Ankush Choudhary

While studying in College, he took his first steps into stage acting, and in 1990 he joined Maharashtrachi Lokdhara, a folk-theatre production, which drew him toward a full-time career in the performing arts. He made his film debut with Suna Yeti Ghara in 1995 and subsequently appeared in Marathi and Hindi films as well as television productions. He came to wider attention through films including Savarkhed Ek Gaon (2004), Matichya Chuli, Yanda Kartavya Aahe, and Aai Shappath.! (2006) and Checkmate (2008). He also established himself as a filmmaker, directing the commercially successful comedies Saade Maade Teen (2007) and Zhakaas (2011), followed by No Entry Pudhe Dhoka Aahey (2012). His performance as Digya in Duniyadari (2013) became a significant milestone in his career, and in 2015, he starred in Classmates, Double Seat and Dagadi Chawl, all of which performed strongly at the box office. That consolidated his status as a star of the industry. He subsequently appeared in films including Ti Saddhya Kay Karte (2017), Dhurala (2020) and Maharashtra Shahir (2023). His performance in Dhurala earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor, while his portrayal of Krishnarao Sable in Maharashtra Shahir earned him several awards. In 2026, he returned to directing with Punha Ekda Sade Made Teen, a sequel to Saade Maade Teen, and made his digital debut with the psychological crime series Devkhel. Chaudhari is married to actress Deepa Parab, whom he met in college and later co-starred with in All the Best, and they married in 2007 and have one son. In addition to his work in cinema, Chaudhari has hosted and judged Marathi television programmes, appeared at major award ceremonies, and worked as a brand ambassador for several brands and sporting organisations.

• Name — Ankush Chaudhari • Born — 31 January 1973 • Birthplace — Yavatmal • Years Active — 1995–present • Children — 1 • Occupation — * Actor • director • producer • screenwriter

Chaudhari was born on 31 January 1973 in Pune, Maharashtra. He grew up in modest circumstances in a chawl in the Parel area of Mumbai, and as a boy he sold fruits and vegetables alongside his father to help support the family. Despite the family's financial struggles, his interest in performing never faded; he took part in solo competitions and in cultural programmes at school and college before progressing to dramas and full-fledged theatrical productions. He studied at Maharshi Dayanand College in Mumbai, where he also began acting on stage. Around 1990, he got an opportunity to performed in Maharashtrachi Lokdhara, a folk stage programme associated with the singer Shahir Sable, an experience that drew him further toward a career in performance. During this period, he grew close to fellow theatre artists Bharat Jadhav, Kedar Shinde and Sanjay Narvekar, with whom he staged the play All the Best in 1993, in which he played a blind character; the play quickly became a success and gave him his first taste of recognition on the Marathi stage. His collaboration with Shinde, in particular, produced several successful one-act plays, including Housefull, which was also well received by audiences that established him in Marathi theatre before he moved into films and television.

Chaudhari made his film debut in 1995 with Suna Yeti Ghara, although the film did not achieve wide popularity. He subsequently moved to television, appearing in supporting and character roles in Raja Aur Rancho (1997–98) on DD Metro, followed by Teesra Dola (1998) on Doordarshan, Aabhalmaya (1999–2000), opposite Harshada Khanvilkar, and Bedhund Manachi Lahar (2002) on Alpha TV Marathi. In 2000, Chaudhari took a small role in Mahesh Manjrekar's Hindi film Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain, playing Ganga's (Govinda) spoiled younger brother, the role brought him wider recognition and made Marathi producers take notice of him. That year, he also appeared in several Marathi family drama films, including Soon Asavi Ashi, Tuch Majhi Bhagya Lakshmi and Asaj Pahije Nav Nav. After a comparatively quiet period, he returned to prominence in 2004 with Savarkhed Ek Gaon, an ensemble thriller in which he portrayed an NRI who investigates mysterious events in his native village, opposite Sonali Khare, and also starred in the romantic drama Mi Tuji Tujhich Re, alongside Sharvari Jamenis and Subodh Bhave, as a loving husband and supportive friend. For Savarkhed Ek Gaon, he received nominations for Best Actor at the Maharashtra State Film Award and Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar. This period marked the beginning of his emergence as a leading actor in Marathi film industry.

