Arun Sarnaik : vesatile film and stage actor

Arun Sarnaik (Arun Shankarrao Sarnaik) was born on 04-10-1935 in Kolhapur in the state of Maharashtra, India. He is an Indian Film Actor, Singer, Playback Singer & Theatre Actor. He was also an accomplished Tabla and Harmonium player. He is known for his work on Kela Ishara Jaata Jaata (1965), Manaacha Mujra (1969) and Lady Killer (1968).

He was the only son of the great "Maharashtra Kokil" Pandit Shankarrao Sarnaik (owner of Yashwant Natak Company) and Arun was cousin brother of legendary classical singer Pandit Nivruttibuva Sarnaik (Jaipur Atrauli Gharana) from whom he learned classical music.After completing his education from the Rajaram College in Kolhapur and the Ruia College in Mumbai, Arun turned his attention towards Stage and films. His first film, Lokshahir anant fandi, released in 1958 attracted great attention and he bagged the best actor award from the Government of Maharahstra. And later when Raja Thakur gave him a break in his movie Rangalya ratri asha, he entered the league of great actors. After this, Arun never looked back. Working with veteran directors like V. Shantaram, Bhalaji Pendharkar, Anant Mane, Raja Thakur and Jabbar Patel and co-starring with female superstars like Jayashri Gadkar, Uma, Usha Chavan, Ranjana, Priya Tendulkar, Usha Naik and Kanan Kaushal, Arun achieved the pinaccle of success.One can never forget his role portraying the life of a Chief Minister in the movie Sinhasan. The movie, which marked a milestone in the history of Marathi cinema, became a blockbuster of its time. Arun had reached stardom, Arun was a great singer too, and his numbers, Pappa sanga kunache and Ek lajaran sajara mukhda donned the top charts of Marathi film music.Had great pairing with Jayshree Gadkar.

Arun Sarnaik left us behind in a unfortunate car accident near Kolhapur on 21st June 1984, a sad demise for Marathi cinema on which he had left his undeniable mark. (He passed away on 21 June 1984 along with his wife and one of his two children while he was coming from Kolhapur to Pune. After having wrapped up the shooting of the movie Pandharichi Vaari, He was travelling on the Pune-Kolhapur road when his car crashed.)