Actor, film director, screenwriter, and producer Mahesh Manjrekar is a rare talent who is known for his intense films both as a filmmaker and an actor. Some of his most memorable films include “Vaastav: The Reality,” “Astitva,” “Viruddh… Family Comes First,” “Natsamrat,” “Kaante,” and “Wanted.”
Early Life and Career
Mahesh Manjrekar, born on August 16, 1958, in Bombay. He was educated at Don Bosco High School, Mumbai. After his early education he went to Mumbai University for his higher education. He was interested in acting from his school days and started doing theatre while he was in college. In 1984, he started his professional acting career with the Marathi play “Aflatoon.” Some of his other notable plays include “All the Best,” “Dhyanimani,” and “Gidhade.”
Manjrekar’s screen debut came with the Marathi series “Kshitij,” where he played a leprosy patient. This role marked the beginning of a long and varied career in acting and filmmaking. He made his film debut with the Marathi film “Jeeva Sakha” in 1992. Manjrekar made his directorial debut with the 1995 Marathi film “Aai.” But it was not until the late 1990s that Manjrekar gained significant recognition.
Breakthrough
In 1999, Mahesh Manjrekar directed and produced the critically acclaimed film “Vaastav: The Reality (1999).” which became a turning point in his career.
Vaastav, a gritty crime drama, is the story of Raghu, a hard-working street vendor turned gangster. The film explores crime’s devastating consequences. The film became one of the most realistic portrayals of crime underbelly of Mumbai. Sanjay’s portrayal of Raghu’s transformation from an innocent youth to a hardened don with raw intensity won him his first Filmfare Best Actor Award.
He then comes up with “Astitwa,” starring Tabu and Sachin Khedekar in 2000, which was widely praised for his sensitive treatment of marital discord, women’s sexuality and double standards of society. The film went on to earn several awards, including the National Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi.
Mahesh Manjrekar The Man Of Many Talents
Since then he has directed many acclaimed films like Kurukshetra (2000), Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai (2000), Hathyar (2002), Pitaah (2002), Viruddh… Family Comes First (2005), Matichya Chuli (2006), Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy (2009), Lalbaug Parel (2011), Kaksparsh (2012), Natsamrat (2016), Panghrun (2019), and many more.
As an actor, Manjrekar has delivered some memorable performances. His role in the film “Kaante (2002)” was highly praised. He has since played a variety of roles, including negative characters in films like “Wanted (2008),” “Slumdog Millionaire (2008),” and historical figures such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in “Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy.”
Some of his notable films as an actor include Pran Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye (2003), Plan (2004), Musafir (2004), Zinda (2006), 99 (2009), Teen Patti (20010), Dabangg (2010), Ready (2011), Bodyguard (2011), OMG: Oh My God! (2012), Shootout at Wadala (2013), Jai Ho (2014), Singham Returns (2014), Bajirao Mastani (2015), Dabangg 3 (2019), The White Tiger (2021), and many more.
Personal Life
On the personal front, Mahesh Manjrekar first married Deepa Mehta, with whom he has two children. He later married Medha Manjrekar, with whom he has a daughter, Saiee Manjrekar, who is also an actress
Mahesh Manjrekar on IMDB
