Raqesh Bapat

Raqesh Bapat
Bapat in 2015
Born
Rakesh Bapat

(1978-09-01) 1 September 1978 (age 46)[1][2][3]
Amravati, Maharashtra, India
Other namesRakesh Vashisht
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Model
Years active1999–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2011; div. 2019)​

Raqesh Bapat is an Indian actor and model. He is known for his work in films like Tum Bin (2001), Koi Mere Dil Mein Hai (2005), Vrundavan (2016) and Savita Damodar Paranjape (2018) and television shows like Saat Phere – Saloni Ka Safar (2005–2008), Maryada: Lekin Kab Tak? (2010–2012) and Qubool Hai (2014).[4] He was ranked 16th in The Times of India's Top 20 Most Desirable Men of Maharashtra in 2017.

Early and personal life

Raqesh Bapat was born on September 1, 1978, in Amravati, Maharashtra, India. He won the National Award at the junior level for his painting.[5][better source needed]

He was married to Riddhi Dogra in 2011 but they divorced in 2019.[6] He started dating Shamita Shetty in September 2021, who was his connection in Bigg Boss OTT[7][8][9] The couple broke up in July 2022.[10]

Career

Bollywood, 2001–2005

He was given his first role, Amar Shah in the movie Tum Bin (2001), after the director's wife noticed him in a toothpaste ad and recommended him to her husband.[11] He next played Gaurav in Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (2002). He then appeared in the suspense thriller Tumse Milke Wrong Number (2003) directed by Jignesh M. Vaishnav, in Kaun Hai Jo Sapno Mein Aaya (2004), directed by Rajesh Bhatt;[12] in [13] Naam Gum Jaayega, a romantic drama written and directed by Amol Shetge; and in the critically panned Koi Mere Dil Mein Hai (2005), directed by Deepak Ramsay.

Television, 2005–2012

Bapat began his television career in 2005 with the Sphere Origins Hindi television drama Saat Phere – Saloni Ka Safar from 2005 to 2008. He was nominated for the Indian Telly Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role.

Bapat appeared in two films in 2006: Jai Santoshi Maa, directed by Ahmed Siddiqui which also starred Nushrat Bharucha in the lead role, and Jaadu Sa Chal Gaya, directed by Dev Basu.[14]

In 2008, Bapat played the role of Anuj, in a show presented by Hats Off Productions, aired on Imagine TV's Ek Packet Umeed. The show depicted the tale of all genres of women living under one roof and Raqesh playing the sole man in the serial. The show was named Best Weekly Programme at The Indian Telly Awards.[15]

In 2010, Bapat appeared in the show Seven- The Ashvamedha Prophecy, an Indian supernatural television series that aired on Sony Entertainment Television. The series was produced by Yash Chopra. Bapat played the role of Shlok, the male guardian of Seven. Seven was the story of the search for the seven descendants and their journey of discovering their real capabilities. The show won three Telly Awards and an ITA award.

From 2010 to 2012, Bapat played the male protagonist Aditya Singh Jakhar in Maryada: Lekin Kab Tak?, an Indian television drama on Star Plus. The show revolves around the lives of four women of the Jhakar family and the darker realities of their relationships.

2012–present

Bapat made a comeback in films after six years in 2012, with a releases: a Hindi and a Marathi film. He starred in Heroine, a drama directed, written, and co-produced by Madhur Bhandarkar.[16]

He then made his Marathi film debut with Aayna ka Bayna, a dance film directed by Samit Kakkad. The film also starred Sachin Khedekar and Amruta Khanvilkar.[17]

Bapat also appeared in Hongey Judaa Na Hum, a television drama series which premiered on Sony Entertainment Television India. He played a lead of Rohan Mishra opposite Aamna Sharif.

In 2013, he took part in Nach Baliye 6, a dance, reality-television series that airs on Star Plus with his then wife Riddhi Dogra. On the show, ten television celebrity couples compete against each other.

In the same year he appeared in two films. In Gippi, a Hindi teen film, directed by Sonam Nair and produced by Karan Johar, he played the role of a chemistry teacher.[18] He also appeared in A New Love Ishtory, a comedy drama film directed by John Matthew Matthan.

