Amol Palekar

Amol Palekar is best known for the characters he played in many Hindi films during the seventies of a “boy next door”. The era was marked by larger than life heroes, while Amol's portrayal of rooted and closer to life characters found him a special place in the hearts of masses as well as critics.

He received three Filmfare and six state level awards as Best Actor. His performances in films in Marathi, Bengali, Malyalam and Kannada got him tremendous critical acclaim as well.

A postgraduate in Fine Arts from the Sir J. J. School of Arts, Mumbai, Amol began his artistic career as a painter and had seven solo painting exhibitions apart from several group shows.

He has been a leading persona of avant garde theatre in India active in Marathi and Hindi theatre as an actor, director and producer since 1967.

His tele-serials broadcast on India's national public television channel Doordarshan 'Kachchi Dhoop', 'Mrignayani', 'Naquab' and 'Paool Khuna', are still remembered for their sensitive depiction of women.

Women continue to play a central role in the films that he directed: 'Paheli (The Riddle)', 'Anaahat (Eternity)', 'Dhyaas-Parva (An Era of Yearning)', 'Kairee (The Raw mango)', 'Daayraa (The Square Circle)', 'Thodasa Roomani Ho Jayen (Let's Be Romantic)', 'Ankahee (The Unsaid)' and 'Aakriet (Misbegotten)'.

While choosing to concentrate on directing, he decided not to act after 1986.