Shrimaan Shrimati (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Shrimaan Shrimati was a popular sitcom that first aired on Doordarshan
in 1995. It starred Jatin Kanakia
, Rakesh Bedi
, Reema Lagoo
and Archana Puran Singh
in the lead roles. It became quite popular due to the good storylines and excellent comic performances from all the lead actors. Shrimaan Shrimati was written by Ashok Patole, directed by Rajan Waghdhare and produced by Gautam Adhikari and Markand Adhikari (popularly referred to as the "Adhikari brothers").
Shrimaan Shrimati was built on the premise of "love thy neighbor's wife." Keshav Kulkarni (Jatin Kanakia
) is married to Kokila (Reema Lagoo
). Their neighbours are a popular film actress Prema Shalini (Archana Puran Singh
) and her effeminate husband Dilruba (Rakesh Bedi
). Keshav is attracted to Prema's glamorous looks and lifestyle, while Dilruba is attracted to Kokila who is a smart housewife
. Both of them make use of every possible opportunity (and create many of their own) to flirt with each other's wives, but every time their efforts come to nought.
The other important characters in the TV series are Keshav and Kokila's son Chintu (Ajay Nagrath), their other neighbor Ganga ( Hema Diwan), Keshav's boss Mr. Sharma (Shail Chaturvedi
) and his office colleague Gokhale (Vijay Gokhale).
, an entertainment channel launched by the Adhikari brothers and later acquired by Sony Entertainment Television
.
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
in 1995. It starred Jatin Kanakia
Jatin Kanakia
Jatin Kanakia was an Indian actor. Best known for comedy roles, his career ranged from working in Gujarati plays, Hindi television shows and Hindi Bollywood movies. His skill and success earned him the informal title of being the "Prince of Comedy."-Early life:Jatin Kanakia was born in a Gujarati...
, Rakesh Bedi
Rakesh Bedi
Rakesh Bedi is an Indian film actor and television personality. He started his career as a supporting actor in the 1979 film Hamare Tumhare starring Sanjeev Kumar, and then went on to act in over 150 films and a couple of TV serials. Some of his most memorable roles were in the 1981 film Chashme...
, Reema Lagoo
Reema Lagoo
Reema Lagoo is an Indian actress who has appeared in numerous Marathi as well as Hindi films and television shows. She also has had a presence on Marathi stage for nearly four decades.- Career :...
and Archana Puran Singh
Archana Puran Singh
Archana Puran Singh is an Indian television presenter and film actress. She is most known for comedy roles, and as a judge on comedy shows, like Sony TV India's Comedy Circus.-Career:...
in the lead roles. It became quite popular due to the good storylines and excellent comic performances from all the lead actors. Shrimaan Shrimati was written by Ashok Patole, directed by Rajan Waghdhare and produced by Gautam Adhikari and Markand Adhikari (popularly referred to as the "Adhikari brothers").
Shrimaan Shrimati was built on the premise of "love thy neighbor's wife." Keshav Kulkarni (Jatin Kanakia
Jatin Kanakia
Jatin Kanakia was an Indian actor. Best known for comedy roles, his career ranged from working in Gujarati plays, Hindi television shows and Hindi Bollywood movies. His skill and success earned him the informal title of being the "Prince of Comedy."-Early life:Jatin Kanakia was born in a Gujarati...
) is married to Kokila (Reema Lagoo
Reema Lagoo
Reema Lagoo is an Indian actress who has appeared in numerous Marathi as well as Hindi films and television shows. She also has had a presence on Marathi stage for nearly four decades.- Career :...
). Their neighbours are a popular film actress Prema Shalini (Archana Puran Singh
Archana Puran Singh
Archana Puran Singh is an Indian television presenter and film actress. She is most known for comedy roles, and as a judge on comedy shows, like Sony TV India's Comedy Circus.-Career:...
) and her effeminate husband Dilruba (Rakesh Bedi
Rakesh Bedi
Rakesh Bedi is an Indian film actor and television personality. He started his career as a supporting actor in the 1979 film Hamare Tumhare starring Sanjeev Kumar, and then went on to act in over 150 films and a couple of TV serials. Some of his most memorable roles were in the 1981 film Chashme...
). Keshav is attracted to Prema's glamorous looks and lifestyle, while Dilruba is attracted to Kokila who is a smart housewife
Housewife
Housewife is a term used to describe a married woman with household responsibilities who is not employed outside the home. Merriam Webster describes a housewife as a married woman who is in charge of her household...
. Both of them make use of every possible opportunity (and create many of their own) to flirt with each other's wives, but every time their efforts come to nought.
