Dilip Prabhavalkar

Dilip Prabhavalkar (born 4 August 1944) is an Indian Marathi actor, director, playwright and author. He has a career spanning over four decades in Hindi and Marathi theatre, television and movies. He was awarded the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in the 2006 Hindi film Lage Raho Munna Bhai.

Born in Mumbai, Dilip Prabhavalkar obtained a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Ramnarain Ruia College, Matunga. He gained his master's degree in Biophysics and a diploma from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, before working for a pharmaceutical company. He joined as a partner in a video production unit. During this period, he performed as an actor in several children's and experimental plays staged at Chhabildas. In 1991, he decided to give up this dual existence of working and doing plays simultaneously and chose acting as a career.

He started performing as an actor in children's plays and experimental plays. His first major performance was in Lobh Nasava Hi Vinanti, a play written by Vijay Tendulkar and directed by Arvind Deshpande, which was well received. He went on to star in various plays including Vaasuchi Sasu, Sandhyachaya, Naatigoti, Javai Maza Bhala, Kalam 302 and Ghar Tighanche Have. He debuted on Marathi television by playing Chimanrao in the television serial Chimanrao Gundyabhau. He went on to star in television shows like Turtur and Shriyut Gangadhar Tipre. He also played various characters in Hasva Fasvi, a Marathi play.

He is known for his versatility and is known for transforming himself into the characters he plays. He gained recognition for his various comedic and dramatic film roles, notably in Ek Daav Bhutacha (1982), Zapatlela (1993) and Chaukat Raja (1991). In 1991, he decided to choose acting as a career. In children's and amateur theatre, Prabhavalkar was associated with Ratnakar Matkari's group and performed in all the plays staged by the troupe. His performances of a simpleton in Prem Kahani and Vidur in Aranyak — a play based on the Mahabharat — were awarded prizes at the Maharashtra State Drama Festival.

Prabhavalkar starred in the Bollywood movie Encounter: The Killing as an old gangster, Punappa Avade in 2002. He portrayed Mahatma Gandhi in the 2006 hit Lage Raho Munna Bhai. He reprised his role in the Telugu remake called Shankar Dada Zindabad. From the experimental stage, Prabhavalkar very easily moved to the professional stage in 1976, and since then has acted in plays from slapstick to light comedy, family drama, and melodrama, to serious discussion plays dealing with contemporary issues.

Prabhavalkar was recently seen in Faster Fene, a movie inspired by the popular Marathi book series of the same name, authored by B. R. Bhagwat, who he portrays in the film. The film is about a young boy who uncovers an educational scam using his detective prowess. In 2018, he did a talk show called Chimanrao Tey Gandhi, where he narrated the process behind each of his roles.[10]

In 1994, he wrote a play titled Chuk Bhul Dyavi Ghyavi.[11] He has authored 28 books and has also won a Sahitya Akademi Award for his children’s book, Bokya Satbande.