He replaced Karan Singh Grover in the lead role of Asad Ahmed Khan on Qubool Hai, which was produced by 4 Lion Films and broadcast on Zee TV in January 2014. He did not continue with the series when it took a time leap in early 2014.[19]

He appeared in Citizen (2015), a Marathi film, along with Rajshree Landge, Yatin Karyekar, Pushkar Shrotri, and Uday Tikekar.

In 2016, he played the lead roles in two Marathi films. Vrundavan also starred many senior and celebrated actors from the Marathi film industry, including Mahesh Manjrekar, Ashok Saraf, Mohan Joshi, Sharad Ponkshe, and Uday Tikekar. Sarv Mangal Savdhan was a romantic comedy directed by Rahil Khan, in which Bapat appeared along with actress Manjari Fadnis.[20]

In the same year he replaced Karan Grover in the lead role of scientist Shantanu Kant in Bahu Hamari Rajni Kant (2016–2017), a popular fantasy drama family show on Life OK. The show also airs on MBC 2.

Bapat starred in Savita Damodar Paranjpe in 2018. The film is a Marathi psychological thriller based on the famous 1985 Shekhar Tamhane directorial drama of the same name. It was very well received at the 11th edition of the Goa Marathi Film Festival. The audience gave a standing ovation during the screening. It also went on to screen on Netflix.[21]

He also appeared in Tu Aashiqui (2018) which aired on Colors TV. This was a musical drama romance television show based on two lovers' efforts to unite. He played the role of Reyansh Diwan who made an entry in Pankti's life as an influential and charming businessman.[22]

Bapat played the lead role in two Marathi films in 2019, including WhatsApp Love along with actress Anuja Sathe, and directed by Hemant Kumar Mahale. Bapat played Raja in Mumbai Apli Ahe (2019), a film directed by Bharat Sunanda, set in the Mumbai of the 90s and revolving around Raja, who starts as small criminal and grows up to become a notorious don in the city.[citation needed]

He also starred in Forever (2019), a romantic thriller film directed by Vinay Tiwari along with Nisha Aliya.

In 2021, Bapat appeared in the reality show Bigg Boss OTT and emerged as the third runner-up. Next, he entered Bigg Boss 15 as a wildcard contestant on Day 35 but walked out of the house on Day 40 citing medical reasons.[citation needed]

Pageantry

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Language Ref.
2001 Tum Bin Amar Shah Hindi [23]
2002 Dil Vil Pyar Vyar Gaurav [24]
Kuch Dil Ne Kaha
2003 Tumse Milke Wrong Number Raj [25]
2004 Kaun Hai Jo Sapno Mein Aaya Sunny Khanna [26]
2005 Koi Mere Dil Mein Hai Sameer [27]
Naam Gum Jaayega Vishal Saxena [28]
2006 Jai Maa Santoshi Anuraag [29]
Jaadu Sa Chal Gaya Rahul [30]
2012 Heroine Sameer Khan [31]
Aayna Ka Bayna Saagar Marathi
2013 Gippi Chemistry teacher Hindi [32][33]
A New Love Ishtory Prince Vikram
2015 Citizen Marathi
2016 Vrundavan Krish
Sarv Mangal Savdhan [34]
2018 Savita Damodar Paranjpe Ashok
2019 WhatsApp Love Aditya
Mumbai Apli Ahe Raja
Forever
2022 Sarsenapati Hambirrao Sarjah Khan
2024 Khurchi [35]

Television

Year Serial Role Notes
2005–2008 Saat Phere – Saloni Ka Safar Neel / Neerav
2008 Ek Packet Umeed Anuj
2010 Seven Shlok
2010–2012 Maryada: Lekin Kab Tak? Aditya Jakhar
2012–2013 Hongey Judaa Na Hum Rohan Mishra
2013 Nach Baliye 6 Contestant 6th place
2014 Qubool Hai Asad Ahmed Khan
Simply Baatien with Raveena Himself Guest
2016 Yeh Hai Aashiqui
2016–2017 Bahu Hamari Rajni Kant Shantanu Kant
2018 Tu Aashiqui Reyansh Diwan
Ishq Mein Marjawan Guest
2021 Bigg Boss OTT 1 Contestant 4th place
Bigg Boss 15 Quit
2024–present Navri Mile Hitlerla Abhiram Jahagirdar

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2021 Assi Nabbe Poore Sau Junaid Alam

