Hindi Tv Serial Yatra - Cast & Crew

Uttara Baokar is an Indian stage, television and film actress. She played prominent roles in a number of notable plays like Padmavati in Mukhyamantri, the Mena in the Mena Gujari, a mother’s role in the Girish Karnad’s Tughlaq and leading role of Umrao in “Umrao Jaan”. She was born on May 17th 1916 in Sangoli, Maharashtra,  and started her career on Marathi stage.

In the year 1978, she directed Jaywant Dalvi’s play by Sandhya Chhaya, Hindi translation by Kusum Kumar. During the year 1984, she won sangeet natak akademi award and India’s national academy award for acting in Hindi theatre. She also played prominent roles in Marathi films Shevri, Doghi with Sadashiv Amrapurkar,Uttarayan, Restaurant with Sonali Kulkarani.

She studied acting in National School of Drama in Delhi under the guidance of Ebrahim Alkazi and was graduated during the year 1968. Being an alumini of NSD at Delhi, she remained as one of the leading actresses with the NSD repertory company during the year 1970’s and 1980’s which was considered as the revival period of Hindi theatre prior to moving towards films in the late 1980’s.

Uttara Baokar is the most senior theatre personality in India. Recently she was in Bhopal to take a drama class at the prestigious MP School of Drama. She conducted an interactive session with the children at the drama school. She told to media “Bhopal is a rich cultural city wherein you can find lot of talent. You can even call it as the cultural capital of India”.

Himani Shivpuri is an Indian actress, born on October 24, 1960 and bought up in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. She was known for doing supporting roles in Hindi television series and also in Bollywood films. She was the daughter of Hindi teacher, Haridutt Bhatt. He used to teach at The Doon School in Dehradun where Himani studied. During her school days, she usually used to attend school plays and when she was in her Organic Chemistry post graduation, her passion in acting was developed and she started to perform in school plays while studying. Later on, she joined the National School of Drama in New Delhi and finished her studies in 1984. 

Sushma Prakash is an actress of Indian television and movies. Seen in the 1985 film Trikal, she played the role of Anna. After this, she was seen in 1989’s TV series Intezaar. She has also appeared in Doordarshan’s Yatra and STAR Plus’s Dekho Magar Pyaar Se. Dekho Magar Pyaar Se is a soap opera in which Sushma plays the role of Tara Bedi. Zee TVs Rishtey, which shows small stories about relationships, is also a show she appeared on.

Deepti Bhatnagar is a very famous face in the Indian Entertainment Industry. She was born into a Hindu, Kayastha family on 30th September, in the year 1967. She is one the most beautiful models of her times and has appeared in various films as well as television shows. Deepti is originally from the city of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. She, however, has lived for a considerable time in Delhi and has done her education from the Meerut University. She owned a handicraft factory and had moved to Mumbai, in the year 1992, in hopes of looking for a good ad agency that could promote her factory. Destiny had some very different plans for Deepti as she got offered to model for an ad agency instead of promoting her handicraft factory. She made appearances in several advertisements like Roopmilan Saris etc.

Mandeep Bevli is a famous Indian television talk show host, news anchor and actress. Famous for her interviews with various public figures, Bevli has seamlessly appeared in television as a film and television actress, news anchor, food and travel show host, quiz show host and crime show hosts among others.

After shifting from Los Angeles in 1995, she did a few fashion shows and television shows like Great Indian Yatra Parade. She rose to fame with the semi-scripted television show Public Demand. After her popularity, she was offered anchoring stint from virtually all the major channels at the time but she refused to shift to Mumbai. Mandeep emceed her first live show Hero Honda Pro-Am Golf Tournament in 1997. Her success as emcee continued as she emceed more than 100 live shows that included product lunch, New Year celebration and brand promotion event of leading brands like Coca Cola, Pepsi, Hero Honda and Opel Corsa Daewoo among others.

Following public demand, she hosted Dhara Zaike Ka Safar. She then was the anchor of the show Culture Show. She also anchored another show named Popularity Yours. She is also credited for anchoring India's first wildlife game show Wild Encounters.

