# Mahesh Kothare

Mahesh Ambar Kothare (Marathi pronunciation:; born 28 September 1953) is an Indian film actor, director and producer of Marathi and Hindi films. He started his acting career as child artist. Kothare acted in well-known movies such as Raja Aur Runk, Chhota Bhai, Mere Laal, and Ghar Ghar ki Kahani. The well known Hindi song Tu Kitni Achhi Hain from the film Raja Aur Runk features Kothare as Master Mahesh.
Considered a revolutionary figure in the Marathi film industry, he began his directorial career with the groundbreaking Dhoom Dhadaka (1985) and has since delivered many box office hits over a period of 20 years. Kothare's films are known for their technical nuances and fantasy concepts. He is one of the few Indian film makers who have made successful films in the fantasy genre. Kothare made the first Marathi film in true 3DZapatlela 2 (2013) which was the sequel to Zapatlela (1993).
In most of his hit films, he played the fictional character of Inspector Mahesh Jadhav, and his catchphrase, "Damn it!" is popular among Marathi audiences. In 2023 the Mehta Publishing House launched the autobiography of Kothare Damn It Ani Barach Kahi.

## Career

Kothare started his career in his teens, in Hindi movies with roles in Raja aur Runk and Ghar Ghar ki Kahani. He later switched to Marathi cinema, where he worked with well known stars and directors while continuing to make Hindi films without any noteworthy success. Kothare became a top Marathi director with hits including Dhum Dhadaka, Zapatlela, Zapatlela 2, Khatarnak and Khabardar.
In films Ghar Ka Bhedi and Lek Chalali Sasarla, he played negative character.
Kothare, along with, Laxmikant Berde, Sachin Pilgaonkar and Ashok Saraf formed a successful quartet, giving hits after hits in the Marathi Cinema Industry in the 1980s and 1990s.
He also owns the Kothare Vision production house.
In the mid-1980s, Kothare and another young actor, Sachin Pilgaonkar, helped to revolutionize the Marathi film industry with their directing. Pilgaonkar directed Navri Mile Navryala, while Kothare directed Dhoom Dhadaka. Both films became box office hits, but Dhum Dhadaka became a trendsetter which brought young audiences to recognize the Marathi style of movie-making. Kothare then went on to make comedies which also became major hits. He also made Dhadakebaaz, the first Marathi film shot in CinemaScope and brought a number of innovations such as Dolby Digital sound to Marathi cinema with the film Chimani Pakhar. He made Pachhadlela in 2004, which was the first Marathi film with computer-generated effects. Kothare was also the first Marathi filmmaker to produce science-fiction films.
In the film Gupchup Gupchup and Thorali Jau he played supporting, character roles.
In the Marathi movies, he played supporting characters in films such as Devata, Jabardast, Majah Chakula, De Dandan, Khatarnak, Tharthrat, Zapatlela, Zapatlela - 2, Shubha Mangal.
In 2013, Kothare made the film Zapatlela 2 in 3D with his son Adinath Kothare in the lead. The film was the sequel to his 1993 box office hit Zapatlela, which has acquired a cult following amongst Marathi audiences and features a doll named Tatya Vinchu created by Ventriloquist and Puppeteer Ramdas Padhye and voiced by Dilip Prabhavalkar that comes to life. Kothare revived Tatya Vinchu with 3D, animatronics and state of the art CGI in the sequel Zapatlela 2, which was the first Marathi film shot in 3D using split beam technology produced by Spanish stereographer Enrique Criado. The film was shot at ND Studios, Karjat and released on 7 June 2013, going on to become a big hit over its 100-day run.

## Personal life

Kothare is married to Nilima Kothare since 1980.His son Adinath played a leading role in Zapatlela 2. Adinath is married to Marathi actress Urmilla Kothare.The couple have a daughter named Jiza Kothare.Kothare studied B.Sc. and L.L.B.He is a criminal lawyer.

