Noted and respected Gujarati theatre actor and director Arvind Joshi breathed his last this morning (January 29) at Nanavati Hospital in Bombay. He is survived by his wife and two children — actors Sharman Joshi and actress Mansi Joshi Roy (who is married to actor Rohit Roy). He was the brother-in-law of actress Sarita Joshi and uncle of actress Ketki Dave.
Arvind Joshi was known more for his work on Gujarati stage than in films even though he had acted in films like Sholay and Ittefaq. It is testimony to the genius of Arvind Joshi as an actor that Rajesh Khanna requested B.R. Chopra to have Arvind Joshi present on the sets throughout the shooting of Ittefaq which was a remake of a stage-play, Dhummas, in which Arvind Joshi played the lead role. Joshi was considered as an actor par excellence. He had also worked in Gujarati films. The last film he acted in was K. Amar’s Jagat Jogni Maa Khodiyar (Gujarati). He acted in that film despite suffering from paralysis. He was initially hesitant to work in the film because of his illness but ultimately relented.
