Neena Kulkarni

Neena Kulkarni
Neena Kulkarni
Born	Neena Joshi; 1954 or 1955 (age 69–70)
Occupations	Actress; producer; director;
Years active	1977–present
Spouse	Dilip Kulkarni (m. 1980; died 2002)
Children	2

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

Kulkarni was born in 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

Neena Kulkarni is a celebrated Indian actress, director, and producer known for her remarkable contributions to Marathi and Hindi films, television, theatre, and international cinema. Born in 1955 to a family of doctors, she was educated at Canossa Convent High School and Elphinstone College with a degree in French in Mumbai. She started her career with Modelling and became the first Clearasil Girl in print media in the early 70s. She was married to Dilip Kulkarni until his passing in 2002. They have two children, both are also working in the entertainment industry and often work alongside her, continuing the family’s creative legacy. Neena began her artistic journey in the 1970s, performing in Marathi professional theatre and Hindi experimental theatre. Before that she debuted in a Marathi commercial play- Guntata Hruday He ! Later under the mentorship of the legendary Pt. Satyadev Dubey, she starred in acclaimed plays such as Adhe Adhure, Mayavi Sarovar, and Educating Rita. This was the time when she met husband Dilip Kulkarni who was also actively involved in direction and acting in experimental and commercial theatre. Neena declined early film offers from renowned directors like V. Shantaram and Shakti Samanta to focus on stage work since she found her passion growing. Her breakthrough in Marathi theatre came in 1978 when Dr. Vijaya Mehta cast her as Shabbo in Hamidabai Chi Kothi, which began her long-standing association with Marathi theatre. Notable stage performances include Mahasagar, Savitri, Akasmat, Dhyani Mani, Vatvat Savitri, Dehabhaan, Prem Patra and now Asen me Nasen Me. As a director, she has helmed acclaimed play recreation called- Mahasagar. some hindi theatre plays like ‘doctor aap bhi’ and its marathi adaptation- doctor tumhi suddha was critically acclaimed. Naagmandal directed by her husband Dilip and matichya gaadaache prakaran were some semi experimental plays she acted in. Her notable work in English theatre is still remembered by theatre enthusiasts– some of those plays were - Educating Rita, Mahatma Versus Gandhi, and Wedding Album. She is currently in My name is Gauhar jaan- the play, as Malka jaan and older Gauhar jaan. Her work in Marathi cinema has been widely recognized. She received the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress for Savat Mazi Ladki, and her performance in the lead role as Aai in Mahesh Manjrekar’s film Aai gained critical acclaim as well as box office hit! In 2005-2006, Neena produced the her first film Shevri, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi. She also played the lead character of Vidya Barve a middle class marathi middle aged wife/mother/daughter struggling to survive in Mumbai amidst her divorce. She is forced to spend the night on the streets of Mumbai as she recounts her spree of turbulent relationships and decides to start her life afresh. This stands as Neena’s special and dear role and project till date- as mentioned by her in some of her interviews. Neena has won a couple of Filmfare Awards Marathi for her roles in Bioscope and Mogara Phulala as Best Supporting Actress, and a filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress for Photo Prem. In Hindi cinema, she has acted in numerous successful films including Daag the fire, Nayak, Guru, Paheli, Hungama, Rann, Badal, bhootnath, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Hunterrr, Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, Hasee Toh Phasee, and Ghayal: Once Again. She is also known for her popular role in the television series Yeh Hai Mohabbatein which ran on star plus for 6-7 years at a stretch. she has also done a lot of TV shows in marathi where she played vital roles – one of them being Swarajya Janani Jijamata on sony marathi where she played the lead – Jijamata and the current show Yed Lagla Premache where she is fondly known as Jiji. Neena’s work on TV has been extensive since doordarshan days. She acted in some well known shows like – Chaal naavachi Vachaal Vasti, Saalsood, Nayak, Ank Ajoobe, ados pados. In the digital space, she earned acclaim for her role in the web series Breathe and in short films such as Cuddly, Maa, and Devi. And her latest work in ‘The Royals’ on Netflix. Her international work includes The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, the French-language series Rani on France Deux, and the French feature film Noces, which premiered in Paris in 2017. In addition to her acting career, Neena Kulkarni is an accomplished writer. She penned a widely-read column titled Antarang in the Marathi daily Loksatta for over three years, which was later compiled into a published book. The book is doing its successful rounds of the 4th edition. Some of her marathi films with her offbeat yet adorable character roles are in the marathi films Kulkarni Chaukatla Deshpande by Gajendra Ahire, Pondicherry, directed by Sachin Kundalkar, and Medium Spicy, directed by Mohit Takalkar. Her lead role in the marathi film Photoprem was an official selection at the Indian Panorama (IFFI) and the Marathi competition at PIFF. Here most loved performances are in marathi films like Uttarayan and Sangeet Manapmaan, and hindi films like - The signature, shastri Viruddh Shastri and OTT series like Unpaused and The good Karma Hospital season 3. Over her illustrious career, Neena Kulkarni has been honoured with a National Film Award, Maharashtra State Film Awards, and several Filmfare Awards Marathi, along with recognition from Natya Darpan and Jeevan Gaurav and Best actress in 2025 for Akhil bharatiya Natya Parishad. Her enduring contributions and the involvement in the entertainment business makes her a vital part of India's artistic legacy in both traditional and contemporary storytelling.

