Neena Kulkarni


Neena Kulkarni is an Indian actress. She began her acting career in the 1970s on the Marathi professional stage and Hindi experimental stage, along with fashion shows and modelling simultaneously. She met Pt Satyadev Dubey, her first guru, and went on to be a part of several Hindi productions under his direction. Mohan Rakesh's Adhe Adhure, Shankar Shesh's Mayavi Sarovar and Willie Russell's Educating Rita are a few of her prominent plays.
Dr. Vijaya Mehta chose her to play Shabbo in Anil Barve's Hamidabai Chi Kothi in 1978, and thus began her long journey with Bai into the remarkable world of Marathi theatre with Mahasagar and Savitri. She continues to assist Bai in her workshops. Mahasagar, Akasmat, Dhyani Mani, Vatvat Savitri, Dehabhaan, Prem Patra and Chaapa Kaata are some more of her successful award-winning Marathi plays.
She directed the play Mahasagar in 2011, Educating Rita, Mahatma Versus Gandhi and Wedding Album - English plays. Her prominent feature films are Savat Maazhi Laadki Aai, Uttarayan, Shevri Sari Var Sari and Bioscope: Dil-E-Naadan. Badal, Nayak, Paheli, Guru, Hungama, Rann, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, Hasee Toh Phasee and Ghayal Once More are some of the prominent Hindi films she has acted in, amongst others.
She is a column writer for Loksatta, called Antarang. She wrote for 3 years, and has been published as a book by the same name.
Her prominent advertising commercials include Cadbury, Surf, Parachute, PayTm, Mother Dairy, and the latest, Maggie Masala. Her latest television show Yeh Hai Mohabattein recently completed 6 years of telecast. International projects: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Rani Noces, a French Film shot in Luxembourg and premiered in Paris in Feb 2017. Her latest foray into digital content through a web series Breathe and short films Cuddly and Maa has won her much appreciation. Her latest release is the Short film ‘Devi’.
Neena's latest films in the Marathi language are “Mogara Phulala” directed by Shrabani Deodhar, Kulkarni Chaukatla Deshpande, directed by Gajendra Ahire and ''Photoprem' directed by Aditya Rathi and Gayatri Patil..
Her upcoming films include Sachin Kundalkar’s “Pondicherry” and Mohit Takalkar’s “Medium Spicy”.

Filmography

YearTitleLanguageRoleNotes
1992Hach Sunbaicha BhauMarathi
1993Sawat Majhi LadkiMarathi
1996DaayraaHindiWidow
1997HasariMarathiMother
1999'HindiSushila Singh
2000Dhaai Akshar Prem KeHindiAmrit Y. Grewal
2000BadalHindiSoni's mother
2000Phir Bhi Dil Hai HindustaniHindiLaxmi
2001'HindiDaksha Rao Gaekwad
2001Hum Ho Gaye AapkeHindiMrs. Gupta
2001RahulHindiMrs. Sharma
2002Kehtaa Hai Dil Baar BaarHindiKamla Patel
2002Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum KaheinHindiSunanda Singh
2002Kyaa Dil Ne KahaaHindiEsha's mother
2002Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi HaiHindiGayatri Sharma
2002Ab Ke BarasHindiPrerna
2002Kya Yehi Pyaar HaiHindiRachna Patil
2003HungamaHindiJeetu's mom
2003DumHindiSaraswati Shinde
2004Inspector KiranHindiAccomplice
2004Ishq Hai TumseHindi
2004PachhadlelaMarathiRavi's mother
2004Saatchya Aat GharatMarathi
2005Sarivar SariMarathi
20057 Phere: More Than a WeddingHindiRati Pant
2005PaheliHindiMrs. Bhanwarlal
2005Kyaa Kool Hai HumHindiShanti - Kiran's mom
2005UttarayanMarathiDurgi
2006ShevriMarathiAlso producer of the film
2006Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya YaarHindiAyaan's grandma
2006Humko Deewana Kar GayeHindiAmrit H. Malhotra
2006Ho Sakta Hai!HindiShakuntala
2006NitalMarathi
2007RaqeebHindi
2007GuruHindiSujata's Mother
2008BhoothnathHindiNirmala
2009Gho Mala Asla HavaMarathi
2009GandhaMarathiJanaki
2010RannHindiLata V. Malik
Kaanch - The Broken GlassPost Production
2012The Best Exotic Marigold HotelEnglishGaurika
2014Hasee Toh PhaseeHindi
2016Ghayal Once AgainHindi
2016A WeddingFrench / UrduYelda Kazim
2019Mogra PhulaalaaMarathiMother
2019Kulkarni Chaukatla DeshpandeMarathiMother
2020DeviHindiSavitriShort film

Theatre

She has produced the following Marathi film.