Surekha Punekar is an Indian actress and folk artist known for her

lavani Lavani () is a genre of music popular in Maharashtra, India. Lavani is a combination of traditional song and dance, which particularly performed to the beats of '' Dholki'', a percussion instrument. Lavani is noted for its powerful rhythm. Lav ...

performances. Punekar came from a financially poor family and worked as a maid to make ends meet. In her initial days as an artist, she performed in the various

Tamasha Tamasha ( mr, तमाशा) is a traditional form of Marathi theatre, often with singing and dancing, widely performed by local or travelling theatre groups within the state of Maharashtra, India."Tamasha", in James R. Brandon and Martin Banh ...

troupes on the lavanis written by the well-known poet

Bashir Momin Kavathekar Bashir Kamruddin Momin (1 March 1947 – 12 November 2021), popularly known by his pen name, Momin Kavathekar, also known as 'Lokshahir B. K. Momin Kavathekar', was a popular Marathi language poet, writer who promoted sanitation, literacy, and so ...

. After performing in various Tamasha troupes, she started her own Tamasha troupe with her sister Lata Punekar with support from Baba Pathan and Momin Kavathekar. This new troupe initially operated from Kavathe Yamai. However, the venture was unprofitable so the troupe closed. She then tried performing stage shows under the banner ''Natarangi Nar'' from 1998 onwards. Initially they received a cold response from the audience; she mentions once having performed for an audience of just three people. However, the show eventually became famous, especially after she won first prize in the lavani competition held in Akluj Lavani Mahotsav. Eventually she had the opportunity to perform her lavani show in the USA. In 2011, she debuted as director of the stage show ''Nashikchi Naar''. During the

2019 Indian general election General elections were held in India in seven phases from 11 April to 19 May 2019 to elect the members of the 17th Lok Sabha. Votes were counted and the result was declared on 23 May. Around 912 million people were eligible to vote, and voter ...

, there was speculation that she would be a candidate of the

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British ...

(INC) in the

Pune Lok Sabha constituency Pune (पुणे, formerly spelt Poona) Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 48 Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies in Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western ...

. She fuelled this speculation in an interview given to ''

Loksatta ''Loksatta'' (''Lōksattā'') is a Marathi daily newspaper in Maharashtra, India. It is published by The Indian Express Group and was launched on 14 January 1948. ''Loksatta'' is published out of Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Thane, Palghar, Ahmedna ...

''. However, the seat was contested by

Mohan Joshi Mohan Joshi is an Indian film, television and theater actor. He has worked in Hindi, Marathi and Bhojpuri films. Early life Joshi was born in Bangalore, Karnataka. He made his acting debut in Pune, Maharashtra. For better career prospects, ...

for the INC. Since 26 May 2019, she has been a contestant in the reality TV show '' Bigg Boss Marathi 2''.

Television

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Punekar, Surekha Living people Bigg Boss Marathi contestants Year of birth missing (living people)