Sachin Pilgaonkar

Sachin Pilgaonkar (born 17 August 1957), often known mononymously by his screen name Sachin, is an Indian actor, director, producer, writer and singer of Marathi and Hindi films. He has directed and acted in several Marathi films of the late 1980s and early 1990s. He has received several awards including seven Maharashtra State Film Awards, two National Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards Marathi.

Starting as a child in the Marathi film industry, Ha Majha Marg Ekla (1962), he went on to work in around 65 films as a child artist, before switching to adult roles, and being part of highly successful films like Geet Gaata Chal (1975), Balika Badhu (1976), Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se (1978) and Nadiya Ke Paar (1982) as a lead actor and he became a household name in India. He has worked in Hindi, Marathi and also in Kannada cinema and Bhojpuri cinema, and has acted, produced, and directed successful comedy shows on Indian television, including Tu Tu Main Main (2000) and Kadvee Khatti Meethi. He also directed several hit Marathi Films starting with Mai Baap (1982), Navri Mile Navryala (1984) was the biggest box office hit. Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi (1988) and Aamchya Sarkhe Aamhich (1990) were superhit at the box office. Navra Mazha Navsacha (2004) were hits as well. In 2007 Sachin also made his debut in the Kannada film industry in the film Ekadantha which was a remake of his own movie Navra Mazha Navsacha, with Kannada star Vishnuvardhan.

Sachin was born in Bombay in a Goan Konkani family from Pilagaon, Goa. His father Sharad Pilgaonkar was a film producer, and also managed a printing business in Mumbai.

He is married to actress Supriya Pilgaonkar (née Sabnis), whom he first directed for his debut Marathi film, Navri Mile Navryala (1984) and subsequently became successful pair in Marathi cinema. The couple has a daughter, Shriya Pilgaonkar.

Pilgaonkar started his film career as a child artist. He was to act in Madhavrao Shinde's 1961 film Soonbai, but the plans did not work out. He was then chosen for Raja Paranjape's Marathi film, Ha Maza Marg Ekla (transl. This is my own singular path) (1962) at the age of four, for which he won the National Award. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan handed him the award. As a child actor, he first appeared in the Dharmendra-Meena Kumari starrer Majhli Didi, directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and also appeared in prominent films such as Jewel Thief, Chanda Aur Bijli, Brahmachari and Mela. He worked closely with the then fellow child actor, Naeem Sayyed (better known as Junior Mehmood), with whom he first acted in the Shammi Kapoor-starrer Brahmachari at the age of eight. They did 15 films together as child artists.

He switched to playing lead roles for a brief time with Rajshri Productions' Geet Gaata Chal, for which he was cast opposite Sarika. The film's unexpected success made them a lead pair for other films. The pair went on to work in Zid, College Girl, Rajshri Productions and Nadiya Ke Paar.

With Trishul, he switched back to supporting roles and was part of successful movies such as Sholay, Avtaar, Sur Sangam and Satte Pe Satta, but as the demand for roles reduced he took to direction, making Marathi movies and producing TV serials. He is one of the most well-known Marathi film directors. In 1992, he directed Subhash Ghai's Prem Deewane, and in 1996 directed Aisi Bhi Kya Jaldi Hai.

In 2011 he directed and starred in Jaana Pehchana, which is a sequel to Sachin's earlier blockbuster film Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se.