One of the most beautiful actresses in Indian TV and films, Mrinal Kulkarni, is best remembered as Vicco Girl. Some of her iconic roles came in “Shrikant (1987),” “Swami (1988),” “The Great Maratha (1994),” “Mirabai (2009),” and “Son Pari (2000).”
Early Life
Mrinal Kulkarni was born on June 21, 1971, in Pune, Maharashtra. Mrinal was born to Dr. Vijay Deo and Dr. Veena Deo. She grew up in an environment that fostered education and creativity, which is evident in her academic pursuit of a Master’s degree in Linguistics from Pune University. Her maternal grandfather, Gopal Nilkanth Dandekar, was a noted writer. Her father, passed away on April 11, 2019, while her mother died on October 29, 2024. She has a sister, Madhura.
Mrinal completed her schooling from Pune. Her higher studies delayed due to her acting career.She later earned a Master’s degree in Linguistics from Pune University. She enrolled for a PhD in Philosophy at SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, but abandoned it due to acting opportunities.
Acting Debut
Mrinal’s journey in the world of acting began at a tender age, and over the years, she has emerged as a celebrated figure in both Marathi and Hindi cinema and television. She made her debut in the Doordarshan serial Shrikant (1987), starring Farooque Shaikh, Irrfan Khan, and Sujata Mehta. Her acting career took off with the Marathi TV serial ‘Swami‘, where she portrayed the role of Ramabai Peshwa.
Gajanan Jagirdar spotted Mrinal performing at an inter-college festival at the age of 16. He offered her the role of Ramabai Peshwa in the Marathi TV serial Swami, which aired in 1988. She accepting the role despite initial reluctance. This led to more offers, marking her transition into acting.
This role not only brought her popularity but also set the stage for a series of successful roles in various television serials such as “The Great Maratha,” “Draupadi,” “Hasratein,” and “Son Pari.” Her portrayal of historic characters like Meerabai, Draupadi, Ahilya Bai Holkar, Ramabai, and Jijabai was now considered a TV classic.
Mrinal Kulkarni In Films
Mrinal made her film debut with Basu Chaterjee‘s Kamla Ki Maut (1989). The film explores the issues of premarital sex and teenage pregnancies, along with infatuation at a young age. It also showcased the hypocrisy and human cowardice in relationships in modern India. Film also stars Pankaj Kapoor, Supriya Pathak, Roopa Ganguly, Irrfan, Asha Lata, and Ashutosh Gowariker.
Some of her other notable films include Maza Saubhagya (1994), Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (2000), Aashiq (2001), Kuchh Meetha Ho Jaye (2005), A Rainy Day (2014), Yellow (2014), Rajwade and Sons (2015), Farzand (2018), Ye Re Ye Re Paisa (2018), Fatteshikast (2022), Pawankhind (2022), Dear Dia Adi’s mother (2022), Sher Shivraj (2022), Goshta Eka Paithanichi (2022), Saath Sobat (2023), Madhura (2023), Sari (2023), Subhedar (2023), and 1234 एक दोन तीन चार (2024).
Other Work
Not content with just acting, Mrinal ventured into direction with her debut Marathi film, “Prem Mhanje Prem Mhanje Prem Asta (2013).” The film, which she also wrote, marked a significant turn in her career, showcasing her ability to helm a project with sensitivity and insight. She continued to explore her directorial prowess with the historical dramas “Rama Madhav (2014)” and “Ti and Ti – (2019).”
Mrinal married her childhood friend Ruchir Kulkarni in 1990, and together they have a son, Virajas Kulkarni, who has followed in her footsteps in the Marathi film industry.
Mrinal Kulkarni’s body of work spans across various genres and languages, making her a household name. Her contributions to the entertainment industry have been recognised with numerous awards, including the Screen Award for Best Actress and the Black Swan Award for Outstanding Contribution in Marathi Films and Television.
Mrinal Kulkarni on IMDB
