Amol Palekar: News

Very few reach the heights of their profession as an actor. Even few make it as an actor and a director. Amol Palekar is one of those very few who shone as an actor and a director. Palekar brought a new dimension to heroes in the 70s who were mostly larger-than-life characters. Born on November 24, 1944, in Bombay, Palekar began his life in the arts as a painter. It was, however, theatre that laid the foundation for Palekar the actor and the director. In the 60s, he was one of the most highly regarded proponents of the avant-garde in India. His first movie as an actor, ‘Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe,’ led to a new wave in Marathi cinema. His portrayal of a normal middle-class Indian in movies such as ‘Gol Maal’ (1979) and ‘Naram Garam’ (1981) made him an easily relatable actor to many Indians. He began his directorial adventure with the Marathi film ‘Aakriet’ in 1981. Palekar brought the same essence of reality he portrayed as an actor to his directorial ventures as well. ‘Paheli,’ a 2005 movie directed by him was India’s official entry for the Oscars in 2006.