Sayaji Shinde
Sayaji Shinde is an Indian film actor who has acted in Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, English, Gujarati, Hindi films and several Marathi Plays. Sayaji started his acting career in 1978 in Marathi one-act plays. His performance in a 1987 Marathi play titled Zulva was very well received, and since then he started gaining popularity among the circle of stalwarts. Later, he moved on to Marathi cinema and then started acting in other languages.
Background
Born in a farmer's family in a small village named Sakharwadi in Satara District in Maharashtra, Sayaji completed his bachelor's degree in Arts in Marathi language, and started his career in 1978 while studying in college as a night watchman for Maharashtra Government's Irrigation Department for a meager pay of Rs. 165 per month. During his service as a watchman, he developed an interest in theatre and his passion for acting drew him to the theater and films. After his initial struggling years, he moved to Mumbai.Career
Sayaji started his acting career in 1978 with acting in Marathi one-act plays. His first Marathi film as an actor was Aboli in 1995. He did many Marathi plays, among which, his role as Sakharam Binder was highly appreciated. Other hit Marathi plays were Zulva, One Room Kitchen and Amchya ya gharat. He acted in many Marathi movies thereafter, among which, his role as an Agricultural Minister in the movie Goshta Chhoti Dongara Evadhi was to be remembered. Hindi film actor Manoj Bajpai happened to see an article on Sayaji in Times of India and the former recommended Sayaji's name to Ram Gopal Varma.Varma, who was at that time making the movie Shool, immediately offered the role of Bachhu Yadav to Sayaji, thus marking the latter's entry in the Bollywood. Shool gave Sayaji a decent start, however, it was a Tamil film called Barathi which made his career. Sayaji received tremendous appreciation for his acting in the said film. In spite of not speaking Tamil, Sayaji effectively played the role of Tamil Nadu's poet and writer, Subramanya Bharathi in the movie directed by Gnana Rajasekaran, and was honored with Tamil Nadu State Award for his efforts. Later on, he also acted in Tamil blockbusters like Azhagi and Dhool.
Filmography
Marathi
| Film | Year | Role / Name of character |
| Maajhi Maanasa | 1995 | |
| Katha Doan Ganpatraonchi | 1995 | |
| 1995 | ||
| Dnyaneshwari | ||
| Kunku Zale Vairi | 2005 | Arjun Mane Patil |
| Bapu Beeru Vategaonkar | Ranga | |
| Gallit Gondhal Dillit Muzra | 2008 | Chandrakant Tope |
| Oxygen-Jeev Gudmartoya | 2008 | Annasaheb Patange Patil |
| Goshta Choti Dongraevadhi | 2009 | Agriculture Minister |
| Bapu Veer Borgakar | ||
| Jai Maharashtra | ||
| Ladaai | ||
| Tambyancha Vishnubaala | ||
| Wazir | ||
| Don Ghadicha Daav | 2011 | |
| Bokad | 2011 | |
| Tendulkar Out | 2013 | |
| Sat Na Gat | 2013 | |
| Tya Ratri Paaus Hota | 2010 | |
| Punha Gondhal Punha Mujra | 2014 | |
| Mohar | 2015 | |
| Dholki | 2015 | |
| Yuntam | 2016 | |
| Babanchi Shala | 2016 | |
| Shoor Amhi Sardar | 2017 | |
| Bhikari | 2017 | |
| Love Betting | 2017 | |
| Tandav | 2019 |
Telugu
| Film | Year | Role / Name of character |
| Ruler | 2019 | Durga Prasad |
| iSmart Shankar | 2019 | Chandrakanth |
| Software Sudheer | 2019 | Chandu's father |
| Amar Akbar Anthony | 2018 | Jalal Akbar |