She continued to work in Delhi and landed programs like Designers Word Road Watch and Khabrein Bollywood Ki. She made her acting debut in the 2001 movie Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula. She now resides in her home in Los Angeles.

Ila Arun is of the star sign Pisces being born on 14th March in Jaipur, Rajasthan where she was also brought up. Her siblings are Piyush Pandey, Prasoon Pandey, Rama Pandey and Tripti Pandey, none of them a part of the Bollywood business like their sister. Ila completed her education graduating from the Maharani Girls’ College in her hometown and is popular for acting and singing, mostly for the latter. Her strong, husky voice of earthy tones has proved her an incomparable singer in Rajasthani folk/folk-pop fusion songs while dabbling in other genres including classical music.

Jehangir Chaudhary is an Indian cinematographer who worked for the Bollywood film industry. He worked in more than 20 Hindi movies and gained a huge amount of respect and reputation in the Hindi movies. Some of his work as a cinema cinematographer includes Sold in 2014, Aa Dekhen Zara in 2009, Bus Yun Hi in 2003, Mirch Masala in 1986, Ek Bar Kaho in 1980, Khuda Kasam in 1981, and many other films.

Shyam Benegal is a renowned Indian director and screenwriter. He created, what is today referred to as ‘middle cinema’. His work has widely received critical acclaim in India as well as in the International Film Circuit. He was born on 14 December 1934 in Secunderabad. He is a cousin of Guru Dutt. His paternal grandmother and Guru Dutt’s maternal grandmother were sisters. His career began in advertising in the year 1959. He was initially a copywriter. Over the years, he slowly rose to the position of a creative head. He directed over 900 advertisements before focusing his faculties on film-making. Benegal is known for films like Ankur, Nishant, Manthan and Bhumika, which were released in 1973, 1975, 1976 and 1977 respectively. His films and documentaries have been set in realistic contemporary scenarios and primarily revolve around topics like exploitation, rural empowerment, and social change. He has worked with actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Amrish Puri, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil.

Vanraj Bhatia was born on 31st May 1927. He is a well-known Indian music composer, provided music for most of the Shyam Benegal’s films, in his private albums with Music Today and many art movies. He got a huge opportunity in the 1990s to compose music for the Vijay Singh’s International film Jaya Ganga. He is trained in western classical music. He had studied M.A in English honors from Elphinstone College, Mumbai. Then in 1954, he passed from the Royal Academy Of Music, London with a Gold Medal.

Ravi Jhankal is an experienced Indian stage, television & film personality, who is best known for his appearances in the movies of veteran director ‘Shyam Benegal’. He is remembered playing multiple characters in the popular television series of 90’s, ‘The Discovery of India’, which was based on the book of the same name, written by Late Mr. Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Mohan Gokhale was an Indian movie actor, TV and theater performer who is famous for movies including Sparsh and MirchMasala. He was born on 7^th November 1953 in Pune. He had a great interest in theater since his childhood. Mohan had won several awards in intercollege competitions as well as at the state level.

Raghubir Yadav is an Indian movie, television and stage actor born on 25 June, 1957 in Jabalpur. He is also a singer, music composer and set designer. His debut film in the industry was Massey Sahib (1985) in which he played the title role of movie. He has been awarded with two International Awards being Best Actor in FIPRESCI Critic's Award in 1986 and the Best Actor Silver Peacock, IIFI in 1987. It is quite unusual that an artist with that much talent in so many areas has not received a National Award. Raghubir Yadav is from the 1977 batch at National School of Drama, New Delhi and has specialization in stagecraft. About his journey, he has worked as a singer and actor in more than 70 plays and had done almost 2500 live shows with Parsi Theatre Company starting at an age of 15 from 1967 to 1973 where they used to go from one village to another, cities and towns in caravans. After this he shifted to Rangoli Puppet Theatre for 1 year and used to perform with glove puppets. In National School of Drama, he was part of 40 plays and did more than 2000 shows and also showed his art in costume, mask and set designing. He had worked in many legendary films out of which three got nominations for Academy Awards in Best Foreign Language film.

