# Subodh Bhave (सुबोध भावे)
**Subodh Bhave** (सुबोध भावे; born 1975) is an Indian actor, director, producer, and writer who works primarily in [Marathi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/marathi-cinema), theater, and television, with additional work in Hindi and Malayalam films.[1](https://subodhbhave.com/) He is best known for playing the social reformer [Bal Gangadhar Tilak](https://www.edgepedia.org/bal-gangadhar-tilak) in the biopic *Lokmanya Ek Yugpurush* (2015) and the title role in the biographical drama *Balgandharva* (2011), and for directing the musical drama *[Katyar Kaljat Ghusali](https://www.edgepedia.org/katyar-kaljat-ghusali-film)* (2015).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2347196/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1975, Pune, Maharashtra, India; resides in Mumbai[1](https://subodhbhave.com/) |
| Fields | Marathi cinema, theater, television; also Hindi and Malayalam films[1](https://subodhbhave.com/) |
| Directorial debut | *Katyar Kaljat Ghusali* (2015), screened at the International Film Festival of India and among the highest-grossing Marathi films of 2015[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2347196/) |
| Signature roles | Bal Gangadhar Tilak in *Lokmanya Ek Yugpurush* (2015); the singer Balgandharva (2011); Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar (2018)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2347196/) • [3](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/subodh-bhave-acting-his-part-5269465/) |
| Output | Around 50 films over more than a decade; Indian Film History lists 89 total film credits[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2347196/) • [4](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/filmography/subodh-bhave) |
| Honors | Four Maharashtra State Film Awards, eight Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar, and a Maharashtracha Favourite Kon Award[5](https://tv.apple.com/in/person/subodh-bhave/umc.cpc.4xyvrpp98s6q93gkrb230486v) |
| First production | *Pushpak Vimaan* (2018), produced with his wife Manjiri[6](https://subodhbhave.com/films.html) |
## Early life and start in acting
Bhave was born in Pune in 1975 and now lives in Mumbai. He completed his graduation from Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce.[1](https://subodhbhave.com/) Before acting, he worked as a salesman at a small IT company called Inika Technologies in Koregaon Park, Pune, and moved into acting later.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2347196/) His stage beginnings were in experimental theater: he acted in and directed plays at inter-school and college competitions such as the Purushottam Karandak and Firodiya Karandak, worked with the Theatre Academy, and is president of the experimental group Theatres Pune.[7](https://subodhbhave.com/theatre.html)
## Theatre and television
Bhave's commercial theater credits include *Kalaa Yaa Lagalya Jeeva*, written and directed by Kiran Potrekar, which received 21 awards in 2004–2005, seven of them Best Actor awards for him.[7](https://subodhbhave.com/theatre.html) • [8](https://www.subodhbhave.com/awards.html) He has also directed the stage version of the classic musical *Katyar Kaljat Ghusali* for the Vasantrao Deshpande Pratishthan, and conceived the solo show *Rubaru with Subodh Bhave*, performed in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth.[7](https://subodhbhave.com/theatre.html)
On television he has played lead and character roles in serials including *Avantika*, *Vadalvaat*, *Kulvadhu* (as Vikramaditya Rajeshirke), *Kalat Nakalat*, and *[Tula Pahate Re](https://www.edgepedia.org/tula-pahate-re)*, the last running 297 episodes from 2018 to 2019.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2347196/) • [9](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/subodh-bhave) More recently he plays Samar opposite [Tejashri Pradhan](https://www.edgepedia.org/tejashri-pradhan) in the [Zee Marathi](https://www.edgepedia.org/zee-marathi) serial *Veen Doghantli Hi Tutena*; in June 2026 he shared a video of shooting the serial from abroad with his sons Kanha and Malhar operating the camera.[10](https://www.loksatta.com/manoranjan/television/subodh-bhave-veen-doghantli-hi-tutena-shooting-abroad-family-update-ads-02-5941438/)
## Film career
Bhave's film work spans comedy, drama, and thrillers, with early credits including *Kawadse* (2005) and the comedy *Hapus* (2010).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2347196/) • [11](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/subodh-bhave/filmography/) He appeared in the Hindi romantic comedy *Aiyyaa* (2012) and the Malayalam crime drama *Pinneyum* (2016).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2347196/)
