A man of many talents, Mahesh Manjrekar`s illustrious artistic repertoire features film credits as an actor, producer and writer-director. In a career spanning over two decades, he has acted in over 75 movies across all major film industries in the country, and has written and directed over 25 movies in Marathi and Hindi cinema. Of these, the bilingual drama
Astitva (2000) won the National Film Award for Best Regional Film in 2001.
Though he had started out in showbiz at an early age, Mahesh announced his arrival in the world of cinema with the acclaimed Bollywood crime-drama
Vaastav: The Reality (1999), which he wrote and directed. The
Sanjay Dutt starrer, which told the story of a man forced into a life of crime by his circumstances, was a critical and commercial success and has since went on to gain cult status. This was followed by a prolific phase in his career, both as an actor and filmmaker. While movies like
Hathyar (2002),
Pitaah (2002) and Viruddh: Family Comes First (2005) underlined his brilliance as a director, Mahesh gave some memorable performances as an actor in the Bollywood action-thriller
Kaante (2002), the anthology film
Dus Kahaniyaan (2007), the Academy Award-winning British film
Slumdog Millionaire (2008) and the Marathi film
Me Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy (2009).
Since 2010, the filmmaker has worked predominantly in Marathi cinema, delivering a number of acclaimed movies like City of Gold - Mumbai 1982: Ek Ankahee Kahani (2010),
Lalbaug Parel: Zali Mumbai Sonyachi (2010),
Kaksparsh (2012) and the Nana Patker starrer
Natsamrat (2016). As an actor, he has had key roles in the Bollywood fantasy comedy OMG: Oh My God! (2012),
Shootout at Wadala (2013),
Singham Returns (2014),
Bajirao Mastani (2015) and the Tamil film Velaikkaran (2017). In 2018, Mahesh Manjrekar appeared in a pivotal role in the biopic based on his long-time collaborator and friend Sanjay Dutt`s life. The Rajkumar Hirani directorial was titled
Sanju, and starred
Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role. His 2018 release includes Tukkaa Fitt, directed by Shawn Arranha. His 2019 releases include the Hindi film
Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota, the Marathi film
66 Sadashiv, the Tamil film
Vinaya Vidheya Rama, and
Saaho. His directorial credits in 2019 include the first time Marathi two parter
Bhaai - Vyakti ki valli and
Bhaai - Vyakti kee valli Part 2. His 2020 release includes Kesari. His 2021 acting credits include
The White Tiger,
The Power and
Mumbai Saga.