Neena Kulkarni

Neena Kulkarni
Born
Neena Joshi

1954 or 1955 (age 69–70)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
  • director
Years active1977–present
Spouse
Dilip Kulkarni
(m. 1980; died 2002)
Children2

Neena Kulkarni (née 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.

Early life

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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.[1]

Career

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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.[1] 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[citation needed]) Aai, Uttarayan, and the film Shevri which she produced and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi.[citation needed]

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

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

She won her third Filmfare Award Marathi in category of Critics Award Best Actress for her film Photo Prem.[citation needed][2]

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 .[3]

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.[4]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Language Notes
1987 Mirch Masala Pepper factory worker Hindi
1992 Hach Sunbaicha Bhau Suman (Tarde) Marathi
1993 Savat Mazi Ladki Seema Madhukar Hirve Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress
Nominated Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Marathi
Ghayaal Lalita Ramchandra Hire
Taichya Bangdya Vidya
1994 Purush Madhura Hindi
1995 Aai Sumitra A. Pradhan Marathi Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Marathi
1996 Daayraa Widow Hindi
1997 Hasari Mother Marathi
1999 Daag: The Fire Sushila Singh Hindi
2000 Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke Amrit Y. Grewal
Badal Soni's mother
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani Laxmi
2001 Nayak: The Real Hero Daksha Rao Gaekwad
Hum Ho Gaye Aapke Mrs. Gupta
Rahul Mrs. Sharma
2002 Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar Kamla Patel
Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein Sunanda Singh
Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa Esha's mother
Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai Gayatri Sharma
Ab Ke Baras Prerna
Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai Rachna Patil
2003 Hungama Jeetu's mom
Dum Saraswati Shinde
2004 Inspector Kiran Accomplice
Ishq Hai Tumse
Pachhadlela Ravi's mother Marathi
Saatchya Aat Gharat
Uttarayan Durgi Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for Best Actress
Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress
Ab... Bas! Shivani 'Aai' Hindi
2005 Sarivar Sari Aayi Marathi
712 Phere: More Than a Wedding Rati Pant Hindi
Paheli Mrs. Bhanwarlal
Kyaa Kool Hai Hum Shanti - Kiran's mom
Yehi Hai Zindagi Sharda Rao
Aamhi Asu Ladke Shalini Buddhisagar Marathi
2006 Shevri Also producer of the film
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi
Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar Ayaan's grandma Hindi
Humko Deewana Kar Gaye Amrit H. Malhotra
Ho Sakta Hai! Shakuntala
Nital Marathi
2007 Raqeeb Hindi
Guru Sujata's Mother
Balirajache Rajya Yeu De Marathi
2008 Bhoothnath Nirmala Hindi
2009 Gho Mala Asla Hava Savitri's mother Marathi
Gandha Janaki
2010 Rann Lata V. Malik Hindi
Mission 11 July Police Commissioner's wife
Ved Laavi Jeeva Marathi
Mee Sindhutai Sapkal Bai
2011 Sahi Dhandhe Galat Bande Tai
Sharyat Gayatri Devi
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Gaurika English
2012 Uproot Laxmi Hindi Short film
2013 Anumati Madhu Marathi
Chasing the Rainbow Sita English Short film
Dilli Gang Sujata Hindi
2014 Hasee Toh Phasee
Swami Public Ltd. Marathi
2015 Gour Hari Dastaan: The Freedom File Mrs. Apte (Freedom Cell) Hindi
Hunterrr Mandar's mother
Cuddly Mother Short film
Bioscope Marathi In segment "Dili E Nadaan"
Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Marathi
2016 Ghayal Once Again Mrs. Joe D'souza Hindi
A Wedding Yelda Kazim French / Urdu
2017 Vaas Kamal Marathi Short film
2019 Mogra Phulaalaa Sunil's Mother Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Marathi
Kulkarni Chaukatla Deshpande Mother
Bhai: Vyakti Ki Valli Vijaya Mehta
2020 Devi Savitri Hindi Short film
AB Aani CD Varsha Deshpande Marathi
Raabta Neena Hindi Short film
Dafan Dr. Vaze Short film
2021 Photo Prem Maee Marathi Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Marathi
Godavari Bhagirathi Deshmukh
2022 Pondicherry Aai
Medium Spicy Meena Tipnis Nominated -Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Marathi
Dagina Sasubai Short film
Three of Us Mrs Kurankar Hindi
2023 Shastry Viruddh Shastry Urmila Shastry
2024 The Signature Madhu ZEE5 film

Theatre

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  • 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

Television

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Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2006 54th National Film Awards National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi Shevri Won

References

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  1. ^ a b Pawar, Yogesh (23 September 2017). "I haven't stopped hungering: Neena Kulkarni on her 40 year long career". DNA India.
  2. ^ "6th Planet Filmfare Marathi Awards 2021: Complete winners' list". The Times of India. 1 April 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Neena Kulkarni: Movies, Photos, Videos, News, Biography & Birthday | eTimes". The Times of India.
  4. ^ "Kulkarni Chaukatla Deshpande poster: Sai Tamhankar resembles a girl next door in new poster". Pune Mirror. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  5. ^ Das, Arti (8 October 2018). "Neena Kulkarni on her long acting journey: 'You have to be a caterpillar to become a butterfly'". Scroll.in.
  6. ^ स्वामिनी'मध्ये नीना कुळकर्णी साकारणार महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका
  7. ^ "Yed Lagla Premach Serial | येड लागलं प्रेमाचं | Cast, Vishal Nikam, Pooja Birari, Star Pravah | Exclusive 2024 - Rang Marathi". Rang Marathi. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
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