Adinath Kothare

Adinath Kothare (; born 13 May 1984) is an Indian actor and filmmaker who predominantly works in Marathi cinema. He has received several accolades, including a National Film Award and a Maharashtra State Film Award.

Born into the Kothare family, he first appeared on screen as a child actor in his father’s film ''Majha Chakula'' (1994). As an adult, he made his acting debut with ''Ved Lavi Jeeva'', earning a nomination at the Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar. He later starred in the sports drama ''Standby'' (2011) and Aditya Sarpotdar's college drama ''Satrangi Re'' (2012). He gained recognition for playing a ventriloquist in the horror-comedy ''Zapatlela 2'', an adventurous young man in '' Hello Nandan'', and an atheist student in '' Avatarachi Goshta''.

He rose to prominence in the 2020s with ''Chandramukhi'' (2022), a musical romantic drama directed by Prasad Oak, followed by the family drama ''Shaktimaan'' and the comedy ''Panchak'' (both 2024). The former earned him his first Filmfare Marathi Award nomination. Kothare made his directorial debut with ''Paani'', which won the National Film Award for Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation as well as the Best Actor Award at the New York Indian Film Festival. He was also a part of Disney+ Hotstar’s '' City of Dreams - Season 2.''

Kothare and his father own a production company, Kothare Vision, established in 2008. He is married to actress Urmila Kothare, with whom he has a daughter.

Early life

Kothare was born on 13 May 1984 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, to Mahesh Kothare and Nilima Kothare. His father, Mahesh Kothare, is a renowned Indian filmmaker, actor, and producer known for his contributions to Marathi cinema. He pioneered innovative techniques, including special effects and fantasy elements. His mother, Nilima, is a homemaker. Coming from a family deeply rooted in the film industry, Kothare is the grandson of Amber Kothare and Saroj Kothare. Amber Kothare was a veteran Marathi theater artist, actor, and film producer, widely recognized for his contributions to experimental theater. Later, he also played negative and character roles in his son's films. Saroj Kothare, popularly known in the industry as Jenma, was a respected colorist and producer.

Career

Child actor and initial work (1994–2009)

Kothare began his career as a child actor in 1994 at the age of ten starring in his father’s Marathi directorial drama ''Majha Chakula''. He played a pivotal role as a mischievous boy who gets kidnapped from a bank but cleverly escapes from his captors, with actress Nivedita Joshi portraying his mother in the film. The movie was both a critical and commercial success, earning Kothare the Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Child Actor.

Subsequently, he was an assistant director to his father on ''Chimani Pakhar'', '' Pachadlela'' and ''Khabardar''.

Lead Acting Debut and Recognition (2010–2015)

In 2010, Kothare made his debut as a leading actor in ''Ved Lavi Jeeva'', opposite debutant Vaidehi Parshurami. Directed by his father, the love drama featured him as a car mechanic who falls in love with a wealthy girl. The film and the lead pair’s chemistry were well received, earning Kothare nominations for Best Debut and Best Actor at the Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar. The following year, he starred as a footballer in Sanjay Surkar’s sports drama ''Stand By'', which explored corruption, favoritism, and nepotism in Indian football. While the film received mixed reviews, Taran Adarsh of ''Bollywood Hungama'' praised Kothare’s performance, stating, "It is Adinath Kothare who catches you with complete surprise in a challenging role that offers him ample scope to exhibit his range as an actor." Kothare then starred alongside Urmila Kanetkar in ''Dubhang'', playing a financially struggling boxer dealing with unexpected challenges after having twins. It was the first Marathi film to use Dolby Digital 7.1 sound technology. Namita Nivas of ''The Indian Express'' appreciated his performance, remarking, "Kothare as Rohan is very impressive in his performance but he looks to young to play father." In 2012, his only release was the musical romance ''Satrangi Re'', directed by Aditya Sarpotdar.

