Hassan: Dr. Vasant Madhav is a man who dons many a hat. From healer to actor, his talents are varied. The doctor, who is from Hassan district and who runs the Janata Hospital, was honoured recently with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for 2024 by the Government of India.
On the occasion, he said, “It is with great honour and pleasure that I have received this award today and would like to announce it to the media. First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to our jury and Dada Saheb Phalke Committee for selecting me and to all the patients I have counselled and treated over my career.”
The Dada Saheb Phalke Achievers Award is the highest arts award in our country and was hitherto given to achievers who have excelled in arts, cinema and literature among other categories.
From this year onwards, i.e. 2024, it is being given to achievers across all fields other than those mentioned above as well.
“This achievement is not mine alone. This is mainly due to my parents and friends who have brought me to this level. The credit goes especially to my father and mother. Sadly, my father is not here to celebrate this moment. He was not only a father, but a good friend and a great teacher as well. He was supportive in everything. Every step of the way, my mother has been the beacon of light. I came to the medical profession by her support,” Dr Madhav said.
“After completing my education, I started working as an orthopedic surgeon (joint, bone specialist) in 1998 in Mangalore. After that, I worked in our own Janata Hospital in Hassan from 2000 till 2016. In 2004, I started getting opportunities from the film industry, by which I was fascinated. I also worked in three different Apollo complexes from 2005 to 2006. However, I used to take up acting twice or thrice a year, balancing medical life alongside,” he said.
“Later, I became fond of the patients at Apollo Hospital. I have been working here in Koramangala since 2024. Trained in Cosmetology (Skin and Hair) in Greece and the German Institute in 2018, I have started my own (public-private partnership) ventures in Hassan and Bangalore.
“Using this knowledge, I help people uplift their lifestyles. Throughout life, new challenges have to be constantly faced. I have learned a lot during my journey thus far,” he said.
About the award
Dada Saheb Phalke was the first to introduce motion pictures to India. Raja Harishchandra in 1913 and Mrityu Kataka in 1914 are some of his masterpieces. Then, in 1923, he made a talkie. From 1967-68, in his name, awards were given to those who have achieved especially in the film industry.
Dr Vasant Madhav has excelled in two areas of work namely, Joint and Orthopedics, and skin and hair care.
