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Veteran Marathi and Bollywood films, television and theatre actor Ashok Saraf will be conferred with the coveted ‘Maharashtra Bhushan’ Award-2023, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said here on Tuesday.

Saraf, 76, has been selected for his substantial contribution to the field of arts. He has straddled from comedy to serious to villainous roles through his acting and won the hearts of the audiences.

Saraf started his acting career in 1969 with the Marathi film ‘Janaka’. Since then, he has worked in over 250 Marathi films, mostly in comic roles, besides acting in more than 50 Bollywood movies and 10 television serials, along with a dozen theatre productions. He has teamed with up actors like Laxmikant Berde and Sachin Pilgaonkar in different films.

Some of the prominent Bollywood films in which Saraf could be seen include ‘Damaad’, ‘Pratighat’, ‘Benaam Badshah’, ‘Aa Gale Lag Ja’, ‘Karan Arjun’, ‘Army’, ‘Koyla’, ‘Gupt’, ‘Yes Boss’, ‘Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya’, ‘Khubsoorat’, ‘Joru Ka Gulam’, ‘Jodi No.

Marathi actress Bhagyashree Milind is set to star in the upcoming thriller web series ‘Athang’ which also features Nivedita Joshi Saraf, Dhairya, Urmila Kothare and Sandip Khare. Talking about the same, Bhagyashree said in a statement: “I am really excited for this one since it is definitely going to take the viewers on a thrilling ride. It feels great to be part of such a story which will reach a global audience and show the power of the digital world.”

The actress, who has done Marathi films such as ‘Balak Palak’, ’35 Percent Katthavar Pass’ and ‘Ubuntu’, expressed her excitement on her Ott debut with a Marathi horror-thriller series which revolves around a young man, who is haunted by a soul and he had to find a way out.

She added: “Being an actor and to be able to be part of genres less explored is what one looks forward to.

Imagine and Balaji Telefilms’ Sarvagunn Sampanna of late saw conditions that lead to Aditya (played by Mujtaba Ali Khan) and Swara (played by Pooja Bose) going out of the Deshmukh house. As all thought that the love birds have lastly united, however that didn’t exactly happen.

In the upcoming episodes, Aditya will be sorry about his decision of going out of the house, and will soon get back home.

As per a source, Aditya’s dad will suddenly face a heart attack. This prompts his anxious mother (played by Nivedita Saraf), to come up to Swara in the dearth of her son. She emotionally blackmails.