Sachin

Sachin Pilgaonkar, often known mononymously by his screen name Sachin, is an Indian actor, director, producer, writer and singer of Marathi and Hindi films.

He was to act in Madhavrao Shinde's 1961 film Soonbai, but the plans did not work out.

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 was then chosen for Raja Paranjape's Marathi film, Ha Maza Marg Ekla (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.

The role required him to speak in only Urdu, with which he was comfortable thanks to his training in the language by Meena Kumari in 1966 while together working on the film Majhli Didi.

He also credits Sanjeev Kumar for helping him with the practicing of difficult scenes and Hrishikesh Mukherjee for teaching him to edit films.

He has directed and acted in several Marathi films of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

He has received several awards including two National Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards Marathi.

Sachin, along with Laxmikant Berde, Ashok Saraf and Mahesh Kothare formed a successful quartet, starring in several hit movies in Marathi cinema in the 1980s and 1990s.

He also directed several hit Marathi Films starting with Mai Baap (1982), Navri Mile Navryala (1984) was the biggest box office hit.

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.

Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi (1988) and Aamchya Sarkhe Aamhich (1990) were superhit at the box office.

Pilgaonkar turned to Indian Television in the 1990s, when he directed Hindi comedy show Tu Tu Main Main on Hindi National channel Star Plus, which starred his wife Supriya and Reema Lagoo.

He also directed a show Rin 1 2 3 on the Hindi National channel DD Metro, which used to show parodies of Bollywood movies.

He also directed the sitcom, Hadh Kar Di starring Dara Singh, which too initially did well, but later was pulled off.

In the meantime, he also anchored Hindi music shows like Chalti Ka Naam Antakshari on Star Plus and various other events and Marathi film award ceremonies.

In 1992, he directed Subhash Ghai's Prem Deewane, and in 1996 directed Aisi Bhi Kya Jaldi Hai.

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.

Navra Mazha Navsacha (2004) were hits as well.

In 2006, he, along with his wife, Supriya, won the Hindi dance Reality Show Nach Baliye, pocketing Rs.

4 million {Approx.

$100,000}, beating nine other celebrity contestant pairs.

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 Mumbai in a Saraswat Brahmin family from Pilagaon, Goa.

His father Sharad Pilgaonkar was a film producer, and also managed a printing business in Mumbai.

In late 2007, he started a new program on Zee Marathi, known as Eka Peksha Ek, which is based on dance, finding hidden talent in all the areas of the state of Maharashtra.

He appeared as a judge of the reality comedy talent show, Chhote Miyan (2009) on Colors TV.

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

He acted in the 2015 film Katyar Kaljat Ghusli based on the play of the same name, playing Khasaheb Aftab Hussain.