Mahesh Ambar Kothare (Marathi pronunciation: [məɦeːʃ koʈʰaːɾe]; born 28 September 1953) is an Indian film actor, director and producer of Marathi and Hindi films. He started his acting career as child artist.[2] Kothare acted in well-known movies such as Raja Aur Runk, Chhota Bhai, Mere Laal, and Ghar Ghar ki Kahani. The well known Hindi song Tu Kitni Achhi Hain from the film Raja Aur Runk features Kothare as Master Mahesh.[3]

Mahesh Kothare
Born (1953-09-28) 28 September 1953 (age 71)
Occupations
  • Film producer
  • film director
  • actor
Years active1964 – present
Spouse
Nilima Kothare
(m. 1980)
[1]
ChildrenAdinath Kothare
RelativesUrmilla Kothare (daughter-in-law)

Considered a revolutionary figure in the Marathi film industry, he began his directorial career with the groundbreaking Dhoom Dhadaka (1985) and has since delivered many box office hits over a period of 20 years. Kothare's films are known for their technical nuances and fantasy concepts. He is one of the few Indian film makers who have made successful films in the fantasy genre. Kothare made the first Marathi film in true 3D, Zapatlela 2 (2013) which was the sequel to Zapatlela (1993).

In most of his hit films, he played the fictional character of Inspector Mahesh Jadhav, and his catchphrase, "Damn it!" is popular among Marathi audiences.[2] In 2023 the Mehta Publishing House launched the autobiography of Kothare Damn It Ani Barach Kahi.[4]

Career

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Kothare started his career 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.[2]

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.[5]

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. [This paragraph needs citation(s)]

In the film Gupchup Gupchup and Thorali Jau he played supporting, character roles.[2]

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.[2]

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.[6][7] The film was shot at ND Studios, Karjat and released on 7 June 2013, going on to become a big hit over its 100-day run.

Personal life

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Kothare's son Adinath played a leading role in Zapatlela 2. Adinath is married to Marathi actress Urmilla Kothare.[8] Kothare studied B.Sc. and L.L.B., He worked as a criminal lawyer for some period.[2]

Filmography

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As an actor, Kothare appeared primarily as a Police Inspector with his first name Mahesh.

 
Year Title Role
1964 Chota Jawan Jawan
1968 Raja Aur Runk Yuvraj Narendradev / Raja[9]
1970 Safar Feroz Khan's Younger Brother Montu
1971 Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani Ravi[10]
1975 Prit Tuzi Mazi Ravi
1982 Sant Gyaneshwar Dnyaneshwar
Thorli Jaau Avinash
Chandane Shimpit Ja
1983 Devta Sunil
Paaygoon Dhanaji Jadhav/Nagesh Patil
Gupchup Gupchup Ashok
1984 Sage Soyare Hemant
Gharcha Bhedi Ramesh
Lek Chalali Sasarla Vilas Inamdar[11]
1985 Dhum Dhadaka Mahesh Javalkar[12]
1987 De Danadan Sub-Inspector Mahesh Danke
1989 Thartharat CID Inspector Mahesh Jadhav
1990 Dhadakebaaz Mahesh Nemade[13]
1992 Jiwlaga Guest appearance
1993 Zapatlela CID Inspector Mahesh Jadhav[13]
1994 Majha Chakula Inspector Mahesh Jadhav
1996 Masoom [14] Guest appearance
1998 Dhangad Dhinga Advocate Mahesh Mithare
2000 Khatarnak CID Inspector Mahesh Choudhary
2004 Pachhadlela Inspector Mahesh Jadhav[13]
2005 Khabardar Mahesh Kothare (Himself)
2006 Shubh Mangal Savdhan
2007 Zabardast Professor Bramhanand Bharadwaj
2008 Full 3 Dhamaal Mahesh Kothare (Himself)
2010 Ved Laavi Jeeva
2010 Ideachi Kalpana Commissioner Mahesh Thakur
2011 Dubhang
2013 Zapatlela 2 Commissioner Mahesh Jadhav[15]
Welcome to the Jungle IB Chief
Directorial credits
Year Title Role
1985 Dhum Dhadaka Mahesh Javalkar
1987 De Danadan Sub-Inspector Mahesh Danke
1989 Thartharat CID Inspector Mahesh Jadhav
1990 Dhadakebaaz Mahesh Nemade
1991 Jiwlaga
1993 Zapatlela CID Inspector Mahesh Jadhav
1994 Majha Chakula Inspector Mahesh Jadhav
1996 Masoom
1999 Lo Main Aagaya
1998 Dhangad Dhinga Advocate Mahesh Mithare
2000 Khatarnak
2001 Chimani Pakhar
2004 Pachhadlela Mahesh
2005 Khabardar
2007 Shubh Mangal Saavdhaan
2008 Zabardast
Full 3 Dhamaal
2010 Ved Laavi Jeeva
2011 Dubhang
2013 Zapatlela 2 Commissioner Mahesh Jadhav
2024 Paani Film Producer

Awards and recognition

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Year Award Category Work
1986 Filmfare Awards Marathi Best Film Dhum Dhadaka
Best Director
1994 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Film Majha Chakula
Best Director
Screen Awards Best Film - Marathi
Best Director - Marathi
2000 Best Director - Marathi Khatarnak
2005 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Film Khabardar
Best Director
Best Screenplay
2009 V. Shantaram Special Contribution Award
2018 3rd Filmfare Awards Marathi Limelight Award Overall Contribution
2021 5th Filmfare Awards Marathi Excellence in Marathi cinema

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mahesh Kothare & Neelima Kothare's love story". Divya Bhaskar.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Mahesh Kothare : inspector Mahesh Jadhav is still in Marathi folk's hart". Pudhari.
  3. ^ "Mahesh Kothare: Interesting facts about the actor". The Times of India. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Marathi Actor-Director Mahesh Kothare Releases His Autobiography, 'Damn It Aani Barach Kahi'". News18. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Kothare Vision". Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  6. ^ "The Third Dimension of Marathi Cinema". Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  7. ^ "Terror in a new form". Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Adinath-kothare-and-abhinay-berde-childhood-picture-mahesh-kothare/".
  9. ^ "Raja Aur Runk (1968) Cast - Actor, Actress, Director, Producer, Music Director". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1970) Cast - Actor, Actress, Director, Producer, Music Director". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  11. ^ "Alka Kubal Recalls Fond Memories With Shashikala In Lek Chalali Sasarla; Has THIS To Say". Filmibeat. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  12. ^ "'Dhum Dhadaka' - Ashok Saraf's films that you must watch". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  13. ^ a b c "Happy-birthday-mahesh-kothare-zapatlela-to-pachhadlela-five-must-watch-comedy-movies-of-actor-director".
  14. ^ "I regret not listening to Aamir Khan - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  15. ^ "M-Town is ready to scare with 'Zapatlela 2' - Times Of India". 6 December 2013. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
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