“Just two months ago, we met him at Pune. He was not keeping well. Still, he found time to interact with us. That time, he had said: I am facing various physical ailments, but I am an artist. True artist never shows his sorrows. I have decided to wear smile on my face,” recalled noted theatre personality Deepali Ghonge, while recalling her last interaction with iconic artist Vikram Gokhale. The statement -- True artist never shows his sorrows -- reflects the depth of personality of Vikram Gokhale, who left his physical form on Saturday to remain eternally in public consciouness. Not many know that Gokhale started his career in professional theatre from Nagpur. Mohan Tondwalkar of Kalavaibhav had produced the play ‘Jaswandi’ of Saee Paranjape. Popular Publications published the play in book form in 1976. However, its shows were held in Hindi, Gujarati, and Sindhi languages prior to that. According to Prakash Edlabadkar, noted compere and critic from the city, ‘Jaswandi’ play’s Marathi show was organised in Nagpur later on. Vijaya Mehta, a great mentor to many, had taken great efforts to bring the play in Marathi. The show featuring Vikram Gokhale as a young actor won the hearts of the Nagpurians, and thus started Gokhale’s professional theatre career. Later on also, Gokhale kept his bond with Nagpur intact.

 

He was in touch with eminent Nagpurians including acclaimed playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar, veteran artist Ajit Diwadkar, actor Kishor Ayalwar, Dr Parag Ghonge, and Deepali Ghonge. As the news of Gokhale’s demise came, a pall of gloom descended over the theatre world in Nagpur. Vilas Manekar, Secretary of Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh, recalled that Vikram Gokhale had toured Vidarbha region for shows of various plays. He shared with ‘The Hitavada’ that Vikram Gokhale and Ramesh Bhatkar had together toured Vidarbha for the shows of the play ‘Chhupe Rustam’. In 1998, both these actors featured in the play ‘Beimaan’ staged during Saptak Drama Festival. Gokhale, known for his ‘conversant’ eyes and clear diction, was fond of reading. He belonged to the generation of actors who had a taste for reading, which reflected in the aplomb with which they portrayed various roles. According to Edlabadkar, whenever Gokhale came to Nagpur, he used to visit different organisations and helped their cause. The artist had visited an old-age home at Dighori and Nandanvan School.

 

Gokhale had once come with a drama team to Nagpur. When he came to know that a hotel room was booked for him, and other members of the team were residing in MLA Hostel, he cancelled the booking at the hotel and stayed with other members of the drama team. In the year 2016, ETE Shree Arts and Ranjit Jog’s Nitasha Production had jointly organised a two-day acting workshop at Shri Ram Sabhagruha in Ram Nagar, Nagpur. Deepali Ghonge shared with ‘The Hitavada’ that it was the first acting workshop of ‘Vikramkaka’ in Vidarbha region. As many as 60 youngsters participated in the workshop. “He interacted with every participant and also guided them on finer nuances of the theatre art. He relished the Vidarbha delicacies -- Wada-Bhaat Kadhi, Puran Poli -- very much.

 

His simplicity, ability of strike conversations with youngsters, free-wheeling chats with us will never be forgotten,” she recalled. Two months ago, Dr Parag Ghonge’s book ‘The Self-Portrait’ was released at the hands of Gokhale at the latter’s Pune residence. “That time, he was not keeping well. Still, he spared time for interaction with us. I shall never forget what he said then about an artist’s attribute. Today, though Vikram Gokhale in mortal form is gone, the artist will live on,” Ghonge said. As the news of demise of Gokhale spread, condolences poured in. Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister; Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport; Chandrashekhar Bawankule, State President of BJP; Sandeep Joshi, former Mayor, and other dignitaries said that the world of theatre and films had suffered an irreparable loss in Gokhale’s demise.