaam (1987) on DD National.

One of his most famous films was the Amitabh and Shashi Kapoor starer Kaala Patthar. He acted in the film 3 Idiots in which he played the role of R. Madhavan's father.[10] He acted in the TV series Heena as Nawab Mirza, Heena's father. Heena ended in 2003. Sahni played Veer Singh (Kakasa) on the popular Zee TV serial Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar opposite Nivedita Bhattacharya.

Books

edit

Filmography

edit

Films

edit
Year Film Role
1951 Deedar Child Shyamu
1968 Anokhi Raat Painter
1970 Pavitra Paapi Kedarnath
Aansoo Aur Muskan Mahesh
Samaj Ko Badal Dalo Prakash
1971 Preet Ki Dori Govind
Lagan Rajesh
1972 Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor Mahjoor
1973 Hindustan Ki Kasam Rajesh
1974 Vandana Rakesh
1975 Mili Dr. Sanjay
1976 Tapasya Dr. Sagar Verma
Kabhi Kabhie Dr. R. P. Kapoor
1977 Mamta Manish Srivastav
Doosra Aadmi Bhisham
Sat Sri Akal, Punjabi movie Pratima
Prayashchit
Niyaz Aur Namaaz
Khel Kismat Ka
Jeevan Mukt Satish Sharma
Jallian Wala Bagh Udham Singh
Gyaniji Preetam
Duniyadari Heera
1978 Ulahana
Udeekan Teja Singh
Vishwanath Siddharth
Anpadh Dr. Anand
Nawab Sahib Shaukat Ali
Muqaddar Amar
Kaala Aadmi Aslam Khan
Hamara Sansar Pratap Sharma
1979 Shyamla
Kaala Patthar Jagga
Zulm Ki Pukar
1980 Room No. 203
Humkadam Shekhar Gupta
Kasturi Alkesh
1981 Agni Pareeksha Siddharth Sharma
Sameera
Nai Imarat Yogendra
1982 Raaste Pyar Ke Sohanlal Srivastav
Suraag Dr. Ajay Gupta
Desh Premee Ghulam Ali
Waqt Ke Shehzade Sardarji
Bhai Aakhir Bhai Hota Hai
1983 Lal Chunariya Rajesh
1984 Boxer Tony Braganza
Teri Baahon Mein
Mera Faisla Inspector Anand Saxena
Andar Baahar Inspector Ajay Sahni
Jeene Nahi Doonga Fakir Baba
Nadaniyan
Jaag Utha Insan Pujari
1985 Jawaab Dinesh Mathur
Ramkali Jay Singh
Ek Se Bhale Do David D'Mello
Meri Jung Dr. Dinesh Mathur
Mera Jawab Arun
Insaaf Main Karoonga Inspector
Shiva Ka Insaaf Robert
Haveli Police Commissioner Thapa
1986 Mazloom Judge Jaspal
Maa Ki Saugandh Surendra
Insaaf Ki Awaaz Police Commissioner
Car Thief Mr. Mehra
1987 Mr. X Inspector Rakesh
Hukumat Shankardayal Singh
Kalyug Aur Ramayan Judge Shyam Diwakar
Watan Ke Rakhwale Assistant Jailor Madan
Sher Shivaji
Dil Tujhko Diya Ajay Sahni
1988 Subah Hone Tak
Zulm Ko Jala Doonga Police Commissioner
Vijay Mr. Mehra
1989 Hal Aur Bandook
Dost Garibon Ka Police Commissioner
Marhi Da Deeva Dharam Singh
Galiyon Ka Badshah Mr. Rana
1990 First Rank Selection Committee Member
1991 Savdhan
Sau Crore Advocate
Phool Bane Angaray Mr. Dutta
1992 Meera Ke Girdhar
Sooraj Mukhi Mr. Kumar
Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj Amar
Tahalka General Sinha
Waqt Ka Badshah Hotel Owner
Sangeet Doctor
Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh Advocate Jagatnarayan Sinha
1993 Police Wala Inspector Rakeshnath
In Custody Mr. Siddiqui
Kundan Chief Minister
Shaktiman Superintendent Of Police
Pyaar Ka Tarana
Pratimurti
1994 Madhosh
Madam X Police Commissioner Mathur
Yuhi Kabhi Judge
1995 Jeena Nahin Bin Tere
Vapsi Saajan Ki
Ab Insaf Hoga Inspector Khan
1996 Sindoor Ki Holi
Yash R. K. Joseph
Chhota Sa Ghar Dhanraj
1997 Share Bazaar Karmyogi
Saaz Dr. Ranjeet Samant
1998 Angaar Vadee
Wajood Abhijeet Joshi
2000 Choo Lenge Akash
2001 Rahul Dr. Bhandari
Kasam Jaswant Singh
2002 Pardesi Re
Yeh Mohabbat Hai Bashir Khan
Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai Rohan Khanna
Mujhse Dosti Karoge Mr. Verma
2003 Heda Hoda
2005 Chakachak
Maa Where Are You... Mr. Mohanto
2006 Jadu Saa Chal Gaya Vilas
Lage Raho Munna Bhai Mr. D'Souza
Umrao Jaan Umrao's father
2007 Eklavya: The Royal Guard Omkar Singh
2009 3 Idiots Mr. Qureshi
2010 Dulha Mil Gaya Ratandeep Kapoor
Chance Pe Dance Mr. Behl
Right Yaaa Wrong Dr. Siddiqui
Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyon
Malik Ek Shankar
2011 Mere Brother Ki Dulhan Colonel Agnihotri
2013 Boss Raghunath
Enemmy Mr. Karmakar
2014 PK Mr. Sahni (Jaggu's father)
2015 Hum Tum Dushman Dushman
Chooriyan
Uvaa Presiding Judge
2016 Sultan Gyan Singh Oberoi
Desi Munde Gurmukh Singh
2018 Paak Sofiya's father
2019 One Day: Justice Delivered Colonel
Cypher Nana
Housefull 4 Maharaj Parikshitapdev Singh
2021 Hawayein Mike Paul
2023 Dunki

