MX Player’s Aashram has been one of the sleeper OTT successes of the year. The series, which was served to us in two parts of nine episodes each, is a crime drama revolving around a self-styled godman in the town of Kashipur in Uttarakhand. The show has received a rousing thumbs up from the audience. Read our review here.
Directed by Prakash Jha, the show marked the web series debut of Bobby Deol, who essays the lead role of Baba Nirala. However, besides Deol Aashram also packs an elaborate ensemble cast brimming with talented artists. Here’s a look at some of the actors who have starred in the series.
Chandan Roy Sanyal
Chandan Roy Sanyal (pictured above) plays Bhopa Swami, Baba Nirala’s right hand man who looks after the day-to-day affairs of the aashram. Bhopa’s character is often more menacing than Baba’s. Sanyal is best remembered for his role of Mikhail in Vishal Bharadwaj’s Kaminey. He was also seen in films like F.A.L.T.U., Bangistan, Chef and Jab Harry Met Sejal.
Aaditi Pohankar
Aaditi Pohankar made her debut in the 2010 film Love Sex Aur Dhokha, and since then has dabbled in Marathi and Tamil cinema. Her breakthrough performance came earlier this year with Netflix’s crime thriller She, in which she played an ordinary police constable who goes undercover as a sex worker to bust a major drug ring. In Aashram, Pohankar plays Pammi, a wrestling prodigy from the dalit community who goes becomes Baba’s loyal disciple.
Tushar Pandey
Earlier seen in films like Pink and Chhichhore, Tushar Pandey plays the role of Satti, Pammi’s older brother. After his initial reservations about Baba, he too becomes a follower.
Tridha Choudhury
An established name in the Bengali and Telugu film industries, Tridha Chaudhury plays Babita, Satti’s wife. Babita has always found something amiss about Baba and doesn’t share the same devotion for him as her husband.
Darshan Kumaar
After doing television for many years, Darshan Kumaar got his big break in Bollywood with Mary Kom. He has a penchant for uniform-clad roles, having played an army officer in Amazon’s The Family Man and SonyLIV’s Avrodh. In Aashram, he plays senior inspector Ujagar Singh who is leading an investigation to unravel Baba’s secrets.
Anupriya Goenka
Anupriya Goenka is remembered for her role of Nagmati in the epic saga Padmaavat. She has also starred in quite a few web series such as Sacred Games, Criminal Justice and Asur. She plays Dr. Natasha Kataria, a sharp-as-a-tack forensic expert, in Aashram. Natasha partners up with Ujagar to expose Baba.
Vikram Kochhar
Vikram Kochhar plays Sadhu Sharma, Ujagar’s loyal and reliable deputy. Kochhar has been seen in the Akshay Kumar-starrer Kesari, besides web series like Sacred Games and Raktanchal.
Dimpy Mishra
A veteran actor, director and musician for the last 14 years, Dimpy Mishra plays the role of the transgender warden of the aashram’s girls’ hostel. Mishra also teaches at the Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT).
Anurita Jha
Anurita Jha was first seen in a small role in Gangs of Wasseypur. Among her more recent ventures is Disney+ Hotstar’s comedy series PariWar. In Aashram she plays Kavita, a timid woman who has been held captive in the women’s hostel.
Preeti Sood
Preeti Sood plays Sanober, another resident of the women’s hostel who remains unusually quiet and has a penetrating stare. She seems to be harbouring a dark secret.
Parinitaa Seth
A popular face on television over the years, Parinitaa Seth plays Sadhvi Mata, one of Baba’s closest confidantes along with Bhopa.
Adhyayan Suman
The son of popular film and television actor Shekhar Suman, Adhyayan has featured in films like Haal-e-Dil, Raaz – The Mystery Continues and Himmatwala. In Aashram he plays Tinka Singh, a pop music sensation supposedly modelled on the likes of Yo Yo Honey Singh and Badshah.
Anil Rastogi
A film, television and theatre actor for over three decades, Anil Rastogi plays Sundar Lal, the chief minister of Uttarakhand who is vying for Baba’s support in the upcoming election.
Sachin Shroff
Sachin Shroff has featured in over 30 TV shows since 2002. He plays Hukum Singh, the leader of the opposition also looking to get Baba on his side for the election.
Jahangir Khan
Having acted in films like Paan Singh Tomar and Dilwale, Jahangir Khan is seen in Aashram as Michael, a former cop who is now the head of security at the aashram. He is basically Baba’s chief henchman.
