Mahesh Vaman Manjrekar is a prominent figure in Indian cinema, excelling as an actor, director, screenwriter, and producer. His versatile career spans decades, marked by memorable roles and critically acclaimed films.

Wiki/Biography

Mahesh Manjrekar was born on Saturday, August 16, 1958, in Mumbai, India. He is 65 years old as of 2023 (age may vary slightly depending on the date of access). His zodiac sign is Leo. He completed his schooling at Mumbai’s Don Bosco High School and pursued his graduation from the University of Mumbai. His passion for acting blossomed during his college years, leading him to participate in numerous theatre productions.

His acting career began with the highly regarded Marathi play, Aflatoon, in 1984, where he earned significant praise. He went on to perform in other notable plays such as “All the Best,” “Dhyanimani,” and “Gidhade.”

Physical Appearance

Here’s a summary of his physical attributes:

• Height: Approximately 5′ 10″
• Weight: Approximately 75 kg
• Hair Color: Salt & Pepper
• Eye Color: Brown
• Body Measurements (approx.): Chest 40″, Waist 33″, Biceps 12″

Family, Caste & Wife

Mahesh Manjrekar comes from a Hindu family. While details about his parents remain limited, he has a brother, Shailesh Manjrekar, and a sister, Devyani Manjrekar. His first marriage was to costume designer Deepa Mehta, whom he met in college. They have a son, Satya Manjrekar (an actor), and a daughter, Ashwami Manjrekar (a film producer and chef). The couple later divorced.

He subsequently married Marathi actress Medha Manjrekar. Together, they have a daughter, Saiee Manjrekar (also an actress). Medha also has a daughter, Gauri Ingawale (an actress), from a previous relationship, whom Mahesh considers as his stepdaughter.

Acting & Direction Career

Manjrekar’s acting debut was in the 1992 Marathi film Jeeva Sakha, playing Inspector Jamdade. His Hindi film debut was in Vaastav: The Reality. He has since appeared in numerous Hindi films, including Plan, Musafir, Zinda, and Dus Kahaniyaan.

His directorial credits include notable films such as Aai (1995), Vaastav: The Reality (1999), Nidaan (2000), Astitva (2000), and Viruddh (2005). He’s also a singer, contributing vocals to songs in films like Kaante (2002) and City of Gold- Mumbai 1982: Ek Ankahee Kahani (2010). He even participated in the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Season 1, becoming the second runner-up.

His career extends to international projects, including a role in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire (2008). He’s also made appearances in films like Sanju and the Netflix series Selection Day.

In 2018, he hosted the first season of the reality TV show Big Boss Marathi.

Political Career

Manjrekar ventured into politics in 2014, contesting the Lok Sabha elections as an MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) candidate from the Mumbai North-West Constituency. He ran under Raj Thackeray’s leadership, but was unsuccessful against Gajanan Kirtikar of the Shiv Sena.

Controversies

Manjrekar has faced controversies throughout his career. One notable incident involved a statement to the police regarding conversations with individuals from the underworld, a claim he later retracted in court. The poster for his Marathi film Kokanastha also drew criticism, leading to accusations of Brahmin supremacism, which he denied.

Favourite Things

Here are some of his preferences:

• Sport: Cricket
• Colour: Black

Facts

His hobbies include dancing and writing. He is known to enjoy cricket, having played extensively in his youth, even under the tutelage of Sachin Tendulkar’s coach, Ramakant Achrekar. He’s also known for organizing a free screening of Astitva for women, which attracted an unexpectedly large crowd. The film’s success earned him a National Film Award for Best Regional Film in 2001. He considers Salman Khan his only Bollywood friend.

Manjrekar has expressed his opinion on the biopic Sanju, suggesting he would have approached the film differently as a director. His extensive career includes acting in over 75 films and writing/directing over 25 films across Hindi and Marathi cinema.

Awards and Recognition