Dilip Prabhavalkar (born 4 August 1944) is an Indian Marathi actor, director, playwright and author. He has a career spanning over five decades in Hindi and Marathi theatre, television and movies. He is recipient of a National Film Award, five Maharashtra State Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards Marathi and a Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar. He was honoured with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and V. Shantaram Special Contribution Award in 2011 by the Government of Maharashtra.
Early life Born in Mumbai, Dilip Prabhavalkar obtained a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Ramnarain Ruia College, Matunga. He gained his master's degree in Biophysics and a diploma from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, before working for a pharmaceutical company. He joined as a partner in a video production unit. During this period, he performed as an actor in several children's and experimental plays staged at Chhabildas. In 1991, he decided to give up this dual existence of working and doing plays simultaneously and chose acting as a career.
Career Acting He started performing as an actor in children's plays and experimental plays. His first major performance was in Lobh Nasava Hi Vinanti, a play written by Vijay Tendulkar and directed by Arvind Deshpande, which was well received. He went on to star in various plays including Vaasuchi Sasu, Sandhyachaya, Naatigoti, Javai Maza Bhala, Kalam 302 and Ghar Tighanche Have. He debuted on Marathi television by playing Chimanrao in the television serial Chimanrao Gundyabhau. He went on to star in television shows like Turtur and Shriyut Gangadhar Tipre. He also played various characters in Hasva Fasvi, a Marathi play.
He is known for his versatility and is known for transforming himself into the characters he plays. He gained recognition for his various comedic and dramatic film roles, notably in Ek Daav Bhutacha (1982), Zapatlela (1993) and Chaukat Raja (1991). In 1991, he decided to choose acting as a career. In children's and amateur theatre, Prabhavalkar was associated with Ratnakar Matkari's group and performed in all the plays staged by the troupe. His performances of a simpleton in Prem Kahani and Vidur in Aranyak — a play based on the Mahabharat — were awarded prizes at the Maharashtra State Drama Festival.
Prabhavalkar starred in the Bollywood movie Encounter: The Killing as an old gangster, Punappa Avade in 2002. He portrayed Mahatma Gandhi in the 2006 hit Lage Raho Munna Bhai. He reprised his role in the Telugu remake called Shankar Dada Zindabad. From the experimental stage, Prabhavalkar very easily moved to the professional stage in 1976, and since then has acted in plays from slapstick to light comedy, family drama, and melodrama, to serious discussion plays dealing with contemporary issues.
Prabhavalkar was recently seen in Faster Fene, a movie inspired by the popular Marathi book series of the same name, authored by B. R. Bhagwat, who he portrays in the film. The film is about a young boy who uncovers an educational scam using his detective prowess. In 2018, he did a talk show called Chimanrao Tey Gandhi, where he narrated the process behind each of his roles.
In 2025, he starred Dashavatar which become highest grossing marathi film of year.
Writing In 1994, he wrote a play titled Chuk Bhul Dyavi Ghyavi. He has authored 28 books and has also won a Sahitya Akademi Award for his children’s book, Bokya Satbande.
Filmography
Films Year Title Role Language Notes 1982 Ek Daav BhutachaMaster Marathi 1987 Chhakke PanjeRaja Bairagi Marathi 1989 Dharla Tar Chavtay Dr. Pralhad Tonage Marathi 1991 Chaukat Raja Nandu Marathi 1992 Ek Hota Vidushak Chief Minister Marathi 1993 Zapatlela Tatya Vinchu Marathi 1995 Khilona Bana Khalnayak Tatya BichuHindi Beqabu Behrupiya Raja's Friend Hindi - 1996 Katha Don Ganpatravanchi Ganpatrao Marathi 1998 Sarkarnama Cultural Minister Marathi 1999 Ratra AarambhShridhar Phadke Marathi 2000 Nidaan Shrikant Kamat Hindi 2002 Encounter: The Killing Ponappa Awadhe Hindi 2003 Chupke Se Megha's father/Income Tax officer