Mahesh Manjrekar Biography

Early Life and Education Mahesh Manjrekar was born and raised in Mumbai in a Marathi family. From an early age, he developed a deep interest in theatre and storytelling. His love for stage performances became the foundation of his future career as both an actor and filmmaker. After completing his education, he entered Marathi theatre, where he gained valuable experience as an actor, writer, and director. His years on stage helped him master character development, dialogue delivery, and realistic storytelling. Mahesh made his directorial debut with Vaastav: The Reality (1999), starring Sanjay Dutt. The crime drama became a landmark film in Indian cinema and earned multiple awards, establishing him as one of Bollywood's finest directors. He continued directing acclaimed films such as Astitva, Kurukshetra, Viruddh, City of Gold, and Antim: The Final Truth, each praised for their emotional depth and realistic narratives. Alongside directing, Mahesh built a highly successful acting career. He became known for portraying powerful police officers, politicians, gangsters, and father figures in films like Kaante, Musafir, Wanted, Dabangg, Singham Returns, Sanju, Saaho, The Big Bull, Thug Life, and Coolie. His commanding screen presence made him one of Indian cinema's most recognizable character actors. Career Journey & Entry into Bollywood Apart from Hindi cinema, Mahesh has remained deeply connected to Marathi films, both as an actor and director. His work has played an important role in strengthening Marathi cinema by introducing meaningful stories and socially relevant themes while supporting new talent. He has also appeared as a judge and mentor on several television reality shows and talent competitions, sharing his filmmaking experience with aspiring actors and directors. In 2026, Mahesh portrayed Premnath Gavli in Gandhi Talks, India's rare silent feature film directed by Kishor Pandurang Belekar. The film featured Vijay Sethupathi, Arvind Swamy, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Siddharth Jadhav, earning attention for its dialogue-free storytelling and A. R. Rahman's musical score. Today, Mahesh Manjrekar continues to be one of India's most respected filmmakers and performers. With a career spanning theatre, Marathi cinema, Bollywood, television, and digital entertainment, he remains an influential figure whose work continues to inspire audiences and filmmakers alike.
	Mahesh Manjrekar Biography, Age, Movies, Career in Acting Mahesh Manjrekar is an Indian actor, director, producer, writer, and screenwriter who has made significant contributions to Marathi and Hindi cinema. Known for his powerful storytelling and memorable performances, he is regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers from Maharashtra. Born on 16 August 1958 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Mahesh began his artistic journey through theatre before entering films. His realistic filmmaking style and ability to portray strong human emotions earned him widespread recognition in both Marathi and Bollywood cinema. As a director, he gained acclaim through films like Vaastav: The Reality, Astitva, Viruddh, City of Gold, and Antim: The Final Truth. As an actor, he has appeared in numerous blockbuster films including Kaante, Musafir, Slumdog Millionaire, Wanted, Dabangg, Singham Returns, Sanju, Saaho, The Big Bull, and Coolie. His latest major release is Gandhi Talks (2026), a unique silent feature film directed by Kishor Pandurang Belekar, in which he portrays Premnath Gavli alongside Vijay Sethupathi, Arvind Swamy, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Siddharth Jadhav.
Full Name:	Mahesh Manjrekar
Profession:	Actor, Director, Screenwriter, Producer
Date of Birth	16 August 1958
Birthplace:	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

*Complete Awards and Nominations List*
1	*Aai (Filmfare Awards Marathi)*	*1994*	*Won*
2	*Astitva (Maharashtra State Film Awards,National Film Awards)*	*2000*	*Won*
3	*Vaastav: The Reality (Filmfare Awards)*	*2000*	*Won*
4	*Vaastav: The Reality (IIFA Awards)*	*2000*	*Nominated*
5	*Kaante (IIFA Awards)*	*2003*	*Nominated*
6	*Kaante (Filmfare Awards)*	*2003*	*Nominated*
7	*Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy (Zee Gaurav Puraskar,Maharashtracha Favourite Kon?)*	*2010*	*Won*
8	*Lalbaug Parel (Maharashtracha Favourite Kon?)*	*2011*	*Won*
9	*Kaksparsh (Maharashtra State Film Awards,Maharashtracha Favourite Kon?)*	*2012*	*Won*
10	*Kaksparsh (Zee Gaurav Puraskar,Maharashtracha Favourite Kon?)*	*2012*	*Nominated*
11	Natsamrat (Zee Gaurav Puraskar,Filmfare Awards Marathi, Zee Cine Awards	*2016*	*Won*
12	*Panghrun (Sakal Premier Awards)*	*2019*	*Won*
13	*Bigg Boss Marathi 1 (Colors Marathi Awards)*	*2019*	*Won*
14	*Bigg Boss Marathi 2 (Colors Marathi Awards)*	*2021*	*Nominated*
15	*Panghrun (Maharashtra State Film Awards)*	*2022*	*Nominated*
16	*Bigg Boss Marathi 3 (Colors Marathi Awards)*	*2022*	*Won*
17	*Juna Furniture (Zee Gaurav Puraskar,Filmfare Awards Marathi)*	*2024*	*Won*

