Mumbai:
From treating smiles in the dental chair to lighting up cinema screens, Dr. Srushti Bahekar has carved a remarkable path — one that bridges science and art, precision and passion. The Gondia-born dentist-turned-actress is now winning hearts with her Marathi film Chhabi, proving that dreams, when pursued with determination, can indeed come true.
Born and raised in the rice city of Gondia, Srushti grew up enchanted by the folk performances of Zadipatti. “When I was a kid, whenever I heard Dhol Tasha or Lavani songs, my heart used to pirouette,” she recalls. “I used to dance at every celebration — be it birthdays or weddings. At that time, I never imagined becoming an actress; it was just pure love for dance and music.”
Despite her natural talent, family responsibilities took precedence. Her elder sister, Samruddhi, suffered from a congenital heart defect (ASD), and young Srushti chose to stay close to her family rather than chase TV dance show auditions. “The thought of Boogie Woogie stayed carved in my heart,” she says, smiling at the memory.
After completing her schooling at St. Paul College, Nagpur, fate presented her with a choice — an MBBS seat in Nashik or a BDS seat in Mumbai. “My parents wanted me to pursue MBBS, but my heart was set on Mumbai,” she says. “Somehow, I convinced them and joined Dr. G D Pol Foundation YMT Medical College.”
Balancing dental studies with her artistic ambitions was no easy feat. “Out of fear that I might be called back home if I failed, I studied hard and topped my second year,” she recalls proudly. Yet, destiny had other plans. Through friends, she joined the One Line Creation Theater Group, acting in plays like Share It and Dawat-e-Safar, both of which reached the finals of the prestigious Atal Karandak One-Act Play competition. This marked the beginning of her acting career.
Her first major TV appearance came with Sony SAB’s ‘India Ke Mast Kalandar’, followed by a return to her dental practice — until an unexpected phone call changed everything. “One of my friends called me from a shooting set with a toothache,” she laughs. “When I helped him, he shared some production contacts with me. That’s how I got my first serial — Jai Jai Swami Samartha, where I played Devyani.*”
From there, Srushti’s acting career flourished with roles in popular Marathi serials such as Tumchi Mulgi Kay Karte, Karan Gunhyala Mafi Nahi, and Shiva. Then came her big-screen debut in Chhabi, a project that fulfilled a childhood dream. “Working with stalwarts like Makarand Deshpande and Sameer Dharmadhikari felt surreal,” she says.
Reflecting on her journey from Gondia’s folk stages to Mumbai’s film sets, Dr. Bahekar says, “I’m the daughter of Vidarbha who won’t stop. I believe I’ve just started — picture abhi baki hai, mere dost.”