## Filmography

As an actor, Kothare appeared primarily as a Police Inspector with his first name Mahesh.
| Year | Title | Role |
| 1964 | Chota Jawan | Jawan |
| 1968 | Raja Aur Runk | Yuvraj Narendradev / Raja |
| 1970 | Safar | Feroz Khan's Younger Brother Montu |
| 1971 | Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani | Ravi |
| 1975 | Prit Tuzi Mazi | Ravi |
| 1982 | Sant Gyaneshwar | Dnyaneshwar |
| 1982 | Thorli Jaau | Avinash |
| 1982 | Chandane Shimpit Ja | |
| 1983 | Devta | Sunil |
| 1983 | Paaygoon | Dhanaji Jadhav/Nagesh Patil |
| 1983 | Gupchup Gupchup | Ashok |
| 1984 | Sage Soyare | Hemant |
| 1984 | Gharcha Bhedi | Ramesh |
| 1984 | Lek Chalali Sasarla | Vilas Inamdar |
| 1985 | Dhum Dhadaka | Mahesh Javalkar |
| 1987 | De Danadan | Sub-Inspector Mahesh Danke |
| 1989 | Thartharat | CID Inspector Mahesh Jadhav |
| 1990 | Dhadakebaaz | Mahesh Nemade |
| 1992 | Jiwlaga | Guest appearance |
| 1993 | Zapatlela | CID Inspector Mahesh Jadhav |
| 1994 | Majha Chakula | Inspector Mahesh Jadhav |
| 1996 | Masoom | Guest appearance |
| 1998 | Dhangad Dhinga | Advocate Mahesh Mithare |
| 2000 | Khatarnak | CID Inspector Mahesh Choudhary |
| 2004 | Pachhadlela | Inspector Mahesh Jadhav |
| 2005 | Khabardar | Mahesh Kothare (Himself) |
| 2006 | Shubh Mangal Savdhan | |
| 2007 | Zabardast | Professor Bramhanand Bharadwaj |
| 2008 | Full 3 Dhamaal | Mahesh Kothare (Himself) |
| 2010 | Ved Laavi Jeeva | |
| 2010 | Ideachi Kalpana | Commissioner Mahesh Thakur |
| 2011 | Dubhang | |
| 2013 | Zapatlela 2 | Commissioner Mahesh Jadhav |
| 2013 | Welcome to the Jungle | IB Chief |

### Directorial credits

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1985 | Dhum Dhadaka | Mahesh Javalkar |
| 1987 | De Danadan | Sub-Inspector Mahesh Danke |
| 1989 | Thartharat | CID Inspector Mahesh Jadhav |
| 1990 | Dhadakebaaz | Mahesh Nemade |
| 1991 | Jiwlaga | |
| 1993 | Zapatlela | CID Inspector Mahesh Jadhav |
| 1994 | Majha Chakula | Inspector Mahesh Jadhav |
| 1996 | Masoom | |
| 1999 | Lo Main Aagaya | |
| 1998 | Dhangad Dhinga | Advocate Mahesh Mithare |
| 2000 | Khatarnak | |
| 2001 | Chimani Pakhar | |
| 2004 | Pachhadlela | Mahesh |
| 2005 | Khabardar | |
| 2007 | Shubh Mangal Saavdhaan | |
| 2008 | Zabardast | |
| 2008 | Full 3 Dhamaal | |
| 2010 | Ved Laavi Jeeva | |
| 2011 | Dubhang | |
| 2013 | Zapatlela 2 | Commissioner Mahesh Jadhav |
| 2024 | Paani | Film Producer |

## Awards and recognition

| Year | Award | Category | Work |
| 1986 | Filmfare Awards Marathi | Best Film | Dhum Dhadaka |
| 1986 | Filmfare Awards Marathi | Best Director | Dhum Dhadaka |
| 1994 | Maharashtra State Film Awards | Best Film | Majha Chakula |
| 1994 | Maharashtra State Film Awards | Best Director | Majha Chakula |
| 1994 | Screen Awards | Best Film - Marathi | Majha Chakula |
| 1994 | Screen Awards | Best Director - Marathi | Majha Chakula |
| 2000 | Screen Awards | Best Director - Marathi | Khatarnak |
| 2005 | Maharashtra State Film Awards | Best Film | Khabardar |
| 2005 | Maharashtra State Film Awards | Best Director | Khabardar |
| 2005 | Maharashtra State Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Khabardar |
| 2009 | Maharashtra State Film Awards | V. Shantaram Special Contribution Award | |
| 2018 | 3rd Filmfare Awards Marathi | Limelight Award | Overall Contribution |
| 2021 | 5th Filmfare Awards Marathi | Excellence in Marathi cinema | Overall Contribution |