Rajendra Gupta

Rajendra Gupta is an Indian film, television and theatre actor and director who is best known for his television roles of Pandit Jagarnath in the 1990s Doordarshan fantasy television series Chandrakanta and Sudha's father – Jagat Narayan – in the 1998–2001 Sony TV drama Saaya.

An alumnus of the National School of Drama (1972 batch), Gupta has worked in numerous television serials and films. He played the role of the Mukhiya (village headman) of Champaner in the Oscar-nominated 2001 film Lagaan.He currently plays the role of Kesri Narayan in the TV serial Chidhiya Ghar that airs on Sab TV

Gupta was born in a business family in Panipat and did his graduation from the Kurukshetra University. His father known as Master Ji ran a woolen textiles business but Gupta had no interest in the business; his interests lay, instead, in dramatics and theatre. Gupta met wife-to-be, Veena, a Christian, in Indore when he went there to take part in a college play. Since Veena's parents did not agree to their marriage, the couple eloped to Bhopal, got married, and then returned home.

In 1972, Gupta enrolled himself at the New Delhi-based National School of Drama and completed his post graduation in direction.

Gupta's daughter, Ravee Gupta, is a television actress.

Films and television

Gupta and his family moved to Bombay in 1985 and he started working in television serials; three years later he entered films. Gupta has acted in innumerable television serials and films; so much so that in 1990, his name was included in the Limca Book of Records for appearing in the most number of television serials – over 40 of them.

In a 2001 interview with the Times of India, he mentioned that of all the films that he has done, he is proud of his work in Lagaan (2001) and Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro (1989). Since then he has gone on to work in critically acclaimed films such as Amu, Sehar and Guru. In the same interview, he said that among his television roles, his work in the Syed Mirza-Kundan Shah serial Intezaar (as the Senior Station Master), the fantasy series Chandrakanta (as Pandit Jagarnath), and Saaya (as Jagat Narayan) were among his best.

Stage

In spite of having played meaty parts in many films and television serials, theatre is Gupta's first love – his ultimate destination. He has acted in numerous plays and has directed at least twenty of his own.

Gupta is the actor-director of plays such as Sarphire and Jaheez Hatyare, both based on writer-philosopher Albert Camus' French play The Just Assassins, and Sooraj Ki Antim Kiran Se Sooraj Ke Pehle Kiran Tak based on Surendra Verma's 1965 Hindi play.

Gupta has acted in many Hindi plays, but Chanakyashastra and Kanyadaan, a play by noted playwright Vijay Tendulkar, are two plays he did in English.

Rajendra Gupta and noted actress Neena Gupta run a theatre production company – Sahaj Productions.

Films

• Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin (1987)
• Main Zinda Hoon (1988)
• Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro (1989) as Aslam
• Haque (1991)as Nandi – Editor
• Jaan Se Pyaara (1992) as Police Commissioner
• Pratimurti (1993) as Manager
• Tarpan (1994) as Lakhan Thakur
• Taaqat (1995) as Anil Rege
• Bhai (1997) as Malik
• Daava (1997) as Advocate Chagan Chamunda
• Dil Kya Kare (1999) as Lawyer
• Benaam (1999)
• Laado (2000) as Urmi's Father-In-Law (Haryanvi Movies)
• Mission Kashmir (2000) as Chief Secretary Deshpande
• Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya (2000) as Mohit's Friend
• Lagaan (2001) as Sarpanch (Mukhiya Ji)
• Tum Bin (2001) as Iftekaar
• Yeh Raaste hai pyar ke 2001 As Doctor
• Swaraaj (2002)
• Ek Hindustani (2003)
• Basti (2003) as Commissioner Jabbar
• Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost (2003) as Sameer
• Krishna Cottage (2004) as J.C. College's Principal
• Deewaar: Let's Bring Our Heroes Home (2004) as Anand
• Hatya (2004) as Murugan
• Sehar (2005) as ADG (Law and Order) Arun Kapoor
• Amu (2005) as K.K.
• James (2005) as Nalin Yadav
• Guru (2007) as Kantilal Desai (Guru's Father)
• Apne (2007) as Sardar Bhullar
• Rakht Charitra (2010) – Hindi, Telugu, Tamil as Veera Bhadra
• Aakrosh (2010) as Geeta's dad
• Tanu Weds Manu (2011) as Rajendra Trivedi
• Paan Singh Tomar (2012) as Sports Coach (H.S. Randhawa)
• Riwayat (2012)
• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012) as Manoj
• Bobby Jasoos (2014)
• Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015) as Rajendra Trivedi

Television

• Kahan Gaye Woh Log (1985)
• Yatra (1986)
• Nukkad (1980s)
• Intezaar (1980s) as the Senior Station Master
• Bharat Ek Khoj (1980s)
• Mirza Ghalib (1988)
• Talaash (1992) as Fardu
• Chandrakanta (1990s) as Pandit Jagannath
• Byomkesh Bakshi (1993) as Mahidhar Chowdhury(Episode "Tasveer Chor")
• Shaktimaan (1996) as Geeta's Father
• Byomkesh Bakshi(Season 2) (1997) as Santosh Samaddar(Episode "Baalak Jasoos")
• Saaya (1998) as Jagat Narayan
• Ullanghan (1999)
• Jai Ganesha(1999 TV Series)- Narada
• Choti Si Aasha (1999)
• Aashirwad (1998)
• Parsa (2004)
• Raavan (2005-2008) as Sumali
• Banoo Main Teri Dulhan (2006)
• Kuchh Is Tara (2007-2008) as Anand Godbole
• Ranbir Rano (2008)
• Hum Ladkiyan (2008)
• Rehna Hai Teri Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein (2010)
• Balika Vadhu (2009–2012) as Mahaveer Singh
• Chidiya Ghar (2011–present) as Kesri Narayan
• Kahaani Chandrakanta Ki (2011) as Pandit Jagannath

Stage

As director

• Sarphire / Jaheez Hatyare (1985, 2003, 2004, 2006)
• Sooraj Ki Antim Kiran Se Sooraj Ke Pehle Kiran Tak
• Dikhti..Khoob Ho!

As actor

• Sarphire
• Sar Sar Sarla
• Sooraj Ki Antim Kiran Se Sooraj Ke Pehle Kiran Tak
• Chanakyashastra
• Kanyadaan
• Dikhti..Khoob Ho!

• Gupta won a RAPA Award in 2000 for his performance in Saaya.