TV series

edit
Year Serial Role Notes
1984 The Far Pavilions Mulraj
1986 Katha Sagar Multiple Roles in Multiple Episodes
Barrister Vinod Barrister Vinod
1987 Gul Gulshan Gulfaam
1988 Mirza Ghalib Nawab Shamsuddin
1991–1992 Kahkashan Josh Malihabadi
1993 Commander
1994 Junoon Bharat Kumar Rajvansh
Chandrakanta Maharaj Surendra Singh
The Great Maratha Malhar Rao Holkar
1994–1996 Ajnabi
1998 Saturday Suspense - Beqasoor
Alpviram Mr. Bakshi
Main Dilli Hoon Maharaj Bharat
1998-1999 Ashiqui Anand Kumar
1998–2003 Heena Nawab Mirza
1999 Tanha
1999–2000 Gul Sanobar Sultan of Hindustan
2000–2001 Noorjahan Mirza Ghiyas Beg
2000 Hare Kanch Ki Chudian Telefilm
Gaatha
2001 Jaane Anjaane[11] Mr. Vashisht
2003 Shararat Khushwant Mehra
2004 Ana Altaf
2004-2005 Lal Kothi Alvida
2004–2008 Saarrthi Hemraj Goenka
2007 Aahat - Shrunken Head
2007-2008 Jersey No. 10
Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar Veer Singh
2009 Kalpana
2011-2012 Meri Maa
2015–2017 Santoshi Mata Raghavendra Mishra
2019 Ek Bhram...Sarvagun Sampanna Kishan Mittal

References

edit
  1. ^ The Founding Father Archived 11 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine The Indian Express, 24 November 1997.
  2. ^ "People cast me because I'm Balraj Sahni's son: Parikshit Sahni". The Indian Express. 15 September 2019.
  3. ^ Somaaya, Bhawana (13 April 2016). "I Had to Abuse and Spit at My Dad But Couldn't: Parikshit Sahni". TheQuint.
  4. ^ Parikshit Sahni turns producer Archived 8 July 2012 at archive.today Mid-Day, 4 May 2006. "..My dad came from a literary background and taught English Literature at Shantiniketan. My mom who was doing her Bachelor's degree there, was expecting me then, and was about to give her exams. Tagore told her that I should be called Parikshit as she was giving pariksha, while I was still in her womb."
  5. ^ ""Dad was a broken man" Parikshat Sahni's remembers father Balraj Sahni". filmfare.com.
  6. ^ "Balraj Sahni की जबरदस्त बातें: नास्तिक थे पर Guru Granth Sahib पढ़ते मिले। Parikshat Sahni Kitabwala". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Ajay Sahni – Interview – Cineplot.com".
  8. ^ "Ajay Sahni – Interview – Cineplot.com". Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Parikshit Sahni talks about his best friend Sanjeev Kumar". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  10. ^ "R Madhavan gets nostalgic as '3 Idiots' clocks 11 years". BW Businessworld.
  11. ^ "Watch out for more on the father-son rift". Retrieved 7 October 2001.
edit
  NODES
Note 2