ASHISH VIDYARDHI

Ashish Vidyarthi (Hindi: अशिश विद्यर्थि, Urdu: اَشِش وِدیرتھِ) (born June 19, 1965) is a National Award winning actor in India. He has acted in all the regional film industries. He is the son of renowned kathak dancer Reba Vidyarthi. He has acted in films like ghilli in Tamil and Pokiri in Telugu which are blockbusters. He was born in Delhi.

He grew up in the city of New Delhi, India. He studied in the Bharati Vidya Bhavan in Delhi. As a youngster, he acted in many skits and plays in his school. His career in hindi movies has mainly consisted of roles showing him a villain, His comments on this are, "Doing a villain's role is more fun than the hero's. Besides, it's the villain who has all the fun in the movie. The hero just enjoys it in the end."

EVEN BEFORE Ashish Vidyarthi settles down for a fine dining experience, he prepares one adequately for what's in store over the phone itself.

Dining with him (he is game even after a hectic day's shoot) is undertaking a culinary journey of the country. The actor is not just a foodie but also a veritable dictionary of cuisine.

He makes it a point to have the local food of the area he visits while shooting. "I enjoy different kinds of food and meeting people and I connect to them through food," he says, while settling down at Peshawri restaurant, ITC Hotel Kakatiya Sheraton and Towers.

Vidyarthi loves to carry food (from various parts) to Mumbai and party with family and friends. What he notices in his various travels is that "cuisine is steeped in culture."

Culinary cruise

He begins his journey from up north - Ladakh. "One gets every kind of non-veg food except fish which is considered one of the avatars of Buddha.

In Kashmir there is an excellent German bakery run by a Sardar, which serves good pies, cakes and pastries. In fact the Kashmiri wazwan is so amazing that I carried the meat balls to Mumbai.

I arrived loaded with them at the airport and faced problem with the authorities.

But I managed." Vidyarthi remembers the dal-bati freshly baked at a roadside stall while returning from Udaipur and the makki-ki-roti and sarson ki saag in Punjab as some of the best food he savoured.

"I can never forget the taste of the bati straight from the embers. My driver fed me makki-ki-roti at his village home."

Hyderabad is one city on his shooting circuit. "I have great memories of Kakatiya Sheraton. Ziddi (with Sunny Deol) was shot here." He loves the biryani from Paradise. When he goes back to Mumbai his baggage is full of biryani, guthi vankaya (Hyderabad House) and gongura mamsam. He swears by G. Pulla Reddy especially the khova puri and Mysore Pak. "I have been carrying sweets for seven years and the quality has been consistent." Mangoes (Totapuri) is part of baggage too.

Of late Vidyarthi likes to hang out at `On the way', Jubilee Hills. "It epitomises what modern Hyderabad is all about." He gives highest marks to 10 Downing Street."

Moving southwards to Chennai, he enjoys the jalebis and Mysore pak from Sree Krishna Sweets. The fish sold in the shops on the seafront in Kochi is delicious. "Kolkata is the food capital. You get great Bengali food there."

As his platter of kebabs and roti arrives Vidyarthi food caravan rolls on. He traverses the length and breadth of the country. When in Mumbai he frequently visits Urban Tadka and Mainland China (he vouches for the Crackling Spinach found no where else). "I am a frequent visitor to Mainland China and when I got the National Award they helped me organise an impromptu party there." Though he does not cook, he enthuses people to don the apron. "My mom-in-law is a great cook."

History to histrionics

This student of History who graduated to histrionics subsequently feels "history opened a whole new world. The invigorating lectures gave me insights into people and societies."

He always wanted to be an actor "although it was a question of how and when. At that time I saw it as an accident though later I realised there are no accidents in life." Vidyarthi loves acting as "it gives me an opportunity to explore many things within me and is exciting as it offers possibilities of meeting people. Great cinema is that which is etched in memory, inspires you. So films are a great place to be in," says the avid traveller.

"Life is simple, we make it complicated. Life is continuous rejuvenation. The achievement of today is ego for tomorrow," he says over kulfi.

Ashish Vidyarthi, the actor, is trying to transform lives and society through Landmark Foundation and Today for Tomorrow.

