The first generation actor of musical plays and an excellent singer, Moroba. Wagholikar was a minstrel (a religious singer) in his early career; who later joined a Tamasha group on being inspired by a Muslim tamasha artist named Dadu. Moroba had got a god-given gift of a very melodious and ringing voice and he was an excellent singer of the song-form called 'lavani'.
Around 1878 Moroba was under the patronage of a moneylender named Gulwe who gave Moroba 500 rupees as monthly salary. Gulwe also offered money to Annasaheb (Kirtoskar) for producing plays and allowed Moroba to join Annasaheb's drama company.
Moroba used to play Dushyanta in the musical play 'Shakuntal'. He used to sing 108 songs in it. In 'Soubhadra' he would be Arjun and looked handsome, stout and elegant in the role. Moroba had sparkling eyes and well-maintained physique.
He used to look after his own fitness and diet. He started the practice of burning 'Ood'-a fragnant incence before every show began. Moroba had invited Janglee Maharaj-a holy man, for the first show of his play 'Shakuntal'. Moroba requested Maharaj to sit in the first row, as his presence would ease out Moroba's tension.
Janglee Maharaj gave Moroba some 'Ood' and told him to burn it before the show began. Moroba burned it, mixing it with 'loban' and performed very well that evening. Since then all Marathi play performances began with this fragrant ritual.