Sayaji Shinde

Later, he moved on to Marathi cinema and then started acting in other languages. He won Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Marathi for Aboli (1995) film, for his reprising debutant role "Sayaji". Shinde joined the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on 11 October 2024 ahead of 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Elections in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, NCP working president Praful Patel, and State unit chief Sunil Tatkare.

• Name — Sayaji Shinde • Born — 13 January 1959 • Birthplace — Vele Kamthi, Bombay State, India (present-day Satara, Maharashtra, India) • Occupation — * Actor • producer • Politician • Political Party — Nationalist Congress Party (since 2024) • Children — Siddharth Shinde • Years Active — 1990present

Born in a farmer's family in a small village named Vele Kamthi in Satara District in Maharashtra, Sayaji completed his bachelor's degree in arts in Marathi language, and started his career in 1978 while studying in college as a night watchman for Maharashtra Government's Irrigation Department for a meager pay of Rs. 165 per month. During his service as a watchman, he developed an interest in theatre and his passion for acting drew him to the theatre and films. After his initial struggling years, he moved to Mumbai.

Sayaji pursued acting first through Marathi theatre. He started doing one-act plays in 1978, and went on to get noticed in plays like Zulva (1987), One Room Kitchen (1989) and Amchya Ya Gharat (1991). He then moved to acting in Marathi cinema. The co-actor Manoj Bajpayee who saw an article on the actor in a leading national daily and recommended him to Ram Gopal Varma in his 1999 action crime Hindi film Shool. Sayaji had a career breakthrough with Gnana Rajasekaran's 2000 Tamil film Bharathi, where he played Subramania Bharati, the popular poet and writer from Tamil Nadu. He then went on to appear in Bollywood movies like Vaastu Shastra (2003), Sarkar Raj (2008), and Sanju (2018). Sayaji Shinde has acted in a wide range of films, portraying diverse characters, including villains, supporting roles, and occasionally, comedic roles.

• Year — Title — Role • 2003 — Tagore — Badrinarayana • Veede — Byragi Naidu • 2004 — Andhrawala — Bade Mia • Gudumba Shankar — 'Bejawada' Shankar Narayana • 2005 — Orey Pandu — Vicky's father • Super — Inspector • Athadu — Shiva Reddy • Andhrudu — Rana • That Is Pandu — Bhagawan • 2006 — Devadasu — Katamraju • Lakshmi — Janardhan • Pokiri — Syed Mohammad Pasha Qadri • Veerabhadra — Peddi Raju • Naayudamma • Boss - I Love You — S.R.K. • Rakhi — State Minister • 2007 — Lakshmi Kalyanam — President Chenchuramaiah • Sri Mahalakshmi — Janardhan • Aata — Police Officer • Shankar Dada Zindabad — Rajalingam • Dubai Seenu — Baabji • Chirutha — ASP Ajay • Takkari — Guru • Maisamma IPS — Minister Sadhu • Godava — Anjali's father • 2008 — Krishna — Shinde • Ontari — ACP • John Appa Rao 40 Plus — Razaq • Chintakayala Ravi — Ramachandra Rao • Sawaal • Neninthe — Film Producer • King — Gopi Mohan (King's Uncle) • 2009 — Fitting Master — Police Officer • Arundhati — Anwar • Satyameva Jayate — Anand Rao • Mestri — Apparaju • Bangaru Babu — Narsimha Rao • Kick — Kalyan's father • Pistha — Minister Sivanaandi • Baanam — Chandrasekhar Panigrahi • Bumper Offer — Surya Prakash • Arya 2 — Kashi Reddy • Raatri • 2010 — Adhurs — Naik • Varudu — Home Minister • Rama Rama Krishna Krishna — DIG in Mumbai Police • Don Seenu — Machiraju • Maa Annayya Bangaram — Subba Raidu • 2011 — Vastadu Naa Raju — Home Minister • Shakti — Sivaji • Mr. Perfect — Maggie's uncle • Seema Tapakai — Gurajada Krishnamurthy (GK) • Dookudu — Minister Shivangi Meka Narasingh Rao • Oosaravelli — Tony's father • Solo — Vishwanath • 2012 — Sudigadu — Priya's father • Yamudiki Mogudu — Yama • Endukante... Premanta! — Krishna Rao • Tuneega Tuneega — Dr. James • Daruvu — Superstar Balram • Businessman — Laalu Saab • 2013 — Jabardasth — Bihar Yadav • Shadow — Chaithanya Prasad aka CP • Bhai — Home Minister Pande • Baadshah — IG Ramchandra • 2014 — Basanti — Commissioner Ali Khan • Rabhasa — Dhanunjay • Yamaleela 2 — Yama • Oka Laila Kosam — Nandana's Father • Race Gurram — Chief Minister • Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham — Ganga Prasad • Joru — MLA Sadasivam • 1: Nenokkadine — Inspector Jaan Basha • 2015 — Bengal Tiger — Agriculture Minister Samba • Sher — IPS Sharath Chandra • Bruce Lee – The Fighter — Marthand • Surya vs Surya — Sanjana's Father • 2016 — Saptagiri Express — Umesh Chandra • Dhruva — Dhiraj Chandra • Brahmotsavam — Rao Ramesh's brother • Shourya — Maheswara Rao • Hyper — Udayashankar • Dictator — Bokha Sivaram • Mister 420 • 2017 — PSV Garuda Vega — Mining Minister • Oxygen — Veerabhadram • Spyder — DGP Chandrasekhar • Andhhagadu — ACP Dharma • 2018 — Amar Akbar Anthony — Jalal Akbar • Touch Chesi Chudu — DGP Ramachandra Rao • Hello Guru Prema Kosame — Karthik's father • Pantham — CBI Officer • Officer — JCP Ramdas • Mehbooba — Roshan's father • Inttelligent — Police Officer Mohanty • Kirrak Party — Krishna's Father • 2019 — Ruler — Durga Prasad • iSmart Shankar — CBI Officer Chandrakanth • Software Sudheer — Chandu's father • 2021 — Vakeel Saab — Minister Shankar Reddy • 2022 — Godse • Godfather — Opposition Leader Bangaram Naidu • 2023 — Maa Awara Zindagi • Ala Ila Ela — Anu's father • 2024 — Aho Vikramaarka • Double iSmart — CBI Officer Chandrakanth • Maa Nanna Superhero — Srinivas • Fear • 2025 — Jigel • Kuberaa — SI Ashok Godbole