The year 2006 marked a major turning point, with five of Chaudhari's films being released. In Matichya Chuli, he portrayed a husband caught between his mother and wife, alongside Madhura Velankar and Vandana Gupte. The film was a commercial success and received praise for its humorous, slice-of-life depiction of family relationships. His chemistry with Smita Shewale was also appreciated in the romance Yanda Kartavya Aahe, in which an arranged-marriage couple gradually falls in love during their honeymoon. Its song "Aabhas Ha" subsequently became a cult classic. He next earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for his performance in Sanjay Surkar's critically acclaimed Aai Shappath..!. He played the guardian of a young woman who wishes to marry him, alongside Manasi Salvi, Reema Lagoo and Shreyas Talpade. He also reunited with Kedar Shinde for the ensemble comedy Majha Navra Tujhi Bayko and made a special appearance in the song "Ye Go Ye Ye Maina" in Shinde's comedy Jatra: Hyalagaad Re Tyalagaad. Chaudhari subsequently starred opposite Bharat Jadhav in the comedy Ishhya, playing a married man who unexpectedly begins exhibiting symptoms of pregnancy. He then co-directed the comedy Saade Maade Teen with Sachit Patil, a remake of the Hindi classic Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958). The film featured Ashok Saraf, Bharat Jadhav and Makarand Anaspure in roles based on the Ganguly brothers, while Amruta Khanvilkar reprised the role played by Madhubala in the original. It was both a critical and commercial success, grossing and becoming one of the highest grossing Marathi film of its time. In 2008, Chaudhari starred in two commercially and critically successful thrillers: Sanjay Jadhav's Checkmate and Aditya Sarpotdar's Uladhaal. Checkmate earned him his second Maharashtra State Film Award nomination. He later portrayed a culprit posing as an inspector in Satish Rajwade's mystery thriller Gaiir (2009), one of the most expensive Marathi productions of its time. The film was both a critical and commercial success, and Chaudhari received a nomination for Favourite Villain at the Maharashtracha Favourite Kon awards. He experienced a comparatively unsuccessful year in 2010, with Sanjay Jadhav's thriller Ringa Ringa, Mahesh Manjrekar's bilingual political drama City of Gold, and the ensemble crime drama Target failing to perform strongly at the box office. He followed these with Shahanpan Dega Deva and Pratibimb in 2011.

He then directed and starred in the comedies Zhakaas and No Entry Pudhe Dhoka Aahey. He also wrote the screenplay for Zhakaas, while No Entry Pudhe Dhoka Aahey was a remake of Anees Bazmee's 2005 film No Entry, with Sai Tamhankar reprising the role originally played by Bipasha Basu. Zhakaas became one of the year's major commercial successes and won three awards at the Maharashtracha Favourite Kon awards, including Favourite Comedy Film. Reviewer Chetana Gavkhadkar Panchal observed that Chaudhari "suits in that character but he has not used any extra ordinary skills in presenting three different roles, except for changing his get ups.” No Entry Pudhe Dhoka Aahey achieved moderate commercial success, while Prasanna D. Zore of Rediff praised Chaudhari's work as both actor and director. • Illustration — Chaudhari at the press meet of No Entry Pudhe Dhoka Aahey in 2012 In 2013, Chaudhari appeared in six films, with his most prominent performance coming as Digya in Sanjay Jadhav's coming-of-age film Duniyadari, based on the novel of the same name by Suhas Shirvalkar. He portrayed a rowdy but fiercely loyal college student who becomes one of Shreyas's (Swapnil Joshi) closest friends and supports him through his romantic and personal struggles. Aparna Phadke of The Times of India praised Chaudhari's screen presence, describing it as "truly riveting". Duniyadari grossed, becoming the highest grossing Marathi film at the time, while Chaudhari's performance earned him several Best Supporting Actor honours, including the MaTa Sanman. He next starred opposite Bhojpuri actress Madhu Sharma in Vaadhdivsachya Haardik Shubhechcha and took on his first outright negative role in Por Bazaar, directed by actress Manava Naik. His first release of 2015 was Aditya Sarpotdar's ensemble college thriller Classmates, a remake of the 2006 Malayalam film of the same name. The film was both critical and commercial successful, grossing. He next starred opposite Mukta Barve in the romantic drama Double Seat, portraying a newly married Mumbai couple as they navigate married life while working towards buying their own home. Maharashtra Times noted the maturity in Chaudhari's performance, particularly compared with his earlier college-oriented roles. His work earned him the Filmfare Award Marathi for Best Actor Critics, along with several other nominations. His final release that year was the action-crime thriller Dagadi Chawl, co-starring Pooja Sawant and Makarand Deshpande. Chaudhari played Surya, a lower-middle-class garage mechanic whose life takes a violent turn after a personal tragedy draws him into Mumbai's criminal underworld. Mihir Bhanage of The Times of India praised Chaudhari's return to action roles, noting that he "performs effortlessly throughout." The film collected making it one of the highest-grossing Marathi films. All three of his 2015 releases ranked among the five highest-grossing Marathi films of 2015. In 2016, following the success of Duniyadari, Chaudhari reunited with Sanjay Jadhav and Urmila Kanetkar for the romantic action film Guru. He played the titular character, a clever, street-smart conman with a kind heart who becomes a courageous protector of his community. A Pune Mirror critic described his performance as being in "top form", although finding the overall effort out of place. The film achieved moderate success but did not match the commercial impact of Duniyadari.

