Ghanshyam Nayak was an Indian film and television actor who was well known for his character ‘Nattu Kaka’ in a Hindi Indian comedy show ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ broadcasted on SAB Television.
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Wiki/Biography
Ghanshyam Nayak was born on Friday, 12 May 1944 (age 77 years; at the time of death) in Village Undhai, Gujarat.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5’ 3”
Weight (approx.): 65 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Brown
Family
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name was Prabhakar Nayak. His mother’s name is not known.
Ghanshyam Nayak (extreme right), his father (centre), his grandfather (left)
Wife & Children
Ghanshyam Nayak was married to Nirmaladevi Nayak, and she is a housewife.
Ghanshyam Nayak on his marriage day with his wife
The couple has a son named Vikas Nayak, and he is a manager in the National Stock Exchange and two daughters named Bhavna Nayak and Tejal Nayak. Tejal Nayak is a teacher in Mumbai. His daughters are not married.
Ghanshyam Nayak with his family members
Career
Films
Ghanshyam Nayak began his acting career in 1959 as a child artist with the Bollywood song ‘Nani Teri Morni ko Mor Le Gye.’ In this song, Farhan Akhtar’s mother Honey Irani appeared as a girl child artist along with him. According to Ghanshyam Nayak, he was pursuing his school education when he was given the opportunity to act in Bollywood films. He said in an interview with a media house,
In 1959, when I was a school-going student, I made my acting debut with Farhan Akhtar’s mom Honey Irani film. That time she was also a child artist and the main lead in the film. She was 4-years-old and the song of our film ‘Naani Teri Morni Ko Mor Le Gaye’ is still a very popular song. We shot for the song in Malad (Bombay Talkies). Post that I have done a lot many films, with Ashok Kumar to Amitabh Bachchan. I did Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Kacche Dhaage, Krantivir and today also, I get work offers.”
Ghanshyam Nayak as a child artist in the song Nani teri Morni Ko Mor Le Gye
In 1960, he bagged another role as a child artist in the movie Masoom.
Ghanshyam Nayak as a child artist in the 1960 movie Masoom
From a young age, he appeared as a supporting actor in several Bollywood movies including Balak Dhruv in 1974, Beta in 1992, Tirangaa in 1993, Ram Lakhan in 1993, Tere Naam in 2003, Laadla in 1994, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 1999, Kachche Dhage in 1993, Lajja in 2001, Khakee in 2004, Panga Na Lo in 2007, Hello! Hum Lallan Bol Rahe Hain in 2010 as a Servant, Love Ni Bhavai in 2017, Wig Boss in 2019 etc. For more than 55 years, he worked both in Hindi and Gujarati television. He appeared in more than 200 Hindi and Gujarati films and over 350 Hindi television shows. He was an active theatre performer. According to him, his father and grandfather were also theatre artists. Ghanshyam appeared in supporting roles in several Bollywood movies and renowned Bollywood actors including Ashok Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, and Salman Khan.
A collage of the scenes of the movies done by Ghanshyam Nayak in Bollywood
Ghanshyam Nayak used to sing in several Gujarati movies. He was also a playback singer who sang Gujarati songs with veteran Bollywood singers like Asha Bhosle & Mahendra Kapoor.
Ghanshyam Nayak’s playback CD cover
Apart from acting and singing, Ghanshyam also worked as a voice-over artist in over 350 Gujarati movies. In the Hindi film such as ‘Ek Aur Sangram’ and Bhojpuri film ‘Bairi Sawan,’ he dubbed his voice for veteran actor Kanhaiyalal.
Television
In 2002, Ghanshyam Nayak began working in the television show Khichadi as a salesman. Later, he appeared in several television serials including ManiMatku (a Gujarati show), Philips Top 10 as Makhkhan, Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka as Mohan, Dill mill Gaye as a patient, Sarathi as Ghanu Kaka, in 2004, in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai as Vitthal Kaka. He started working as Natwarlal Prabhashankar Udhaiwala also known as Nattu Kaka in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah in 2008. In 2012, he signed another show in Gujarati titled Chhuta Chheda along with working in the Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah on SAB TV.
Favourites
Death
Ghanshyam Nayak died on 3 October 2021 after losing his life battle from cancer. Bhupendra Patel, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, took to his Twitter handle to pay his condolences to the grieving family of Ghanshyam Nayak on his demise. He wrote,
Gujarati theatre has suffered a great loss due to the untimely demise of the famous Shri Ghanshyambhai Nayak, nicknamed ‘Natukaka’ from the serial ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’.”
Facts/Trivia
In a conversation with a media house, Ghanshyam Nayak narrated that he taught some Gujarati folk dance (Bhavai) steps to Aishwarya during the shooting of the movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. He told,
There are many memories related to ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’. At that time Aishwarya Rai was new in the industry. She respected me a lot and was friendly too. I taught Bhavai (Gujarati Dance and Drama) in Gujarati to Aishwarya. Sometimes Aishwarya used to touch my feet too.”
During the Covid-19 pandemic, it was public on social media sites that Ghanshyam was out of work, and he was suffering financial crises. However, soon after hearing the rumours on social media, he took to his social media account to disclose that he was not facing any financial woes and enjoying the lockdown with his children and grandchildren by watching his old movies. He said,
I am not suffering from any financial crisis. I am enjoying my time at home with my grandchildren and my children are actually helping people who need any kind of help. I am neither unemployed nor suffering from any financial woes.”
Ghanshyam used to reach on the shooting sets on an auto-rickshaw.
Ghanshyam Nayak was a veteran Indian cinema actor who was known for his dedicated acting skills. Once, in a conversation with a media house, he expressed his emotions and narrated that he wanted to learn and deliver dialogues amid the cancer treatment and he had absolutely no problem in to work on television until his last breath.
Ghanshyam Nayak disclosed in an interview with a media house in June 2021 that he was suffering from cancer for a long time and he underwent chemotherapy sessions during treatment. He revealed that he had shot a special episode of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah in Daman, and he enjoyed it a lot. He said,
My health is fine, but treatment had to be started again. Currently, I am undergoing chemotherapy sessions. It was after four months that I shot a special episode for Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah in Daman last week and believe me, I enjoyed a lot.”
In a conversation with a media house, Ghanshyam Nayak once revealed that for the first forty to forty-five years, he used to get only three rupees for working 24 hours in the Bollywood movies. He further added that initially, he struggled a lot and used to pay his house rent from the borrowed money. He stated that when he began working in the Indian television show ‘Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chasmah’ as ‘Nattu Kaka,’ his life totally changed as his character in the show received great appreciation from the audience. Soon, he was able to purchase two flats in Mumbai.
Ghanshyam Nayak on the advertisement of the show Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashmah