Ajit Shidhaye is an Indian actor, hotelier, musician and corporate trainer. He is best known for playing the role of Choudhary in the Netflix web series Ghoul (2018).
Wiki/Biography
Ajit Shidhaye was born on Saturday, 16 November 1972 (age 51 years; in 2022) in Pune, Maharashtra. His zodiac sign is Virgo. Ajit attended Modern English School, Pune. Later, he attended Fergusson College, Pune and Maharashtra State Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Pune.
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 6′
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye Color: Hazel Green
Family
Parents & Siblings
Ajit Shidhaye’s father, Anand Shidhaye, used to work at the State Bank of India. Ajit’s mother, Shaila Shidhaye, is a housewife.
Anand Shidhaye and Shaila Shidhaye
Ajit Shidhaye’s younger sister, Anagha Khare, is a journalist.
Wife & Children
Ajit Shidhaye’s wife, Sonali Shidhaye, works at Cumins India Limited, an engine equipment manufacturing company. Ajit has two children named Advay Shidhaye and Siya Shidhaye.
Ajit Shidhaye with his family
religion
Ajit Shidhaye follows Hinduism.
Career
Hotelier
Before venturing into acting, Ajit worked as a hotel operator. He has worked for hotel chains such as F&B Manager Intercontinental Hotels Group. He has also worked as a training and development manager in India and abroad for various hotel chains such as Westin Hotels & Resorts, Six Senses Hotel Resorts Spas and Royal Caribbean International. In an interview, Ajit talked about his career as a hotelier and said that he has traveled to more than 80 countries for his work. He said,
I hate comfort zones because nothing grows there. I’ve had the luxury of waking up in a different country every week while I’m on the world’s best cruise lines. I started as a hotelier and was part of the core opening team for some of the most prestigious hotels in India and abroad. I have traveled to over 80 countries.”
Movie
Marathi
In 2016, Ajit made his acting debut with the Marathi film Bandh Nylon Che in which he played the role of Michael.
Marathi movie poster Bandh Nylon Che (2016)
He has worked in various Marathi films such as Manjha (2017), Bhikari (2017), and Boyz 2 (2018).
Hindi
In 2017, Ajit made his Bollywood debut with the film Yeh Hai India where he played the role of Micky’s father.
Ajit Shidhaye (left) as Micky’s father in a still from the Hindi film Yeh Hai India (2017)
He has worked in supporting roles in various Hindi films such as URI: The Surgical Strike (2019), Saaho (2019), War (2019), Panipat (2019), and Khuda Haafiz (2020).
Ajit Shidhaye (left) as Shahwali Khan in a still from the Hindi film Panipat (2018)
Television program
In 2017, Ajit made his television debut with Sony TV’s episodic show CID where he played the role of Murali. In the same year, Ajit worked in the Marathi show Chuk Bhul Dyavi Ghyavi where he played the role of Dilip.
Web Series
In 2016, Ajit made his digital debut with the SonyLIV mini-series Hadh. After that, Ajit has worked in various web series such as Breathe (2018), Damaged (2018), Ghoul (2018), Special OPS (2020), and Modern Love Mumbai (2022).
Facts/Trivia
- Ajit has featured in print advertisements for many brands such as Vistara, sterling, MRF and Raymonds. He has also worked in TV commercials for brands like Netmeds and Rajnigandha.
Ajit Shidhaye in a still from an advertisement for the brand Rajnigandha
- In an interview, Ajit recalled his early days in his modeling career and shared that he got his first portfolio shoot in the 1990s which cost him around Rs 4500. Further, Ajit said that with the portfolio shoot, he got an opportunity to walk in ramp. in a fashion show. Ajit said,
I remember getting my portfolio done for Rs 4,500 which was a huge amount in the 90s, and everyone thought it was a huge waste of money. How about an investment that gives me the opportunity to walk the ramp in a fashion show! My mother, however, was more supportive.”
- Ajit is an avid dog lover and has a pet dog named Joffra. He often posts pictures of Joffra on various social media platforms. He also has a separate Instagram page for his pet dog titled ‘jofra_the_cockerspaniel.’
Ajit Shidhaye and his pet dog, Jofra
- According to Ajit, when he was a child, he never thought of choosing acting as a career; however, he enjoys mime and stand-up comedy and used to perform in front of his family. In an interview, Ajit spoke about this and said,
Growing up, I didn’t know what acting was. I studied in a school that did not encourage theater or drama as such. I’m the family entertainer who gets applause and attention for mime and stand-up comedy even though I don’t know what stand-up comedy is. My family has a very strong connection to music and culture, but acting is uncharted territory.”
- In 2020, Ajit was nominated for an Indian Television Academy Award for the Hindi web series Special Ops.
- In an interview, Ajit said that his favorite actor is Paresh Rawal.
- Apart from being an actor, Ajit is also a musician. He plays the Tabla and has performed in various musical events in India and abroad. Ajit’s father, Anand Shidhaye, is also a Tabla player. In an interview, Ajit spoke about this and said,
I have given Tabla recitals on cruise lines as well as on stage, and received many compliments. I knew it was time for me to pursue my fourth passion – acting, with all my heart.”
- At the age of 44, Ajit quit his hotel job to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. According to Ajit, initially, he watched around six to eight films every day to learn the nuances of acting. In an interview, he talked about this and said,
It was only when I realized that I had fulfilled the first three of my four main interests – exercise, travel, music – in the same order. I hate comfort zones because nothing grows there. With no supporters for my passion, especially since I had ditched a well-paying job at age 44 for a career that didn’t promise a future, I asked my parents to give me two years to prove myself. My car became my makeup van and my TV set was my only school. I watch around six-eight films every day, the good ones and the bad ones, because there is a lot to learn from each one.”
- In an interview, Ajit said that he was rejected 113 times in acting auditions before he won the web series Ghoul (2018), starring Radhika Apte.
- Ajit is a fitness fanatic and he practices yoga regularly. She often shares pictures and videos of herself doing yoga on various social media platforms.
- Ajit is often seen consuming alcohol on various occasions.
- According to social media operator Ajit Shidhaye, he used to smoke cigarettes; however, in a Facebook post, Ajit talked about his smoking habit and shared that he decided to quit smoking amid the COVID pandemic. On Facebook, Ajit shared a photo of himself smoking a cigarette with a caption that read,
THINK before you light up!!! it’s World No Tobacco Day. It always starts with one drag and then you drag left for the rest of your life…This ban has been a blessing for me..because I don’t smoke at all and hope to continue the same..that’s my real freedom after the shutdown and ban !”
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
