Amruta Khanvilkar

Biography:

Amruta Khanvilkar was born on 23 November 1984 in Bombay (now Mumbai) into a Marathi household headed by her parents, Ajit and Gauri Khanvilkar. She has a younger sister, Aditi, who works as a flight attendant. Raised in a large joint family in Vile Parle with her grandparents and four aunts, she initially studied at Mahila Sangh School. After the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, her family relocated to Pune in 1994, where she continued her schooling at Karnataka High School and later earned a degree in commerce from Marathwada Mitra Mandal College. From an early age, she showed a strong interest in dance, though her father was initially unsure about her pursuing it professionally.

Her professional journey began in 2004 when she participated in the reality show Zee Cine Star Ki Khoj, one of Indian television’s earliest talent hunts. That same year, she acted alongside Amitabh Bhattacharjee in the Hindi short film Saanjh, produced by the Film and Television Institute of India, which later won the National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film on Family Welfare. This exposure led to roles in Hindi television series such as A.D.A. and Time Bomb 9/11 in 2005.

Khanvilkar made her Marathi film debut with the comedy Golmaal (2006), starring opposite Bharat Jadhav and Jitendra Joshi, and received positive feedback for her performance. In 2007, she entered Hindi cinema with Mumbai Salsa, where she played a bold and unconventional role, earning praise from critics. She also appeared briefly in Milan Luthria’s Hattrick that year. Her most successful project of 2007 was Saade Maade Teen, a Marathi remake of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, where she portrayed a character inspired by Madhubala’s iconic role. The film performed exceptionally well at the box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing Marathi films of its time.

In 2008, she collaborated with director Ram Gopal Verma on Contract and Phoonk. While Contract received mixed reactions and underperformed commercially, Phoonk proved to be a major turning point. Playing a subdued, serious character in the horror film, Khanvilkar earned critical acclaim for her performance, which contrasted sharply with her earlier glamorous roles. The film went on to become a blockbuster, and she received a nomination for Stardust Exciting New Face.

The following year, she starred in the Marathi suspense thriller Gaiir, playing a newly married woman caught in a dangerous psychological mystery. The film was a commercial success and brought her widespread recognition, including her first Best Actress nominations. Around the same time, she also appeared in the popular music video “Aye Hip Hopper” by Ishq Bector.

Her popularity surged in 2010 after her Lavani dance number “Wajale Ki Bara” in Natarang became a cultural phenomenon across Maharashtra. Although she was not initially selected for the song, her performance turned out to be career-defining. That year, she also reprised her role in Phoonk 2, where critics again appreciated her acting despite the sequel receiving a lukewarm response.

In 2011, Khanvilkar appeared as a Marathi teacher in Shala, adapted from Milind Bokil’s novel. The film won the Silver Lotus Award at the National Film Awards. She followed this with lead roles in Arjun and Zhakaas, the latter earning her the Maharashtracha Favourite Kon Award for Favourite Actress.

In 2012, she featured in the musical Satrangi Re and later in Aayna Ka Bayna, where she portrayed a dance therapist mentoring underprivileged children. Her emotionally driven performance was widely praised and won her Best Actress at the CineRockom International Film Festival. She made only a brief appearance in 2013 with a special song in Himmatwala.

After a short break, she returned in 2015 with multiple releases. These included Baji, Marathi cinema’s first superhero film; Ek Doosrey Ke Liye; and Welcome Zindagi, where she played a troubled woman confronting existential despair. Her portrayal received strong critical appreciation. That same year, she gained further acclaim for her role as Zareena in Katyar Kaljat Ghusali, mastering Urdu diction for the part. The film became one of Marathi cinema’s biggest commercial successes and earned her several award nominations.

She continued experimenting with diverse roles in films such as Aawahan and One Way Ticket (2016), which was notably shot on a cruise ship and international locations. In 2017, she made brief appearances in Rangoon, Baaki Itihaas, and Bus Stop, with critics praising her for breaking away from her conventional image.

Khanvilkar re-entered mainstream Hindi cinema in 2018 with Raazi, where she portrayed a Pakistani sister-in-law, earning critical and audience acclaim. She followed this with Satyameva Jayate, which became a box-office success despite mixed reviews of her role. That year, she also appeared in Ani… Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar and made her digital debut in the web series Damaged, playing a serial killer—a bold and unconventional role that won her multiple awards for Best Actress in a Negative Role.

In 2019, she debuted on Marathi television with Jeevlaga, portraying a complex character involved in an extramarital relationship. She later appeared in Malang (2020), earning praise for her restrained yet expressive performance. That same period saw her winning accolades for the comedy Choricha Mamla.

Her later work included the OTT release Well Done Baby (2021), where she convincingly portrayed the emotional struggles of a modern woman. In 2022, she starred in Pondicherry, one of the first Indian films shot entirely on a smartphone, earning critical praise despite limited screen time. She then took on her first titular role in Chandramukhi, undergoing extensive physical and linguistic preparation. The film’s success earned her the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress.

She continued to feature in successful projects such as Har Har Mahadev and Autograph – Ek Japun Thevavi Ashi Lovestory, receiving further award nominations. In 2024, Khanvilkar expanded her digital presence with acclaimed performances in series like Video Cam Scam, Lootere, Chacha Vidhayak Hain Humare (Season 3), and 36 Days, showcasing her versatility across genres.

Alongside her screen work, she appeared in socially driven Marathi films such as Like Aani Subscribe and historical epics like Dharmarakshak Mahaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj: Chapter 1, where she portrayed Maharani Yesubai with grace and intensity.

On the personal front, Khanvilkar resides in Lokhandwala, Mumbai, maintains close family ties, and follows the teachings of Swami Samarth. She married actor Himmanshoo A. Malhotra in January 2015 after a decade-long relationship, and the couple won Nach Baliye 7 the same year. Known for valuing privacy, she rarely discusses her personal life publicly.

In her late thirties, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by formally training in Kathak under Manjiri Deo and completed her arangetram in November 2023, securing first place at the university—marking yet another milestone in her artistic journey.