| Touch Chesi Chudu | 2018 | DGP Ramachandra Rao |
| Hello Guru Prema Kosame | 2018 | Karthik's father |
| Pantham | 2018 | CBI Officer |
| Officer | 2018 | DCP Ramdas |
| Mehbooba | 2018 | Roshan's father |
| Inttelligent | 2018 | Police Officer Mohanty |
| Kirrak Party | 2018 | Krishna's Father |
| PSV Garuda Vega | 2017 | Mining Minister |
| Oxygen | 2017 | Veerabhadram |
| Spyder | 2017 | DGP Chandrasekhar |
| Andhhagadu | 2017 | ACP Dharma |
| Saptagiri Express | 2016 | Umesh Chandra |
| Dhruva | 2016 | Dheeraj Chandra |
| Brahmotsavam | 2016 | Mahalaskhmi's brother |
| Hyper | 2016 | Udayashankar |
| Dictator | 2016 | Bokha Sivaram |
| Bengal Tiger | 2015 | Agriculture Minister Samba |
| Sher | 2015 | IPS Bharath Chandra |
| Bruce Lee – The Fighter | 2015 | Commissioner Marthand |
| Surya vs Surya | 2015 | Sanjana's Father |
| Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham | 2014 | Ganga Prasad |
| Rabhasa | 2014 | Dhanunjay |
| Yamaleela 2 | 2014 | Yama |
| Oka Laila Kosam | 2014 | Nandana's Father |
| Race Gurram | 2014 | Chief Minister |
| Basanti | 2014 | Commissioner Ali Khan |
| 2014 | Inspector Jaan Basha | |
| Shadow | 2013 | CP |
| Bhai | 2013 | Politician |
| Baadshah | 2013 | IG Ramachandar |
| Jabardasth | 2013 | Bihar Yadav |
| Sudigadu | 2012 | Priya's father |
| Seema Tapakai | 2012 | Gurajada Krishnamurthy |
| Yamudiki Mogudu | 2012 | Yama |
| Endukante... Premanta! | 2012 | Ramu's Father |
| Daruvu | 2012 | Superstar Balram |
| Businessman | 2012 | Laalu |
| Oosaravelli | 2011 | Tony's father |
| Dookudu | 2011 | Meka Narasing Rao |
| Mr. Perfect | 2011 | Maggi's uncle |
| Shakti | 2011 | Sivaji |
| Don Seenu | 2010 | Machiraju |
| Adhurs | 2010 | Police Inspector |
| Arya 2 | 2009 | Kashi Reddy |
| Kick | 2009 | Kalyan's father |
| Satyameva Jayate | 2009 | |
| Bumper Offer | 2009 | Surya Prakash |
| Bangaru Babu | 2009 | Manohar Reddy |
| Pistha | 2009 | Minister Sivanaandi |
| Raatri | 2009 | |
| Arundhati | 2009 | Anwar |
| Neninthe | 2008 | Film Producer |
| King | 2008 | Gopi Mohan |
| Chintakayala Ravi | 2008 | Lavanya's Father |
| Sawaal | 2008 | |
| John Appa Rao 40 Plus | 2008 | |
| Krishna | 2008 | Shinde |
| Maisamma IPS | 2007 | Minister Sadhu |
| Aata | 2007 | Police Officer |
| Chirutha | 2007 | ASP Ajay |
| Shankar Dada Zindabad | 2007 | Rajalingam |
| Takkari | 2007 | Guru |
| Dubai Seenu | 2007 | Baabji, a Police Inspector |
| Lakshmi Kalyanam | 2007 | President |
| Sri Mahalakshmi | 2007 | Villain |
| Godava | 2007 | Anjali's father |
| Rakhi | 2006 | Minister |
| Boss - I Love You | 2006 | S.R.K. |
| Veerabhadra | 2006 | Peddi Raju |
| Pokiri | 2006 | Syed Mohammad Pasha Qadri, Police Commissioner |
| Naayudamma | 2006 | |
| Lakshmi | 2006 | Janardhan |
| Devadasu | 2006 | Katamraju |
| Andhrudu | 2005 | Rana, a Politician in Bihar |
| Super | 2005 | Inspector |
| Athadu | 2005 | Shiva Reddy |
| Gudumba Shankar | 2004 | Bezawada Narayana |
| Andhrawala | 2004 | Bade Mia |
| Veede | 2003 | Byragi Naidu |
| Tagore | 2003 | Badrinarayana |
Hindi
| Film | Year | Role / Name of character |
| Sanju | 2018 | Bandu Dada |
| Kaala | 2018 | |
| Yeh Mera India | 2009 | Inspector Chandrakant Shinde |
| 2009 | ||
| Ugly Aur Pagli | 2008 | Hotel Manager |
| Sarkar Raj | 2008 | Karunesh Kaanga |
| Big Brother | 2007 | Baburao 'Bhau' Kamble |
