Jayshree Gadkar

Personal life

Jayashree was born into a Konkani-speaking family at Kanasgiri (Sadashivgad) near Karwar in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, India. She got married to Bal Dhuri, a theatre actor best known for his portrayal of Dashratha in Ramanand Sagar's TV serial, Ramayana (where Jayashree herself played his wife, Kaushalya). She also published an autobiography, Ashi Mi Jayshri.

Career

She began her career as a child dance artist. She entered films as a tamasha dancer in movies. Her first role was that of a group dancer in V. Shantaram's Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje in 1955 which featured Sandhya as the leading lady. Later, well known Marathi film Director Dinkar D patil cast her in a small role with dance in his Marathi film "Disat Tasa Nasat" opposite Raja Gosavi. This was followed by Sangtye Aika, a tamasha-based movie which was the first in which she played a leading role. This helped her gain fame and recognition and she started doing heroine roles. She eventually became one of the most successful and prolific heriones in the history of the Marathi film industry.

Jayshree acted in about 250 films over a period of four decades. Her filmography was varied and included a rich repertoire of tamasha stories as also mythologicals in addition to socials and love stories. Her films include:

In later years, Jayashree turned film director. Her directorial efforts include Saasar Maher and Ashi Asavi Saasu. She also acted in Ramanand Sagar's TV Series Ramayana as Kaushalya (mother of Rama) along with her husband Bal Dhuri, who was Dasharath (father of Rama). Her home is adorned with the photo of both in Ramayana costume. Her Autobiography Ashi Me Jayshree published in 1986.

Awards

Gadkar has received awards for her part in the films Manini, Vaijantha, Sawaal Majha Aika!, and Saadhi Mansa.