Sarita Joshi

Sarita Joshi (; born 17 October 1941) is an Indian actress. Cited amongst the finest and most significant actors of Gujarati and Marathi theatre, Joshi is known for her Gujarati plays done with her husband Pravin Joshi in the 1970s. She garnered widespread recognition for her role as the matriarch Godavari Thakkar in the Star Plus hit dramedy Baa Bahoo Aur Baby (2005–2010). In 1988, she was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Acting in Gujarati by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. In 2020, she has been awarded with Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award for her contribution in Art. She was recently seen in Zee TV's Hamari Bahu Silk as a hard-working business woman who hates films especially 'A' grade films. Sarita Joshi was seen on Anupama: Namaste America, a prequel web series to the Star Plus show Anupamaa in 2022.

She is currently playing the character of Radha Limaye aka Radha Tai/Kaku in Sony Sab's Pushpa Impossible.

Early life Sarita was born in a middle class Marathi family in Pune, on 17th October 1941, though she grew up in Vadodara. Later, she married theatre director and playwright Pravin Joshi. She is the mother of actresses Ketki Dave, who played the role of Daksha in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and of Purbi Joshi, who appears on Comedy Circus as a host. Aruna Irani is her sister's niece from husband side. Her niece is Manasi Joshi Roy (wife of Rohit Roy) and nephew is actor Sharman Joshi (son in law of Prem Chopra), son of theatre veteran Arvind Joshi.

Plays

Ame Paranyaa (1948-50) Aaj ni Vaat (1948-50) Dil ki Pyaas, Aankh ka Nasha Ra Mandalik Malavpati Munj Prithvi Raaj Chauhan Kuleen Kanya Bal Kanaiyo Gunhegaar Inquilaab (Hindi) Anokhi Pooja Mangal Moorty Jojo Moda Na Padaota (1962) Prithvi Vallabh Saccha Bola Jutha Laga Balwant ni Baby Moti Veraana Chok ma Mograna Saap (1963) Chandarvo (1963) Saptapadi Veni Ma Char Phool Evam Indrajit Dhummas Sapna na Vavetar Sahebo Gulab no Chod Kaanch no Chandramaa Vaishaki Koyal Sharat Manju Manju Santu Rangili (1973) Kumarni Agashi (1975) Mausam Chalke Lady Lalkunwar Savita Damodar Paranjpe Do Diwane Shaher Mein Devki Gup Chup Gup Chup Sakha Sahiyara (also directed by her) Wrong Number Sambhav Asambhav Masala Mami (Gujarati)– with Arvind Vaidya and Disha Vakani in the cast Avsar Aavi ne Ubho Aangane Tu Chhe Lajawaab(2012) Ladies Special (2017) Sakubai (Hindi) Shyamchi Aai (Marathi)

Filmography Television

Films YearTitleRoleLanguage 1967Parivar AmbaHindi 1968 Kanyadaan Hindi 1972 Janam Tip Gujarati 1974 Trimurti Hindi 1983 Khamma Mara Lal Gujarati 1988 Main Zinda Hoon Hindi 1992 Karm Yodha Mrs. Dasgupta Hindi 2005 Nazar Hindi 2006 Darna Zaroori Hai Satish's Mother Hindi 2007 Guru Mrs. Desai Hindi 2008 Dasvidaniya Maa Hindi 2009 Bollywood Beats Vina English 2010 10ml LOVE Hindi 2013 Gangoobai Gangoobai Hindi 2014 Singham Returns Mrs. Jadhav Hindi 2016 Samuel Street Sarita Joshi English 2018 Simmba Bharti Ranade Hindi 2021 Roohi Budhiya Hindi 2023 12th Fail DadiHindi

Web series

Awards

In 2020, the Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India. In 1988, she was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Acting in Gujarati. In 2007, for her role as Godavari Labhshankar Thakkar in Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, she was awarded a Best Actress in a Drama award by the IDEA Indian Television Academy Awards.

Other awards include:

Lifetime Achievement Award for Gujarati Theatre in 2007 by Transmedia (Organization felicitating artist on Gujarati Theatre & TV) Mumbai Nagar Palika – Gold Medal Marathi Natya Parishad – 1988 Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar – 1990 Bank of India- Utkrushta Puraskar – 1997–98 Indo-American Society Award for Excellence – 1998 Gujarat Government Award – 1998 Bruhad Mumbai Gujarati Samaj – 2000 National School of Drama – (Delhi 2001) RAPA Award – 2008 Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar – 2010 Dhirubhai Thakar Savyasachi Saraswat Award (2023)