Smita Tambe On Playing Kamala Maa In Shree Baba Neeb Karori Maharaj, Starring Subodh Bhave

Actor Smita Tambe, known for her impactful performances across Marathi and Hindi cinema in films like Jawan and Ajji, is set to portray Kamala Maa in the upcoming spiritual biopic Shree Baba Neeb Karori Maharaj, starring Subodh Bhave and scheduled for release on May 29, 2026.

Directed by Sharad Singh Thakur, the film explores the life and teachings of Neem Karoli Baba, bringing his message of faith, peace, and inner balance to the big screen.

Speaking about what drew her to the film, Tambe shared, "During that time, my husband and I were watching a lot of spiritual content. It was an anxiety-filled phase initially-everything had suddenly stopped, and there was uncertainty about work and life. But after a couple of weeks, a sense of calm and peace entered our lives. When this film came to me, I felt it had already given me something even before I said yes. I took it as a sign-I knew I had to do this film at any cost."

Talking about preparing for her role as Kamala Maa, Tambe admitted, "I didn't know much about Kamala Maa. I had only seen her in photos and videos. The director helped me understand her personality-she was a well-educated and graceful woman. Later, when I visited the ashram, I met someone who had spent a lot of time with her, and that gave me deeper insight."

Reflecting on the film's impact on her personal life, Tambe shared, "I follow meditation under my guru Sujata Rajshekhar, who teaches that staying aligned brings peace. I feel certain energies choose you, just as you choose them. This experience made me stronger and reaffirmed my belief in staying centred."

Recalling memorable moments from the shoot, she added, "There were times when I saw photos of myself from the set and noticed a different kind of smile-one that reflected true inner happiness. Everything felt so natural that I wasn't even aware of the camera. I would forget about things like makeup because I was so deeply involved in the character. It was a surreal and meaningful experience."

The film also stars Hiten Tejwani, Samikssha Bhatnagar, Mohit Gupta, Hemant Pandey, Aaratii Naagpal, Varsha Manikchand, Hardeep Kaur, Aniruddh Dave, and Garima Agarwal. Produced by Balram Garg, Balvir Singh, Sharad Singh Thakur, Khadag Singh Gaur, and Neelam Singh, the film is presented by Anisha Films International in association with PC Jeweller and BSR Film Productions. The all-India release will be handled by First Film Studios LLP.