Laxmikant Bolke

Laxmikant Bolke, also known as Lakshya, is a fictional character from the Zapatlela franchise, created by Mahesh Kothare and portrayed by Laxmikant Berde. A ventriloquist from the village of Shrirangpur, Lakshya became famous for his puppetry and humor. However, his life took a dark turn when he became possessed by the soul of the crime lord Tatya Vinchu, thrusting him into a fight for survival. Despite the horrors he faced, Lakshya's legacy lived on through his son, Aditya, who followed in his footsteps and continued the family's passion for puppetry.

Laxmikant Bolke
Zapatlela character
First appearance	Zapatlela (1993)
Created by	Mahesh Kothare
Portrayed by	Lakshmikant Berde
In-universe information
Full name	Laxmikant Bolke
Nickname	Lakshya
Gender	Male
Occupation	Shopkeeper ventriloquist puppeteer
Family	Parubai Bolke (mother)
Spouse	Aavdi
Significant other	Tatya Vinchu
Children	Aditya Bolke
Religion	Hinduism
Origin	Shrirangpur
Nationality	Indian

Fictional biography

Early life

Laxmikant Bolke, also called Lakshya, was born and raised in the quaint village of Shrirangpur in Maharashtra. From a young age, Lakshya displayed a strong sense of humor and creativity, which led him to develop an early interest in ventriloquism.

Despite his modest beginnings, Lakshya was determined to make a name for himself. His innate talent for puppetry made him popular in his village, where he would often entertain children with his performances at local festivals. But while the village was his stage, Lakshya harbored dreams beyond the confines of Shrirangpur. His cousin, Gauri, moved to the US to pursue a career in criminal psychology, and her occasional visits fueled Lakshya's desire to expand his horizons.

Adult life and ventriloquism

As a young man, Lakshya took over the family shop after his father's death, running a modest but steady business. However, his real love remained with ventriloquism and puppetry. He would spend hours practicing, creating new puppet characters, and refining his craft. Lakshya also became skilled at using his puppets to mimic the voices of famous personalities, adding an element of humor to his performances.

His relationship with Aavdi, the daughter of Constable Tukaram, was another significant aspect of his life. Despite their contrasting backgrounds, Lakshya and Aavdi shared a deep bond, grounded in mutual respect and love. However, their relationship was often tested by Aavdi's family's opposition, as Aavdi's father had already promised her marriage to Constable Sakharam, a man she didn't love. Lakshya's rebellious spirit and his belief in following one's heart made him determined to fight for Aavdi's happiness.

The possession of Tatya Vinchu

Lakshya's life took a dark turn when his sister, Gauri, sent him a puppet from the US as a gift. Unbeknownst to her, this puppet was no ordinary toy—it contained the soul of the notorious crime lord Tatya Vinchu, who had used a dark Mrityunjay Mantra to transfer his essence into the puppet's form after his fatal injury in a confrontation with CID Inspector Mahesh Jadhav.

Initially, Lakshya believed the puppet to be a simple ventriloquist tool. However, as the puppet began speaking and revealing its true identity, Lakshya realized he was dealing with something far more sinister. Tatya Vinchu, possessing the puppet, began to manipulate Lakshya's life, causing death and chaos in the village. Lakshya, caught between disbelief and horror, was forced to confront the reality of his situation.

Despite being initially unable to comprehend the full extent of the danger, Lakshya found himself in a battle for survival, trying to protect his family, his village, and his own sanity from Tatya Vinchu's malevolent influence. In the process, Lakshya became the target of both Tatya's rage and the law, as CID Inspector Mahesh Jadhav wrongly accused him of murder. It was only after a postmortem proved his innocence that Lakshya was freed, but the danger was far from over.

The Fight for Survival

Tatya Vinchu's attempts to possess Lakshya's body led to a harrowing series of events, with Lakshya narrowly escaping multiple attempts on his life. He was forced into hiding, even seeking refuge in a mental hospital to escape the puppet's relentless pursuit. With the help of Mahesh Jadhav and his sister Gauri, Lakshya eventually confronted and outwitted Tatya Vinchu, culminating in a dramatic showdown where the puppet's soul was destroyed.

Though the ordeal ended, Lakshya's life was forever changed. The trauma of being haunted by a malevolent spirit left him with deep psychological scars, and he became more cautious in his interactions with the world. However, his relationship with Aavdi grew stronger, and they eventually married, despite the challenges posed by her father's opposition.

Legacy and the Next Generation

Years later, Lakshya's son, Aditya Bolke, became a key figure in the continuation of the family's ventriloquism legacy. Aditya, much like his father, inherited his love for puppetry, and together they carried on the tradition of ventriloquism in the village, while also seeking to protect it from the darker forces that seemed to follow their family.

Appearances

The character Laxmikant Bolke, portrayed by Laxmikant Berde, was first introduced in the 1993 film Zapatlela. The character received widespread praise and quickly became popular. However, following Berde's death in 2004, Laxmikant Bolke was absent from the 2013 sequel Zapatlela 2, which underperformed at the box office. When Mahesh Kothare announced the third installment, Zapatlela 3, he revealed plans to recreate the character using Artificial Intelligence technology.

Reception

Garima Satija of India Times featured the character in a list of 12 iconic horror movie characters. The Times of India stated that Zapatlela became a blockbuster due to Laxmikant Berde's outstanding performance as Laxmikant Bolke.

Further reading

• Kothare, Mahesh (2024-11-17). Damn It Ani Barach Kahi (in Marathi). Mehta Publishing House Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-81-959709-6-4.