Aanjjan Srivastav

Biography:

Dr. Aanjjan Srivastav, born on 2 June 1948, is a distinguished Indian film, television, and stage actor, renowned for his association with the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) in Mumbai, where he held the position of Vice-President for several years. His contributions to Marathi and Hindi cinema have solidified his status as a character actor, with notable roles in films such as Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay!,” “Mississippi Masala,” Anupam Mittal’s “Flavors,” and Bollywood hits like “Gol Maal,” “Bemisal,” “Khuda Gawah,” “Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa,” and “Pukar.”

In the realm of television, Srivastav is celebrated for portraying the quintessential “common man” in the TV series “Wagle Ki Duniya” (1988–90) and its modern adaptation “Wagle Ki Duniya – Nayi Peedhi Naye Kissey” (2021). His impactful performances extend to TV shows like “Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi” (1984) and “Nukkad.” With over 40 years of acting experience, he has been part of more than 30 plays, including jubilee hits like “Bakri,” “Moteram Ka Satyagrah,” “Shatranj Ke Mohre,” “Ek Aur Dronacharya,” and “Chakkar Pe Chakkar.” One of his notable serials is “Bharat Ek Khoj,” based on Pt. Nehru’s “Discovery of India,” where he played various roles.

Born and raised in Calcutta (now Kolkata) to a family from Uttar Pradesh, Srivastav’s father was a banker with Allahabad Bank. He pursued his B.Com. and LLB from Calcutta University, during which he initiated his journey into local Hindi and Bengali theatre groups in 1968, participating in plays for All India Radio. His foray into cinema began with a small role in the film “Chameli Mem Shaeb.” He subsequently collaborated with esteemed groups in the city, such as Kala Bhavan, Sangeet Kala Mandir, and Adakar, and acted in a few Bengali films.