# Neena Kulkarni

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 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

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

| 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 | Marathi | Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress Nominated Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Marathi |
| 1993 | Ghayaal | Lalita Ramchandra Hire | Marathi | |
| 1993 | Taichya Bangdya | Vidya | Marathi | |
| 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 | Hindi | |
| 2000 | Badal | Soni's mother | Hindi | |
| 2000 | Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani | Laxmi | Hindi | |
| 2001 | Nayak: The Real Hero | Daksha Rao Gaekwad | Hindi | |
| 2001 | Hum Ho Gaye Aapke | Mrs. Gupta | Hindi | |
| 2001 | Rahul | Mrs. Sharma | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar Baar | Kamla Patel | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein | Sunanda Singh | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa | Esha's mother | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai | Gayatri Sharma | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Ab Ke Baras | Prerna | Hindi | |
| 2002 | Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai | Rachna Patil | Hindi | |
| 2003 | Hungama | Jeetu's mom | Hindi | |
| 2003 | Dum | Saraswati Shinde | Hindi | |
| 2004 | Inspector Kiran | Accomplice | Hindi | |
| 2004 | Ishq Hai Tumse | | Hindi | |
| 2004 | Pachhadlela | Ravi's mother | Marathi | |
| 2004 | Saatchya Aat Gharat | | Marathi | |
| 2004 | Uttarayan | Durgi | | Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for Best Actress Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress |
| 2004 | Ab... Bas! | Shivani 'Aai' | Hindi | |
| 2005 | Sarivar Sari | Aayi | Marathi | |
| 2005 | 71⁄2 Phere: More Than a Wedding | Rati Pant | Hindi | |
| 2005 | Paheli | Mrs. Bhanwarlal | Hindi | |
| 2005 | Kyaa Kool Hai Hum | Shanti - Kiran's mom | Hindi | |
| 2005 | Yehi Hai Zindagi | Sharda Rao | Hindi | |
| 2005 | Aamhi Asu Ladke | Shalini Buddhisagar | Marathi | |
| 2006 | Shevri | | Marathi | Also producer of the film National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi |
| 2006 | Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar | Ayaan's grandma | Hindi | |
| 2006 | Humko Deewana Kar Gaye | Amrit H. Malhotra | Hindi | |
| 2006 | Ho Sakta Hai! | Shakuntala | Hindi | |
| 2006 | Nital | | Marathi | |
| 2007 | Raqeeb | | Hindi | |
| 2007 | Guru | Sujata's Mother | Hindi | |
| 2007 | 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 | |
| 2010 | Mission 11 July | Police Commissioner's wife | Hindi | |
| 2010 | Ved Laavi Jeeva | | Marathi | |
| 2010 | Mee Sindhutai Sapkal | Bai | Marathi | |
| 2011 | Sahi Dhandhe Galat Bande | Tai | Marathi | |
| 2011 | Sharyat | Gayatri Devi | Marathi | |
| 2011 | The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel | Gaurika | English | |
| 2012 | Uproot | Laxmi | Hindi | Short film |
| 2013 | Anumati | Madhu | Marathi | |
| 2013 | Chasing the Rainbow | Sita | English | Short film |
| 2013 | 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 | |
| 2015 | Hunterrr | Mandar's mother | Hindi | |
| 2015 | Cuddly | Mother | Hindi | Short film |
| 2015 | 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 | Marathi | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Marathi |
| 2019 | Kulkarni Chaukatla Deshpande | Mother | Marathi | |
| 2019 | Bhai: Vyakti Ki Valli | Vijaya Mehta | Marathi | |
| 2020 | Devi | Savitri | Hindi | Short film |
| 2020 | AB Aani CD | Varsha Deshpande | Marathi | |
| 2020 | Raabta | Neena | Hindi | Short film |
| 2020 | Dafan | Dr. Vaze | Hindi | Short film |
| 2021 | Photo Prem | Maee | Marathi | Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Marathi |
| 2021 | Godavari | Bhagirathi Deshmukh | Marathi | |
| 2022 | Pondicherry | Aai | Marathi | |
| 2022 | Medium Spicy | Meena Tipnis | Marathi | Nominated -Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Marathi |
| 2022 | Dagina | Sasubai | Marathi | Short film |
| 2022 | Three of Us | Mrs Kurankar | Hindi | |
| 2023 | Shastry Viruddh Shastry | Urmila Shastry | Hindi | |
| 2024 | The Signature | Madhu | Hindi | 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
* 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

## Awards and nominations

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