Benjamin Gilani

{{short description|Indian actor}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} '''Benjamin Gilani''' is an Indian film, television and stage actor who works in Hindi cinema.<ref name="be">{{cite news |title=Adept actor |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/11/19/stories/2007111950890100.htm |work=The Hindu |date=19 November 2007 |access-date=4 August 2010 |archive-date=4 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081104135358/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/11/19/stories/2007111950890100.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Early life and career == [[File:Waiting for Godot in Doon School.jpg|thumb|Gilani playing Estragon in Waiting for Godot at the Doon School in 2011]] Gilani was schooled at Bishop Cotton School, Shimla.<ref name="ftii"/> He is a postgraduate from Delhi University<ref name="ftii">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ftii.ac.in/p/faculty-members|title=Film and Television Institute of India|date=16 August 2019|access-date=13 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816002446/https://www.ftii.ac.in/p/faculty-members|archive-date=16 August 2019}}</ref> having studied and taught English literature at St. Stephen's College, Delhi and studied at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Pune class of 1972, where Naseeruddin Shah and Tom Alter were his classmates.<ref>{{cite news |title=No 'Alter'native |url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/No-Alternative/306623/ |publisher=Screen |date=9 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301115349/http://www.screenindia.com/news/no-alternative/306623/ |archive-date=1 March 2010 }}</ref>

He founded 'Motleys Productions', a Mumbai-based theatre company in 1977, along with Tom Alter and Naseeruddin Shah, and ''Waiting For Godot'' was their first play on 29 July 1979 at Prithvi Theatre. The play was revived in 2009 for the group's 30th anniversary celebrations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Still waiting, for Mr Godot |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19970821/23350783.html |publisher=The Indian Express |date=21 August 1997 |access-date=18 January 2010 |archive-date=24 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424080515/http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19970821/23350783.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Centre stage |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/centre-stage/487700/0 |publisher=The Indian Express |date=12 July 2009 |access-date=18 January 2010 |archive-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011123939/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/centre-stage/487700/0 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Partial filmography==

===Films=== {{Incomplete list|date=July 2011}} {|class="wikitable" |- !Year !!Film !!Character/Role |- |2020 |''Music School'' | |- |2018 |''Haaye Dil'' | |- |2018 |''Laila Majnu'' |Ghulam Sarwar Bhat |- |2016 |''BHK Bhalla@Halla.Kom'' | |- |2015 |''Bajirao Mastani'' | Maharaja Chhatrasal |- |2015 |''Jai Ho Democracy'' |Gen. G. S. Sandhu |- |2013 |''Rise of the Zombie'' | |- |2011 |''Game'' |Mr. Khanna |- |2009 |''8 x 10 Tasveer'' |Jatin Puri |- |2009 |''Barah Aana'' |Mr. Mehta |- |2005 |''Waqt: The Race Against Time'' |Film Director |- |1994 |''Abhay'' | |- |1993 |''Sardar'' |Jawaharlal Nehru |- |1985 |''Mirch Masala'' |School Master |- |1985 |''Damad Chahiye'' |Vinod Singhal |- |1983 |''Kalka (1983 film)'' |Dr Pai |- |1981 |''Plot No. 5'' |Rahul |- |1978 |''Junoon'' |Rashid Khan |- |1978 |''Devata'' | Shekhar |- |1977 |''Alaap'' |Kishan |- |}

===TV Series=== {{Incomplete list|date=July 2011}} {|class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |1982 || ''Batain Filmon Ki'' || as Anchor || rowspan="2" | DD National |- |1985–1987 || ''Kathasagar'' || |- |1993-1994 || ''The Great Maratha'' || Nawab Shuja Ud Daula ||DD Metro |- |1993–1997 || ''Tara'' || Prithvi Kanchan twin's boyfriend ||rowspan="3" |Zee TV |- |1993 || ''Anand'' ||Anand |- | || ''Rishtey'' || |- | ||''Tujhpe Dil Qurbaan '' || ||Sony |- |2002 ||''Aamrapali''||Played Aamrapali's father||Doordarshan |- |2004 ||''Sahib Biwi Gulam'' ||||Sahara One |- | ||''Junoon'' ||||rowspan="2" | DD National |- | ||''Bhootnath'' ||Bhootnath |- |2005–2006 ||''Hotel Kingston''||Govind Sahai|| |- |2011–2012 ||''Bunty Bubbly Ki Mummy''||Prashant|| |- | 2011 | ''Shama'' | Jamaal | |- | ||''Kaun''|| || |- | | ''Disney Q Family Mastermind'' | Host | |- | ||''Ank Ajoobe''||||Doordarshan |- | 2022 | ''Guilty Minds'' | Munnawar Quaze | Amazon Prime Video series |- | 2022 | ''Hush Hush (TV series)'' | Baldev | Amazon Prime Video series |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|0318783}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilani, Benjamin}} Category:20th-century Indian male actors Category:Living people Category:Delhi University alumni Category:Film and Television Institute of India alumni Category:Indian male stage actors Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema Category:Indian male television actors Category:1946 births Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century Indian male actors Category:Male actors in Gujarati-language films Category:Bishop Cotton School Shimla alumni