Chaudhari starred in Zee Studios' romantic drama Ti Saddhya Kay Karte (2017), which follows two former college sweethearts who reunite years later, confront their unresolved past and part with a promise to remain friends. The film received highly positive reviews, developed cult status and became the second-highest-grossing Marathi film of the year, earning worldwide. Firstpost praised Chaudhari's "appealing" voice as the narrator and observed that "the adult Anurag could have been reduced to a caricature in some scenes, but Chaudhari holds back just enough to get it right." He also received his fifth Maharashtracha Favourite Kon nomination for Favourite Actor. Later that year, he starred in Deva, in which a struggling writer travels to the Konkan region and becomes fascinated by the mysterious legend of Deva. A remake of the Malayalam film Charlie, it received largely negative reviews. The Times of India critic wrote, "Tejaswini and Ankush put in their heart in their roles but that doesn’t save the film from becoming a tedious watch." His subsequent release was the romantic comedy Triple Seat, co-starring Shivani Surve and Pallavi Patil. Although the film was poorly received, Chaudhari's performance earned him multiple nominations, including at the Filmfare Awards Marathi and Sakal Premier Awards. In 2020, he won Filmfare Award Marathi for Best Actor for his performance in the ensemble drama Dhurala, which centres on a village election that develops into a bitter power struggle within a family. The film was both a critical and commercial success. He also starred in the family drama Luckdown Be Positive, where his chemistry with Prajakta Mali was praised. He then appeared in the comedy Lochya Zaala Re, an adaptation of the Marathi play Pati Sagle Uchapati, portraying a character caught in a hilarious chain of mistaken identities set in London. The film was commercially successful. Chaudhari also reprised his role as Surya in Daagadi Chawl 2, though the film received critical appreciation, it was only an average performer at the box office. One of his most anticipated roles came in Kedar Shinde's biographical film Maharashtra Shahir, based on the life of renowned folk singer Krishnarao Sable. Chaudhari portrayed Sable across different stages of his life. Devendra Jadhav of Sakal described his performance as sincere and particularly praised his portrayal of Shahir in his later years, while noting that Chaudhari's body language did not always resemble Sable's. Vinod Ghatge of ABP Majha called him "the backbone of this film". Despite the favourable reviews, Maharashtra Shahir was commercially unsuccessful, grossing worldwide. He won the Fakt Marathi Cine Sanman, MaTa Sanman, Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar and his second Filmfare Award Marathi for Best Actor Critics for the performance. In 2023, Chaudhari reunited with Satish Rajwade for the romantic drama Autograph, which explores love, heartbreak and enduring memories. Originally scheduled for a theatrical release in December 2022, the film was eventually premiered directly on Star Pravah in May 2023. He won the International Iconic Awards Marathi for Best Actor for his performance.

After a brief absence from the screen in 2024, Chaudhari returned in 2025 with the title role in P. S. I. Arjun, a remake of the 2022 Malayalam crime thriller Kooman. The film received a poor critical response. In 2026, he marked his return to direction after twelve years with Punha Ekda Sade Made Teen, a sequel to his earlier directorial venture Saade Maade Teen. He also co-wrote the film. The sequel received negative reviews and performed poorly at the box office. The same year, he appeared in Viju Mane's ensemble comedy Mamachya Govyala Jauya, which also failed commercially Kalpeshraj Kubal described Chaudhari's portrayal of Mama as "the soul of the film", praising his dialogue delivery and body language. He also made his digital debut in 2026 with the ZEE5 psychological crime series Devkhel. He portrayed Inspector Vishwas Saranjame, a bad-tempered and irreverent rationalist who investigates a series of mysterious annual deaths in a village and challenges the community's belief that they are divine punishments. The series and Chaudhari's performance received a positive response.

