Neena Kulkarni Biography: From Marathi Theater to Bollywood

Neena Kulkarni ( Joshi) is an Indian actress who is known for her work on Marathi and Hindi films, television and stage productions. She has received several awards including a National Film Award, Maharashtra State Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards Marathi.

Kulkarni was born in 1954 or 1955. Her parents were both doctors. She attended Canossa Convent High School and Elphinstone College, Mumbai. She was married to Dilip Kulkarni until his death in 2002.

Career (Neena Kulkarni Biography)

She began her acting career in the 1970s on the Marathi professional stage and Hindi experimental stage, along with fashion shows and modelling simultaneously. She met Pt Satyadev Dubey, her first guru, and went on to be a part of several Hindi productions under his direction. Mohan Rakesh’s Adhe Adhure, Shankar Shesh’s Mayavi Sarovar and Willie Russell’s Educating Rita are a few of her prominent plays. During this time she offered films by V. Santaram and Shakti Samanta for Anuraag, but she rejected those offers to focus on theatre.

Dr. Vijaya Mehta chose her to play Shabbo in Anil Barve’s Hamidabai Chi Kothi in 1978, and thus began her long journey with Bai into the remarkable world of Marathi theatre with Mahasagar and Savitri. She continues to assist Bai in her workshops. Mahasagar, Akasmat, Dhyani Mani, Vatvat Savitri, Dehabhaan, Prem Patra and Chaapa Kaata are some more of her successful award-winning (Natya Darpan, State Awards, Natya Parishad recognition Marathi plays.

She directed the play Mahasagar in 2011, Educating Rita, Mahatma Versus Gandhi and Wedding Album – English plays. Her prominent feature films are Savat Mazi Ladki (state award best actress) Aai, Uttarayan, and the film Shevri which she produced and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi.

She gained wider recognition for her performance in the Marathi film Bioscope and won Filmfare Award Marathi for Best Supporting Actress.

For her performance in the Marathi film Mogara Phulala directed by Shravani Deodhar, which earned her second Filmfare Award Marathi for Best Supporting Actress.

She won her third Filmfare Award Marathi in category of Critics Award Best Actress for her film Photo Prem.

She is also known for her roles in the Hindi films including Badal, Nayak, Paheli, Guru, Hungama, Rann, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, Hasee Toh Phasee and Ghayal: Once Again .

She is a column writer for Loksatta, called Antarang. She wrote for 3 years, and has been published as a book by the same name. She is also known for television show Yeh Hai Mohabbatein.

She is also known for her International projects : The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Rani (an 8 part series in the French language telecast on channel France Deux) Noces, a French Film shot in Luxembourg and premiered in Paris in Feb 2017. Her latest foray into digital content through a web series Breathe and short films Cuddly and Maa has won her much appreciation. Her latest release is the Short film Devi.

She is also starred in thefilm Kulkarni Chaukatla Deshpande, directed by Gajendra Ahire and Photoprem’ directed by Aditya Rathi and Gayatri Patil.(Indian Panorama entry in IFFI and Marathi Competition entry in PIFF). Her upcoming films include Sachin Kundalkar’s Pondicherry and Mohit Takalkar’s Medium Spicy.

Filmography (Neena Kulkarni Biography)

Theatre (Neena Kulkarni Biography)

• Guntata Hruday He (1972)
• Dehbhaan
• Hamidabai chi Kothi
• Dhyani Manee
• Naagmandal
• Sambhog Se Sanyas Tak
• Chhapa Kata as Uttara Bhagwat
• Mahatama Vs Gandhi
• Educating Rita
• Mahasagar as Champu
• Vat Vat Savitri
• Aai ch Ghar Unhacha
• Prem Patra
• Doctor Tumhi Suddha

• Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai (2006) as Guest
• Kammal (2002–2003) as Rinni Sanyal/Raina Bose
• Kayamath (2007–2009) as Mrs. Shah / Dadi
• Mathemagic co-host with Benjamin Gilani on Doordarshan
• Baa Bahoo Aur Baby (2007) as Asha Ben (Guest appearance)
• Meri Maa (2011–2012) as Pratibha’s mother-in-law
• Ek Packet Umeed (2008) as Ambika Dharamraj
• Devyani (2013) as Manjula Vikhe-Patil
• Yeh Hai Mohabbatein (2013–2019) as Madhavi “Madhu” Iyer
• Adhuri Ek Kahani (2004–2008) as Kalyani Kedarnath Patwardhan
• Ados Pados (1985) as Champakali
• Swarajya Janani Jijamata (2019–2021) as Rajmata Jijabai
• Raja Shivchatrapati (2008–2009) as Badi Begum
• Saarrthi (2004–2005) as Kumud Goenka
• Breathe (2018) as Juliet Mascarenhas
• The Good Karma Hospital (season 3) (2019)
• The Kapil Sharma Show to promote Devi
• Swamini (2019–2020) as Tarabai
• Unpaused: Naya Safar (2022)
• Yed Lagla Premach
• Ankakee (2001)
• Lajja (2010–2014)
• Rani (2011) as Queen Mother
• Unch Majha Zoka (2012–2013) as Aaji

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