Mahesh Kothare


Mahesh Kothare, is an Indian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter widely regarded as a revolutionary figure in Marathi cinema. He began his career as a child actor in Hindi films during the 1960s, appearing in classics such as Raja Aur Runk, Chhota Bhai, and Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani. In the mid-1980s Kothare became a pioneering filmmaker in Marathi cinema, introducing several technological innovations such as Dolby Digital sound and 3D formats. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he has received numerous accolades, including the Maharashtra State Film Award and the National [Film Award for Best Children's Film].
Kothare made his directorial debut with Dhum Dhadaka, a box-office hit that set the tone for his signature style—mixing comedy, fantasy, and action. He followed it with successful films like Thartharat, De Danadan, Dhadakebaaz, and Zapatlela, which introduced the iconic villain Tatya Vinchu, a ventriloquist’s dummy that became a cultural phenomenon. His sequel Zapatlela 2 was the first Marathi film shot in 3D. Kothare is credited with pioneering several technological advancements in Marathi cinema, including the use of CinemaScope, Dolby Digital sound, and 3D filmmaking. These innovations elevated the production standards of regional films and expanded their audience reach.
Over his career, Kothare has received numerous accolades, including the Maharashtra State Film Award and the National Film Award for Best Children's Film for Chimani Pakhar. He is founder of Kothare Vision, a production company primarily focused on creating mythological television series. Kothare published autobiography Damn It Ani Barach Kahi in 2023.

Career

Kothare started his career in his teens, in Hindi movies with roles in Raja aur Runk and Ghar Ghar ki Kahani. He later switched to Marathi cinema, where he worked with well known stars and directors while continuing to make Hindi films without any noteworthy success. Kothare became a top Marathi director with hits including Dhum Dhadaka, Zapatlela, Zapatlela 2, Khatarnak and Khabardar.
In films Ghar Ka Bhedi and Lek Chalali Sasarla, he played negative character.
Kothare, along with, Laxmikant Berde, Sachin Pilgaonkar and Ashok Saraf formed a successful quartet, giving hits after hits in the Marathi Cinema Industry in the 1980s and 1990s.
He also owns the Kothare Vision production house.
In the mid-1980s, Kothare and another young actor, Sachin Pilgaonkar, helped to revolutionize the Marathi film industry with their directing. Pilgaonkar directed Navri Mile Navryala, while Kothare directed Dhoom Dhadaka. Both films became box office hits, but Dhum Dhadaka became a trendsetter which brought young audiences to recognize the Marathi style of movie-making. Kothare then went on to make comedies which also became major hits. He also made Dhadakebaaz, the first Marathi film shot in CinemaScope and brought a number of innovations such as Dolby Digital sound to Marathi cinema with the film Chimani Pakhar. He made Pachhadlela in 2004, which was the first Marathi film with computer-generated effects. Kothare was also the first Marathi filmmaker to produce science-fiction films.
In the film Gupchup Gupchup and Thorali Jau he played supporting, character roles.
In the Marathi movies, he played supporting characters in films such as Devata, Jabardast, Majah Chakula, De Dandan, Khatarnak, Tharthrat, Zapatlela, Zapatlela - 2, Shubha Mangal.
In 2013, Kothare made the film Zapatlela 2 in 3D with his son Adinath Kothare in the lead. The film was the sequel to his 1993 box office hit Zapatlela, which has acquired a cult following amongst Marathi audiences and features a doll named Tatya Vinchu created by Ventriloquist and Puppeteer Ramdas Padhye and voiced by Dilip Prabhavalkar that comes to life. Kothare revived Tatya Vinchu with 3D, animatronics and state of the art CGI in the sequel Zapatlela 2, which was the first Marathi film shot in 3D using split beam technology produced by Spanish stereographer Enrique Criado. The film was shot at ND Studios, Karjat and released on 7June 2013, going on to become a big hit over its 100-day run.

Personal life

Kothare is married to Nilima Kothare since 1980. His son Adinath Kothare is an actor married to Urmilla Kothare.

Filmography

As an actor, Kothare appeared primarily as a Police Inspector with his first name Mahesh.
YearTitleActorDirectorProducerRoleNotesLanguage
1964Chota JawanJawanMarathi
1967UpkarYounger BharatHindi
1968Raja Aur RunkYuvraj Narendradev / RajaHindi
1970SafarFeroz Khan's Younger Brother MontuHindi
1971Ghar Ghar Ki KahaniRaviHindi
1975Prit Tuzi MaziRaviMarathi
1982Sant GyaneshwarDnyaneshwarMarathi
1982Thorli JaauAvinashMarathi
1982Chandane Shimpit JaMarathi
1983DevtaSunilMarathi
1983PaaygoonDhanaji Jadhav/Nagesh PatilMarathi
1983Gupchup GupchupAshokMarathi
1984Sage SoyareHemantMarathi
1984Gharcha BhediRameshMarathi
1984Lek Chalali SasarlaVilas InamdarMarathi
1985Dhum DhadakaMahesh JavalkarMarathi
1987De DanadanSub-Inspector Mahesh DankeMarathi
1989ThartharatCID Inspector Mahesh JadhavMarathi
1990DhadakebaazMahesh NemadeMarathi
1992JiwlagaGuest appearanceMarathi
1993Zapatlela CID Inspector Mahesh JadhavMarathi
1994Majha ChakulaInspector Mahesh JadhavMarathi
1996MasoomGuest appearanceMarathi
1998Dhangad DhingaAdvocate Mahesh MithareMarathi
1999Lo Main AagayaHindi
2000KhatarnakCID Inspector Mahesh ChoudharyMarathi
2001Chimani PakharMarathi
2004PachhadlelaInspector Mahesh JadhavCameoMarathi
2005KhabardarMahesh Kothare Marathi
2006Shubh Mangal SavdhanMarathi
2007Zabardast Professor Bramhanand BharadwajCameoMarathi
2008Full 3 DhamaalMahesh Kothare Guest appearanceMarathi
2010Ved Laavi JeevaMarathi
2010Ideachi KalpanaCommissioner Mahesh ThakurMarathi
2011DubhangMarathi
2013Zapatlela 2Mahesh JadhavMarathi
2013Welcome to [the Jungle (2013 film)|Welcome to the Jungle]IB ChiefEnglish
2024PaaniMarathi

Awards and recognition

Cited works

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