Against All Odds: How a diesel mechanic pursued his passion to become a seasoned Marathi actor, fought off cancer

The incidental occurred astatine Balgandharva Rangmandir, Pune, successful December 2024 erstwhile Ponkshe forgot his lines mid-way done the play ‘Purush’. When helium couldn’t spell connected adjacent aft a break, helium apologised to the assemblage and left. The amusement was cancelled. But wrong hours Ponkshe performed the aforesaid play again successful the evening – and to perfection.

“It happened truthful rapidly that it was hard to recognize and overcome. I’m incredibly grateful to the assemblage for their love, patience, and religion successful me,” says the actor, who has a vocation spanning implicit 25 years. He has appeared successful much than 65 TV serials and 110 films successful some Marathi and Hindi cinema. Throughout his life, helium has faced and flooded important challenges, from starting retired arsenic a diesel mechanic to battling cancer.

Balancing a time occupation with a burgeoning acting vocation was nary casual feat. Despite the archetypal challenges, his emotion for the signifier pushed him forward. “There were days erstwhile I worked from 9 americium to 4 pm, past rushed for rehearsals oregon performances,” helium says. His acting travel began successful 1978 done one-act play competitions successful Mumbai. He earned conscionable 7 rupees for his archetypal role, but helium persevered, yet performing successful implicit 14 nonrecreational plays and aboriginal landing roles successful Marathi tv serials and films.

“I couldn’t spend to permission my job, but my passionateness for acting kept maine going,” helium says. Balancing acting and his occupation astatine BST required ingenuity, but arsenic helium says, “This manufacture is afloat of surprises. It needs a batch of patience, conscionable hold and watch, and person faith.”

Marathi tv bid a turning point

His breakthrough came with the Marathi tv bid ‘Damini’, the archetypal regular serial successful Marathi tv history. Ponkshe besides worked arsenic an adjunct manager connected 2 films, cherishing each accidental to learn. Despite aboriginal struggles and roles with small recognition, helium drew inspiration from icons similar Amitabh Bachchan, whose performances helium mimicked and practised astatine home.

A turning constituent came erstwhile helium bagged the relation of Nathuram Godse successful the eponymous play ‘Me Nathuram Godse Boltoy’. On July 10, 1998. erstwhile ‘Me Nathuram Godse Boltoy’ had its archetypal show successful Shivajinagar, Pune, his beingness changed. “I became the spotlight. I got the relation due to the fact that of histrion and manager Vinay Apte.”

The portrayal of Nathuram Godse propelled him to fame and challenged him arsenic an artist. “That relation required heavy introspection and understanding, pushing maine to germinate arsenic an actor,” Ponkshe adds. Drawing inspiration from legends similar Vikram Gokhale, Amrish Puri, and Amitabh Bachchan, Ponkshe says, “Success demands relentless effort and perseverance. Amrish Puri started successful inheritance roles earlier becoming a household name. Their journeys punctual america to enactment determined.”

According to Ponkshe, each play is simply a teacher, “One happening that plays taught maine is that nary 1 is simply a atrocious person; it’s the concern that makes them bad. Everyone has their ain stories.”

Ponkshe besides stars successful the upcoming Marathi movie Banjara, which is acceptable to merchandise successful April. “Notably, it is the archetypal Marathi movie to beryllium changeable 90 per cent successful Sikkim successful utmost -8 degrees Celsius temperatures, ensuring breathtaking visuals from the region,” helium mentions.

Even aft appearing successful implicit 100 films and TV serials, the histrion remains grounded. “The signifier demands subject and humility,” helium says. “Every clip I measurement connected stage, I bow to the goddess of theatre, asking her to usher maine and forgive my mistakes.”

His household of 4 comprises his wife, lad Sneh, an histrion and girl Siddhi, a pilot, “My household has ever been my strongest enactment system,” helium says. “They ever showed a batch of knowing towards maine and my profession.”

This is besides what gave him the spot to combat the often debilitating cancer, “I see crab arsenic 1 of the barriers that I crossed with Bappa’s blessing. It affected my travel a spot but I resumed it with much positivity.” Ponkshe returned to acting successful 2019 aft his unwellness with the play ‘Himalayachi Savali’. He is present astir enthused astir his upcoming play ‘Kalchakra’. In summation to playing the pb relation of a 75-year-old man, Ponkshe is besides the task producer. The play delves into the affectional struggles of aged parents successful today’s society, wherever children often determination overseas oregon signifier atomic families, leaving their parents isolated.

“It’s a communicative astir the challenges they look and the decisions they indispensable make,” says Ponkshe arsenic helium readies it for a 2026 merchandise to people different milestone successful his bonzer life.