Actor Chandrakant Gokhale passes away

Pune, Jun 20 (UNI) Veteran film actor Chandrakant Gokhale, who featured in over 150 Marathi and Hindi films, died of cancer in a private hospital here today.

He was 88.

He is survived by his son actor Vikram Gokhale and daughter Aparajita Munje.

Gokhale has acted in a total of 150 films, including 16 in Hindi, around 64 Marathi plays and several Marathi TV serials, in a career span of 75 years.

He remained active despite his illness and featured in this year's award winning Marathi film 'Walu'. Among his famous Marathi films are 'Suvasini', 'Manini', 'Dhagti Jau', 'Javai Mazha bhala', 'Majhi Manse', 'Maharani Yasubai'.

Gokhale has won acclaim for his Marathi plays, including 'Purush', 'Raje Master', a version of 'Nata Samrath', 'Barrister' and 'Reshma chya Gathi'. He was also appreciated for his performance in some of the Hindi films like 'Vishwas Ghat' and 'Virasat'.

He won the President's award for the Best Actor for his role in the Marathi film 'Dhagti Jau'. He won eight State Government Awards for the Best Actor in 'Dharma Kanya' and for his Marathi play 'Irsha'.

His also took part in philantrophic activities. Every year, he donated Rs 50,000 to war widows and families of the jawans killed in action.

Gokhale's daughter Aparajita and friend Chittaranjan Kolhatkar, also a Marathi actor, were by his bedside when he died.

He was cremated at Vaikunth Crematorium. The last rites were performed by his son, Vikram Gokhale, who is also a noted actor, in presence of people from Marathi cinema and Theatre personalities.

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