Some favourites

Kachhi food (chaat in all telas)

Phirnee in Karims (Jama Masjid), parathas at Mool Chand and ghantaghar (Delhi University), Butter chicken at Sethi's dhaba (Pahargunj), bun-anda at Jai Singh (near Hindu College)

Sheermal and kebabs (Lucknow)

Dosas (Vidyarthi Bhavan, Bangalore)

Chaat (Nathu's Delhi)

Paan (Sarafa, Indore)

Filmography

Actor:

1. Ontari (2008) .... Mahankali
2. Athidhi (2007) .... Hero friend
3. Chirutha (2007) .... Mattu Bhai
4. Main Rony Aur Jony (2007)
5. Annavaram (2006) .... Tapas Balu
6. E (2006) .... Dr. Ramakrishnan
7. Raraju (2006) .... Villian
8. Chess (2006/I) .... Swaminathan
9. Pokiri (2006) .... Inspector Pasupathi
10. Mere Jeevan Saathi (2006) .... Tolani
11. Aaru (2005)
12. Eashwar Mime Co. (2005)
13. Athanokkade (2005) .... Anna
14. Jurm (2005) .... Inspector Vishnu Patnaik
15. Kisse Pyaar Karoon (2005)
16. AK 47 (2004) .... Dadua
17. Gudumba Shankar (2004) .... Kumaraswamy
18. Shikaar (2004) .... Kanwar Singh
19. Ghillli (2004)
20. Kismat (2004) .... Vikas Patil
21. Agni Pankh (2004) .... Pakistani Army Commander
22. Bombaiyer Bombete (2003) (as Ashish Bidyarthi) .... Mr. Gore
23. Fun2shh... Dudes in the 10th Century (2003) .... Ghosal
24. LOC: Kargil (2003) .... Col. Ravindran, 2 Rajputana Rifles
25. Jaal: The Trap (2003) .... Naved Rabhani
26. C.I.D. Moosa (2003) .... Gauri Shankar
27. Ek Aur Ek Gyarah: By Hook or by Crook (2003) (as Ashish Vidhyarthi) .... Cobra
28. Love at Times Square (2003)
29. Talaash: The Hunt Begins... (2003) .... Police Commissioner
30. Border Hindustan Ka (2003)
31. Ek Hindustani (2003)
32. Waah! Tera Kya Kehna (2002) .... Charles
33. Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hai (2002) .... Gul Baloch
34. Chor Machaaye Shor (2002) (as Ashish Vidhyarthi) .... Tito
35. Baba (2002) .... Krishna Murthy
36. Shararat (2002) .... Arora
37. Sreeram (2002) .... Encounter shankar
38. Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin (2002) .... Pillai
39. Ab Ke Baras (2002) .... Rudra Singh
40. Thamizhan (2002) .... GK
41. Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai (2002) .... Raj Patil ("Raja")
42. Ansh: The Deadly Part (2002) .... Dawoo
43. Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta (2001) .... Karla Bhai
44. Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love (2001) .... Hari Singh
45. Jodi No.1 (2001) .... Sir John
46. Dhill (2001) .... DSP Shankar
47. Gaja Gamini (2000) .... Scientist
48. Bichhoo (2000) .... Devraj Khatri
49. Refugee (2000) .... Makkad
50. Joru Ka Ghulam (2000) .... Pappu Anna
51. Badal (2000) .... Mantavir
52. Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000) .... Insp. Shinde
53. Nightfall (2000) (V) .... Kopton
54. Shesh Thikana (2000) .... Soumyabrata
55. Jaanwar (1999) .... Inspector Pradhan
56. Vaastav: The Reality (1999) (as Ashish Vidhyarthi) .... Vitthal Kaanya
57. Arjun Pandit (1999) .... Haldiram
58. Trishakti (1999) .... Rajeshwar Raja
59. Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999) .... Bhai (gangster)
60. Benaam (1999) (as Ashish Vidhyarthi)
61. Soldier (1998/II) (as Ashish Vidhayarthi) .... Dinesh Kapoor
62. Yamraaj (1998)
63. Major Saab (1998) .... Shankar
64. Koi Kisi Se Kum Nahin (1997)
65. Daud: Fun on the Run (1997) .... Inspector Nair
66. Ziddi (1997) .... ACP Inder Saxena
67. Bhai (1997) .... David (the don)
68. Mrityudaata (1997) (as Ashish Vidhyarthi) .... Mohanlal
69. Vishwavidhaata (1997) (as Ashish Yidyarthi) .... Rai Bahadur
70. Jeet (1996) .... Inspector Pratap Vidyarthi
71. Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin (1996) .... Ramanbhai
72. Baazi (1995) .... Shiva
73. Naajayaz (1995) .... Ratan
74. Oh Darling Yeh Hai India (1995)
75. Droh Kaal (1994) .... Commander Bhadra
76. 1942: A Love Story (1993) .... Ashutosh