| Chhal: The Game of Death | 2006 | |
| Deodhar Gandhi | 2006 | |
| Jeet: Feel the Force | 2006 | |
| Sauda - The Deal | 2005 | Blackmailer |
| Nigehbaan: The Third Eye | 2005 | |
| Chaahat Ek Nasha | 2005 | Manmohan Rangeela |
| Jackpot | 2005 | |
| Vaastu Shastra | 2004 | Inspector Bhupal Gorpade |
| Hanan | 2004 | Inspector Pardesi |
| Satya Bol | 2004 | Shinde |
| Mujhse Shaadi Karogi | 2004 | Tommy's friend |
| Marktet | 2003 | Inspector Sawant |
| Parwana | 2003 | Yashwantrao Waghmare |
| Calcutta Mail | 2003 | Lakhan Yadav |
| Pran Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye | 2003 | Sayaji Rane |
| Danav | 2003 | Thakur Raja Sahab |
| 2002 | Himmatbhai | |
| Pardesi Re | 2002 | |
| Road | 2002 | Inspector Singh |
| Lal Salaam | 2002 | Inspector G.C. Deshpande |
| Ansh: The Deadly Part | 2002 | Govind "Edda" |
| Kaaboo | 2002 | Anna |
| Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa | 2001 | |
| Shirdi Sai Baba | 2001 | |
| Avgat | 2001 | Narayan Keni |
| Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence | 2001 | Sanjay Saikia |
| Jodi No.1 | 2001 | Thakral John's Mama |
| Lagi Shaarth | 2001 | |
| Khiladi 420 | 2000 | Bhai's Henchman Gangster |
| Kurukshetra | 2000 | Havaldar Gopinath Surve Patil "Gopi" |
| Shool | 1999 | Bachoo Yadav |
| 1997 | Champa | |
| Disha | 1990 | Soma's friend in Bombay |
Tamil
| Film | Year | Role |
| Bharathi | 2000 | Subramaniya Bharathi |
| Poovellam Un Vaasam | Rajasekar, as Chella's father | |
| Azhagi | 2002 | Dhanalakshmi's Husband |
| Baba | Divyananda Bharathi | |
| Dhool | Minister Kalai Pandiyan | |
| Sudesi | R. C. Narayan | |
| Azhagiya Tamil Magan | Corrupt jeweler | |
| Vaitheeswaran | Dhanasekaran | |
| Santosh Subramaniam | Govindhan | |
| Padikkathavan | Rami Reddy | |
| Thoranai | Minister Sivanandi | |
| Aadhavan | Ibrahim Rawthar | |
| Vettaikkaran | Kattabomman | |
| Vedi | Easwaramoorthy | |
| Velayudham | Feroz Khan | |
| Oru Kal Oru Kannadi | Mahendra Kumar | |
| Thaandavam | Ravichandran | |
| Settai | Jewelry owner | |
| Maan Karate | Sethuraman | |
| Damaal Dumeel | Kamatchi Sundaram | |
| Nannbenda | Sathya's Father | |
| Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga | Ashok | |
| Spyder | DGP Chandrasekhar | |
| Kaala | 2018 | Union Minister of Maharashtra |
| Johnny | 2018 | Kalyan |
| Pottu | 2019 | Doctor R.K |
| 2019 | Thenappan | |
| Action | 2019 | Deputy officer of Military Colonel |
| Market Raja MBBS | 2019 | God Father Radha |
| Cocktail | 2020 | Rajamanickam |
Kannada
Malayalam
| Film | Year | Role / Name of character |
| Nadodimannan | 2013 | Pushpam Prakashan |
| Twinkle Twinkle Little Star | 2010 |
Gujarati
| Film | Year | Role / Name of character |
| My Friend Ganesha 3 | 2010 |
English
| Film | Year | Role / Name of character |
| 2006 | Tiger Singh |
Production
He produced couple of Marathi movies. Sayaji helped Nagesh Bhonsle produce the Marathi film Goshta Choti Dongraevadhi. He also produced the Makarand Anaspure-directed film, Dambis.Awards and nominations
- 2001:Nominated:Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award-Kurukshetra
- 2000:Nominated:Filmfare Best Villain Award for Shool
- 2006:Nominated:Filmfare Award for Best Villain – Telugu for Andhrudu
- 2009:Nominated:Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – Telugu for Arundhati