Laxmikant Berde (3 November 1954) was an actor who appeared in Marathi and Hindi movies.From his early years, Laxmikant was interested in acting. His participation in stage dramas during the cultural activities for Ganesh festival celebrations performed at Konkanasth Vaishya Samaj, Girgaum got him interested in acting. He won awards for participation in inter-school and inter-college drama competitions. Following this, Berde started his acting career with the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh.In 1983-84, he acquired his first major role in Purushottam Berde’s Marathe stage play Toor Toor which became a hit and Berde’s style of comedy was appreciated.Laxmikant initially started acting in bit roles in Marathi stage plays. Berde made his movie debut with the Marathi movie Lek Chalali Sasarla. While balancing between Marathi stage plays and movies, Berde got his first brush with fame around 1983-84 with the hit Marathi stage play “Toor Toor”.
Subsequently in 1985 he acted as a second lead to Mahesh Kothare in the Marathi movie “De Dana Dan” and then alongside super star Ashok Saraf in “Dhoom Dadaka”. Both these movies turned super hits in which Berde established his trademark comedy style making him famous overnight.
Berde found success from 1986 to 1996. A string of blockbusters such as Aamhi Doghe Raja Rani, Hamaal De Dhamaal, Ashi Hi Banwa Banvi, Balache Baap Brahmachari, Eka Peksha Ek, Bhootacha Bhau, Thartharat and Zapatlela catapulted Laxmikant Berde to super stardom.
In most movies, he starred either alongside director-actor Mahesh Kothare or with director-actor Sachin and Ashok Saraf. The Laxmikant Berde- Ashok Saraf pair is recognized to be the most successful lead actor pair in Indian cinema (if the number of super hit movies are to be taken into account). That decade will be best remembered by the Marathi film industry as the “Ashok-Laxya” era. Both actors remained thick friends until Berde passed away. In most movies, Berde was paired with actress Priya Arun.
Berde’s first Hindi film was Sooraj Barjatya’s Maine Pyar Kiya starring Salman Khan in 1989. Some of his other popular Hindi films include Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Mere Sapno Ki Rani, Aarzoo, Saajan, Beta, 100 Days and Anari. Berde also kept working as the lead actor in super hit Marathi stage plays like “Shantecha Karta Chalu Aahe” and others.
Berde died in 16 December 2004. In the last years of his life, Berde floated his own production house, Abhinay Arts, named after his son. Very few know that Laxmikant Berde was very good Ventriloquist and Guitar player.Lakshmikant Berde died in Mumbai on 16 December 2004 from to a kidney ailment. The who’s who of Marathi film industry gathered to bid a tearful farewell to this fine actor. Mahesh Kothare, Ashok Saraf and Sachin Pilgaonkar were amongst those who were inconsolable.Agency