In 2013, he played the lead role of Aditya Bolke in ''Zapatlela 2'', the sequel to the 1993 cult classic horror-comedy ''Zapatlela'', making it the first Marathi film to be released in 3D. His performance received widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences. A critic from ''The Times of India'' praised him, stating, "The young Kothare carries the film on his shoulders with his zany charm, nervous energy and excellent comic timing." The film grossed , making it the third highest-grossing marathi film of 2013. In the same year, he reunited with Sonalee Kulkarni in Neeraj Udhwani's Hindi short film ''Rewind'', where he played a man who discovers his arranged bride was once a call girl he had paid, struggles to accept her past, but eventually realizes his mistake. ''India Forums'' and ''India.com'' listed the short film among the Top 20 and Top 10 best short films, respectively.

2014 was a busy year for Kothare, with five releases. He starred in '' Hello Nandan'', a thriller about a man searching for a lost mobile number, which leads to life-altering discoveries. ''The Times of India'' praised his performance, stating, "He is at ease in front of the camera and expresses the frustration, confusion and helplessness of Nandan with effortless ease." He then starred in Gajendra Ahire's '' Anvatt'', playing a doctor alongside his wife, Urmila Kanetkar, in what marked their second and final collaboration. They portrayed a couple who decide to spend a year in a remote village to fulfill Vinay's late grandfather's wish. The film received critical acclaim, with their performances being particularly appreciated. Additionally, their on-screen kissing scene became a widely discussed topic, adding to the film's buzz. He also played romantic leads in ''Ishq Wala Love'' and '' Premasathi Coming Suun'', both of which received mixed receptions. His final release of the year was the critically and commercially acclaimed Marathi drama '' Avatarachi Goshta'', where he portrayed an atheist engineering student who helps a young boy break free from his fantasy of avatars. Keertikumar Kadam remarked, "Adinath looks cute and boyish and has delivered ably, what was expected from him, but he has been wasted in the first half. However, in the second half, director has given his character maximum scope."

In 2015, he had a brief role in Ahire’s period drama '' Nilkanth Master'', set during India’s independence movement, where he played a revolutionary leader. The film premiered as the closing film at the International Film Festival of India but received mixed reviews upon release. He also appeared in Shrabani Deodhar's ''Sata Lota Pan Sagla Khota''.

He made his television debut in the thrilling crime drama '' 100 Days'' on Zee Marathi, starring alongside Tejaswini Pandit as a PSI officer investigating a woman's husband's murder.

Directorial Debut and commercial success (2018–present)

After a three-year gap, Kothare returned in 2018 with a supporting role in '' Take Care Good Night'', a cybercrime thriller. Mihir Bhanage of ''The Times of India'' noted, "Kothare makes the most of his role but should’ve had more screen time." In 2019, he starred opposite Mrunmayee Deshpande in Madhuri Dixit's maiden production ''15 August.''

The same year, he made his directorial debut with ''Paani'', a survival drama co-produced by Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ Purple Pebble Pictures. The film, based on the true story of Hanumant Kendre, a man from drought-hit Nanded (played by Kothare himself), had been in development since 2014 and was filmed in 2016. Premiered at the New York Film Festival and screened at the National Film Archive of India, ''Paani'' was highly acclaimed but underperformed theatrically. Siddhant Adlakha of ''Firstpost'' called it, "a nuanced character piece" and wrote, "Kothare commands both sides of the camera. Behind it, he crafts a masterful portrait of rural Nagdarwadi and its villagers, ...in front of it, Kothare plays a paragon of decency around whom his story pivots." Nandini Ramnath for ''Scroll.in'' wrote, "Kothare is competent too as the home-grown hero who rouses the masses into performing a rare Marathwada miracle." while Kalpeshraj Kubal of ''The Times of India'' stated, "He is at his natural best here, portraying the struggle, determination and optimism through Hanumant’s portrayal." The film won multiple awards, including the Ma Ta Sanman and Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for direction, and Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation at the 66th National Film Awards.

In 2021, Kothare joined the ensemble cast of ''83'', Kabir Khan’s biographical sports drama about India’s historic cricket World Cup victory. He portrayed a stylish right-handed batsman and one of India’s most successful players of the 1980s, Dilip Vengsarkar, who missed the latter half of the tournament due to an injury sustained during the 1983 Cricket World Cup. Despite critical acclaim, the film underperformed at the Indian box office.

