Amol Palekar (born 24 November 1944) is an Indian actor, director, and producer of Hindi and Marathi cinema.[3] He is also a painter and an author. Palekar was part of the faction in Hindi cinema that popularised 'middle cinema'. His most popular works include Chhoti Si Baat (1975), Chitchor (1976), Bhumika (1977), Baaton Baaton Mein (1979), and Gol Maal (1979).
Amol Palekar | |
|---|---|
 Palekar in 2016 | |
| Born | 24 November 1944[1] |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouses | |
| Parents |
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| Awards | Filmfare Best Actor Award: 1979: Gol Maal |
| Website | amolpalekar.com |
| Signature | |
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Early life and education
editPalekar was born to Kamlakara and Suhasini Palekar in a Marathi middle-class family in Mumbai. He has three sisters named Neelon, Rekha, and Unnati. His father worked in the General Post Office and his mother worked in a private company.[2] Palekar studied fine arts at the Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai, and commenced his artistic career as a painter. As a painter, he has had seven solo exhibitions and participated in many group shows.[4]
Acting career
editAlthough he trained in fine arts, Palekar is better known as a stage and film actor. He has been active in the avant-garde theatre in India in Marathi and Hindi theatre as an actor, director, and producer since 1967. His contribution to the modern Indian theatre is often overshadowed by his popularity as a lead actor in Hindi films.
As a film actor, he was most prominent in the 1970s. His image as a "boy next door"[5] contrasted with the larger-than-life heroes prevalent at that time in Indian cinema. He received three Filmfare Awards and six Maharashtra State Film Awards as Best Actor for his works. His performances in regional language films in Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, and Kannada fetched him critical acclaim. He decided not to act after 1986 in order to concentrate on filmmaking.
As a director, he is known for the sensitive portrayal of women, selection of classic stories from Indian literature, and perceptive handling of progressive issues[citation needed]. He has directed several television serials on national network such as Kachchi Dhoop, Mrignayani, Naquab, Paool Khuna and Krishna Kali.
Theatre career
editPalekar began in Marathi experimental theatre with Satyadev Dubey. He later started his own group, Aniket, in 1972. As a theatre actor, he was part of popular plays like Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe, Hayavadana, and Adhe Adhure.[6] Before taking a break, his last performance on stage was at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in 1994. On account of the year he turned 75, he returned to theatre after a gap of 25 years with the suspenseful play, Kusur (The Mistake).[7] This play was directed by him and he also played the lead role.[8]
Movie career
edit
Palekar made his debut in 1971 with the Marathi film Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe directed by Satyadev Dubey, which started the New Cinema Movement in Marathi.[9] In 1974, he was cast as an actor by director Basu Chatterjee in Rajnigandha, and in the surprise low-budget hit, Chhoti Si Baat. This led to him getting more roles in "middle-class" comedies, mostly alternative. These were mostly directed by Chatterjee or Hrishikesh Mukherjee and included films such as Gol Maal and Naram Garam. He won the Filmfare Best Actor Award for Gol Maal.
He is noted for his image of the "middle-class everyman" who struggles to get a job in Gol Maal, his own flat in Gharonda, and a partner Chhoti Si Baat.[citation needed]
In 1979, he was paired with a sixteen-year-old Sridevi in Solva Saawan, which was her debut Hindi movie as the female lead. Amol played the role of an intellectually disabled man, a character played by Kamal Haasan in the original Tamil movie.
In 1982, he played the role of Ravi in the Malayalam movie Olangal. He turned to directing with the Marathi film Aakriet. He forayed into Hindi filmmaking with movies such as Thodasa Roomani Ho Jaayen and Paheli. Thodasa Roomani Ho Jaayen has become a part of management courses and study pertaining to human behaviour. Paheli was India's official entry for Best Foreign Film at the 2006 Oscars. The movie, however, did not make it to the final nominations.
Palekar has also produced produced his first film Ankahee in 1985. He has produced several independent films since.
He has also given his voice to an HIV/AIDS education animated software tutorial created by the nonprofit organization TeachAids.[10]
Personal life
editPalekar regards himself as an agnostic atheist.[11] He married Sandhya Gokhale after his divorce from his first wife, Chitra Palekar.[12][13][2]
In February 2022, Palekar was hospitalized in Pune for COVID-19 related complications.[14] At the age of 80, Palekar released his autobiography, originally written in Marathi and titled Aiwaz; its English version was titled Viewfinder.
