Atul Kulkarni Birthday: From Theatre to Bollywood, Leaving a Lasting Impact

Atul Kulkarni is one of the versatile actors of Indian cinema. With the seriousness and variety of his acting, he has left a deep impression on the hearts of the audience. Atul Kulkarni, who has made a mark with his acting in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and English films, has turned 60 today on 10 September 2025 (Atul Kulkarni Birthday). On this special occasion, let us know about his life, career, achievements, and best films.

The turn towards theatre proved to be the biggest turning point in life (Atul Kulkarni career)

Atul Kulkarni was born on 10 September 1965 in Belgaum, Maharashtra (now in Karnataka). His childhood was spent in a simple environment. Initially, he started studying engineering from Pune College of Engineering, but this path did not suit him. Since childhood, he was inclined towards art and drama and hence he turned to theatre and this decision proved to be the biggest turning point in his life.

Beginning with theater (Atul Kulkarni biography)

Atul started participating in drama competitions from his school days. From 1989 to 1992, he won several awards continuously in the Maharashtra State Drama Competition. His talent was revealed in both acting and direction. During his college days, he joined Natya Aradhana (a theatre group based in Solapur) and this is where the foundation of his acting got strengthened.

National School of Drama and personal life (Atul Kulkarni personal life)

In 1995, Atul Kulkarni did a postgraduate diploma from the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi. It was here that he met Geetanjali Kulkarni (Atul Kulkarni With Wife), who later became his wife. Geetanjali herself is also a successful theater artist. After leaving NSD, Atul started working seriously in films and theater and gradually made his mark.

Journey into the cinema

Atul Kulkarni is one of those select actors who left his mark not only in Hindi but also in the cinema of all languages. He was first recognized with Kamal Haasan's film 'Hey Ram' (2000), for which he won the National Award. After this, 'Chandni Bar' (2001) established him in the industry. Films like 'Rang De Basanti' (2006), 'Khakee' (2004), 'Page 3' (2005), 'Delhi-6' (2009), 'Natarang' (2010), 'The Attacks of 26/11' (2013), 'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi' (2019) and 'A Thursday' (2022) made him immortal among the audience.

Screenwriter and Producer

Along with acting, Atul Kulkarni also ventured into screenwriting. He wrote the screenplay of Aamir Khan's film 'Lal Singh Chaddha'. Even though the film was not very successful at the box office, his writing was highly appreciated.

Social work

Not only an actor, Atul Kulkarni is also a social worker. He is the president of an organization called Quest Education Support Trust, which works to provide education to underprivileged children. Apart from this, he has also been associated with an environmental project that transforms barren land into greenery in the Satara district of Maharashtra.

Awards and Achievements (Atul Kulkarni National Award)

Atul Kulkarni has received the National Award twice:

• 'Hey Ram' (2000) – Best Supporting Actor

• 'Chandni Bar' (2001) – Best Supporting Actor

These achievements made him a powerful artist of Indian cinema.

10 famous films of Atul Kulkarni (Atul Kulkarni Hindi films)

1. Hey Ram (2000) – Role of Shriram Abhyankar, National Award winner.

2. Chandni Bar (2001) – The Powerful Character of Potya Sawant.

3. Khaki (2004) – Important role as Dr. Iqbal Ansari.

4. Page 3 (2005) – A role based on the realities of the media and glamour world.

5. Rang De Basanti (2006) – Role of Laxman Pandey, a youth-shocking role.

6. Delhi-6 (2009) – Role of Gobar, proof of his acting ability.

7. Natrang (2010) – Classic film of Marathi cinema, the character of Gunya.

8. The Attacks of 26/11 (2013) – Role of Police Officer Shinde.

9. Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (2019) – Powerful character of Tatya Tope.

10. A Thursday (2022) – Starring Javed Khan in a pivotal role.

FAQ

Q1. Who is Atul Kulkarni?
Atul Kulkarni is a famous Indian actor who has worked in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada films.

Q2. What are Atul Kulkarni's most popular films?
His major filmsincludeRang De Basanti,Hey Ram,Chandni Bar,Page 3,Raazi, andDangl .

Q3. Has Atul Kulkarni received a National Award?
Yes, hehas received the National Film Award (Best Supporting Actor) forHey Ram(2000) andChandni Bar (2002).

Q4. Is Atul Kulkarni a writer too?
Yes, hewrote the Hindi screenplay of Aamir Khan's filmLal Singh Chaddha, which is an official remake of the Hollywood filmForrest Gump.

Q5. What kind of roles is Atul Kulkarni known for?
He is known for his serious and strong acting style. He has played different and memorable roles in social, historical, and commercial cinema.

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