Music videos

Year Title Singer(s) Ref.
2022 Tere Vich Rab Disda Sachet–Parampara [36]

References

  1. ^ "Arun Jaitley and Rakesh Vashisht". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  2. ^ "TV couple Ridhi Dogra and Raqesh Bapat confirm split: We are living separately".
  3. ^ @iridhidogra (1 September 2018). "Happy birthday you" – via Instagram.
  4. ^ "Big boy on small screen". The Daily Telegraph - Calcutta. Calcutta. 22 May 2006. pp. Metro. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Raqesh Vashisth: I express myself better with my brush". Rediff.
  6. ^ "Raqesh Bapat says there was 'lot of guilt' during divorce from Ridhi Dogra: 'We both wanted to work on the marriage'". 24 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Concerned Raqesh Bapat shares message after Shamita Shetty faints on Bigg Boss 15". 2 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Bigg Boss 15 finale - 'Stone kahi aur laga dunga': Did Raqesh Bapat hint at engagement with Shamita Shetty?". Zoom TV. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  9. ^ Kaur, Ranpreet (30 January 2022). "Bigg Boss 15 Grand Finale: Shamita Shetty's mother REACTS to her confession of love for Raqesh Bapat". PINKVILLA. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Shamita Shetty confirms break up with Raqesh Bapat: 'We are no longer together and have not been for a while'". Hindustan Times. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Big boy on small screen". www.telegraphindia.com.
  12. ^ Adarsh, Taran (12 December 2003). "Wrong Number Review 1/5 | Wrong Number Movie Review". Bollywood Hungama.
  13. ^ "Naam Gum Jaayega - Movie". Box Office India.
  14. ^ Hungama, Bollywood. "Jai Santoshi Maa Cast List | Jai Santoshi Maa Movie Star Cast | Release Date | Movie Trailer | Review- Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama.
  15. ^ Khan, Shameem (11 December 2007). "Rakesh Bapat likes making faces". DNA India.
  16. ^ "RaQesh Vashishth is Heroine's new hero - Times of India". The Times of India.
  17. ^ "Aayna Ka Bayna". photogallery.indiatimes.com.
  18. ^ "Raqesh Vashisth in Gippy - Times of India". The Times of India.
  19. ^ "Raqesh Vashisth replaces Karan Singh Grover in 'Qubool Hai'". Deccan Chronicle. 28 December 2013.
  20. ^ "Sarv Mangal Savdhan" – via Times of India.
  21. ^ "I am open to working in all mediums: Raqesh Bapat". Hindustan Times. 29 June 2018.
  22. ^ "Raqesh Bapat to join 'Tu Aashiqui'". The Times of India.
  23. ^ "Tum Bin(2001)". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  24. ^ "Dil Vil Pyar Vyar Cast & Crew". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  25. ^ "Wrong Number Cast & Crew". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  26. ^ "Kaun Hai Jo Sapno Mein Aaya". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  27. ^ "Koi Mere Dil Mein Hai Cast & Crew". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  28. ^ "Naam Gum Jayega Cast&Crewcessdate=26 April 2012". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 17 November 2012.
  29. ^ "Jai Maa Santoshi Cast& Crew". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 21 February 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  30. ^ "Jaadu Sa Chal Gaya Cast&Crew". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  31. ^ Maheshwri, Neha (30 November 2011). "RaQesh Vashishth is Heroine's new hero". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  32. ^ "Gippi Cast&Crew". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 11 January 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  33. ^ "Raqesh Vashisth in Gippy". The Times of India. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  34. ^ "Manjari and Raqesh's re-arranged marriage". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  35. ^ Harshada Bhirvandekar (16 October 2023). "Khurchi: सत्तेच्या 'खुर्ची'चं बिगुल वाजलं! बहुप्रतीक्षित 'खुर्ची' चित्रपट 'या' दिवशी येणार प्रेक्षकांच्या भेटीला" [Khurchi: The bugle of the 'seat' of power has sounded! The much awaited film 'Khurchi' will hit the screens on 'Ya' day]. Hindustan Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  36. ^ "Former couple Shamita Shetty and Raqesh Bapat's song 'Tere Vich Rab Disda' is out; sister Shilpa Shetty says, 'listening on loop'". The Times of India.