Sachin Khedekar (born 14 May 1965) is an Indian actor and director known for his work in Hindi, Marathi and Telugu films. His well-known films include Kaksparsh, Astitva and Shyam Benegal's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero in which he portrayed Subhas Chandra Bose. Notable TV series include Sailaab, Imtihaan and Samvidhaan in which he played B. R. Ambedkar. He is recipient of two Maharashtra State Film Awards, four Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar and five Maharashtracha Favourite Kon?.
Khedekar made his acting debut with the Marathi film Vidhilikhit in 1989. He subsequently appeared in several Marathi films, initially portraying supporting roles before taking on more prominent and leading roles. His notable Marathi films include Gharabaher (1999), Astitva (2000), Chimani Pakhar (2001), Mi Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy! (2009), and Kaksparsh (2012), among others.
Khedekar has also appeared in several Hindi films. His notable Hindi film credits include Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2004), in which he portrayed Subhas Chandra Bose, Singham (2011), Agneepath (2012), and Golmaal Again (2017). He has also worked in Telugu and Tamil-language films, establishing a presence across several Indian film industries.
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Early life
Khedekar was born on 14 May 1965 in Vile Parle, Mumbai. Growing up in an environment deeply rooted in literature, art, theatre, and music, he developed an early interest in the performing arts. Khedekar actively participated in various local theatre productions organised by social organisations and the Lokmanya Seva Sangh in Vile Parle.
He completed his schooling at Parle Tilak Vidyalaya and went on to pursue higher education at the Thadomal Shahani Engineering College, where he earned a diploma in environmental engineering. When Khedekar was five years old, his father passed away. Following this, the responsibility of raising him and his younger brother fell solely on their mother, Manda Khedekar, who was employed with Indian Airlines. Khedekar has frequently credited his mother's unwavering support as the foundational pillar that allowed him to pursue and establish a career in the highly unpredictable field of acting.
Personal life
He married Jalpa Khedekar on 19 December 1993. The couple has two sons.
Career
Theatre Career
Khedekar's acting journey began during a student camp on 5 November, celebrated as Rangabhumi Din, where he made his very first stage appearance playing the character Ramlal in the classic Marathi play Ekach Pyala. His passion for acting grew substantially during his college years, guided closely by his mentor and veteran director Vinay Apte. Throughout his theatrical career, He collaborated with acclaimed directors such as Vinay Apte, Sai Paranjpye, Waman Kendre, and Mahesh Manjrekar. He made a significant impact on Marathi commercial theatre with the play Aflatoon, directed by Vinay Apte and Vikram Bhagwat. He went on to deliver noteworthy performances in several prominent Marathi plays, including Doosra Saamna, Mee Rashtrapati, Wada Chirebandi, Aapsatlya Goshti, Tujhya-Majhyat, and Moun Rang. Beyond Marathi stage productions, Khedekar successfully ventured into Hindi and Gujarati theatre. Two of his most celebrated non-Marathi plays include the Nikhilesh Sharma-directed Hindi play Shyam Rang in 1995 and the Chandrakant Kulkarni-directed play Doctor Aap Bhi in 1997.
Television Career
Khedekar transitioned to the small screen in 1989 with the Doordarshan show Chaal Navachi Vachaal Vasti, directed by Vinay Apte. He seamlessly adapted to Hindi television as well, earning widespread popularity for his performances in iconic Hindi drama series such as Imtihaan and Sailaab. He considers Ravi Rai, the director of Imtihaan, as his television mentor. His prolific work across various Hindi and Marathi television formats solidified his reputation as a highly media-literate actor capable of connecting deeply with diverse audiences.
Film Career
Khedekar made his feature film debut in 1988 with the Marathi film Vidhilikhit, directed by Padmanabh. He subsequently formed a highly successful creative partnership with director Mahesh Manjrekar, leading to a string of critically and commercially acclaimed films. He appeared in projects like Astitva in 2000 and Chimani Pakhar in 2001. In 2009, Khedekar played the protagonist Dinkarrao Bhosale in the blockbuster film Mi Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy!. His portrayal of a common Marathi man fighting for his identity received widespread public acclaim and swept almost all major acting awards, including a Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for Best Actor.
Another milestone in his career came with Manjrekar's 2012 period drama Kaksparsh, where Khedekar played the complex role of Haribhau, portraying a character torn between rigid societal traditions, progressive reform, and human emotion. His other major Marathi titles include Lalbaug Parel, Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho, Taryanche Bait, Kokanastha, and Prem Mhanje Prem Mhanje Prem Asta.
Khedekar transitioned smoothly into Bollywood, carving a niche for himself through impactful supporting and character roles. He delivered memorable performances in Hasan Mehta’s Jayate in 1997, Mahesh Manjrekar's Pitah in 2002, and Sanjay Jha's Praan Jaye Par Shaan Na Jaye in 2003. Over the years, he has appeared in several high-profile Hindi commercial projects, including Tere Naam, Guru, Kaalpurush, U Me Aur Hum, Singham, and Krrish 3. Beyond Marathi and Hindi cinema, Khedekar has broken language barriers by expanding his filmography into multiple regional and international languages. His prominent multi-lingual works include the Tamil film Deiva Thirumagal, the Malayalam film Police, the Gujarati film Paiso Maro Parmeshwar, and the English production A Pocketful of Dreams.
Filmography
Awards
Maharashtra State Film Award for the film Gharabaher
Screen Award for Best Actor for the TV show Sailaab
Nominated Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for Best Actor for his role in the film Kadachit
Best Actor in a Historical Role award for his portrayal of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the film Bose: The Forgotten Hero
Zee Gaurav for Best Actor for the film Mrugjal - Ek Naslela Astitva
Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for Best Actor for the film Mi Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy!
Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actor for the film Mi Shivajiraje Bhosale Boltoy!
Won 2 Filmfare Award for Best Actor
Nominated Zee Cine Award for Best Film