The other important characters in the TV series are Keshav and Kokila's son Chintu (Ajay Nagrath), their other neighbor Ganga ( Hema Diwan), Keshav's boss Mr. Sharma (Shail Chaturvedi
Shail Chaturvedi
Shail Chaturvedi was a Hindi poet, satirist, humorist, lyricist and actor from India, most known for his political satire in the 70’s and the 80’s.He worked as a character actor in several Hindi films and TV series.-Career:...
) and his office colleague Gokhale (Vijay Gokhale).
Central characters
- Jatin KanakiaJatin KanakiaJatin Kanakia was an Indian actor. Best known for comedy roles, his career ranged from working in Gujarati plays, Hindi television shows and Hindi Bollywood movies. His skill and success earned him the informal title of being the "Prince of Comedy."-Early life:Jatin Kanakia was born in a Gujarati...
as Keshav Kulkarni a.k.a. Keshu or Keku. He is the central character in the serial. - Reema LagooReema LagooReema Lagoo is an Indian actress who has appeared in numerous Marathi as well as Hindi films and television shows. She also has had a presence on Marathi stage for nearly four decades.- Career :...
as Kokila Kulkarni a.k.a. Koki. She plays Keshav's homemaker wife. - Archana Puran SinghArchana Puran SinghArchana Puran Singh is an Indian television presenter and film actress. She is most known for comedy roles, and as a judge on comedy shows, like Sony TV India's Comedy Circus.-Career:...
as Prema Shalini a.k.a. Doll or Prema ji. She plays a popular BollywoodBollywoodBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
film actress and speaks with an anglicised accent. Her name in the serial is a pun on real-life popular Bollywood actress Hema MaliniHema MaliniHema Malini is an Indian actress, director and producer, as well as a Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer. Making her acting debut in Sapno Ka Saudagar , she went on to appear in numerous Bollywood films, most notably those with actor and future-husband Dharmendra. She was initially promoted as...
. - Rakesh BediRakesh BediRakesh Bedi is an Indian film actor and television personality. He started his career as a supporting actor in the 1979 film Hamare Tumhare starring Sanjeev Kumar, and then went on to act in over 150 films and a couple of TV serials. Some of his most memorable roles were in the 1981 film Chashme...
as Dilruba Jarnail Singh Khurana a.k.a. Dilruba a.k.a. Dil. He plays Prema's admissive homemaker husband, and is rather effeminate by voice and body language. - Ajay Nagrath as Chintu, Keshav and Kokila's overweight but adorable son. He has a tendency to deliberately and comically jumble up certain words. For instance, he addresses Dilruba as "Dil-bura uncle", which literally translated means "a person with ill will."
Secondary characters
- Shail ChaturvediShail ChaturvediShail Chaturvedi was a Hindi poet, satirist, humorist, lyricist and actor from India, most known for his political satire in the 70’s and the 80’s.He worked as a character actor in several Hindi films and TV series.-Career:...
as Mr. Bablu Prasad Sharma a.k.a. Mr. Sharma, Keshav's boss. He thinks of Keshav as a useless and incompetent employee, and often refers to him as "luccha" (meaning "a cheat" in Hindi) or "bhikmanga Kulkarni" (meaning "beggar"). Keshav thinks of him as a nuisance and calls him "taklu Sharma" behind his back (meaning "bald" in Hindi, as Mr. Sharma is semi-bald). - Vijay Gokhale as Gokhale, Keshav's best friend and office colleague. Keshav trusts Gokhale more than anyone else, and always confides his thoughts and feelings in him. And if in any dilemma, Keshav always turns to Gokhale for advice and help, which he is more than willing to offer.
- Hema Diwan as Ganga a.k.a. Ganga mausi, Keshav and Kokila's other neighbor, sometimes jokingly referred to as "Ganges" (the English name of the river Ganga). Keshav is irritated by the sight of her and often pokes fun at her. Every time she drops in at Keshav's house, she ends up provoking a fight between him and his wife, at which point she hastily exits.
Additional information
Shrimaan Shrimati had also been re-telecast on SAB TVSAB TV
SAB TV is an Indian general entertainment television channel that is owned by Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd and based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was launched on April 23, 2000 by Sri Adhikari Brothers as a general entertainment channel. In 2003, it was repositioned as a comedy-centric channel...
, an entertainment channel launched by the Adhikari brothers and later acquired by Sony Entertainment Television
Sony Entertainment Television (India)
This article is about the SET channel in India. For the Indian version broadcasted worldwide, see Sony Entertainment Television Asia.Sony Entertainment Television, or SET, is a Hindi-language based general entertainment television channel in India. It was launched in October 1996 and is owned by...
.