**Biographical roles.** Bhave became identified with biopics, playing the singer-actor Balgandharva in *Balgandharva* (2011), Bal Gangadhar Tilak in *Lokmanya Ek Yugpurush* (2015), and the theater superstar Dr. [Kashinath Ghanekar](https://www.edgepedia.org/kashinath-ghanekar) in *Ani... Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar* (2018), his third biopic after the two earlier hits.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2347196/) • [3](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/subodh-bhave-acting-his-part-5269465/) In a 2018 interview he attributed the casting to his everyman face: directors could imagine him as any person.[3](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/subodh-bhave-acting-his-part-5269465/) He has also played historical figures, notably Shivaji Maharaj in *Har Har Mahadev* (2022).[12](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/subodh_bhave)
**Recent work.** His credits from 2024 onward include *Paani* (as Balaji Kendre), *Alibaba Ani Chalishitale Chor*, *Devmanus* (as Inspector Ravi Deshmukh), and the Hindi films *Sant Tukaram* (title role) and *His Story of Itihaas* (2025).[4](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/filmography/subodh-bhave) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2347196/) In *Sangeet Manapman* (2025) he is credited as both actor and director.[4](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/filmography/subodh-bhave)
## Directing and producing
Bhave made his directorial debut with *Katyar Kaljat Ghusali* (2015), an adaptation of Purushottam Darvhekar's Marathi musical play, in which he also played the pupil Sadashiv opposite [Shankar Mahadevan](https://www.edgepedia.org/shankar-mahadevan) and [Sachin Pilgaonkar](https://www.edgepedia.org/sachin-pilgaonkar).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2347196/) • [13](https://marathistars.com/reviews/katyar-kaljat-ghusli-treat-for-your-senses/) The film was both a critical and commercial success, screened at the [International Film Festival of India](https://www.edgepedia.org/international-film-festival-of-india), and among the highest-grossing Marathi films of 2015.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2347196/) Its music combined Jitendra Abhisheki's original score with new songs by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.[13](https://marathistars.com/reviews/katyar-kaljat-ghusli-treat-for-your-senses/)
*Pushpak Vimaan* (2018), directed by Vaibhav R. Chinchalkar from Bhave's own idea, was his first home production, made with his wife Manjiri among the producers.[3](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/subodh-bhave-acting-his-part-5269465/) • [6](https://subodhbhave.com/films.html) • [15](https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/i-love-mohan-kaka-s-ease-and-eagerness-subodh-bhave/story-IMbqCoxL55wGsLsDHEm0xK_amp.html) Bhave wrote the story from his relationship with his late grandfather, who had been fascinated by aeroplanes; Bhave had wanted to take him on a foreign trip but could not afford it early in his career, and by the time he could, his grandfather could no longer travel.[3](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/subodh-bhave-acting-his-part-5269465/)
## Awards
Bhave's awards include the Filmfare Marathi Award for Best Director for *Katyar Kaljat Ghusli* (2016), Zee Gaurav Awards for Best Actor for *Man Pakharu Pakharu* (2008), for both acting and singing in *Raanbhool* (2011), and for *Balgandharva* (2012), a MIFTA Award for *Balgandharva* (2011), and Lokmat Best Actor and Maharashtrian of the Year honors in 2019 for *Ani... Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar*.[8](https://www.subodhbhave.com/awards.html) Apple TV's profile counts four Maharashtra State Film Awards and eight Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar among his honors.[5](https://tv.apple.com/in/person/subodh-bhave/umc.cpc.4xyvrpp98s6q93gkrb230486v)
## Personal life
Bhave met his wife Manjiri at a theater workshop when he was in the tenth grade and she in the eighth; after her family moved to Canada the two kept in touch by letter, and they married in 2001. They have two sons, Kanha and Malhar, and Manjiri works as a producer.[14](https://maharashtratimes.com/entertainment/subodh-bhave-bio)
## References
1. [Subodh Bhave, official website, biography](https://subodhbhave.com/)
2. [Subodh Bhave, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2347196/)
3. [Marathi cinema's Subodh Bhave — Acting his Part, The Indian Express (July 22, 2018)](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/subodh-bhave-acting-his-part-5269465/)
4. [Subodh Bhave filmography, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/filmography/subodh-bhave)
5. [Subodh Bhave Films and Shows, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/in/person/subodh-bhave/umc.cpc.4xyvrpp98s6q93gkrb230486v)
6. [Films, Subodh Bhave official website](https://subodhbhave.com/films.html)
7. [Theatre, Subodh Bhave official website](https://subodhbhave.com/theatre.html)
8. [Awards, Subodh Bhave official website](https://www.subodhbhave.com/awards.html)
9. [Subodh Bhave — Filmography & Biography, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/actor/subodh-bhave)
10. [Subodh Bhave shooting Veen Doghantli Hi Tutena abroad, Loksatta (June 5, 2026)](https://www.loksatta.com/manoranjan/television/subodh-bhave-veen-doghantli-hi-tutena-shooting-abroad-family-update-ads-02-5941438/)
11. [Subodh Bhave filmography, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrity/subodh-bhave/filmography/)
12. [Subodh Bhave Movies List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/subodh_bhave)
13. [Review: Katyar Kaljat Ghusli — Treat for your senses, MarathiStars](https://marathistars.com/reviews/katyar-kaljat-ghusli-treat-for-your-senses/)
14. [सुबोध भावे bio, Maharashtra Times](https://maharashtratimes.com/entertainment/subodh-bhave-bio)
15. [I love Mohan Kaka’s ease and eagerness: Subodh Bhave](https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/i-love-mohan-kaka-s-ease-and-eagerness-subodh-bhave/story-IMbqCoxL55wGsLsDHEm0xK_amp.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Marathi film actors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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