Tara Deshpande

Biography

Tara Deshpande is an Indian actress, writer, former model, and MTV VJ. Tara hosted a show called Kab Kyon Kahaan on Zee TV, along with Parth and then with Vinay Jain in the early 1990s. Before entering the world of movies, she was a model and MTV VJ and a regular on the Mumbai stage. She played Begum Sumroo in Alyque Padamsee's play of the same name. She appeared in several acclaimed films such as Sudhir Mishra's Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin and Kaizad Gustad's Bombay Boys. Since her marriage to an American citizen and move to Boston in 2001, Tara divides her time between NYC and Mumbai. Her husband works in finance and is a graduate of Harvard Business School. Tara published her first book at the age of 23: Fifty and Done (HarperCollins). Her book, A Sense for Spice: Recipes and Stories from a Konkan Kitchen (Westland Publishers), was published in 2012 and Indian Sense of Salad in 2018.

== Filmography ==

=== Film ===

=== Television ===

== Digital series == She hosted ''Start2Bake'' for the India Food Network.

== Appearances as herself == Apart from her work in television and films, Tara Deshpande has also appeared in many other shows as herself. She appeared on the Movers and Shakers show with Shekhar Suman as a guest star in episode 55. She has co-hosted many award shows, like the Filmfare Awards in 1998, 2000, and 2001. Tara appeared in the Bhoomi episodes on the DD Metro channel produced by Siddharth Kak. She was also featured on the WGHB World of Chocolate show produced by PBS and was seen on the Amul hoarding as the Amul girl in her eponymous role as Dolly in Bombay Boys. Deshpande appeared on the MasterMind quiz show hosted by Siddharth Basu as well as Zee TV quiz show featuring Sonu Nigam and Gul Panag, Naseeruddin Shah hosted by Derek O’Brien. Tara has appeared as a speaker and commentator on numerous NDTV shows. Tara has been associated with brands such as Borosil, Godrej, Women's India Trust, Pantene Pro V Shampoo, Wipro Shikakai, Trikaya Foods, Raymonds, Camay, Nature's Basket, and Amazon.

== Theatre == Tara Deshpande began her career on the professional stage at the age of 14. She was formally launched by Alyque Padamsee in the eponymous role of the historical figure Begum Sumroo in 1995. Among her other performances are the British Council production of Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer, Toprani productions, The Yours, Mine and Ours Show, and Peter Shaffer's Black Comedy. She trained under Marathi theatre legend Atmaram Bhende, Pearl Padamsee, and Shiraz Jefferies.

== Politics, charities and social work == Tara Deshpande is actively involved in many charities and vocal about various social issues. Some of the charities she is involved in include the Rotary Club of Bombay, ASPCA, PAL, Society for the Education of the Crippled, and Montana Horse Ranch Rescue. The Culinary Culture community had declared Tara Deshpande as a COVID warrior for her free meals program for those who didn't have access to food during COVID-19. Tara has raised funds for tsunami victims in association with the Boston Herald. She was awarded for her work at Talwada, a medical centre dedicated to providing free care to Adivasis and marginalized rural workers in 2020 by the Rotary.