Personal details
- Birth Date: 1940-03-05
- Birth Location: Darbhanga, Bihar Province, British India
- Professions: Actor, Writer, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
reference Padmashree Professor Ram Gopal Bajaj is kind of a big deal in Indian theatre, honestly. The guy ran the National School of Drama as Director from 1995 to 2001, and earlier, he was the boss of their Repertory Company for years. Not just some desk job either—he’s directed a bunch of iconic plays, both with NSD and their repertory team, and he’s got serious chops as an actor too. We’re talking stage, radio, TV, even films. He’s a total all-rounder, working his magic on everything from production design and stage lighting to make-up. Oh, and his poetry recitation? Apparently, that’s something people still rave about. Bajaj wasn’t just about keeping the status quo, either. When he ran NSD, he shook things up—pushed academic and artistic programs further, and kicked off fresh things like extension programs and documentation. Ever heard of Jashn-e-Bachpan? That’s his brainchild—a national theatre festival just for kids, pulling groups from all over India. He also rolled out Bharat Rang Mahotsava, which is now this massive international theatre event. Bal Sangam, another of his ideas, got traditional and folk arts onto the stage, led by kids and their gurus. The man’s obsessed with making theatre a part of school life, too. Founding member of Delhi’s Dishantar Theatre Group, adored by the theatre community, and he’s stacked up a bunch of awards—Sangeet Natak Academy, Sahitya Kala Parishad, Nandikar Samman, and the Padma Shri, just to name a few. He’s been on the boards of everything from UNESCO committees to national film juries. The guy’s pretty much done it all.
movies triviannThe family tree here is basically a Bollywood behind-the-scenes power squad. You’ve got a legendary cinematographer, Aseem Bajaj, whose camera work has jazzed up more than a few films you’ve probably binged on a rainy afternoon. His brother, Riju Bajaj, is no stranger to the limelight either—he’s done his fair share of acting, popping up in films and theater. And if that wasn’t enough, their dad is basically the OG—someone who’s rooted in industry legacy, quietly pulling the strings behind all that talent. Oh, and let’s not skip over the daughter-in-law: Leena Yadav, a director with some serious indie cred. She’s the mind behind some of those films that get everyone talking at festivals. So basically, if you’re talking Bollywood families that have their fingerprints all over the place—from the camera to the stage to the director’s chair—you’re talking about these guys. It’s like talent runs in their DNA.
March 5, 1940
Konidela Ram Charan
Darbhanga, Bihar Province, British India
Yes, Riju Bajaj
85 years old