Jaishankar Bhojak, Actor and Director
Actor and Director

Jaishankar Bhojak

Born 30 January 1889 · Gujarat — Died 22 January 1975

Popularized female impersonation in early 20th century Gujarati theatre.

Jaishankar Bhudhardas Bhojak, better known by his theatre name Jaishankar Sundari, was an Indian actor and director of Gujarati theatre. Starting at the young age, he rose to fame for his roles of female impersonator in early Gujarati plays. He retired from acting in 1932 but returned to theatre direction and teaching in 1948. He directed and acted in several successful plays.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Jaishankar Bhojak earned the sobriquet 'Sundari' after his acclaimed portrayal of Desdemona in a 1901 adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello, a role he played as a male actor impersonating a female in Gujarati theatre.

The Story

1
🎭 In 1897, at just 8 years old, Jaishankar Bhojak joined Dadabhai Thunthi's Urdu performing art company in Calcutta, earning a modest six rupees a month as part of a girls' chorus, marking the start of his unusual career in theatre.
2
In 1901, he moved to Mumbai Gujarati Natak Mandali where he gained fame for playing female roles, notably Desdemona in Saubhagya Sundari, an adaptation of Othello, earning him the nickname 'Sundari' for his convincing performances.
3🌟 Between 1902 and 1904, he starred in plays like Vikrama Charitra and Kamlata, performing the lead female roles opposite Bapulal Nayak, and was part of a troupe that staged Govardhanram Tripathi's Saraswatichandra and nationalistic plays during the pre-independence era.
4His role as Rambha, a dairy-maid in Vikrama Charitra, was performed 160 times over three years, every Saturday night, demonstrating the play's and his enduring popularity.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1901, Jaishankar Bhojak performed the role of Desdemona in Saubhagya Sundari, an adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello, earning the nickname 'Sundari' because of his convincing female impersonation at a time when women were not allowed on stage.

🖼️

Through the Years

5 photographs from the archives
Jaishankar Bhojak 'Sundari' with Bapulal Nayak in the play Saubhagya Sundari (1901).
Jaishankar Bhojak 'Sundari' with Bapulal Nayak in the play Saubhagya Sundari (1901).
1901
Jaishankar Bhojak 'Sundari' performing with Bapulal Nayak in the play Kamlata, Mumbai (1904).
Jaishankar Bhojak 'Sundari' acting alongside Bapulal Nayak in Sneh Sarita (1915).
Jaishankar Bhojak 'Sundari' with Bapulal Nayak and Surajram Nayak in Kashmir Nu Prabhat (1928).
Jaishankar Bhojak 'Sundari' at the Sangeet Natak Academy Awards presentation in New Delhi (1957).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Undhai, Gujarat
Jaishankar Bhudhardas Bhojak was born on 30 January 1889 in Undhai near Visnagar to a family involved in performing arts and temple rituals.
1889
⚡
Career
Joined Urdu performing arts in Calcutta
At age 8, Jaishankar joined Dadabhai Thunthi's Urdu performing art company in Calcutta, working in the girls' chorus for six rupees monthly.
1897
⚡
Career
Joined Mumbai Gujarati Natak Mandali
He joined Chotalal Kapadia's theatre company in Bombay, gaining fame as a female impersonator in Gujarati, Hindi, and Urdu plays.
1901
⚡
Career
Retired from acting
Jaishankar retired from active acting and returned to his hometown Visnagar.
1932
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Career
Returned as director and teacher
He resumed theatre work as a director and educator at Gujarat Vidhya Sabha, Ahmedabad, fostering traditional and modern theatre forms.
1948
🏅
Award
Received Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak
Awarded the highest honor in Gujarati literature and arts for his contributions to theatre.
1951
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Award
Awarded Padma Vibhushan
Received India's second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, for his impact on Indian arts.
1971
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Death
Death in Visnagar
Jaishankar Bhojak passed away on 22 January 1975 in his hometown Visnagar.
1975
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 05
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

He performed the role of Rambha in Vikrama Charitra 160 times over three years, with shows every Saturday night, highlighting the sustained popularity of this production in early 20th-century Gujarati theatre.

02 / 05
🔍LESSER KNOWN

After retiring in 1932, Jaishankar returned to theatre in 1948 as a teacher and director, co-founding Natmandal theatre school in Ahmedabad to revive and innovate traditional Gujarati performing arts.

03 / 05
💡SURPRISING

Jaishankar Sundari synthesized the traditional Gujarati Bhavai with Beijing Opera elements in the 1953 production of Mena Gurjari, an unusual East-West theatrical fusion for its time.

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🌱 What changed because of them

Jaishankar Sundari's pioneering female impersonations kept female roles alive in Gujarati theatre during a time when women were barred from performing on stage. His establishment of Natmandal theatre school fostered a new generation of actors and revived traditional art forms like Bhavai by integrating them with other styles such as Beijing Opera. His awards, including the Padma Vibhushan, marked a formal recognition of theatre arts in Gujarat and inspired later theatrical movements in India.

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