# Mohan Gokhale (मोहन गोखले)
**Mohan Gokhale** (मोहन गोखले; 7 November 1953 – 29 April 1999) was an Indian film, television and theater actor who worked in Marathi, Hindi and Gujarati productions and was best known for the title role in the [Doordarshan](https://www.edgepedia.org/doordarshan) comedy serial *Mr Yogi* (1989)[1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale). He died at 45 during the shooting of [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan)'s *Hey Ram*.[1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953, Pune, Maharashtra (one source gives 9 November)[2](https://www.marathisrushti.com/profiles/mohan-gokhale/) • [3](https://www.anandabazar.com/photogallery/television-and-theatre-actor-mohan-gokhale-passed-away-at-45-years-made-the-career-of-nana-patekar-dgtl-photogallery/cid/1497005) |
| Died | 29 April 1999, Chennai (then Madras), heart attack in his sleep while shooting for *Hey Ram*; age 45[1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale) • [4](https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/apr/29mohan.htm) |
| Signature role | Yogesh Patel in *Mr Yogi* (1989), a Doordarshan serial by Ketan Mehta about a US-returned young man interviewing 12 brides representing the 12 zodiac signs[1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale) |
| Known for | Art films *Sparsh*, *Bhavni Bhavai*, and *Mirch Masala*; Gandhi in Jabbar Patel's *Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar* (2000)[5](https://www.biographies.net/people/en/mohan_gokhale) |
| Theatre | Founder-member of the Theatre Academy in Pune; directed Nana Patekar's first Marathi play, *Bhau Murarrao*, written by Vijay Tendulkar[6](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-26-april-2024-from-our-issue-dated-1st-may-1999/) |
| Television debut | *Shwetambara*, the first sponsored Marathi teleserial[4](https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/apr/29mohan.htm) |
| Family | Wife, the actress Shubhangi Gokhale; daughter, the actress Sakhee Gokhale; named by biographical databases as the brother of actor Vikram Gokhale[1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0324843/trivia/) |
## Early life and theater
Gokhale was born in Pune[1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale). Accounts of his parentage differ: the Marathi profile Marathisrushti identifies his father as the senior journalist Vasant Gokhale, editor of *Swarajya* and joint editor of *Sakal*[2](https://www.marathisrushti.com/profiles/mohan-gokhale/), while biographical databases name Chandrakant Gokhale as his father and the veteran actor [Vikram Gokhale](https://www.edgepedia.org/vikram-gokhale) as his brother[5](https://www.biographies.net/people/en/mohan_gokhale) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0324843/trivia/). His schooling was at Nu Mavi College and Fergusson College in Pune, and he took an Arts degree from Fergusson College.[2](https://www.marathisrushti.com/profiles/mohan-gokhale/) • [6](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-26-april-2024-from-our-issue-dated-1st-may-1999/)
**Stage career.** Theatre gave him his platform. While still in college in Pune he acted in experimental and commercial plays, winning several state-level acting awards, and his stage career is traced to the play *Farari*, directed by Ravindra Mankani.[4](https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/apr/29mohan.htm) • [2](https://www.marathisrushti.com/profiles/mohan-gokhale/) In 1972 he took a small but memorable role in [Vijay Tendulkar](https://www.edgepedia.org/vijay-tendulkar)'s *Ghashiram Kotwal*, playing the Brahmin who curses Ghashiram; his wife later described the performance as of "tremendous impact".[2](https://www.marathisrushti.com/profiles/mohan-gokhale/) • [1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale) His other noted Pune productions included Satish Alekar's *Mahapoor*, which he directed for a state theater competition, Alekar's *Miki ani Memsahib*, and Satish Tambe's *Beej*.