*Film Credits*
1	*Aai*	*1995*	*Director,Writer*
2	*Vaastav: The Reality*	*1999*	*Director,Writer*
3	*Astitva*	*2000*	*Director,Writer*
4	*Kurukshetra*	*2000*	*Director,Writer*
5	*Nidaan*	*2000*	*Director,Writer*
6	*Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai*	*2000*	*Director,Writer*
7	*Ehsaas: The Feeling*	*2001*	*Director,Writer*
8	*Tera Mera Saath Rahen*	*2001*	*Director,Writer*
9	*Hathyar*	*2002*	*Director,Writer*
10	*Pitaah*	*2002*	*Director,Writer*
11	*Pyaar Kiya Nahin Jaatha*	*2003*	*Director,Writer*
12	*Pran Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye*	*2003*	*Producer*
13	*Rakht*	*2004*	*Director,Writer*
14	*It Was Raining That Night*	*2005*	*Director,Producer,Writer*
15	*Viruddh... Family Comes First*	*2005*	*Director,Writer*
16	*Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi!*	*2005*	*Director,Writer*
17	*Matichya Chuli*	*2006*	*Writer*
18	*Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy*	*2009*	*Writer*
19	*Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho*	*2010*	*Director,Writer*
20	*City of Gold*	*2010*	*Director,Writer*
21	*Ami Shubhash Bolchi*	*2011*	*Director,Writer*
22	*Fakt Ladh Mhana*	*2011*	*Director,Producer,Writer*
23	*Kaksparsh*	*2012*	*Director*
24	*Shala*	*2012*	*Producer*
25	*Kokanastha*	*2013*	*Director,Writer*
26	*Natsamrat*	*2016*	*Director,Writer*
27	*FU: Friendship Unlimited*	*2017*	*Director,Producer,Writer*
28	*Me Shivaji Park*	*2018*	*Director,Producer,Writer*
29	*Shikari*	*2018*	*Producer,Writer*
30	*Bhai: Vyakti Ki Valli*	*2019*	*Director,Producer*
31	*The Power*	*2021*	*Director*
32	*Antim: The Final Truth*	*2021*	*Director*
33	*Panghrun*	*2022*	*Director,Producer,Writer*
34	*Nay Varan Bhat Loncha Kon Nay Koncha*	*2022*	*Director*
35	*Hi Anokhi Gaath*	*2024*	*Director,Producer,Writer*
36	*Juna Furniture*	*2024*	*Director,Writer*
37	*Vedat Marathe Veer Daudle Saat*	*2024*	*Director,Producer,Writer*
38	*Ek Radha Ek Meera*	*2025*	*Director,Producer*