Raghubir Yadav’s most applauded role was of a drug addict Chillum in Salaam Bombay and he also worked in Firaaq and in Dear Friend Hitler as the lead. In the music department, he has contributed a lot to the film industry. He had worked in movies such as Delhi-6 as narrator of Ramleela based on a story of a boy coming from foreign to his grandmother, Ramji Londonwaley based on a villager cook’s journey in London and Darna Mana Hai, a school teacher in this horror movie made by Ram Gopal Verma based on six horror stories, Aaja Nachle story of a London returned choreographer to save the dance theatre from getting demolished by her talent, Gandhi To Hitler, Thanks Maa, Peepli Live based on a poor farmer and him becoming famous in media due to his confession to suicide. He also sang the title track of Chacha Chaudhary serial. His song, Mehngai Dayain in Peepli Live was acclaimed by audiences due to its words and presence in society.

He has given voice to various ads such as Coke, Vim, Pepsi, Parle, Kotak Mahindra, Icy Cool, Maggie Mania, Britannia and several others. He has also composed Music for Ghashiram Kotwal and Chacha Chaudhary. He composed and sang the Maggie Mania and conceived, written & composed Raamleela for movie Delhi-6. One of his recent collaborations is the one in which he sang with Hitesh Sonik the song Lamh Tera in the episode of MTV Coke Studio Season 2.

He started his television career with the show Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne (1990), in which he played the lead character 'Mungerilal'. After that he did the role of Haji Nasruddin in show Mulla Naseeruddin and lead in the TV show Chacha Chaudhary based on famous Intelligent Indian comic character Chacha Chaudhary whose mind works faster than computer and gained popularity especially amongst children. He also played the title role in Arjun Pandit. His recent movie project was Piku co-starring Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone as Dr. Shrivastava. Raghuvir Yadav has been in depression due to his first wife Poornima from which he got separated but she kept on harassing him for money and also due to behavior of his son Achal towards him. He said music was his sole support in the days of depression.

K K Raina is an Indian television, film, and theatre Actor, Writer and Director. He was born in the year 1953. He is a younger brother of M K Raina, who is also a prominent Actor and Director. And both are an alumnus of National School of Drama (NSD). K K Raina graduated from NSD in the year 1976.

Madhav Vaze is a veteran Indian film actor, theater artist, and a director. He was born on 21st October 1939. He began his career as early as fourteen years old, where he worked as a child artist in the movie ShyamchiAai. Madhavjee played the role of a young boy, named ‘Shyam’.‘ShyamchiAai’ was about a mother and son relationship and was released in the year 1953. At an early age, Madhavjee filled his boots and was awarded President’s Award for the role. All viewers critically acclaimed his acting skills. Not many opportunities came knocking his door and as a result, he was not seen in movies.

Om Rajesh Puri is one of the widely noted senior actors in the Indian film industry and he was born on 18th October 1950 in Patiala, Punjab. He is one of the few Bollywood actors to act in mainstream commercial English movies. The alumnus of National School of Drama was also a classmate of renowned actor Naseeruddin Shah of the 1973 class.

He started his movie career in 1976 with the Marathi film ‘Ghashiram Kotwal’ directed by K.Hariharan. The movie was based on a play with the same name and it got success both commercially and critically. His career graph saw the coming of critically acclaimed art films such as ‘Bhavni Bhavai’, ‘Sadgati’, ‘Ardh Satya’ etc. and he was one of the major stars to do art films at that time along with well-known actors like Naseeruddin Shah, and Shabana Azmi. His reputation sky rocketed with his unconventional roles in many films during the 80s such as ‘Aakrosh’ and ‘Disco dancer’. Puri became famous for his versatility and personality, and went on to act in films in many domestic and foreign industries. Be it Hollywood blockbusters like ‘Gandhi’ or ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ or regional hits like ‘A.K. 47’, Puri left a unique zeal on every role he did.