Hindi 2004 Aga Bai Arrecha! Shriranga Deshmukh's father Marathi Pachadlela Inamdar Bhusnale Marathi 2005 PaheliKanwarlal, Bhanwarlal's brother Hindi 2006 Shiva Chief Minister TeluguLage Raho Munna BhaiMohandas Karamchand Gandhi Hindi Won the National Award for Best Supporting Actor 2007 Shankar Dada Zindabad Telugu Remake of Lage Raho Munna Bhai 2008 Sarkar Raj Rao Saab Hindi C Kkompany Sadashiv Pradhan Hindi Full 3 DhamaalM.K DandyMarathiValu Pandit Marathi 2009 Bokya Satbande Mr. Bhilwandi Marathi Based on book Bokya Satbande written by himself.Sankat City Ganpat Gajanan Jagirdar Hindi 2010 Jhing Chik Jhing Kavi Marathi 2011 Deool Appa Kulkarni Marathi Morya Kamat Kaka Marathi 2012 Shala Appa Marathi Gola Berij Antu Barva Marathi 2013 Narbachi Wadi Naroba Marathi Postcard The Old Man MarathiRamchandra Purushottam Joshi Ramchandra Purushottam Joshi MarathiZapatlela 2 Tatya Vinchu Marathi 2014 Poshter boyz Jagan Deshmukh (Appa) Marathi 2014JayjaykarMajor AkhandMarathi2015 Slam BookAjobaMarathi Nagrik Manikrao Bhosale Marathi Murder Mestri Dr.Madhav Mestri Marathi 2016 Ganvesh Vinayakrao Deshmukh – Education Minister Marathi Family Katta Madhukar Sabnis (Bhai) Marathi 2017 Faster FeneBhaskar Ramachandra Bhagwat Marathi Zala Bobhata AppaMarathi Dashakriya Patresavkar Marathi2018Pimpal Arvind Marathi Me Shivaji Park Prof. Dilip Pradhan Marathi 2019Dithee Santu Marathi2022Dil Dimag Aur BattiManmohan DesaiMarathi2024PanchakAnant KhotMarathiAata Vel ZaaliShashidhar LeleMarathi2025DashavatarBabuli MestryMarathi
Television Year Title Role Language Channel Notes1977-1979 Chimanrao Gundyabhau Chimanrao Marathi Doordarshan Telecasted in 1977-79 and based on book Chimanrao Charhat written by C. V. Joshi1986 Zopi Gelela Jaga Zala Dinoo Marathi 1987 Kaam Phatte Wadkar Marathi 1989 Chal Navachi Vachal Vasti Ghadyalkaka Marathi 1993 Salsood Bhargav Marathi 1995 Raja Raje Raje Marathi 1999-2000Gubbare Deshpande Hindi Zee TV 2001-2005 Shriyut Gangadhar Tipre Aaba Marathi Zee Marathi 2017 Chukbhul Dyavi Ghyavi Rajabhau Marathi 2022 Modern Love Mumbai Nazrul Hindi Amazon Prime Video 2025 The Secret of the Shiledars Dr Krishnakant Hindi Disney Hotstar
Theater Double role as Anna and the mother-in-law in Pradeep Dalvi's farce Vasuchi Sasu. The Old Rajabhau in Chukbhul Dyavi Ghyavi, a light comedy written by Prabhavalkar. The caring, possessive father in Ratnakar Matkari's drama Jawai Maza Bhala. The senile Nana in Jaywant Dalvi's Sandhyachhaya. The double role of the debonair, flirtatious Raje and a local constable in Prof. Toradmal's Kalam 302 (adaptation of Sleuth). The alcoholic barrister in Ratnakar Matkari's Ghar Tighancha Hava (a play on the life of Tarabai Modak). The nondescript but determined common man in P. L. Deshpande's Ek Zunj Waryashi (an adaptation of The Last Appointment). The father of a disabled son in Jaywant Dalvi's Natigoti. Six characterisations in Hasvaphasvi, a comedy written by Prabhavalkar. A buck-toothed apparently harmless man who in reality is a twisted, evil man in Salsood. A naive, innocent schoolteacher who is assisted by a ghost in Ek Dav Bhutacha. A disabled professor in "Waah Guru". Tatyasaheb in Patra Patri Patra Patri Review, VeryFirstTale 2024 directed by Vijay Kenkre
Awards 1972 - Best Amateur Actor ("Prem Kahani") Maharashtra State Award. 1992 - Maharashtra State Award for best actor for his portrayal of a disabled boy in the film Chaukat Raja. 1999 - Filmfare Best Actor Award(Marathi) for the film Ratraaarambh 2006 - Bal Gandharva Puraskar 2006 - National Film Award for best supporting actor in Lage Raho Munnabhai 2008 - National Film Award for best supporting actor in Shevri, a Marathi film. 2010 - Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution as an actor to Indian Theatre. Natavarya Mama Pendse Puraskrut Natasamrat Ganpatrao Bhagwat Puraskar 2012 - V. Shantaram Special Contribution Award 2015 - Suvarnaratna Awards(Best Actor) 2019 - PIFF Distinguished Award for Outstanding Contribution to Indian cinema.
References
External links
Bokya Satbande: Marathi movie written by Dilip prabhavalkar "This Bapu wants to go under cover on Oct 2" ""