Sadashiv Dattaray Amarapurkar (11 May 1950 – 3 November 2014) was an Indian actor, best known for his performances in Marathi and Hindi films in the period 1983 to 1999.

He received the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role in 1991 for Sadak — the first time the award was instituted. In addition to negative roles, he has done supporting roles and, more recently, comic roles.

Biography

Sadashiv Amarapurkar was born on May 11, 1950, in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra Shevgaon Taluka, Ahmednagar, Nashik Division, in Maharashtra, India.

Sadashiv began acting during his school and college days. While completing his Masters in History at Pune University, he was already pursuing his passion in theatre. A versatile actor, director and writer, he won a number of state as well as national level prestigious awards in theatre and film. His first film was in Govind Nihalani's Ardha Satya (1983) for which he won a Filmfare Award.

He has acted in more than 300 movies in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Oriya, Haryanvi, Telugu and Tamil. In 1993, he won the best actor in a villainous role Filmfare Award, the first time such award was instituted. In 1993 he also played the role of Inspector Pyare Mohan, in Aankhen, which won him accolades as a comic hero.

He was a philanthropist, social activist, and civically engaged in a number of social organizations including:


Maharashtra Samajik Krutadnyata Nidhi: He worked with Narendra Dabholkar, Baba Adhav, and Sreeram Lagoo to raise Rs.50 Lakhs through enactment of the play Lagnachi Bedi in Maharashtra and Goa. This was a fund created to support the social workers who toiled for the betterment of society without asking for anything in return
Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti: He was a trustee and an active participant in the Committee for Eradication of Blind Faith.
Snehalaya, Ahmednagar: He was a trustee for this organization striving for betterment of marginalized women such as prostitutes and their children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Narmada Bachao Andolan: He worked alongside Medha Patkar for the reestablishment of people displaced by the building of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the banks of the river Narmada.
Lokshahi Prabodhan Vyaspeeth: A non-political, non-denominational platform to create awareness about voter rights and democracy among the common masses. He held talks and forums to create awareness.
Ahmednagar Aitihasik Vastu Sangrahalaya He raised funds for the Museum of Historical Artifacts of Ahmednagar,
He supported non-profit organizations like the www.healthymind.org Institute for Psychological Health, Thane; www.muktangan.orgMuktangan Rehabilitation Center, and Pune, through fundraising and mental health awareness.
He has always had a soft spot for the rural youth and has strived for their development. He took initiative in collaborating with Institute for Psychological Health in Thane to organize VEDH (Vocational Education – Direction and Harmony), a conference for school children, parents and teachers about the latest career options in Ahmednagar, once a year, for the past decade.
An ardent reader and a patron of Marathi and Hindi books, he wrote a number of articles on social issues in newspapers and magazines and published books, like Kimayagaar (a play about the life of Helen Keller) and Abhinayaache Saha Path ("Six Lessons in Acting").
In addition to directing and acting in theater, and engaging in a number of social causes, he loved photography and spent his free time sketching with pastels. He was a dear friend to many, an eloquent orator, and a sensitive human being who raised his voice to support righteous causes and denounce the ills in the Indian society. He is survived by his writer wife, Sunanda Amarapurkar, three daughters, and three sons-in-law.