[2](https://www.marathisrushti.com/profiles/mohan-gokhale/)
He was a founder-member of the Theatre Academy in Pune and directed actor [Nana Patekar](https://www.edgepedia.org/nana-patekar)'s first Marathi play, *Bhau Murarrao*, written by Vijay Tendulkar; that production is credited with launching Patekar's stage career.[6](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-26-april-2024-from-our-issue-dated-1st-may-1999/) • [3](https://www.anandabazar.com/photogallery/television-and-theatre-actor-mohan-gokhale-passed-away-at-45-years-made-the-career-of-nana-patekar-dgtl-photogallery/cid/1497005) In the 1970s he also acted in Hindi, Gujarati, and Marathi plays, and later moved to Mumbai for commercial theater, where his roles in [Vasant Kanetkar](https://www.edgepedia.org/vasant-kanetkar)'s *Kasturimrug* and *Suryachi Pille* were especially popular, followed by *Baby*, *Doctor Tumhi Sudha*, and *Naru ani Janhavi*.[8](https://maharashtratimes.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/bollywood-news/remember-this-marathi-actor-mohan-gokhale-sakhi-gokhales-father-famous-for-comedy-show-mr-yogi-saturday-superstar/amp_articleshow/94723434.cms) • [2](https://www.marathisrushti.com/profiles/mohan-gokhale/)
## Mr Yogi and television
His television debut came in *Shwetambara*, which Rediff describes as the first sponsored Marathi teleserial.[4](https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/apr/29mohan.htm) The breakthrough was [Ketan Mehta](https://www.edgepedia.org/ketan-mehta)'s *Mr Yogi* (1989), in which Gokhale played Yogesh Ishwarlal Patel, a young man who arrives from the United States and travels to [Ahmedabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/ahmedabad) to choose a bride from among 12 women, each representing one of the zodiac signs.[1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale) Mehta said Gokhale was "the natural choice" for the part, having known him since their [Film and Television Institute of India](https://www.edgepedia.org/film-and-television-institute-of-india) days in Pune.[1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale)
The serial's reach produced unusual recognition for a character actor. Viewers identified Gokhale by the role rather than his name, and his wife recalled that people called him Mr Yogi at airports and bus stands.[8](https://maharashtratimes.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/bollywood-news/remember-this-marathi-actor-mohan-gokhale-sakhi-gokhales-father-famous-for-comedy-show-mr-yogi-saturday-superstar/amp_articleshow/94723434.cms) • [1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale) His other television credits include *Bharat Ek Khoj*, in which he played various roles, *Aahat*, *Yatra*, *Lekhu*, *Bible Ki Kahaniyan*, *Yugantar*, and *Amravati Ki Kathayein*, and he was appearing in *Aashirvad*, *Alpaviram*, and *Zanjeerein* at the time of his death.[8](https://maharashtratimes.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/bollywood-news/remember-this-marathi-actor-mohan-gokhale-sakhi-gokhales-father-famous-for-comedy-show-mr-yogi-saturday-superstar/amp_articleshow/94723434.cms) • [4](https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/apr/29mohan.htm)
## Films
His association with Marathi film began with Rajdutt's *Maaficha Sakshidar*, based on the [Joshi-Abhyankar serial murders](https://www.edgepedia.org/joshi-abhyankar-serial-murders) in Pune; his other film with Rajdutt was *Aaj Zale Mukta Mi*, opposite Madhu Kambikar.[4](https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/apr/29mohan.htm) • [2](https://www.marathisrushti.com/profiles/mohan-gokhale/) He worked across mainstream and art cinema, appearing in Sai Paranjpye's *Sparsh* (1980) as Jagdish, Ketan Mehta's Gujarati *Bhavni Bhavai* as Jeevla/Raj Kumar, *Holi* (1984), *Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!* (1984), *Mirch Masala* (1987) alongside [Smita Patil](https://www.edgepedia.org/smita-patil) and [Naseeruddin Shah](https://www.edgepedia.org/naseeruddin-shah), *Hero Hiralal* (1988), and Mira Nair's *Mississippi Masala* (1991).[9](https://www.archytele.com/person/mohan-gokhale) • [4](https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/apr/29mohan.htm)Two later performances show the scale of role he favored. In Sanjiv Shah's absurdist satire *Hun, Hunshi, Hunshilal* (1991) he played the eccentric despot of a fictional kingdom, and for Vipul Shah and Aatish Kapadia's television serial *Alpaviram* he turned down the meatier part of a doctor to play a ward boy instead; his wife said he "knew how to minimise a performance for the screen".[1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale)
