Dr. Shreeram Lagoo the great actor of Marathi Cinema and the famous Bollywood character actor ruled Bollywood in the ’80s and ’90s as the most sought after character actors. He came to fame after his superlative performance of an alcoholic Gangu Ganpat in Amitabh Bachchan film Laawaris (1981). He even won a Filmfare Best supporting actor award in the film Gharaonda (1977). Few are aware that Dr Lagoo was a qualified MBBS and MS specialist in ENT. He did his medical degrees from B.J. Medical College (University of Pune). He even went to Canada and England for additional training in the ’50s. He practised as a doctor for many years in Pune and even did practice in Tanzania. Later in the late 60’s he got attached to Marathi theatre and gradually to the cinema.
The other doctor of Bollywood is Dr Jabbar Patel, as known as the Shyam Benegal of Marathi cinema. He made some really hard-hitting Marathi art films like Samna (1974), Jait Re Jait (1977), Sinhasan (1979), Umbartha (1982), Ek Hota Vidushak (1992), etc. In Hindi, he made films like Musafir (1986) and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar (2000). He won National award for his Marathi film Mukta (1994). Dr Jabbar Patel did MBBS and specialization as Child Specialist.
Character actress Maya Alag who played a verity of roles on TV and Films came to fame with her role in Rajesh Khanna hit film Thodisi Bewafai. Also, her role on Doordarshan hit serials like Kavita, The sword of Tipu Sultan and Noorjahan won her instant fame. She did her MBBS and was practicing as a physician when she was spotted for modeling assignments. Her toothpaste commercial won her TV serials and gradually movies.
Besides, MBBS, the film industry has many intellectuals who have won doctorate in literature like Dr Rahi Masoom Raza. He completed a doctorate in Hindustani Literature from Aligarh Muslim University and pursued a career in literature. He came to film writing and won Filmfare Best Dialogue Writer for movies like Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki, Mili, and Lamhe. He also wrote dialogues of BR Chopra’s epic TV serial Mahabharat.
In addition, many Bollywood top celebrity won Doctorate for their contribution to Indian cinema from across the world like Amitabh Bachchan (De Montfort University, Leicester, UK and Universities of Delhi, Queensland University, Australia), Shahrukh Khan (Bedfordshire University), Aamir Khan (Maulana Azad National Urdu University), Akshay Kumar (Assumption University, Ontario, Canada), Lata Mangeshkar has been awarded this title of a doctorate from six different universities, including the one from the New York University.
