Profile Text
Gavankar in 2012, photo by DFree /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Janina Zione Gavankar
Place of Birth: Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
Date of Birth: November 29, 1980
Ethnicity: *75% Marathi Indian *25% Dutch
Janina Gavankar is an American actress, musician, pianist, vocalist, and orchestral percussionist.
Her parents, Shan-de-Mohra and Peter Gavankar, are from India. Her father was from Pune, Maharashtra, with Marathi ancestry. Her mother is of Indian and Dutch descent.
Janina’s paternal grandfather was named Ganesh Gavankar.
Janina’s paternal grandmother was Susheela Desai (the daughter of Ghanashyam Raghunath Desai and Shantabai/Durgabai Tendolkar). Ghanashyam was the son of Raghunath Atmaram Desai. Shantabai was the daughter of Raghunath Bhagwant Tendolkar and Sitabai/Mukta Raghunath Tendolkar Naik.
Janina’s maternal grandfather was Shivaji Wasudeo Shahane (the son of Dr. Wasudeo Raghunath Shahane and Kamala Parande). Shivaji was born in Amravati, Maharashtra, India. Kamala was the daughter of Keshav Govind Parande and Radha.
Janina’s maternal grandmother was Zione Rukmini Kroes (the daughter of Zion Kroes and Johanna Schouten). Zione was born in Baarn, Netherlands.
Sources: Genealogy of Janina Gavankar – https://www.geni.com
Obituary of Janina’s father – https://www.findagrave.com