Ravi Baswani, one of the most beloved actors in Hindi films. He was an unforgettable talent who, despite being a cult figure, remained underutilised by the film industry. It is such a shame that phenomenal success like “Chashme Buddoor” and “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro” can’t secure him work of his choice.
Early Life and Career
Ravi Baswani was born in Delhi on September 29, 1946, into a Jat family. Baswani attended the prestigious St. George’s College, Mussoorie, for his early education. He followed it with a bachelor’s degree from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University.
While in college, he started taking an interest in theatre. His interest grew after he joined Kirori Mal College’s dramatic society. Soon, he became heavily involved in the Delhi theatre scene. While doing theatre, came into contact with many actors from the National School of Drama, including Naseeruddin Shah. One of his famous plays was “Ballabpur Ki Roop Katha.” After his graduation, he joined the Modern School, Delhi, as a drama teacher.
Ravi Baswani In Films
He left his job after he got a chance to work with Sai Paranjpye in the production department of her movie “Sparsh (1980).” He once told in an interview that when he saw the script of “Sparsh,” “I was so impressed that I told Naseer I had to be involved with this film, even if it meant working as his personal spot boy.”
Paranjpe was very impressed by his talent and enthusiasm and offered him a role in “Chashme Buddoor (1981),” where he played the skirt-chasing bachelor “Jomo,” alongside Farooq Sheikh, Deepti Naval, and Rakesh Bedi. In the film he received widespread praise for his natural comic timing.
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro
However, it was Kundan Sha’s 1983 cult classic “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro” that catapulted him to fame. Baswani’s ability to underplay a character made him stand out in an industry where over-the-top performances were the norm. The film had a horde of great actors, from Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapoor, and Om Puri to Satish Shah, Satish Kaushik, Neena Gupta, and Bhakti Barwe. It was tough to even stand in front of them, let alone outshine and win the Filmfare Best Comedian Award in 1984.
Over three decades, Baswani graced the silver screen in about 30 films, showcasing his versatility not only in comedy but also in character roles. Some of his notable films include Agnidaah (1984), Ab Ayega Mazaa (1984), Ghar Sansar (1986), Love 86 (1986), Zevar (1987), Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993), Laadla (1993), Chhota Chetan (1998), Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota (1999), Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (1999), Lucky: No Time for Love (2005), and Bunty Aur Babli (2005).
Other Work
His television presence was equally notable. Her gets especially praised for Anand Mahendru’s popular comedy serial “Idhar Udhar.” He acted alongside the Pathak sisters, Supriya and Ratna. She also was part of serials like “Ek Se Badkar Ek,” “Football Ki Wapsi,” and “Just Mohabbat.”
Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, revived the acting course in 2004, after 26 years. Ravi assumed the role of coordinator and teacher. His commitment to nurturing future talent was evident, although he resigned from the position the following year.
On July 27, 2010, a massive heart attack in Haldwani, Uttarakhand tragically ended Ravi Baswani’s life. He was on his way back to Delhi from Nainital, where he had been scouting locations for his directorial debut feature film—a project that remained unfulfilled.
Ravi Baswani on IMDB