The very next year, Kothare portrayed a charismatic politician in Prasad Oak's musical romantic drama ''Chandramukhi'' opposite Amruta Khanvilkar. The film was based on Vishwas Patil's novel of the same name. To prepare for the role, he underwent rigorous training to perfect his body language and mannerisms, even turning down three other projects. Critics praised his performance, with Mihir Bhanage of ''The Times of India'' stating that he "fits the part and channels the 'macho persona with a heart of gold' character well." ''The Week'' noted, "it is hard to shake off Adinath Kothare’s shrewd politician persona which makes a hard impact. He embodies flamboyance and charisma with elan." The film was a commercial success, grossing at the worldwide box office, making it the fourth highest-grossing Marathi film of 2022. He earned nominations at Fakt Marathi Cine Sanman, Maharashtracha Favourite Kon? and his first Filmfare Marathi nomination for Best Actor.

In 2024, he collaborated once again with Dixit's production house for the horror-comedy ''Panchak'', starring alongside an ensemble cast that included Dilip Prabhavalkar, Bharati Achrekar, Anand Ingale and Tejashri Pradhan. The film revolves around a family struggling with superstitions and the fear of death. ''Panchak'' premiered at the Pune International Film Festival before its theatrical release. The film earned at the box office, achieving moderate commercial success. Critics praised Kothare’s performance, with Keyur Seta for ''The Common Man Speaks'' noting, "Kothare is thoroughly impressive as a firm but affectionate Madhav." His second release of the year, ''Shaktiman'', directed by Prakash Kunte, was a family drama centered on a couple navigating personal challenges. ''The Times of India'' critic Kalpeshraj Kubal remarked that the film rested on Kothare's shoulders, adding, "He delivers a relatable performance but the makers seem to have gotten carried away while trying to bring all the focus to his character." Kothare was nominated at the Aaryans Awards for Best Actor and Best Singer Male.

In addition to his film projects, Kothare was also part of Rohan Sippy’s legal drama series '' Criminal Justice: Adhura Sach'' (2022), where he played an inspector, and Nagesh Kukunoor’s political drama series '' City of Dreams – Season 2'' (2023), where he portrayed a headstrong politician. His performance in ''City of Dreams'' received widespread appreciation, earning praise from both critics and audiences.

Other works and media image

Apart from his work in films and television, Kothare has also gained recognition for his style and public presence. He appeared in ''The Times of India'''s "Most Desirable Men of Maharashtra" list for four consecutive years, from 2017 to 2020, solidifying his status as a popular and influential personality. In 2022, he walked as the showstopper for Shruti Mangaaysh at Pune Times Fashion Week, sharing the runway with Amruta Khanvilkar.

Production

In 2008, Mahesh Kothare and Adinath Kothare established their production company, Kothare & Kothare Vision, now known as Kothare Vision Pvt. Ltd. Their first production under this banner was the film '' Full 3 Dhamaal.'' Before this, Mahesh Kothare had successfully produced films under the banner Jenma Films International, many of which he also directed, with some being distributed by Adinath Films Distributors. Kothare Vision later expanded into television production, beginning with the Marathi daily soap ''Man Udhan Varyache'' for Star Pravah. Their mythological series ''Jai Malhar'' for Zee Marathi became a milestone, breaking several TRP records. The production house continued to back successful mythological shows, including ''Vithu Mauli'' (2017–2020) and ''Ude Ga Ambe'' (2024). Among their other successful productions, the fantasy drama ''Sukh Mhanje Nakki Kay Asta!'' became one of the longest-running shows on the channel.

Personal life

Kothare met actress Urmila Kanetkar in the mid-2010s when she visited his home to meet his father, who was set to direct the Marathi film ''Shubhamangal Savdhan'' and wanted her to make her debut in the industry. He was working as an assistant director on the film when they started dating. After a few years of dating, they got married in 2011. In January 2018, the couple welcomed their daughter, Jiza Kothare. Their personal life has frequently caught media attention, with fans and tabloids following their journey.

Filmography

Films

Television

Awards and nominations

See also

* List of Marathi film actors

References

External links

*
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kothare, Adinath
Indian male film actors
Male actors in Marathi cinema
Living people
1984 births
Male actors from Mumbai
Indian male soap opera actors
Male actors in Marathi television