Mahesh Manjrekar

Mahesh Manjrekar is an Indian film director, actor, writer and producer. He is credited with directing films like Vaastav, Astitva and Viruddh. Besides direction, he has acted in several films including some of his own productions. He gained acclaim for his performance in the 2002 movie Kaante. He played a negative role in the Telugu film Okkadunnadu and in 2008 played the role of gangster Javed in Slumdog Millionaire.

Manjrekar started his acting career in 1984 with the Marathi play Aflatoon, which paved way for him as an award winning producer with more plays like Dhyanimani, Doctor Tumhisuddha, Gidhade, Akashmaat, All the Best and Asecha Amhi Sare.

He embarked on his journey as a film maker with the award winning Marathi film Aai for which he won a Filmfare award for the best director and also bagged the Screen Videocon award that year.

Once there, there was no stopping for this man, and he took his vision further with the highly acclaimed Vaastav with Sanjay Dutt. But initial success then gave way to a series of not-so-memorable ventures such as Nidaan and Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rahta Hai, which flopped miserably at the box office. His other directorial ventures include Viruddh, Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav and It Was Raining That Night.

Besides directing, Manjrekar has also been active as an actor, writer, and producer and even as a playback singer (Kaante).