Known for her ability to seamlessly portray diverse characters, Ashwini Kalsekar is a versatile actress who appears on TV, in films, and in theatre in Hindi and Marathi. Over the years she has featured in popular shows such as “CID,” “Kasamh Se,” “Laagi Tujhse Lagan,” and “Jodha Akbar,” as well as films like the Golmaal series, the Singham series, and Bhool Bhulaiya 2 and 3, among others.
Early Life
Ashwini Kalsekar, born on January 22, 1970, in Mumbai into a Marathi family, with her father, Anil Kalsekar, working as a bank employee. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mumbai and pursued theatre from 1991 to 1994. Ashwini Kalsekar worked as an air hostess before entering the field of acting. She trained under renowned actress Neena Gupta and theatre acting coach Muzammeel Vakil to hone her acting skills.
Debut and Recognition
Kalsekar’s acting career began with the television series “Shanti” in 1995. She gained popularity with her role as Inspector Asha in the popular TV show “CID” (1998-2004). Her first lead role on television came with Zee TV’s 1999 series “Mr. Gayab.” She also made a mark with her portrayal of Shalaka Catwoman in the cult superhero serial “Shaktimaan.”
Ashwini Kalsekar’s breakthrough came when she was approached by Ekta Kapoor to play the antagonist Jigyasa Walia in the soap opera “Kasamh Se” (2006-2009). This role earned her critical acclaim and several awards, including the Indian Television Academy Award and the Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Negative Role.
Versatile Actress
She made her film debut in 1996 with the Marathi film “Tula Jhapar La” (1996), followed by her Hindi film debut in 2003 with “The Hero: Love Story of a Spy” (2003). She then acted in many memorable films like “Khakee” (2004), “Johnny Gaddaar” (2007), “Golmaal Returns” (2008), “Phoonk” (2008), “Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai” (2010), and “Rakta Charitra” (2010). Her impactful performances have garnered her immense recognition and numerous accolades.
Kalsekar has worked with notable directors such as Sriram Raghavan, Rohit Shetty, and Ram Gopal Varma. Some of his most memorable roles came in the Golmaal franchise, All the Best: Fun Begins (2011), the Singham series, Badlapur (2015), Cirkus (2022), and the Bhool Bhulaiyaa series (2 and 3).
She also acted in the web series “Chargesheet: The Shuttlecock Murder (2019),” “Rudra: The Edge of Darkness (2022),” and “Pop Kaun? (2023).”
Ashwini married Nitesh Pandey in 1998, but the couple divorced in 2002. In 2009, she married acclaimed film and television actor Murali Sharma.
Ashwini Kalsekar on IMDB
