Mahesh Vaman Manjrekar (Marathi pronunciation: [məɦeːʃ maːɲd͡zɾekəɾ]; born 16 August 1958) is an Indian actor, film director, screenwriter and producer who works primarily in Hindi, Marathi and Telugu films. He is best known for directing Vaastav: The Reality (1999), Astitva (2000) and Viruddh... Family Comes First (2005). He won a National Film Award, seven Maharashtra State Film Awards, four Filmfare Awards Marathi, a Filmfare Award, four Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar, four MFK Awards and two Star Screen Awards. In 2023, He was honoured with the V. Shantaram Award, Maharashtra's highest award in the field of cinema. He was also the host of the reality show, Bigg Boss Marathi from 2018 until 2023.
Early life Mahesh Manjrekar was born on 16 August 1958 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He completed his schooling at Don Bosco High School in Mumbai and later attended the University of Mumbai for his higher education. He developed an interest in acting from an early age and began performing in theatre while in college. In 1984, he began his acting career with the Marathi stage play Aflatoon.
Personal life
Manjrekar was married to Deepa Mehta, a costume designer, with whom he has two children - Satya and Ashwami.; the couple later divorced. He subsequently married Medha Manjrekar, with whom he has a daughter, actress Saiee Manjrekar. He has a stepdaughter from Medha's first husband, Gauri Ingawale, who is also an actress.
Career Manjrekar began his acting career with the Marathi film Jeeva Sakha (1991), in which he portrayed Inspector Jamdade. He made his directorial debut with the Marathi film Aai (1995), for which he received the Filmfare Award for Best Director. In 1999, Manjrekar directed Vaastav: The Reality, which became a critical and commercial success and earned him a Filmfare Award. In 2000, he directed Astitva, for which he received National Film Award for Best Marathi Feature Film and the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Director. He also directed Nidaan, Kurukshetra and Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai during this period. In 2002, Manjrekar appeared in Kaante, for which he won IIFA Award for Best Comedian. The same year, he directed Hathyar, a sequel to Vaastav: The Reality. In 2003, he produced and acted in Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye. In 2004, he appeared in Plan as Sultan, Run as Ganpat and Musafir as Lukka. In 2005, he appeared in the English-language film It Was Raining That Night as Brij Bhushan and made his Kannada film debut in Encounter: Daya Nayak, playing Yousuf Khaleel. He also directed Viruddh... Family Comes First and Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! that year. He wrote the screenplay for the Marathi film Matichya Chuli, for which he received the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Screenplay. He also participated as a contestant on the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa.
In 2007, he appeared in Dus Kahaniyaan and made his Telugu film debut with Okkadunnadu, in which he played Sona Bhai. He also appeared in Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav as Advocate Prasad and Deha as Madhav. In 2008, he appeared in Meerabai Not Out as Manoj Achrekar and in the Academy Award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire as Don Javed. He also appeared in the Telugu film Homam, playing Daddy. In 2009, Manjrekar wrote and starred in the Marathi film Mi Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy!, portraying Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The film became the highest-grossing Marathi film at the time, earning approximately ₹25 crore. He also appeared in the Hindi films Wanted as Talpade and 99 as AGM. In 2010, he appeared in the Telugu film Adhurs as Don Baba, as Teen Patti as Dagdu Sheth, and as Hariya Shetty in Dabangg. He also directed the Marathi comedy Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho. His directorial film Lalbaug Parel received critical acclaim, while he won the Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for his work in Marathi cinema. That year, he also served as a judge on the Zee Marathi's Maharashtracha Superstar.
