Sachin Kundalkar

Biography:

Sachin Kundalkar, an Indian film director and screenwriter predominantly working in Marathi cinema, was born on May 20, 1981, in Maharashtra. His keen interest in filmmaking led him to seek advice from director Ashutosh Gowarikar, who recommended he complete his education first. In 1995, Kundalkar began his career by assisting Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukthankar on the acclaimed film “Doghi.”

He gained further experience by assisting on films such as “Zindagi Zindabad,” “Bhaais Barabar,” and “Dahavi Fa” while obtaining his bachelor’s degree in commerce. After graduating, he studied at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTTI) in Pune and received a French Government scholarship to attend La Femis in Paris. Before entering the film industry, he directed short plays and was actively involved in theatre. His first short film, “Out of the Box,” was created during his student years.

Kundalkar has won two National Film Awards: one for directing “Nirop” and another for the screenplay of “Gandha,” which was the first Marathi film to win the Best Screenplay award since the category was established in 1967. He made his feature film debut with “Restaurant” in 2006, starring Sonali Kulkarni. The film was showcased at multiple festivals, including the 4th Goa Marathi Film Festival, the 12th International Film Festival of Kerala, and the 8th Mumbai Film Festival, earning widespread acclaim.

His other notable works include “Happy Journey,” “Rajwade and Sons,” “Vazandar,” and “Gulabjaam.” Kundalkar made his Bollywood debut with the 2012 film “Aiyyaa,” featuring Rani Mukherjee and Prithviraj. In 2022, his 2013 novel “Cobalt Blue” was adapted into a feature film of the same name.