10 Bollywood Celebs Who Are Medical Doctors In Real Life
Posted On: 22 Jul 2021 | Last Updated : 21 Nov 2022 | Views : 11.4k
For years in Bollywood, all that a doctor had to do on-screen was to come out of an operation theatre and say one of these three favourite dialogues – I Am Sorry, Aapne Laane Mein Deyr Kar Di…Hum Usse Bacha Nahin Sakey…, or Abhi Kuch Bhi Kehna Mushkil Hai…Usse Dawa Ki Nahin Duaa Ki Zaroorat Hai…or Mubarak Ho Operation Kaamyaab Raha…Kuch Hi Deyr Mein Usse Hosh Aa Jaayega…Phir Aap Usse Mil Saktey Hain… People would often believe that if you aren’t qualified enough you often end up becoming an actor in Bollywood, then came a phase when qualified MBA’s, Engineers, Chartered Accountants, etc. from different professions joined films to pursue their dreams. Many end up playing different characters from different professions on the big screen but how many celebrities do we know in Bollywood who were medical doctors before joining films? Only a handful of Bollywood celebrities were doctors by profession in real life before joining Bollywood who excelled in the field they wanted to. Let’s take a look at some known Bollywood celebs who were/are medical doctors in real life but also carved a niche for themselves in the film industry.
(Note: We have not included Bollywood celebrities and actors who hold a doctor’s degree in Ayurvedic, Homeopathy, or Ph.D.)
1. Dr. Shreeram Lagoo
Whenever anyone is asked about top Bollywood celebs who are real-life doctors, the name that comes to mind is that of veteran actor Dr. Shreeram Lagu or Dr. Sriram Lagoo who was known for playing a whole lot of varied roles in films like Thodisi Bewafai, Maqsad, Souten, Devata, Des Pardes, Laawaris, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Inkaar, Sajan Bin Suhagan, Kinara, Lootmaar, Swayamvar, Sitamgar, etc. Dr. Lagu received his M.B.B.S. & M.S. degrees from B. J. Medical College (University of Pune), India while also acting in college plays. Later he went on to complete a degree in ENT Surgery from the University of Mumbai and practiced in Pune for several years before becoming a full-time theatre actor in 1969. He made his acting debut in director V. Shantaram’s Marathi movie Pinjra (1972) followed by Samna (1975).
2. Dr. Mohan Agashe
Mohan Agashe and Dr. Shriram Lagoo’s careers were quite similar to each other with the former also being one of the real-life doctors who turned actors in Bollywood. Mohan Agashe who did his M.B.B.S. from B. J. Medical College, Pune went on to do his M.D. degree in Psychiatry. He later became a professor of Psychiatry and worked in the fields of clinical psychology and psychopharmacology before giving acting a shot by joining Marathi theatre. He made his acting debut in Shyam Benegal’s Nishant in 1975 and later followed it up by appearing in films like Manthan, Bhumika, Aakrosh, Mashaal, Angrakshak, Trimurti, Mrityudand, Hu Tu Tu, Ab Tak Chhappan, Toofaan, etc. But he will always be remembered for his performance as Nana Phadnavis in Ghashiram Kotwal, a Marathi play written by Vijay Tendulkar in 1972.
3. Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar
If we take a look at the list of doctors turned actors in Bollywood then the name of Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar cannot be ignored. Many may not know or recollect him for he had done only a few Bollywood films but reportedly was the first superstar of the Marathi stage and the highest-paid actor then. In real life, he was a qualified dental surgeon who did practice for a while but acting was always his first love. His Marathi film Madhuchandra (1968) made him a major film star and not to forget the mystery movie Ha Khel Savlyancha with Asha Kale. A few of his Hindi movies were Abhilasha (1968) opposite Nanda and Dadi Maa (1966) where he played the role of Ashok Kumar and Bina Rai’s son and sang the song Ae Maa Teri Surat Se Alag Bhagwan Ki Surat Kya Hogi.
4. Dr. Aditi Govitrikar
Touted by Business Today magazine as ‘Beauty with Brains’ Aditi Govitrikar needs no introduction when it comes to the world of glamour of entertainment. Aditi who did her M.B.B.S. from Grant Medical College in Mumbai in 1997, went on to complete her master’s degree in Psychology from IGNOU along with a post-graduation course in counseling from Tata Institute of Social Sciences. She won the Gladrags Supermodel Contest in 1996 and followed it up by winning the Gladrags Mrs. India in 2000 and Mrs. World contest in 2001. She made her acting debut in Telugu opposite Powerstar Pawan Kalyan superhit film Thammudu (1999), and later in Bollywood in films like 16 December, Soch, Dhund: The Fog, Baaz: A Bird in Danger, Paheli, De Dana Dan, Bheja Fry 2, etc.
