Benjamin Gilani

Benjamin Gilani is an Indian actor of film, television and theatre. He portrayed Jawaharlal Nehru in the 1993 film Sardar. He also acted in the movie "Hum Dum".

He is a postgraduate from Delhi University having studied and taught at St Stephen's College, Delhi, studied at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Pune 1972 batch, where Naseeruddin Shah and Tom Alter were his batchmates. Prior to FTII, he became a professor of English Literature at St. Stephen's College, Delhi while remaining active in theatre in Delhi.

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 group's 30th anniversary celebrations. He is currently hosting a quiz show on Disney Channel India, namely Disney Q Family Mastermind.

Benjamin's father was a judge in Punjab State Civil Services posted at Batala in 1947. At the time of India's independence, Benjamin's mother was sent from Batala to Dhariwal for safety as communal riots triggered by the Partition of India engulfed Batala. Benjamin was born in Dhariwal town of Gurdaspur district in Punjab on 20 November 1947. Benjamin's father had a transferable job therefore Benjamin spent his early childhood in many cities in Punjab.

His ancestors had migrated from Gilan, Iran (hence the name Gilani) to Kashmir. Benjamin's grandfather and his brother later settled in Jagraon near Ludhiana.

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