• Year — Title — Role • 1992 — Ek Hota Vidushak — Master • 1994 — Vazir • 1995 — Aboli — Sayaji • Maajhi Maanasa • Katha Doan Ganpatraonchi • 1999 — Ladhaai — Vijay Nadkarni • 2001 — Ashi Gyaneshwari — Savle • 2005 — Kunku Zale Vairi — Arjun Mane Patil • 2008 — Gallit Gondhal, Dillit Mujra — Chandrakant Tope • Oxygen-Jeev Gudmartoya — Annasaheb Patange Patil • 2009 — Bapu Beeru Vategaonkar — Ranga • Goshta Choti Dongraevadhi — Agriculture Minister • Bapu Veeru Vategaonkar — Sayaji • Jai Maharashtra • 2010 — Tya Ratri Paus Hota — Shripatirao • 2011 — Tambyacha Vishnubala — Vishnubala • Don Ghadicha Daav • Bokad • 2013 — Tendulkar Out — Sunil Tendulkar • Sat Na Gat — Anna (Shinde) • 2014 — Punha Gondhal Punha Mujra — Vishwasrao Tope • 2015 — Mohar — Sayaji • Dholki — Patil • 2016 — Babanchi Shala — Jailor • 2017 — Yuntum — Raaosaheb • Shoor Aamhi Sardar — MLA Mali • Bhikari — Vishwananth • 2018 — Love Betting — Golya Patil • 2019 — Tandav • Babo — Bhaskar • 2022 — Faas — Dr. Patil • 2023 — Ghar Banduk Biryani — Pallam • Aadharwad — Shravan's father • Aani Baani — Sarpanch • Pahije Jatiche — Baba • Ankush — Rana Pardeshi • Sasubai Jorat — Sasrebua • Ekda Yeun Tar Bagha — Nutan Sheth • 2025 — All Is Well — Appa • 2026 — The Maharashtra Files — Patil

• Year — Title — Role • 1990 — Disha — Soma's friend in Bombay • 1997 — Darmiyaan: In Between — Champa • 1999 — Shool — Bachoo Yadav • 2000 — Khiladi 420 — Bhai's Henchman Gangster • Kurukshetra — Havaldar Gopinath Surve Patil "Gopi" • 2001 — Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiyaa — Bijnora • Shirdi Sai Baba • Avgat — Narayan Keni • Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence — Sanjay Saikia • Jodi No.1 — Thakral John's Mama • Lagi Shaarth • 2002 — Karz: The Burden of Truth — Himmatbhai • Pardesi Re • Road — Inspector Singh • Lal Salaam — Inspector G.C. Deshpande • Ansh: The Deadly Part — Govind "Edda" • Kaaboo — Anna • 2003 — Marktet — Inspector Sawant • Parwana — Yashwantrao Waghmare • Calcutta Mail — Lakhan Yadav • Pran Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye — Sayaji Rane (Sheela's Husband) • Danav — Thakur Raja Sahab • 2004 — Vaastu Shastra — Inspector Bhupal Gorpade • Hanan — Inspector Pardesi • Satya Bol — Shinde • Mujhse Shaadi Karogi — Tommy's friend • 2005 — Sauda - The Deal — Blackmailer • Nigehbaan: The Third Eye • Chaahat Ek Nasha — Manmohan Rangeela • Jackpot • 2006 — Chhal: The Game of Death • Deodhar Gandhi • Jeet: Feel the Force • 2007 — Big Brother — Baburao 'Bhau' Kamble • 2008 — Ugly Aur Pagli — Hotel Manager • Sarkar Raj — Karunesh Kaanga • 2009 — Team: The Force — Raman Bhai • Yeh Mera India — Inspector Chandrakant Shinde • Ek: The Power of One • 2018 — Sanju — Bandu Dada • Kaala — Maharashtra Minister • 2021 — Antim: The Final Truth — Head Constable • 2022 — Govinda Naam Mera — Ajit Dharkar • 2023 — Aazam — Madan Shikre • Ajmer 92 — DIG Shekhawat • 2024 — Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha — Yeda Anna • 2026 — Ramyaa — Anna Shetty • Untitled film

