# Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress

The Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress is an award, begun in 1962, presented annually at the Maharashtra State Film Awards of India to an actor for best performance in a Marathi cinema. The awardees are decided by a jury constituted every year. They are announced by the Minister for Cultural Affairs and are presented by the Chief Minister.
The inaugural award was named as "Smita Patil Award for Best Actress" and was awarded to Sulochana for the film Prapanch, directed by Madhukar Pathak.

## Winners

| Year | Image | Recipient(s) | Film(s) |
| 1962 | | Sulochana Latkar | Prapanch |
| 1963 | | Usha Kiran | Garibagharchi Lek |
| 1963 | – | Asha Potdar | Prem Andhla Asta |
| 1964 | | Seema Deo | Pahu Re Kiti Vaat |
| 1965 | – | Jayshree Gadkar | Sawaal Majha Aika! |
| 1966 | | Jayshree Gadkar | Sadhi Mansa |
| 1967 | | Jayshree Gadkar | Thamb Laxmi Kunku Lavte |
| 1968 | – | Uma Bhende | Aamhi Jato Amuchya Gava |
| 1969 | – | Anupama | Dharmakanya |
| 1970 | | Jayshree Gadkar | Vaijayanta |
| 1971 | | Sulabha Deshpande | Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe |
| 1972 | | Sandhya Shantaram | Pinjara |
| 1974 | | Jayshree T. | Bayanno Navre Sambhala |
| 1975 | – | Leela Gandhi | Kartiki |
| 1976 | | Jayshree Gadkar | Ghar Gangechya Kathi |
| 1976 | – | Kanan Kaushal | Pahuni |
| 1978 | | Smita Patil | Jait Re Jait |
| 1979 | – | Usha Chavan | Bot Lavin Titha Gudgulya |
| 1980 | – | Usha Chavan | Paij Choravar More |
| 1981 | – | Ranjana | Are Sansar Sansar |
| 1982 | | Smita Patil | Umbartha |
| 1983 | | Madhu Kambikar | Shapit |
| 1984 | | Madhu Kambikar | Hech Maze Maher |
| 1985 | | Alka Kubal | Streedhan |
| 1986 | | Alka Kubal | Tuzya Vachun Karmena |
| 1987 | | Varsha Usgaonkar | Gammat Jammat |
| 1988 | | Supriya Pilgaonkar | Maza Pati Karodpati |
| 1989 | | Savita Prabhune | Kalat Nakalat |
| 1990 | – | Meera Latkar | Aaghat |
| 1991 | | Archana Joglekar | Anpekshit |
| 1992 | | Ashwini Bhave | Aahuti |
| 1993 | | Neena Kulkarni | Savat Mazi Ladki |
| 1994 | | Mrinal Kulkarni | Maza Saubhagya |
| 1995 | | Sonali Kulkarni | Doghi |
| 1996 | | Sukanya Kulkarni | Putravati |
| 1997 | | Varsha Usgaonkar | Paij Lagnachi |
| 1998 | | Suhas Joshi | Tu Tithe Mee |
| 1999 | – | Aishwarya Narkar | Ghe Bharari |
| 2000 | | Tabu | Astitva |
| 2001 | | Reema Lagoo | Reshamgath |
| 2002 | – | Vrinda Gajendra | Krishnakathchi Meera |
| 2003 | – | Aditi Deshpande | Not Only Mrs. Raut |
| 2004 | | Neena Kulkarni | Uttarayan |
| 2005 | | Sonali Kulkarni | Devrai |
| 2006 | | Nandita Das | Maati Maay |
| 2007 | | Ashwini Bhave | Kadachit |
| 2008 | | Mukta Barve | Jogwa |
| 2009 | – | Madhavi Juvekar | Jhing Chik Jhing |
| 2011 | | Manasi Salvi | Sadrakshnay |
| 2012 | | Priya Bapat | Kaksparsh |
| 2013 | | Smita Tambe | 72 Miles |
| 2014 | | Priya Bapat | Happy Journey |
| 2015 | | Mukta Barve | Double Seat |
| 2016 | | Iravati Harshe | Kaasav |
| 2017 | | Pooja Sawant | Bhetali Tu Punha |
| 2018 | | Mukta Barve | Bandishala |
| 2019 | | Mrunmayee Deshpande | Miss U Mister |
| 2020 | – | Mrinmayee Godbole | Godakath |
| 2021 | | Sonali Kulkarni | Tich Shahar Hona |

## Multiple wins

Individuals with two or more Best Actress (BA) awards:
| Wins | Actress |
| 5 | Jayshree Gadkar |
| 4 | Sonali Kulkarni |
| 3 | Mukta Barve |
| 2 | Smita PatilMadhu KambikarAlka KubalVarsha UsgaonkarAshwini BhaveNeena KulkarniPriya BapatUsha Chavan |

## Superlatives

* The first recipient was Sulochana Latkar, who was honoured at the 1st Maharashtra State Film Awards in 1962 for her performance in Prapanch.
* The actress who won the most awards in this category is Jayshree Gadkar with five wins, followed by Sonali Kulkarni with four wins and Mukta Barve with three wins.
* As of 2024, Smita Patil, Usha Chavan, Madhu Kambikar, Alka Kubal, Varsha Usgaonkar, Ashwini Bhave, Neena Kulkarni and Priya Bapat have won the award two times.
* As of 2024, Varsha Usgaonkar and Ashwini Bhave remains the youngest recipient of the honour; they were awarded for the film Gammat Jammat in 1987 and Aahuti in 1992 respectively when they were 20. The most eldest recipient was Suhas Joshi; she was awarded for her film Tu Tithe Mee in 1998.
* The most recent recipient is Sonali Kulkarni for her performance in Ticha Shahar Hona.