Name: Amol Palekar

Height: 6'0"

Date of Birth: 24 November 1944

Birthplace: Bombay, Maharashtra, India

Education: Post Graduate in Fine Arts from Sir J. J. School of Arts.

Occupation: Actor, Director

Debut Film: Baaton Baaton Mein

Amol Palekar, a Maharashtrian Saraswat Brahmin, started his career as a clerk. But his attraction towards acting saw him take the stage in Marathi experimental theatres with Satyadev Dubey. Later, he founded his own theatre group, Aniket, in 1972. He was inspired by street-theatre to set in the trend of performing plays in the round.

In 1974, notable film maker Basu Chatterjee signed him for Rajanigandha, which was a landmark film of the era. Amol Palekar went on to star in several comedy-dramas of middle-class background, most of which were commercial successes. This versatile actor has even tried his hand at thrillers and portrayed complex, grey-hued characters in some films. He has been the finest actors of his time, apart from being a part of avant-garde theatre.

He ventured into direction in 1981 with the Marathi film Akrit - the story of a real life event in a Maharashtrian rural community where five young girls were sacrificed to conciliate an evil spirit. This film was awarded a special Jury Award at the Three Continents' Festival in Nantes, France. Since then, he has been making thought provoking award winning films. His second film, Ankahee, is a narration of blind faith in future-telling and prophecies and the damage to people's ethics and good sense by such beliefs. The film won a National Award. The next two, Thodasa Roomani Ho Jayen and Banagarwadi were enormously successful at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, London Film Festival, Cairo Film Festival and Teheran Film Festival. Palekar's fifth, Daayra, won the Grand Prix at the Festival du Valenciennes, France and featured on TIME magazine's list of top ten films for 1996. The film was screened at the Toronto Film Festival, London Film Festival and Melbourne Film Festivals. His next was a biographical feature film Kairee that was shown in the Fukuoka Film Festival, London Film Festival and Teheran Film Festival and received a National Award. Dhyaas Parva, Kal Kaa Aadmi in Hindi, is a documentary-style presentation on the life of celebrated Marathi Raghunath Karve and talks of birth control and female sexuality in the India of the 20s. This film also won the National Award for Best Film on family welfare. His next, Paheli, featuring the stalwarts like Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee, was India's 2005 entry into the Oscars in the Foreign Film category.

Filmography as Producer, Director, Artiste

As Producer
Thodasa Romani Ho Jaiyen (Let's Get Romantic) (1991)
Ankahi (1985)

As Director
* Akrit (Unimaginable) - 1981
* Ankahi (Unspoken) - 1985
* Thodasa Rumani Ho Jaye - 1990
* Bangarwadi (The Village Has No Walls) - 1995
* Daayraa (The Square Circle) - 1996
* Anahat (Forever)
* Kairee (Raw mango) - 2001
* Dhyaas Parva (Kal Kaa Aadmi in Hindi) - 2001
* Paheli (Riddle) - 2005
* Thaang (quest) - 2006

As Artiste
Teesra Kaun (1994)
Baat Ban Jaye (1986)
Jhoothi (1986)
Khamosh (1986)
Ankahee (1985)
Pyaasi Ankhen (1984)
Tarang (1984)
Rang Birangi (1983)
Agni Pareeksha (1982)
Jeevan Dhaara (1982)
Ram Nagri (1982)
Shriman Shrimati (1982)
Naram Garam (1981)
Plot No. 5 (1981)
Sameera (1981)
Apne Paraye (1980)
Chehere Pe Chehere (1980)
Aanchal (1980)
Baton Baton Mein (1979)
Do Ladke Dono Kadke (1979)
Gol Maal (1979)
Meri Biwi Ki Shaadi (1979)
Solva Sawan (1979)
Damaad (1978)
Gharonda (1977)
Kanneshwaha Rama (1977)
Safed Jhooth (1977)
Taxi Taxi (1977)
Agar (1977)
Bhumika (1977)
Chit Chor (1976)
Chhotisi Baat (1975)
Rajnigandha (1974)

TV Serials

* Kachchi Dhoop - 1987
* Naqab - 1988
* Paoolkhuna - 1993
* Mrignayanee - 1991