Gauri Nalawade (born 11 August 1987) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Marathi films and television. She is best known for her role as Vaidehi in the Star Pravah daily soap Swapnanchya Palikadle (2010–2014) and for her performance as a supportive wife in the acclaimed drama film Godavari (2021), which earned her the Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for Best Supporting Actress.
She made her film debuth Friends (2016) and has since appeared in films including Kanha (2016), Family Katta (2016), Adham (2019), Tarri (2023), Gaav Bolavato (2025) and Vadapav (2025).
Early life Nalawade was born on 11 August 1987 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and was raised in Navi Mumbai. She completed her schooling and later earned a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Bharati Vidyapeeth. During her school and college years, she participated in stage plays as well as drama and dance competitions, developing an interest in the performing arts that later led her to a career in acting.
Career Nalawade began her acting career on television with a supporting role in the Zee Marathi series Avaghachi Sansar, in which she replaced Kadambari Kadam as the sister of the lead female protagonist, played by Amruta Subhash, and also appeared with Sachin Pilgaonkar in a promotional advertisement for the television show Eka Peksha Ek.
Her breakthrough came in 2010, when she was cast in the lead role of Vaidehi in the Star Pravah daily soap Swapnanchya Palikadle. Starring opposite Chinmay Udgirkar, she portrayed a young woman from a wealthy family who marries into a middle-class household against her parents' wishes. The series was among Star Pravah's highest-rated programs during its run and concluded in June 2014. Nalawade's portrayal established her as a prominent name in Marathi television.
Following her success on television, Nalawade made her Marathi film debut in 2016 with Friends, a remake of the 1998 Tamil film Kannedhirey Thondrinal. She appeared alongside Sachit Patil and Swapnil Joshi, where her performance received positive critical attention for her screen presence. The same year she was seen in Avadhoot Gupte's action film Kanha, in which she played a gym instructor, and in Chandrakant Kulkarni's ensemble drama Family Katta, where she portrayed an actress.
After a gap four years, she returned to television with Zee Yuva's serial Sur Rahu De, opposite Sangram Salvi, but left the show within a few months owing to scheduling conflicts. The following year, she played an anti-mining activist who falls in love with a man involved in the mining mafia, played by Santosh Juvekar, in Adham. Her performance, along with Juvekar's, was well received. She also made a special appearance as a journalist in Chaitanya Tamhane's 2020 film The Disciple. Nalawade drew wider recognition for her role as a supportive wife in the drama film Godavari, directed by Nikhil Mahajan. The film was screened at several film festivals before its theatrical release and went on to receive positive reviews. Mihir Bhanage of The Times of India called her the "star of her scenes", adding "Her character is subtle yet strong and Gauri gets the nuances of playing a wife and mother right." For this performance she won the Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for Best Supporting Actress.
In 2023, she was cast as the lead in the action film Tarri, alongside Lalit Prabhakar; it received a mixed response upon release. She was subsequently seen in Django JD (2023), Gaav Bolavato (2025) and Vadapav (2025), all of which met with mixed reviews. Reviewing the last of these, Sameer Ahire of Movie Talkies wrote, "Nalawade, despite the unconventional edge to her character, carries herself with confidence and poise."
Filmography Films +Key Denotes films that have not yet been released All films are in Marathi unless otherwise noted. + Year Title Role Notes 2015ReDraftMeeraHinglish short film 2016 Friends BhairaviKanhaKanniFamily KattaTanvi Sabnis2019AdhamNandini 2020The DiscipleJounalist2021GodavariGautami Deshmukh2023The Broken TableDaughter-in-lawHindi short filmTarriSonalDjango JDHarshita2025Gaav BolavatoManasiVadapavGauri2026Paach Futaacha BachchanVijaya
Television + Year Title RoleChannel Notes 2008Avaghachi SansarAntara Raghunath MohiteZee Marathi2010–2014Swapnanchya PalikadleVaidehi Patkar / Pawani RajadhyakshaStar Pravah2018GulmoharZee YuvaEpisodic role2018 Sur Rahu De Arohi
Web shows + Year Title Role Network Notes 2022 9 TO 5 NaliniYouTubeSeason 22025RaakhUltra Jhakaas
Theatre
Absolute Don Fulya Teen Badam
Accolades +YearAwardCategoryWorkResult 2017Zee Natya Gaurav PuraskarBest ActressAbsolute2023MaTa SanmanBest Supporting ActressGodavari2023Zee Chitra Gaurav PuraskarBest Supporting Actress2023Navrashtra Film & OTT AwardsBest Actress Jury Choice2024Maharashtracha Favourite Kon?Favourite Actress Critics
References
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