Shivaji Satam

Shivaji Satam, man, what a journey. He didn’t just wake up and become a TV star—he actually started out as a chemistry guy, with a degree from Mumbai University. Then he did the whole “real job” thing—banker, inspection officer—before the acting bug bit him hard. It’s wild to think his first gig was way back in 1980 on TV in Rishte-Naate, hanging out with Navin Nischol. Fast forward a bit, and you’ll spot him in English, August in ‘94, playing Govind Sathe alongside Rahul Bose and Tanvi Azmi. He’s always popping up in these intense roles—like in Yeshwant and Ghulam-E-Musthafa in ‘97. He even snagged a Star Screen Awards nomination for that last one, not too shabby. But wait, timeline’s a little loopy—he actually did his first big screen thing earlier, in Pestonjee, playing a doc with legends like Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi in ‘88. But let’s be real—Satam became a household name thanks to C.I.D. That show? Ran for two decades. He played ACP Pradyuman, and honestly, that “Daya, darwaza tod do!” line is practically a meme at this point. He grabbed a Telly Award for best lead actor in 2002, too. Marathi cinema? He’s got that covered—Ek Hoti Vadi (snagged him a state award), Uttarayan, De Dhakka, Haapus, and more. Plus, he was in Split Wide Open, and still keeps showing up in fresh stuff like De Dhakka 2 and Bamboo. The man just doesn’t quit.