In 2011, Manjrekar appeared in Ready as Ram Kapoor, the Marathi film Fakta Ladh Mhana as Bababhai, which he also directed, and Bodyguard as Rajan Mhatre. He made his directorial debut in Bengali cinema with Ami Shubhash Bolchi. In 2012, he directed Kaksparsh, for which he received a Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Director. He also produced the Marathi film Shala, which received the National Film Award. As an actor, he appeared in OMG – Oh My God! as Lawyer Sardesai. In 2013, he directed Kokanastha. He also appeared in the Hindi films Mumbai Mirror, Himmatwala, Shootout at Wadala, Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara! and Rajjo, as well as the film Arrambam. In 2014, Manjrekar appeared in Jai Ho and portrayed Pradeep Sharma in the Marathi film Rege, for which he was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also played Chief Minister Vikram Adhikari in Singham Returns In 2015, he portrayed Shahujiraje Bhosale in Bajirao Mastani and appeared in the Telugu film Akhil as Divya's father. In 2016, he returned to directing after a three-year hiatus with the Marathi film Natsamrat, for which he received Filmfare Award Marathi and Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar. As an actor, he appeared as Bhanu Pratap Inamdar in Vrundavan, Jackie in the Telugu film Guntur Talkies, and Shyam Vahi in the Bengali film Badsha – The Don. In 2017, Manjrekar directed the youth-oriented film F.U.: Friendship Unlimited. He also appeared in Thank U Vitthala as Vitthal and Dhyanimani as Sadanand Pathak. He made his Tamil film debut with Velaikkaran, in which he played Madhav. In 2018, he appeared as himself in Sanju and played Inspector Pawar in the Marathi film Take Care Good Night. He also directed Me Shivaji Park. That year, he began hosting the first season of the Marathi reality television show Bigg Boss Marathi. In 2019, Manjrekar appeared in Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota as Ajoba, Total Dhamaal as Chinnappa Swamy, Saaho as Prince, and the Marathi film Mulshi Pattern as Shirpya. He reprised his role as Hariya Shetty in Dabangg 3. He also directed Bhai: Vyakti Ki Valli, a biographical film based on the life of Marathi writer and humorist P. L. Deshpande. He hosted the second season of Bigg Boss Marathi.
In 2020, Manjrekar appeared in the Marathi film Kesari. He also directed the web series 1962: The War in the Hills. In 2021, he directed The Power and Antim: The Final Truth, the latter being a Hindi remake of Marathi film Mulshi Pattern. He also hosted the third season of Bigg Boss Marathi. In 2022, he appeared in the Telugu film Sarkaru Vaari Paata as the Finance Minister, the Marathi film De Dhakka 2 as Babbar Lohri, and the Hindi film Mister Mummy as Dr. Satsangi. He hosted the fourth season of Bigg Boss Marathi. He also directed the Marathi films Panghrun and Nay Varanbhat Loncha Kon Nay Koncha. In 2023, he appeared in the film Butterfly as Sahil and in the web series Taaza Khabar as Kismat Bhai. In 2024, Manjrekar directed and starred in the Marathi film Juna Furniture. He received the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance. He also directed Hi Anokhi Gaath. In 2025, Manjrekar appeared in the Marathi film Devmanus as Keshav. He also appeared in the Tamil films Coolie as Kakkar and Thug Life as Sadanand Yadav, the Marathi film Dashavatar as Inspector D'Costa, and the Kannada film The Devil as Rajashekhar. In 2026, he appeared in the silent film Gandhi Talks as Premnath Gavli. He made cameo appearances in the Marathi films Raja Shivaji as Lakhuji Jadhav and Deool Band 2 as Sai Baba. He is also directing the Marathi film Bandkhor, scheduled for release on 23 September 2026. He is set to appear in the Marathi film Khashaba, scheduled for release on 1 January 2027.
Political career He was a MNS candidate from Mumbai North West in the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections but lost to Gajanan Kirtikar of Shiv Sena.
