Mahesh Manjrekar is a multifaceted Indian artiste, born as Mahesh Vaman Manjrekar, who has made a significant impact in the film industry. With a career spanning over two decades, he has acted in numerous films, written and directed almost 25 films, and produced several others.
Manjrekar's journey in the film industry began with his debut in the Marathi movie Jeeva Sakha in 1992, where he played the role of Inspector Jamdade. He then went on to work in several films, including Kshitij Ye Nahi, a Doordarshan Marathi series.
He gained recognition with his directorial debut film Vaastav: The Reality in 1999, which was a critical and commercial success. He then directed films like Nidaan and Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain, both released in 2000.
Manjrekar's performance in the movie Kaante in 2002 as Raja "Balli" Yadav received widespread acclaim. He played the role of Sultan in the movie Plan in 2004 and worked in films like Run and Musafir in the same year.
He then appeared in films like Zinda, Okkadunnadu, and Dus Kahaniyaan in 2007. One of his most memorable performances is in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire in 2008, where he played the role of Don Javed.
Manjrekar has also worked in films like Wanted, Teen Patti, and Dabangg in 2010. He then collaborated with Aniruddha Deshpande to establish his own production company, Great Maratha Entertainment LLP Productions.
Under his production house, the first film released was the Marathi movie Fakta Ladh Mhana in 2011. He then worked in films like Ready, Bodyguard, and OMG: Oh My God! in 2012.
Manjrekar has also been a part of several TV shows and serials, including Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Maharashtracha Superstar, and Bigg Boss Marathi. He has also ventured into the OTT platform with a Marathi web series, Kaale Dhande, and Forbidden Love.
Throughout his career, Manjrekar has won a total of 22 awards and has been nominated for 31 awards. The awards he has won include the National Film Awards, Filmfare Awards, IIFA Awards, Screen Awards, and several others.