Filmography

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
2003	Dum	Saraswati Shinde
2004	Inspector Kiran	Accomplice
	Ishq Hai Tumse
	Pachhadlela	Ravi's mother	Marathi
	Saatchya Aat Gharat		Marathi
	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
	71⁄2 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		Marathi	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	Hindi
	Balirajache Rajya Yeu De		Marathi
2008	Bhoothnath	Nirmala	Hindi
2009	Gho Mala Asla Hava	Savitri's mother	Marathi
2009	Gandha	Janaki	Marathi
2010	Rann	Lata V. Malik	Hindi
	Mission 11 July	Police Commissioner's wife	Hindi
	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		Hindi
2014	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
2016	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	Hindi	Short film
2021	Photo Prem	Maee	Marathi	Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Marathi
2021	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
2025	Sangeet Manapmaan	Chimnabai	Marathi

Theatre

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

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^[2]
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^[3]
Unpaused: Naya Safar (2022)
Yed Lagla Premach^[4]
Ankakee (2001)
Lajja (2010–2014)
Rani (2011) as Queen Mother
Unch Majha Zoka (2012–2013) as Aaji
Ank Ajoobe
Nayak
Chaal Navachi Vachal Vasti

Awards and nominations


Year	Award	Category	Work	Character	Result
1994	Maharashtra State Film Awards	Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress	Savat Mazi Ladki	Seema Madhukar Hirve	Won
1994	Filmfare Awards Marathi	Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Marathi	Savat Mazi Ladki	Seema Madhukar Hirve	Nominated
1996	Filmfare Awards Marathi	Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Marathi	Aai		Nominated
2005	Maharashtra State Film Awards	Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress	Uttarayan	Kusumawati / Durgi	Won
2006	54th National Film Awards	National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi	Shevri	Vidya Barve	Won
2015	Filmfare Awards Marathi	Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Marathi	Taptapadi	Durgabai	Nominated
2016			Bioscope		Won
2020			Mogra Phulaalaa	Sunil's mother	Won
2021		Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Marathi	Photo Prem		Won
2022		Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Marathi	Medium Spicy	Nissim' mother	Nominated

References

^ Pawar, Yogesh (23 September 2017). "I haven't stopped hungering: Neena Kulkarni on her 40 year long career". DNA India.
^ Das, Arti (8 October 2018). "Neena Kulkarni on her long acting journey: 'You have to be a caterpillar to become a butterfly'". Scroll.in.
^ स्वामिनी'मध्ये नीना कुळकर्णी साकारणार महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका
^ "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.

External links

[dnaindia-1] Pawar, Yogesh (23 September 2017). "I haven't stopped hungering: Neena Kulkarni on her 40 year long career". DNA India.

[2] Das, Arti (8 October 2018). "Neena Kulkarni on her long acting journey: 'You have to be a caterpillar to become a butterfly'". Scroll.in.

[3] स्वामिनी'मध्ये नीना कुळकर्णी साकारणार महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका

[4] "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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