His final screen work included playing [Mahatma Gandhi](https://www.edgepedia.org/mahatma-gandhi) in Jabbar Patel's film on [B. R. Ambedkar](https://www.edgepedia.org/b-r-ambedkar), *Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar*, released in 2000 after his death, and [Amol Palekar](https://www.edgepedia.org/amol-palekar)'s *Kairee*, which turned out to be his last completed film, in which Shubhangi Gokhale recalled he conveyed a character's personality through a simple scene of eating a meal.[1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale)
## Death
On 29 April 1999 Gokhale was in Chennai shooting for Kamal Haasan's *Hey Ram*. He died in his sleep of a heart attack that night; he was 45, and Film Information's obituary gives his age as 46.[1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale) • [6](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-26-april-2024-from-our-issue-dated-1st-may-1999/) Shubhangi Gokhale later recalled that his most beautiful experience was being called by Kamal Haasan for *Hey Ram*; the role eventually went to Atul Kulkarni, who won a National Award.[1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale) He had also worked for months on a production of the Marathi play *Ekach Pyala* and was deeply upset when its financiers withdrew shortly before staging.[1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale)
## Family
Gokhale was married to the actress Shubhangi Gokhale, whom he met through Marathi theater; the couple worked together, including in *Mr Yogi*, and married after ten years of acquaintance.[1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale) • [10](https://lmoty.lokmat.com/lmotywinner_2017.php) After his death Shubhangi Gokhale returned to acting, notably in *Shriyut Gangadhar Tipre*, and her daughter Sakhee Gokhale is also an actor.[10](https://lmoty.lokmat.com/lmotywinner_2017.php) • [1](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale)
## References
1. [Remembering the original (and the one and only) Mr Yogi – Mohan Gokhale, Scroll.in (3 January 2021)](https://scroll.in/reel/981731/remembering-the-original-and-the-one-and-only-mr-yogi-mohan-gokhale)
2. [मोहन गोखले, Marathisrushti profiles](https://www.marathisrushti.com/profiles/mohan-gokhale/)
3. [Mohan Gokhale photogallery, Anandabazar Patrika (18 February 2024)](https://www.anandabazar.com/photogallery/television-and-theatre-actor-mohan-gokhale-passed-away-at-45-years-made-the-career-of-nana-patekar-dgtl-photogallery/cid/1497005)
4. [Mohan Gokhale is dead, Rediff On The NeT (29 April 1999)](https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/apr/29mohan.htm)
5. [Biography of Mohan Gokhale, Biographies.net](https://www.biographies.net/people/en/mohan_gokhale)
6. [FLASHBACK: From our issue dated 1st May 1999, Film Information (26 April 2024)](https://filminformation.com/featured/flashback-26-april-2024-from-our-issue-dated-1st-may-1999/)
7. [Mohan Gokhale – Trivia, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0324843/trivia/)
8. [या प्रसिद्ध मराठी अभिनेत्याला ओळखलं का? Maharashtra Times (8 October 2022)](https://maharashtratimes.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/bollywood-news/remember-this-marathi-actor-mohan-gokhale-sakhi-gokhales-father-famous-for-comedy-show-mr-yogi-saturday-superstar/amp_articleshow/94723434.cms)
9. [Mohan Gokhale: Movies, TV Shows & Biography, archytele](https://www.archytele.com/person/mohan-gokhale)
10. [Lokmat Maharashtrian of The Year Awards 2017 | Vote For LMOTY Awards 2019 | Lokmat.com](https://lmoty.lokmat.com/lmotywinner_2017.php)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 1970s to 1990s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license