If he was known for his personality and his unconventional roles in the movies, he proved the world that he could handle any kind of role with an envious ease with the TV series ‘Kakkaji Kaheen’ and ‘Sutradhaar’ where he did comedy characters. He was honoured by the government of India with Padma Shri award and he also received ‘Order of The British Empire’. He is currently working for the movie ‘Chapekar Brothers’ in which he will be playing Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

Puri Family Tree (Infographic Family Tree)

A versatile actor who has endeared Indian television and movie viewers with his acting skills as a comedian, a supporting actor, and as a villain too. Harish Patel is a veteran actor who started his acting career at very early age of seven as he worked in the grand television serial Ramayana produced by Ramanand Sagar. It was aired on DD National News Channel in the year 1987. During the same time, he also appeared on various episodes of another popular Hindi television serial Malgudi Days. Later on, Harish Patel joined Indian National Theatre and worked a lot as a theatre artist. Indian theatre director Sara Prabhu and Harish Patel enjoyed a great run of success on Indian theatre.

Atmaram Bhende is the unsung hero who revived the Maratha theatre when it was dying. Known for the contributions, he made to the Maratha theatre, Bapu, as he was often lovingly called, appeared in several ads and films. His wife shared the stage with him in some of them. He was part of the star-studded cast of Hirani’s Lage Raho Munna Bhai. He was also a part of Marathi movie Yanda Kartavya Aahe. His was a brilliant and endearing appearance in Lage Raho Munna Bhai. It turned out to be one of his most popular appearances ever.

Rajendra Gupta is a veteran Indian director, theatre, film and television actor. He was hailed from Panipat, Haryana, India and studied at Kurukshetra University. His father runs a textile business but Rajendra is more focused in working on theatre. He met Veena, his wife-to-be in Indore while he’s doing a play in college. But Veena’s parents are not in favor of their marriage so the two leave Bhopal and got married. They now have a daughter named, Ravee Gupta who works as an actress as well. In year 1972, Rajendra attended National School of Drama in New Delhi.

In 1985, Rajendra’s family shifted to Mumbai and he initiated his career in television. During the 80s, he appeared in television serials like Nukkad, Intezaar, Bharat Ek Khoj and Kahan Gaye Woh Log. Few years after moving to Mumbai, he acted in his first film, Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin as Vice-Chancellor Asthana in 1987. A year later, he was featured in the Hindi film, Main Zinda Hoon; a film that won the Best Film on Social Issues award at the 36th National Film Award. Subsequently, he bagged the role of Aslam in Saeed Akhtar Mirza’s Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro in 1989. He has done several television serials and films. In 1990, Rajendra’s name was added in the Limca Book of Records for working on over 40 television serials. 

He was notably remembered as Pandit Jagannath in the fantasy series, Chandrakanta on DD National  and as Jagat Narayan, the father of Sudha (played by Manasi Joshi Roy) in the television soap, Saaya on Sony TV, where he won the RAPA award in year 2000. He also appeared in television serials like Shaktiman, Aashirwad, Raavan, Kuchh Is Tara, Ek Kahani, Hum Ladkiyan, and Rehna Hai Teri Palkon Ki Chhaon Me. He also acted as Mahaveer Singh in the very popular drama series, Balika Vadhu – Kachchi Umar Ke Pakke Rishte on Colors TV in 2009. From 2011 up to the present, Rajendra appeared in the main lead role as Kesari Narayan on SAB TV’s comedy show, Chidiya Ghar. Also in 2011, he played the same role as Pandit Jagannath, a Ramal master in the fantasy series, Kahaani Chandrakanta Ki on Sahara One.

Rajendra also acted in a bunch of prominent films like Jaan Se Pyaara, Tarpan, Bhai, Daava, Benaam, Dil Kya Kare, Laado, and Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya. Among all the films the he donned, he stated that he is proud to be part of the 1989 Indian film, Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro and the box-office epic sports drama film, Lagaan in 2001. He also worked on critically acclaimed films like the 2005 Shonali Bose’ film, Amu; the action crime drama film, Sehar and the biographical film, Guru in 2007. He was also part of the British comedy drama film, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in 2012 and his latest film, Bobby Jasoos in 2014.

He works as the actor-director of stage plays like Sarphire and Jaheez Hatyare, Sooraj Ki Antim Kiran Se Sooraj Ke Pehle Kiran Tak and Dikhti…Khoob Ho!