Ajit Shidhaye is an Indian actor, hotelier, musician and corporate trainer. He is best known for playing the role of Chaudhary in the Netflix web series Ghoul (2018).
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Ajit Shidhaye was born on Saturday, 16 November 1972 (age 51 years; as in 2022) in Pune, Maharashtra. His zodiac sign is Virgo. Ajit did his schooling from Modern English School, Pune. Later, he graduated from Fergusson College, Pune and Maharashtra State Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Pune.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx): 6′
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye colour: Hazel green
Family
parents and siblings
Ajit Shidhaye’s father Anand Shidhaye worked in State Bank of India. Ajit’s mother Shaila Shidhaye is a housewife.
Anand Shidhaye and Shaila Shidhaye
Ajit Shidhaye’s younger sister Anagha Khare is a journalist.
wife and children
Ajit Shidhaye’s wife Sonali Shidhaye works in engine equipment manufacturing company Cummins India Limited. Ajit has two children named Advay Shidhaye and Siya Shidhaye.
Ajit Shidhaye with his family
Religion
Ajit Shidha follows Hindu religion.
livelihood
hotelier
Before entering the field of acting, Ajit worked as a hotelier. He has worked for hotel chains such as InterContinental Hotels Group as an F&B Manager. He has also worked as training and development manager in India and abroad for various hotel chains such as Westin Hotels & Resorts, Six Senses Hotel Resorts Spa and Royal Caribbean International. In an interview, Ajit talked about his career as a hotelier and said that he has traveled to more than 80 countries for his work. He said,
I hate comfort zones because nothing ever grows there. I have enjoyed waking up in a different country every week during my tenure with the world’s best cruise lines. I started as a hotelier and was part of the core opening team of some of the most prestigious hotels in India and abroad. I have traveled to more than 80 countries.
movies
Marathi
In 2016, Ajit made his acting debut in the Marathi film Band Nylon Che in which he played the role of Michael.
A poster of the Marathi film Band Nylon Che (2016)
He has worked in various Marathi films such as Manjha (2017), Bhikhari (2017), and Boys 2 (2018).
Hindi
In 2017, Ajit debuted in Bollywood with the film Yeh Hai India, in which he played the role of Mickey’s father.
Ajit Shidhaye (left) as Mickey’s father in a scene from the Hindi film Yeh Hai India (2017)
He has worked in supporting roles in various Hindi films such as URI: The Surgical Strike (2019), Saaho (2019), War (2019), Panipat (2019), and Khuda Hafiz (2020).
Ajit Shidhaye (left) as Shahwali Khan in a scene from the Hindi film Panipat (2018)
television shows
In 2017, Ajit made his television debut with Sony TV’s episodic show CID, in which he played the role of Murali. In the same year, Ajit worked in the Marathi show Chuk Bhul Diwali Gaonya in which he played the role of Dilip.
web series
In 2016, Ajit made his digital debut with the SonyLIV mini-series Hadh. Subsequently, Ajit has worked in various web series such as Breathe (2018), Damaged (2018), Ghoul (2018), Special OPS (2020), and Modern Love Mumbai (2022).
Facts/General Knowledge
- Ajit has been featured in print advertisements of many brands like Vistara, Sterling, MRF and Raymonds. She has also worked in TV commercials for brands like Netmeds and Rajnigandha.
Ajit Shidhaye in a scene from the Rajnigandha brand advertisement
- In an interview, Ajit recalled the early days of his modeling career and shared that he took his first portfolio shot in the 1990s, which cost around Rs 4500. Furthermore, Ajit said that with the portfolio photos, he got the opportunity to walk the ramp. In a fashion show. Ajit said,
I remember I got my portfolio made for Rs 4,500, which was a huge amount in the 90s and everyone thought it was a huge waste of money. The investment gave me the opportunity to walk the ramp in a fashion show! However, my mother was more supportive.”
- Ajit is an avid dog lover and has a pet dog named Joffra. He often posts pictures of Jofra on various social media platforms. He also has a separate Instagram page for his pet dog named ‘jofra_the_cockerspaniel’.
Ajit Shidhaye and his pet dog Jofra
- According to Ajit, in his childhood he never thought of choosing acting as a career; However, he had a passion for mimicry and stand-up comedy and used to perform in front of his family. Talking about this in an interview, Ajit said,
Growing up, I didn’t know what acting was. I studied in a school where theater or drama was not encouraged. When I didn’t even know what stand-up comedy was, I was the family entertainer getting applause and attention for mimicry and stand-up comedy. My family has a very strong connection with music and culture, but acting was an untouched field.
- In 2020, Ajit was nominated for an Indian Television Academy Award for the Hindi web series Special Ops.
- In an interview, Ajit had said that his favorite actor is Paresh Rawal.
- Apart from being an actor, Ajith is also a musician. He plays the tabla and has performed in various concerts in India and abroad. Ajit’s father Anand Shidhaye is also a tabla player. Talking about this in an interview, Ajit said,
I have performed tabla recitals on cruise lines as well as on stage and have received much appreciation. I knew it was time for me to whole-heartedly embrace my fourth passion – acting.”
- At the age of 44, Ajit left his hotel job to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. According to Ajit, initially he watched about six to eight films every day to learn the nuances of acting. Talking about this in an interview he said,
Only to realize that I had already pursued the first three of my four main passions – training, travelling, music – in that exact order. I hate comfort zones because nothing ever grows there. With no supporters for my passion, especially since I was leaving a well-paying job at the age of 44 for a career that had no future, I took two steps to prove myself to my people. Asked for time of year. My car became my vanity van and my TV set became my only school. I watched about six-eight films every day, both good and bad, because there was so much to learn from each one.
- In an interview, Ajit said that he was rejected 113 times in acting auditions before bagging the web series Ghoul (2018) starring Radhika Apte.
- Ajit is fond of fitness and he practices yoga regularly. He often shares his pictures and videos while doing yoga on various social media platforms.
- Ajit is often seen consuming alcohol on many occasions.
- According to Ajit Shidhaye’s social media handle, he used to smoke cigarettes; However, in a Facebook post, Ajit talked about his smoking habit and shared that he decided to quit smoking amid the COVID pandemic. On Facebook, Ajit shared a picture of himself smoking a cigarette and also wrote the caption,
Think before you burn!!!It’s World No Tobacco Day. It always starts with one drag and then drags your whole life… This lockdown has proved to be a boon for me.. as I have not smoked at all and hope to continue that ..This will be my true freedom after this lockdown!”
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn