Ram Gopal Bajaj


Ram Gopal Bajaj is an Indian theatre director, academician, and a Hindi film actor. He has also been a faculty member and a former Director of National School of Drama, New Delhi.
He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2003 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1996 for his contribution to theatre.

Biography

Ram Gopal Bajaj graduated from the National School of Drama in 1965. He became a member of its faculty and eventually its Director. During his tenure as the head of NSD he started two theatre festivals, Bharat Rang Mahotsava and Jashn-e-Bachpan.
Over the years, he directed numerous plays with the National School of Drama, NSD Repertory Company, starting with Surya Ki Antim Kiran Se, Surya Ki Pehli Kiran Tak in 1974, Jai Shankar Prasad’s Skand Gupta in 1977, followed by Quaid-E-Hayaat in 1989. His other noted production was Ashadh Ka Ek Din by Mohan Rakesh in 1992. He also was the Chief of the National School of Drama, Repertory Company from 1988 to 1994. He translated Girish Karnad's Rakt Kalyan into Hindi, first directed by Ebrahim Alkazi for NSD and then by Arvind Gaur for Asmita Theater.
In 2017, he was honoured with Kalidas Samman by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Career

Bajaj has been connected with the film industry for over three decades, first as an assistant director in art films like Utsav and Godhuli, later appearing in character roles in films like, Masoom, Hip Hip Hurray, Mirch Masala, and Chandni. His most noted film roles have been in Parzania and as the Guru, in Jackie Chan starrer, The Myth, both in 2005. He starred as Dr. Amit Singh in Mango Dreams and in Jolly LLB 2 as Advocate Rizvi Sahab.
He is currently seen in the television show Rishton Ka Chakravyuh.
He is a member of the academic council of National School of Drama, New Delhi.