Mahesh Ambar Kothare (Marathi pronunciation: [məɦeːʃ koʈʰaːɾe]; born 28 September 1953) is an Indian film actor, director and producer of Marathi and Hindi films. He is regarded as a revolutionary figure in the Marathi film industry, known for his contributions to comedy, fantasy, and technical innovation. Kothare started his acting career as child artist in Chhota Jawan and acted in well-known Hindi movies such as Chhota Bhai, Mere Laal, and Ghar Ghar ki Kahani. The well known Hindi song "Tu Kitni Achhi Hain" from the film Raja Aur Runk features Kothare as Master Mahesh.[1][2]
He began his directorial journey with the groundbreaking film Dhum Dhadaka in 1985 and went on to deliver numerous box office successes over the next two decades. Kothare's films are known for their technical nuances and fantasy concepts, making him one of the few Indian filmmakers to achieve consistent success in the fantasy genre. He directed Dhadakebaaz (1990), the first Marathi film shot in the anamorphic (Cinemascope) format. He was also the first to introduce Dolby Digital sound to Marathi films with Chimni Pakhara (2001), and brought special effects to the industry with Pachadlela in 2004. Venturing into science fiction, he became the first Marathi filmmaker to explore the genre.[3]
In 2013, Zapatlela 2, the first Marathi film made in true 3D, which served as a sequel to the 1993 hit Zapatlela. He is also the founder of Kothare Vision, a production company primarily focused on creating mythological television series. The autobiography of Mahesh Kothare Damn It Ani Barach Kahi was published by Mehta Publishing House in 2023.[4][2]
Career
Kothare started his career in his teens, in Hindi movies with roles in Raja aur Runk and Ghar Ghar ki Kahani. He later switched to Marathi cinema, where he worked with well known stars and directors while continuing to make Hindi films without any noteworthy success. Kothare became a top Marathi director with hits including Dhum Dhadaka, Zapatlela, Zapatlela 2, Khatarnak and Khabardar.
Kothare, along with, Laxmikant Berde, Sachin Pilgaonkar and Ashok Saraf formed a successful quartet, giving hits after hits in the Marathi Cinema Industry in the 1980s and 1990s.
In the mid-1980s, Kothare and another young actor, Sachin Pilgaonkar, helped to revolutionize the Marathi film industry with their directing. Pilgaonkar directed Navri Mile Navryala, while Kothare directed Dhoom Dhadaka. Both films became box office hits, but Dhum Dhadaka became a trendsetter which brought young audiences to recognize the Marathi style of movie-making. Kothare then went on to make comedies which also became major hits. He also made Dhadakebaaz, the first Marathi film shot in CinemaScope and brought a number of innovations such as Dolby Digital sound to Marathi cinema with the film Chimani Pakhar. He made Pachhadlela in 2004, which was the first Marathi film with computer-generated effects. Kothare was also the first Marathi filmmaker to produce science-fiction films.[3]
In the film Gupchup Gupchup and Thorali Jau he played supporting, character roles.[2]
In the Marathi movies, he played supporting characters in films such as Devata, Jabardast, Majah Chakula, De Dandan, Khatarnak, Tharthrat, Zapatlela, Zapatlela - 2, Shubha Mangal.[2]
In 2013, Kothare made the film Zapatlela 2 in 3D with his son Adinath Kothare in the lead. The film was the sequel to his 1993 box office hit Zapatlela, which has acquired a cult following amongst Marathi audiences and features a doll named Tatya Vinchu created by Ventriloquist and Puppeteer Ramdas Padhye and voiced by Dilip Prabhavalkar that comes to life. Kothare revived Tatya Vinchu with 3D, animatronics and state of the art CGI in the sequel Zapatlela 2, which was the first Marathi film shot in 3D using split beam technology produced by Spanish stereographer Enrique Criado.[6][7] The film was shot at ND Studios, Karjat and released on 7June 2013, going on to become a big hit over its 100-day run.
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