Chaudhari met actress Deepa Parab, with whom he had also studied at Maharshi Dayanand College, while performing together in the play All the Best. They dated for twelve years before marrying in a traditional Maharashtrian ceremony in November 2007. The couple has one son. Parab later established her own career as an actress in Marathi television and film.

Beyond film and television, Chaudhari has been a prominent performer and host at major Marathi award ceremonies. In 2014, he was ranked second on The Times of India 's list of the Top 10 Hottest Men in the Marathi film industry. He has served as a brand ambassador for the menswear label #Hashtag and endorsed brands including Bagpiper Soda and Rummy Circle. Chaudhari and his wife, Deepa Parab, have also fronted a campaign promoting the education and empowerment of girls. In 2017, a wax statue depicting his Duniyadari character was displayed at wax museum in Devgad, alongside a statue of Amruta Khanvilkar. The same year, he served as a brand ambassador for the Pro Kabaddi League during its fifth season, helping promote the sport in Maharashtra. He later invested an undisclosed amount in the Marathi OTT platform Letsflix.

• All films are in Marathi, unless noted otherwise.

• Year — Show — Role — Network — Notes — Reference(s) • 1997–98 — Raja Aur Rancho — Inspector — DD Metro — Episodic role • 1998 — Teesra Dola — Assistant detective — Doordarshan 2 • 2000–01 — Hasa Chakat Fu — ETV Marathi • 1999–2000 — Aabhalmaya — Sunny — Alpha TV Marathi • 2002 — Bedhund Manachi Lahar • 2021–2024 — Mi Honar Superstar — Judge — Star Pravah • 2023 — Tharla Tar Mag! — Himself — Special appearance • 2026 — Devkhel — Inspector Vishwas Saranjame — ZEE5

• Maharashtrachi Lokdhara • All the Best • Housefull • Gopala Re Gopala

• Award — Year — Category — Work — Result — Ref(s) Reference(s) • Aapla Bioscope Awards — 2024 — Best Actor in a Lead Role — Maharashtra Shahir • City Cine Awards — 2020 — Best Actor — Triple Seat • Fakt Marathi Cine Sanman — 2023 — Best Actor Jury — Maharashtra Shahir • Best Actor in a Lead Role • 2024 — Best Actor in a Lead Role — Autograph • Filmfare Awards Marathi — 2016 — Best Actor — Double Seat • Best Actor Critics • 2021 — Best Actor — Triple Seat • 2022 — Dhurala • 2023 — Daagadi Chawl 2 • 2024 — Maharashtra Shahir • Best Actor Critics • International Iconic Awards Marathi — 2024 — Best Actor — Autograph • Lokmat Stylish Awards — 2017 — Most Stylish Actor Marathi • Marathi Achievers and International Awards — 2016 — Best Actor — Double Seat • Maharashtra State Film Awards — 2004 — Best Actor — Savarkhed Ek Gaon • 2008 — Checkmate • 2015 — Double Seat • MaTa Sanman — 2014 — Best Actor in a Supporting Role — Duniyadari • 2016 — Best Actor in a Leading Role — Double Seat • 2022 — Dhurala • 2024 — Maharashtra Shahir • Best Performance (Actor) • Maharashtracha Favourite Kon? — 2009 — Favourite Actor — Uladhaal • Favourite Style Icon • 2010 • Favourite Villain — Gaiir • 2012 — Favourite Comedian — Zhakaas • Favourite Style Icon • 2013 • Favourite Supporting Actor — Duniyadari • 2015 — Favourite Actor — Double Seat • Classmates • Favourite Style Icon • 2016 — Favourite Style Icon • Favourite Actor — Dagadi Chawl • 2017 — Ti Saddhya Kay Karte • Favourite Style Icon • 2018 • 2019 — Favourite Actor — Triple Seat • Favourite Style Icon • 2021 — Favourite Actor — Classmates • Favourite Supporting Actor — Duniyadari • Favourite Style Icon • 2023 • 2024 • Favourite Actor — Maharashtra Shahir • Sakal Premier Awards — 2019 — Best Actor — Triple Seat • 2024 — Maharashtra Shahir • Sanskruti Kaladarpan — 2017 — Best Actor — Double Seat • 2024 — Maharashtra Shahir • Autograph • Shahir Dada Kondke Awards — 2018 — Overall Contribution in Marathi cinema • Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar — 2002 — Best Actor — Aadhaar • 2004 — Savarkhed Ek Gaon • 2006 — Best Supporting Actor — Aai Shappath..! • 2015 — Best Actor — Por Bazaar • 2016 — Double Seat • 2024 — Special Outstanding Performance — Maharashtra Shahir