• Year — Title — Role • 2000 — Bharathi — Subramaniya Bharathi • 2001 — Poovellam Un Vaasam — Rajasekar • 2002 — Azhagi — Dhanalakshmi's Husband • Baba — Divyananda Bharathi • 2003 — Dhool — Minister Kalai Pandiyan • 2006 — Sudesi — R. C. Narayan • 2007 — Azhagiya Tamil Magan — Settu • 2008 — Vaitheeswaran — Dhanasekaran • Santosh Subramaniam — Govindhan • 2009 — Padikkathavan — Rami Reddy • Thoranai — Minister Sivanandi • Thee — Rajapandian • Aadhavan — Ibrahim Rowther • Vettaikkaran — Kattabomman • 2011 — Vedi — Easwaramoorthy • Velayudham — Feroz Khan • 2012 — Oru Kal Oru Kannadi — Mahendra Kumar • Thaandavam — Ravichandran • 2013 — Settai — Jewelry owner • 2014 — Maan Karate — Sethuraman • Damaal Dumeel — Kamatchi Sundaram • 2015 — Nannbenda — Sathya's Father • Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga — Ashok • 2017 — Spyder — DGP Chandrasekhar • 2018 — Kaala — Union Minister of Maharashtra • Johnny — Kalyan • 2019 — Pottu — Dr. R.K. • Rocky: The Revenge — Thenappan • Action — Rehman • Market Raja MBBS — God Father Radha • 2020 — Cocktail — Rajamanickam • 2021 — Nayae Peyae • Sabhaapathy — Lucky Raja • 2022 — Nenjuku Needhi — CBI Officer • Gethule — Minister Mani • 2023 — Aghori • 2024 — Indian 2 — Balsingh • Oru Thee — Anu's father • 2025 — Rajabheema • Good Bad Ugly — Alok Shukla • Kuberaa — SI Ashok Godbole • 2026 — Yogi Da — Arivazhagan

• Year — Title — Role • 1991 — Patitha Pavani • 2004 — Veera Kannadiga — Bade Miyan • 2007 — Lava Kusha — Vishakanta • 2008 — Porki — CM Karim Abdul Khaled • 2011 — Srimathi • 2012 — Arakshaka • Shakti — Bachchegowda • 2013 — Veera • 2014 — Brahma — ACP Shinde • Jai Lalitha — ACP Raghav • 2015 — Ouija — Satan Fakir • Luv U Alia • Uppi 2 • 2017 — Kempiruve — Politician

• Year — Title — Role • 2010 — Twinkle Twinkle Little Star • 2013 — Nadodimannan — Villain | Pushpam Prakashan

• Year — Title — Notes • 2022 — Dharma — with Pawan Singh & Kajal Raghwani • Rowdy Rocky — with Pradeep Pandey "Chintu" • TBA — Fighter King — Villain |with Samar Singh

• Year — Title — Role • 2006 — Rockin Meera — Villain | Tiger Singh

• Year — Title — Role • 1995 — Aahat — uncredited role

• Year — Title — Role — Language — Platform — Notes • 2020 — Loser — Ruby's Father — Telugu — ZEE5 • 2022 — Mi Punha Yein — MLA Vasant Rao Murkute — Marathi — Planet Marathi • Dhahanam — Chenna Reddy — Telugu — MX Player • 2024 — Killer Soup — Arvind Shetty — Hindi — Netflix • Kalsutra — Serial killer — Marathi — JioHotstar

He produced couple of Marathi movies. Sayaji helped Nagesh Bhonsle to produce the Marathi film Goshta Choti Dongraevadhi. He also produced the Makarand Anaspure's Dambis (2011).

The authorities additionally record the heading shiyaji shinde. His recorded languages were Hindi and Telugu.