Having started his acting career at the age of nine, Swwapnil Joshi is a recognized Indian actor who has not only been a part of the Hindi film and television industry but also is a successful Marathi television and movie actor. From being cast in daily soaps, to hosting shows, and acting in movies, Swwapnil has proved his mettle in the industry and is widely known for his work in movies like
Duniyadari, Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai,
Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai 2, Manini, Laal Ishq, and
Mangalashtak Once More.
Early life
Born on the 18th of October, 1977, Joshi has lived all his life in Mumbai. He completed his education from Byromjee Jijabai School in Charni Road, Mumbai, following which he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Sydenham College in Mumbai. He spent his formative years in Girgaum and therefore thinks of himself as a ‘Girgaumkar’.
Personal life Swwapnil was married to Aparna Joshi until 2009, after which they divorced. He then married Leena Aradhye, a dentist by profession, in 2011, and has a daughter, Maayra, with her.
TV Career Joshi started his acting career with television at the age of nine, playing the role of young Kusha in Ramanand Sagar’s mythological show Uttar Ramayana. In 1993, he was offered the role of young Krishna in Ramanand Sagar’s other mythological show named Krishna. Joshi then took a sabbatical from acting and made a comeback as a youth actor in Sanjeev Bhattacharya’s show Campus. He went on to work in Hindi shows such as Hudd Kar Di, Dil Vil Pyar Vyar, Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand, Hare Kkaanch Ki Choodiyaan to name a few. In 1997, he played the role of Inder on Zee TV’s popular show Amanat, after which he played the role of Dhruv, a parallel lead, in Star Plus’ soap opera Kehta Hai Dil, which also starred
Kamya Punjabi and
Aman Verma. Following this, he was seen playing the role of Dr. Prakash in Star Plus’ popular drama series Bhabhi.
Next, he was cast to play
Supriya Pilgaonkar’s character’s youngest son, Arjun, in Star One’s 2006 comedy show titled Kadvee Khatti Meethi, sequel to the hit comedy show Tu Tu Main Main. He went on to participate in nine seasons of Sony TV’s stand-up comedy series Comedy Circus, which saw him paired mostly with comedian VIP. In 2008, he went on to host the kid’s talent show Chota Packet Bada Dhamaka. The same year, he participated in the reality television show Mr. & Ms. TV judged by
Sonali Bendre and
Madhur Bhandarkar, which he went on to win along with
Purvi Joshi. After having won the title of Mr. TV in 2008, he was seen playing the role of Yash in the Marathi series Adhuri Ek Kahani opposite Kishori Godbole. Next, he was then seen in the comedy show Tere Gharchya Samor, and Ardhangini.
Additionally, Joshi played a small role on Sab TV’s comedy show Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo. This was followed by the role of Sameer on DD National’s show Bajega Band Baaja, after which came Sab TV's Papad Pol – Shahabuddin Rathod Ki Rangeen Duniya, where he played the role of Vinaychand. In both the series, he was paired with
Ami Trivedi. In 2011, he played an episodic role of Siddhanth, a city boy who is married to a village girl, Gauri, in the show Madhu Ethe Ani Chandra Tithe. The year 2012 saw him play the lead role of Sachin on Sab TV’s comedy show Golmaal Hai Bhai Sab Golmaal Hai. In the same year, he anchored the dance reality show Eka Peksha Ek, which aired on Zee Marathi. Later, he judged the comedy reality show Fu Bai Fu and played the role of Ghanashyam Kale in the show Eka Lagnachi Dusri Goshta opposite Mukta Barve on Zee Marathi. He has also had his own radio show named The Swwapnil Joshi Show on Red FM 93.5.
In 2014, Joshi also hosted a talk show Dhabal-Ek Timepass on Star Pravah and the third season of Kon Hoeel Marathi Crorepati, which is the Marathi equivalent of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’
Movie Career
Joshi first made his foray into the world of cinema with a supporting role, portraying the role of
Vikram Dixit, in Ghulam-E-Mustafa, starring
Nana Patekar and
Raveena Tandon. He played the lead role in his debut Marathi film, Manini, playing the role of Deepak Rajyadhakshya, an expat who is compelled to marry a village girl, with the film exploring the relationship between the mismatched couple. In 2008, he acted in the multi-starrer film
Checkmate, and went on to play the role of Chingya in the comedy film Amhi Satpute. He went on to make a small appearance in the 2008 black comedy
Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!. In 2010, he played the role of a Pune-based man in the romantic film Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai, which is based on the courtship that precedes an arranged marriage, opposite
Mukta Barve. He also played the lead role of Yash Kumar in the Hindi film The Life Zindagi in 2011.
In 2013, he reunited with his Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai co-star
Mukta Barve for the film
Mangalashtak Once More, which explored the issue of love and possessiveness in a marriage, where he portrayed the character of Satyajit Pathak, which was well-received by the audience. In the same he starred in
Duniyadari, a film which explores friendship and love amongst friends on a Pune campus in the 1970s. Cast alongside
Sai Tamhankar, the film went on to become a commercial success and grossed over INR 32 crore. He was cast opposite Sai again in
Sanjay Jadhav’s Pyaar Vali Love Story (2014), which revolved around the love story of a Hindi boy and a Muslim girl. In 2015, he appeared in the commercially successful film
Mitwaa as Shivam Sarang alongside
Sonalee Kulkarni and
Prarthana Behere. He then featured as
Anand Prabhu opposite
Amruta Khanvilkar in the 2015 dark comedy
Welcome Zindagi that explores the life of a depressed woman, who finds solace in the company of Swwapnil’s character.
In 2013, he reunited with his Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai co-star
Mukta Barve for the film Mangalashtak Once More, which explored the issue of love and possessiveness in a marriage, where he portrayed the character of Satyajit Pathak, which was well-received by the audience. In the same he starred in Duniyadari, a film which explores friendship and love amongst friends on a Pune campus in the 1970s. Cast alongside
Sai Tamhankar, the film went on to become a commercial success and grossed over INR 32 crore. He was cast opposite Sai again in
Sanjay Jadhav’s Pyaar Vali Love Story (2014), which revolved around the love story of a Hindi boy and a Muslim girl. In 2015, he appeared in the commercially successful film
Mitwaa as Shivam Sarang alongside
Sonalee Kulkarni and
Prarthana Behere. He then featured as
Anand Prabhu opposite
Amruta Khanvilkar in the 2015 dark comedy Welcome Zindagi that explores the life of a depressed woman, who finds solace in the company of Swwapnil’s character.
Next, he appeared in the 2015 Marathi remake of the 2006 Tamil movie Sillunu Oru Kadhaal titled
Tu Hi Re, where he was cast alongside
Sai Tamhankar and
Tejaswini Pandit. His final release of 2015 was
Satish Rajwade's
Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai 2, a sequel to Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai, where the leading pair from the first film decide to tie the knot in the sequel. The movie was declared a commercial success after it earned INR 20 crore in the box office collections. The following year, he appeared in
R. Madhesh's Friends alongside Gauri Nalawde and
Sachit Patil, and in the romantic thriller
Laal Ishq produced by
Sanjay Leela Bhansali and directed by
Swapna Waghmare Joshi. With this film,
Anjana Sukhani made her debut in Marathi cinema. The film received flak for being too dull in the first half and for lacking the grandeur one expects from a
Sanjay Leela Bhansali film. Swwapnil then appeared alongside
Subodh Bhave and
Prathana Behere in the 2017 comedy drama
Fugay, directed by
Swapna Waghmare Joshi.