Remembering Comedy King of Bollywood, Laxmikant Berde, on his 13th death anniversary.

Laxmikant Berde remains one of the most popular and prolific actors of Marathi cinema. The actor straddled Hindi and Marathi cinema with ease. His death 13 years ago on this date came as a shock to both the Hindi and Marathi film industries.

With a career that spanned two decades, Berde had acted in several Marathi blockbusters like Ashi Hi Banwa Banvi , Thar Tharat , Balach Bap Brahmchari , Majha Chakula and several Hindi films like Saajan , Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and the movie that made him, Maine Pyar Kiya . Known for his highly energetic slapstick performance, he has been described as the ‘Comedy King’ and ‘Comedy Superstar’.

Berde first came into the public eye when he appeared on the Doordarshan Marathi programme, Gajra. For 20 years from 1984 onwards, Lakshya, as he was popularly known in Maharashtra, made everyone laugh.

Laxmikant Berde was born in Ratnagiri, Konkan on November 3, 1954 and grew up in Mumbai. Berde's interest in acting dated back to his youth. A regular performer at stage shows during the Ganesh festival at Konkanasth Vaishya Samaj, Girgaum, he also acted in inter-school and inter-collegiate competitions. After winning several awards, he decided to start his professional acting career with the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh.

In 1983-84, Laxmikant got his first break in the play Tour Tour directed by Purushottam Berde. It began a productive relationship with Purushottam Berde, who went on to direct him in several hit Marathi films. It was also the first display of Laxmikant's unique style of comedy.

His film debut came the same year in 'Lekh Chalali Sasarla' (1984), which had him act alongside Mahesh Kothare, Alka Kubal, Shashikala and Savita Prabhune. The film led to a lifelong friendship with Kothare, who would cast Berde in all the films he directed. Kothare cast the actor in films like Dhoom Dhadaka (1985), Masoom (1996), and Lo Main Aa Gaya (1999).

It was Dhoom Dhadaka that brought the hit pair of Berde and Ashok Saraf together for the first time. One of Marathi cinema's greatest comic duos, they went on to do more than 50 films together through the 1980s and 1990s. They also did some memorable work in Hindi cinema in films like I Love You (1992), Yaara Dildara (1991) and Beti No 1 (2001).

The 1980s saw Berde rise to the top of the star list in Marathi cinema. Even as his career in Marathi films was doing well, he began receiving offers to act in Hindi films. Berde's tryst with Hindi cinema began with the Rajshri Productions' classic Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), directed by Sooraj Barjatya. Though he had a minor role in the film, he was appreciated and began to get more offers.

In the 1990s, Berde established himself as a leading comedian in Hindi cinema alongside popular names like Kader Khan, Johnny Lever, Shakti Kapoor, Asrani, Deven Verma, Anupam Kher and Paresh Rawal. He continued to balance his work as a comedian in Hindi cinema with leading roles in Marathi films. In the year Maine Pyar Kiya released, he delivered one of his biggest Marathi hits 'Hamaal De Dhamaal' with Usgaonkar. The film even had Anil Kapoor playing himself in a cameo.

By the 2000s, Berde's presence in Hindi cinema had begun to fade, and he decided to focus on Marathi films. Till the end, Berde remained prolific in his work.

Berde was paired opposite his future wife, Priya Arun, in many Marathi and Hindi films. He was earlier married to Roohi Berde, who played Shatrughan Sinha's sister in Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973). Berde married Priya after Roohi's death in 1998.

Laxmikant Berde died of kidney failure in Mumbai on December 16, 2004.