Controversies
editPalekar was a part of the 1981 film Agni Pareeksha. Even after the production of the film was completed, Palekar had not received his dues. He brought up this issue with the film's producer B. R. Chopra. The argument turned into an ugly spat where Chopra threatened Palekar to "kick him out of the industry". Palekar sued Chopra over unfulfilled dues, and won the case.[15]
In 2015, Palekar was appointed as the chairperson for the jury committee to pick India's official entry to the Oscars. He had stated that he faced external pressure to select certain films which he denies obliging to. That year, the Marathi film Court was nominated as an Oscar entry.[16]
Filmography
editAs an actor
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Bajiraocha Beta | Marathi film | |
| 1971 | Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe | Marathi film | |
| 1974 | Rajnigandha | Sanjay | |
| 1975 | Jeevana Jyoti | Sanjay | Telugu film |
| Chhoti Si Baat | Arun Pradeep | Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Actor | |
| 1976 | Chitchor | Vinod | |
| 1977 | Gharaonda | Sudip | |
| Bhumika | Keshav Dalvi | Won: Filmfare Special Performance Award[17] | |
| Agar... If | Anil Aggarwal | ||
| Taxi Taxie | Dev/Hero | ||
| Tuch Maazi Raani | Marathi film | ||
| Kanneshwara Rama | Chenneera | Kannada film | |
| 1978 | Damaad | Sharad Mazgaonkar | |
| Safed Jhoot | Amol 'Ramu' Palekar | ||
| 1979 | Baaton Baaton Mein | Tony Braganza | |
| Gol Maal | Ram Prasad Sharma / Lakshman Prasad Sharma (Lucky) | Won: Filmfare Award for Best Actor | |
| Do Ladke Dono Kadke | Hari | ||
| Meri Biwi Ki Shaadi | Bhagwant Kumar Bartendu "Bhagu" | ||
| Solva Sawan | |||
| Bin Baap Ka Beta | |||
| Mother | Marathi film | ||
| Jeena Yahan | Dinesh | ||
| 1980 | Aanchal | Kishan Lal | |
| Apne Paraye | Chandranath | ||
| 1981 | Naram Garam | Ram Eshwar Prasad | |
| Sameera | |||
| Akriet | Mukutrao Shinde | Marathi film won: Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Marathi | |
| Kalankini | Bengali film | ||
| Agni Pareeksha | Alok Choudhary / Ramesh Khanna | ||
| Chehre Pe Chehra | Peter | ||
| Plot No. 5 | |||
| 1982 | Jeevan Dhaara | Anand Bhatnagar | |
| Olangal | Ravi Chattan | Malayalam film | |
| Ramnagari | |||
| Spandan | |||
| Shriman Shrimati | Madhu Gupta | ||
| 1983 | Rang Birangi | Ajay Sharma | |
| Ashray | |||
| Pyaasi Aankhen | |||
| Chena Achena | Bengali film | ||
| 1984 | Tarang | Rahul | |
| Aadmi Aur Aurat | Tapan Sinha | TV movie | |
| Prarthana | |||
| Sringara Masa | Kannada film | ||
| Mr. X | Amar | Voice dubbed by other artist | |
| 1985 | Khamosh | Amol Palekar | |
| Jhoothi | Inspector Kamal Nath | ||
| Ankahee | Devkinandan Chaturvedi 'Nandu' | ||
| Abasheshe | Bengali film | ||
| 1986 | Baat Ban Jaye | Yeshwant Rao Bhonsle | |
| 1994 | Teesra Kaun? | C. K. Kadam | |
| 2001 | Aks | The Defence Minister | |
| 2009 | Samaantar | Keshav Vaze | Marathi film |
| 2021 | 200 – Halla Ho | Justice Vitthal Daangle | Hindi ZEE5 film |
| 2023 | Gulmohar | Sudhakar Batra | Disney+Hotstarfilm |
As a director
edit- Aakreit (Unimaginable in Marathi) – 1981
- Ankahee (Unspoken) – 1985
- Thodasa Rumani Ho Jaye – 1990
- Bangarwadi – 1995
- Daayraa (The Square Circle) – 1996
- Anahat (Forever)
- Kairee (Raw mango) – 2001
- Dhyaas Parva (Kal Kaa Aadmi in Hindi) – 2001 (based on Raghunath Karve's life, won the National Award for Best Film on Family Welfare)[18]
- Paheli (Riddle) – 2005 (India's official entry to the 78th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film)
- Quest (English) – 2006 (won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in English)
- Dumkata (2007)
- Samaantar (Marathi) – 2009
- ...And Once Again – 2010
- Dhoosar (Marathi) – 2011 (won the Maharashtra State Film Award)
Feature films in other regional languages
edit- Mother (Bengali) (with Sharmila Tagore & Dipankar Dey)
- Kalankini (Bengali) (with Mamata Shankar – directed by Dhiren Ganguly)
- Chena Achena (Bengali) (with Tanuja & Soumitra Chatterjee)