5. Dr. Meiyang Chang
Many may know Meiyang Chang as a singer and actor but only a few are aware of the fact that he is a dentist in real life and holds a degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S) from V.S. Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore. Hailing from Dhanbad and a third-generation Indian-Chinese descendant, Chang gained prominence as a contestant on TV’s singing reality show Indian Idol’s third season. Besides being a TV host and singer, he has appeared in crucial roles in films like Badmaash Company (2010), Amit Sahni Ki List (2014), Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015), Sultan (2016), and Bharat (2019).
6. Dr. Palash Sen
Palash Sen too is one of the real-life doctors in Bollywood. Palash is a singer, lyricist, and composer who hit big time with his Rock band Euphoria that released its first album Dhoom Pichuck Dhoom in 2001 which was a major commercial hit. Palash who was born in a family of doctors received his M.B.B.S. degree from the University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS) and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, New Delhi. His passion for music led him to dabble with Indian folk music and lend his voice for songs from Filhaal..., Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge, Lamhaa and Kuku Mathur Ki Jhand Ho Gayi, etc. He has also acted in films like Filhaal... (2002), Mumbai Cutting (2010), and Aisa Yeh Jahaan (2015).
7. Dr. Arko Pravo Mukherjee
Arko Pravo Mukherjee or simply Arko is one name that currently is credited with many Bollywood chartbuster soundtracks in the last decade or so. The composer, singer, and lyricist, holds an M.B.B.S. degree from Burdwan Medical College. After completing his internship at Calcutta Medical College in 2007 he shifted to Mumbai in 2008 to pursue a career in singing in Bollywood. Arko has composed music for several movies like Jism 2, Yaariyan, Hate Story 2, The Shaukeens, Jazbaa, Kapoor & Sons, Rustom, Baar Baar Dekho, Kesari, etc. Some of his chartbuster songs include - Saathi Rey (Kapoor & Sons), Tere Bin Yaara (Rustom), Dariya (Baar Baar Dekho), Nazm Nazm (Bareilly Ki Barfi), Tere Jaisa (Satyameva Jayate), Teri Mitti (Kesari) and others.
8. Dr. Ashish Gokhale
Mention about real-life doctors in Hindi film industry and Ashish Gokhale's name would appear in it. Ashish Gokhale who acted in the TV serial Tara from Satara and played the role of Varun Mane, uncle to Roshni Walia's Tara received accolades for his performance, is a general physician in real life. After completing his M.B.B.S. and while practicing medicine in Maharashtra's Konkan region, Ashish bagged his first break as an actor in the TV serial Kumkum Bhagya in 2015. He has also acted in films such as Akshay Kumar's Gabbar is Back and Marathi film Mogra Phulaalaa.
9. Dr. Jabbar Patel
Noted award-winning theatre, documentary, and film director Jabbar Patel is a qualified medical doctor in real-life who specializes in pediatric medicine from B.J. Medical College, Pune. Born in 1942 in Pandharpur, Maharashtra he completed his schooling in Solapur before doing his M.B.B.S. While practicing as a pediatrician he was associated with the Marathi experimental theatre group called Progressive Dramatic Association (PDA) where he produced, acted as well as directed plays. His colleagues were Dr. Mohan Agashe, and Satish Alekar who gained prominence with their stage production, Ghashiram Kotwal written by Vijay Tendulkar. Dr. Patel later went on to direct Marathi as well as Hindi films like Samna, Simhasan, Subah (Umbartha), Musafir, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
10. Dr. Haresh Khatri
Dr. Haresh Khatri wears multiple hats that of a medical practitioner, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, model, actor, and voice-over artist. Dr. Haresh Khatri is a Pediatrician who did his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai in 1981. He started his own practice in 1984 and dabbled with a few marketing network businesses in Mumbai and Baroda. After accepting a few modeling assignments simultaneously he started playing supporting roles in popular movies like Haseena Parkar (2017), Gully Boy (2019), Satyameva Jayate 2 (2021), Criminal Justice (Web-Series - 2022), Drishyam 2 (2022), etc.