*Complete Mahesh Manjrekar Movie List*
1	*Vaastav: The Reality (Hindi)*	*1999*
2	*Ehsaas: The Feeling (Hindi)*	*2001*
3	*Kaante (Hindi)*	*2002*
4	*Pran Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye (Hindi)*	*2003*
5	*Plan (Hindi)*	*2004*
6	*Run (Hindi)*	*2004*
7	*Musafir (Hindi)*	*2004*
8	*It Was Raining That Night (English)*	*2005*
9	*Encounter Daya Nayak (Kannada)*	*2005*
10	*Zinda (Hindi)*	*2006*
11	*Jawani Diwani: A Youthful Joyride (Hindi)*	*2006*
12	*Dus Kahaniyaan (Hindi)*	*2007*
13	*Okkadunnadu (telugu)*	*2007*
14	*Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav (Hindi)*	*2007*
15	*Deha (Hindi)*	*2007*
16	*Meerabai Not Out (Hindi)*	*2008*
17	*Slumdog Millionaire (English)*	*2008*
18	*Homam (Telugu)*	*2008*
19	*Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy (Marathi)*	*2009*
20	*Wanted (Hindi)*	*2009*
21	*99 (Hindi)*	*2009*
22	*Fruit and Nut (Hindi)*	*2009*
23	*Adhurs (Telugu)*	*2010*
24	*Teen Patti (Hindi)*	*2010*
25	*Dabangg (Hindi)*	*2010*
26	*Don Seenu (Telugu)*	*2010*
27	*Ready (Hindi)*	*2011*
28	*Fakta Ladh Mhana (Marathi)*	*2011*
29	*Bodyguard (Hindi)*	*2011*
30	*Tukkaa Fitt (Hindi)*	*2012*
31	*OMG: Oh My God! (Hindi)*	*2012*
32	*Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha (Marathi)*	*2012*
33	*Mumbai Mirror (Hindi)*	*2013*
34	*Himmatwala (Hindi)*	*2013*
35	*Shootout at Wadala (Hindi)*	*2013*
36	*Once Upon a Time In Mumbaai Dobara (Hindi)*	*2013*
37	*Arrambam (Tamil)*	*2013*
38	*Rajjo (Hindi)*	*2013*
39	*Jai Ho (Hindi)*	*2014*
40	*Rege (Marathi)*	*2014*
41	*Singham Returns (Hindi)*	*2014*
42	*Ardhangini by Abhishek Mukherjee (Bangali)*	*2014*
43	*Bajirao Mastani (Hindi)*	*2015*
44	*Akhil (Telugu)*	*2015*
45	*Vrundavan (Marathi)*	*2016*
46	*Guntur Talkies (Telugu)*	*2016*
47	*Badsha – The Don (Bangali)*	*2016*
48	*Thank U Vitthala (Marathi)*	*2017*
49	*Dhyanimani (Marathi)*	*2017*
50	*FU: Friendship Unlimited (Marathi)*	*2017*
51	*Velaikkaran (Tamil)*	*2017*
52	*Sanju (Hindi)*	*2018*
53	*Take Care Good Night (Marathi)*	*2018*
54	*Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota (Hindi)*	*2019*
55	*Vinaya Vidheya Rama (Telugu)*	*2019*
56	*Total Dhamaal (Hindi)*	*2019*
57	*Saaho (Telugu)*	*2019*
58	*Mulshi Pattern (Marathi)*	*2019*
59	*Dabangg 3 (Hindi)*	*2019*
60	*66 Sadashiv (Marathi)*	*2019*
61	*Kesari (Marathi)*	*2020*
62	*Taxi No. 24 (Hindi)*	*2020*
63	*The White Tiger (English/Hindi)*	*2021*
64	*The Power (Hindi)*	*2021*
65	*Boss (Bhojpuri)*	*2021*
66	*Mumbai Saga (Hindi)*	*2021*
67	*Antim: The Final Truth (Hindi)*	*2021*
68	*Katha Kanchiki Manam Intiki (Telugu)*	*2022*
69	*Sarkaru Vaari Paata (Telugu)*	*2022*
70	*De Dhakka 2 (Marathi)*	*2022*
71	*Mister Mummy (Hindi)*	*2022*
22	*Butterfly (Marathi)*	*2023*
73	*Yatra 2 (Telugu)*	*2024*
74	*Juna Furniture (Marathi)*	*2024*
75	*Thug Life (Tamil)*	*2025*
76	*Coolie (Tamil)*	*2025*
77	*Devmanus (Marathi)*	*2025*
78	*Dashavatar (Marathi)*	*2025*
79	*The Devil (Kannada)*	*2025*
80	*Gandhi Talks (Sound)*	*2026*
81	*Raja Shivaji (Hindi/Marathi)*	*2026*
82	*Deool Band 2 (Marathi)*	*2026*

*Complete Mahesh Manjrekar Television and Web Series List*
1	*Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 1*	*2006*
2	*Monica Mogre*	*2009*
3	*Specials @ 10*	*2009*
4	*Arre Deewano Mujhe Pehchano*	*2009*
5	*Maharashtracha Superstar 1*	*2010*
6	*Forest*	*2010*
7	*Agent Raghav – Crime Branch*	*2015*
8	*Bigg Boss Marathi 1*	*2018*
9	*Selection Day*	*2018*
10	*Bigg Boss Marathi 2*	*2019*
11	*Kaale Dhande*	*2019*
12	*TVF Cheesecake*	*2019*
13	*1962: The War in the Hills*	*2020*
14	*Forbidden Love*	*2020*
15	*Bigg Boss Marathi 3*	*2021*
16	*Bigg Boss Marathi 4*	*2022-2023*
17	*Taaza Khabar*	*2023*

Conclusion Mahesh Manjrekar's remarkable journey from Marathi theatre to becoming one of India's most accomplished actors and directors reflects creativity, perseverance, and a passion for meaningful storytelling. His films have entertained audiences while addressing important social issues and showcasing realistic characters. *With timeless classics like Vaastav, Astitva, Antim, and his recent performance in Gandhi Talks (2026), Mahesh Manjrekar continues to leave a lasting impact on Indian cinema.*

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