Mohan Agashe – Full Detail
Basic Information
- Full Name: Mohan Mahadeo Agashe
- Date of Birth: 23 July 1947
- Place of Birth: Bhor, Bombay Province, British India
- Nationality: Indian
- Professions: Psychiatrist, Actor, Theatre Artist, Academic
- Awards & Honours:
- Padma Shri (1990)
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1996)
- Goethe Medal (2004)
- Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor – Marathi
- Thespo Lifetime Achievement Award
🧠 Early Life & Education
- Born in Bhor, Maharashtra, Mohan Agashe pursued medical studies at B.J. Medical College, Pune.
- He earned his MBBS and later specialized in Psychiatry (MD).
- During his medical college days, he developed a passion for acting and theatre.
- He often says that theatre and psychiatry complement each other, as both deal with understanding human emotions and behavior.
Medical & Psychiatric Career
- Served as a Professor of Psychiatry at B.J. Medical College and Sassoon Hospital, Pune.
- Specialized in clinical psychology and psychopharmacology.
- Played a major role in establishing the Maharashtra Institute of Mental Health (MIMH) in 1991.
- Led a five-year study on trauma among survivors of the 1993 Latur earthquake under the ICMR.
- Worked with the Maharashtra Government to help design mental health awareness programs.
- Founded D.A.T.E (Developing Awareness Through Entertainment) – an initiative that uses media and theatre for mental health education.
Acting & Theatre Career
Theatre
- Began his artistic journey through Marathi theatre.
- Introduced Grips Theatre (Germany’s children’s theatre movement) to India.
- Known for blending theatre with social messages and emotional realism.
Film Career
- Debuted in Samna (1975) – Marathi film.
- Appeared in both Hindi and Marathi cinema, as well as international films.
Notable Films:
- Aakrosh (1980)
- Mashaal (1984)
- Rihaee (1988)
- Mississippi Masala (1991)
- Astu (2015) – Played a professor with Alzheimer’s disease.
- Kaasav (2016) – Produced and acted; won National Award for Best Feature Film.
- Dithee (2018) – Acclaimed Marathi drama.
- Lokshahi (2024) – Recent Marathi political drama film.
Other Roles:
- Served as Director General of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) from 1997 to 2002.
Philosophy & Beliefs
- Believes acting and psychiatry are two sides of the same coin — both require empathy and understanding of the human mind.
- Advocates for mental health awareness through art and media.
- Encourages young artists to explore emotional depth through performance.
- Promotes theatre as a tool for education and healing.
Recent Work & Legacy
- Continues to act in films and theatre, focusing on roles about aging, human connection, and memory.
- Active in mental health conferences and summits as a speaker.
- Mentors new generations of actors and psychiatrists alike.
- Widely respected as a bridge between science and art, contributing significantly to both.
Summary
Mohan Agashe is not only a veteran Indian actor but also a distinguished psychiatrist and social thinker. His life’s work merges medicine, art, and empathy — using drama to understand and heal the human condition.
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