Paresh Ganatra

Paresh Ganatra
Born (1965-02-19) 19 February 1965 (age 59)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
OccupationActor • Comedian • Producer • Theatre Artist
Years active1984–present

Paresh Ganatra (born 19 February 1965) is an Indian television, stage and film actor. He is known for his role as Praveen Thakkar in the Star Plus comedy series Baa Bahu Aur Baby (2005–2010), SAB TV's sitcom Chidiya Ghar and films like No Entry (2005), Rowdy Rathore (2012) amongst others.[1][2]

Early life and education

Paresh Ganatra was born on 19 February 1965 in a Gujarati household in Mumbai, India, where was brought up. He did his schooling from Lions Juhu High School in 1981. Thereafter he graduated from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics in 1986, and joined Management studies at Somaiya College, Mumbai.[3]

Career

Participating in theatre while in still college, he started his acting career with Gujarati theatre in the city from 1984 to 1992. He made his film debut with a role in Mann in 1999. He acted in TV series Ek Mahal Ho Sapnon Ka, a Colonial Cousins music video, TV commercials (including Symphony Air Coolers, Tata Phones, Coffee Bite, LG TV, Nerolac, Dabur and McDonald's), when he reached fame with the 2002 multi-star hit film Aankhen.[4]

From then on, he has been active in Bollywood. He is known for his comic roles in comedic films, including No Entry, Welcome, Money Hai Toh Honey Hai and Delhi Belly amongst others.[4][5] Rowdy Rathore, in which Paresh played a supporting role with Akshay Kumar, became a milestone for him as it succeeded at the box office. He worked in the comedy film, Bol Bachchan, starring Ajay Devgn, Abhishek Bachchan, Asin Thottumkal, Prachi Desai and directed by Rohit Shetty.

Filmography

As a Producer

  • Threesome (2018)

Television

Year Serial Role Notes
1999–2002 Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka
2005–2010 Baa Bahoo Aur Baby Praveen Thakkar
2008–2009 Jasuben Jayantilaal Joshi Ki Joint Family Purushottam Thakkar
2009–2010 Comedy Circus Contestant
2009 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo Natwarlal
2011–2017 Chidiya Ghar Ticket Collector Ghotak Narayan
2013–2016 Comedy Nights with Kapil Various characters
2014 Samvidhaan: The Making of the Constitution of India Prof. K. T. Shah
2016–2017 The Kapil Sharma Show Various characters
2018 Khichdi Advocate Episodic role
2019–2020 Bhakharwadi Mahendra Thakkar [9]
2020 Scam 1992 Maheshwari
2022 The Great Weddings of Munnes Phatte Phupha [10]
2023 Happy Family: Conditions Apply Dr. Jatin Kumar
2024 Aapka Apna Zakir Himself [11]

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Work Result
2007 Indian Television Academy Awards Best Supporting Actor – Male Baa Bahoo Aur Baby Won[12]
2012 Indian Telly Awards Best Actor in a Comic Role Chidiya Ghar Nominated[13]
2015 Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Comedy) Nominated[14]

References

  1. ^ "Comedy Circus returns with 'Teen Ka Tadka'". The Times of India. 22 October 2009. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011.
  2. ^ "Comedy Circus Mahasangram begins". The Times of India. 6 February 2010. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011.
  3. ^ "Paresh Ganatra Birthday: Ghotak Narayan Of Chidiyaghar Worked As A Financial Advisor". News18. 19 February 2022. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Seen It All, Done It All". Screen. 9 November 2001. Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  5. ^ "What Action Replay was about..." Mid-Day. 26 January 2009. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Paresh Ganatra Birthday: Ghotak Narayan Of Chidiyaghar Worked As A Financial Advisor". News18. 19 February 2022. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  7. ^ Hegde, Rajul. "Taste Khichdi's magic on the big screen". Rediff. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Khichdi 2: Mission Paanthukistan overcooks its comedy recipe, struggles to bring the house down". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  9. ^ Chakraborty, Juhi (11 July 2020). "Deven Bhojani on resuming shoot during Unlock: It has become a lonely experience now, I miss the chai sessions on a set". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  10. ^ GAHLOT, DEEPA. "The Great Weddings of Munnes Review". Rediff. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Paresh Ganatra enters the show Aapka Apna Zakir in a comic avatar". The Tribune. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  12. ^ "The 7th ITA Awards 2007". Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  13. ^ "11th Indian Telly Awards". Archived from the original on 2 July 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Nominations for Indian Telly Awards 2015 out; see who all have made the cut". India Today. 20 November 2015. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2024.