Filmography
Actor Year Films Role Language Ref.1991Jeeva SakhaInspector JamdadeMarathi 1999 Vaastav: The Reality Himself Hindi 2001 Ehsaas: The Feeling Michael 2002 Kaante Raja "Balli" Yadav 2003 Pran Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye Munna Bhai Hatela 2004 Plan Sultan Run Ganpat Chowdhury Musafir Lukka 2005 It Was Raining That Night Brij Bhushan English chakpak.com (28 March 2011). It Was Raining That Night Encounter Daya Nayak Yousuf Khaleel Kannada 2006 Zinda Joy Fernandes Hindi Jawani Diwani: A Youthful Joyride Chappu Bhai 2007 Dus Kahaniyaan Mahesh Okkadunnadu Sona Bhai Telugu Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav Advocate Prasad Pritam Pradyuman Hindi Deha Madhav 2008 Meerabai Not Out Manoj Anant Achrekar Slumdog Millionaire Don Javed English Homam Daddy Telugu 2009 Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Marathi Wanted Senior Inspector Daulat R. Talpade Hindi 99 AGM (Aatmaram Gyanshekhar Machve) Fruit and Nut Khandar Zala 2010 Adhurs Don Baba Telugu Teen Patti Dagdu Seth Hindi Dabangg Hariya Shreshawat Don Seenu Mukesh Duggal / Duggal Saab Telugu 2011 Ready Ram Kapoor (Prem's father) Hindi Fakta Ladh Mhana Bababhai Marathi Bodyguard Ranjan Mhatre Hindi 2012 Tukkaa Fitt OMG: Oh My God! Lawyer Sardesai Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha Marathi 2013 Mumbai Mirror ACP Gaitonde Hindi Himmatwala Sher Singh Shootout at Wadala Inspector Bhinde Once Upon a Time In Mumbaai Dobara Local gangster Rawa Arrambam Mahadev Rane Tamil Rajjo Begam Hindi 2014 Jai Ho Auto-Rickshaw Driver Hindi Rege Pradeep Sharma Marathi Singham Returns Chief Minister Vikram Adhikari Hindi Ardhangini by Abhishek Mukherjee Bengali 2015 Bajirao Mastani Shahuji Raje Bhosale Hindi Akhil Divya's father Telugu 2016 Vrundavan Bhanupratap Inamdar Marathi Guntur Talkies Jakie Telugu Badsha – The Don Shyam Vhai Bengali Scenes reused from Don Seenu 2017 Thank U Vitthala Vitthala Marathi Dhyanimani Sadanand Pathak FU: Friendship UnlimitedChilly's father Velaikkaran Madhav Kurup Tamil 2018 Sanju Himself Hindi Take Care Good NightInspector Pawar Marathi 2019 Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota Ajoba Hindi Vinaya Vidheya Rama Chief Minister of Bihar Telugu Total Dhamaal Chinnappa Swamy Hindi Saaho Prince Telugu Mulshi Pattern Shirpya Marathi Dabangg 3 Hariya Shreshawat Hindi66 SadashivMarathi2020KesariVastad MehmanMarathiTaxi No. 24Hindi2021The White TigerThe StorkEnglish Hindi The Power Kaalidas Haridas Thakur HindiBossBaba KhanBhojpuriMumbai SagaChief Minister BhauHindiAntim: The Final TruthSatyavan "Satya" VichareHindi2022Katha Kanchiki Manam Intiki TeluguSarkaru Vaari PaataFinance ministerTeluguDe Dhakka 2Babbar Lahori Marathi Mister MummyDr. SatsangiHindi2023ButterflySahilMarathi2024Yatra 2 N. Chandrababu Naidu TeluguJuna Furniture Govind Shridhar Pathak Marathi2025Thug Life Sadanand Yadav TamilCoolie Kakkar TamilDevmanusKeshavMarathiDashavatarInspector Michael D'cousta The Devil Rajashekar Kannada2026Gandhi Talks Premnath Gavli SoundRaja ShivajiLakhuji JadhavMarathiHindiDeool Band 2Sai BabaMarathiTBATBA
Film credits YearTitleDirectorProducerWriterRef. 1995 Aai 1999Vaastav: The Reality 2000Astitva Kurukshetra Nidaan Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai 2001Ehsaas: The Feeling Tera Mera Saath Rahen 2002Hathyar Pitaah 2003Pyaar Kiya Nahin Jaatha Pran Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye 2004Rakht 2005It Was Raining That Night Viruddh... Family Comes First Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi! 2006Matichya Chuli 2009Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy 2010Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho 2010City of Gold 2011Ami Shubhash Bolchi Fakt Ladh Mhana 2012Kaksparsh Shala 2013Kokanastha 2016Natsamrat 2017FU: Friendship Unlimited 2018Me Shivaji Park 2018Shikari 2019Bhai: Vyakti Ki Valli 2021The Power Antim: The Final Truth 2022Panghrun Nay Varan Bhat Loncha Kon Nay Koncha 2024Hi Anokhi Gaath Juna FurnitureVedat Marathe Veer Daudle Saat 2025Ek Radha Ek Meera 2026Bandkhor
Television