- Kanneshwara Rama (Kannada) (with Anant Nag & Shabana Azmi – directed by M.S. Sathyu)
- Paper Boats (Kannada & English) (with Deepa – directed by Pattabhirama Reddy)
- Olangal (Malayalam) (with Poornima Jayaram & Ambika – directed by Balu Mahendra)
TV serials
edit- Kachchi Dhoop – 1987
- Naqab – 1988
- Paoolkhuna – 1993
- Mrignayanee – 1991
- Kareena Kareena – 2004
- AA Bail Mujhe Maar – 1987
- Ek Nayi Ummeed-Roshni – 2015
Web series
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Farzi | Madhav (Nanu) | [19] |
| TBA | Gormint † | TBA | [19] |
Awards
edit| Award | Film | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Feature Film in Marathi | Bangarwadi | 1995 | Won |
| Special Jury Award (Feature Film) | Daayraa | 1996 | Won |
| Best Film on Other Social Issues | Kairee | 1999 | Won |
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Dhyaas Parva | 2000 | Won |
| Best Feature Film in English | Quest | 2006 | Won |
| Best Actor | Chhoti Si Baat | 1977 | Nominated |
| Gol Maal | 1980 | Won | |
| Best Actor | Akriet | 1981 | Won |
References
edit- ^ "'आपल्यातीलच एक' थोडासा रुमानी झाला तेव्हा A correct reference about his birthday from marathi language newspaper loksatta news, janeman is confirmed person with him to be 24 November, 2014 during Marathi language wikipedia workshop". Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ^ a b c "Amol Palekar: Baaton Baaton Mein". The Times of India. 19 October 2003. Archived from the original on 13 September 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- ^ Firdaus Ashraf, Syed (21 June 2005). "Paheli is a simple, loveable film". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- ^ Srivastava, Nishant. "8 Best Movies of Amol Palekar (Face of Common Man in Indian Cinema". FilmyKeeday. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ * Kaushik, Divya (4 January 2025). "Amol Palekar: In the era of the angry young man, I was just a common man trying to survive". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ Sharma, Devesh (27 March 2020). "Top Bollywood actors who started life on stage". filmfare.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ Singh, Deepali (14 December 2019). "Palekar's latest challenge". Livemint. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ Singh, Deepali (29 November 2019). "Theatre review: Kusur (The Mistake)". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ "Amol Palekar's debut". The Times of India. 4 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ "Star touch to animated film on HIV/AIDS". The New Indian Express. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Atheism is the religion for these filmi folk". The Times of India. The Times Group. 29 August 2018. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- ^ Rajan Menon, Arati (27 September 2011). "Silvers of the year: Chitra Palekar, 59". www.harmonyindia.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
- ^ Pereira, Priyanka (2 August 2010). "Next Turn". The Indian Express. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- ^ "Veteran actor Amol Palekar hospitalized due to Covid complications". Tribune India. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ^ "Amol Palekar on his legal battle with BR Chopra over unpaid dues:'He threatened to get me thrown out of the industry'". The Times of India. 7 December 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ "Did Amol Palekar accuse Aamir Khan of lobbying for Oscar nominations? Veteran actor recalls controversy over Court vs superstar's film". The Times of India. 18 December 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ The Times of India directory and year book including who's who 1984. 1914.
- ^ "Focus". pib.nic.in. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
- ^ a b "Shahid Kapoor calls Amol Palekar 'OG middle class good guy', says: 'It was a privilege to have him on Farzi'". Hindustan Times. 5 February 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
External links
edit
- Amol Palekar at IMDb