Renuka Shahane

• Name — Renuka Shahane • Education — St. Xavier's College (B.A) University of Mumbai • Occupation — * Actress • film director • screenwriter • Children — 2 • Born — 7 October 1966 • Birthplace — Mumbai, Maharashtra, India • Years Active — 1988–Present • Mother — Shanta Gokhale

Renuka Shahane was born into a Marathi family in Mumbai. Her father, Lt. Cdr. Vijay Kumar Shahane, was an officer in the Indian Navy. Her mother, Shanta Gokhale, is a theatre personality and film critic who works mainly on Marathi theatre. When Renuka was very young, her mother divorced her father and married Arun Khopkar, a film-maker. The second marriage also ended in divorce. Shahane and her only sibling, Girish, grew up with their mother in Mumbai. Shahane did her B.A. in Psychology from St. Xavier's College and her Post graduation in Clinical Psychology from Mumbai University. Her brother Girish Shahane is a contemporary writer, art critic, and artist who has been associated with several art fairs and is a columnist with Scroll.in.

Shahane has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Vijay Kenkare, a veteran Marathi theater writer and director, but the marriage did not last long and they were soon divorced. She then married Ashutosh Rana (original name Ashutosh Neekhra), who is also a Bollywood actor. They have two sons, namely Shauryaman Neekhra and Satyendra Neekhra. Renuka Shahane is an atheist.

Shahane started her career with the Marathi film Hach Sunbaicha Bhau. She then worked as one of the two anchors of the popular Hindi language TV show, Surabhi, and this is what made her a household name. Her broad smile became a byword for charm in the era when Doordarshan was the only TV channel in India, and Renuka was one of the most popular TV personalities of the 1980s. In 1994, at the height of her fame while hosting Surabhi, Renuka got the opportunity to act in the movie Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, that soon became the highest grossing Indian movie. Her role in the film was much appreciated and added to her image of a storehouse of wholesome, traditional values. She starred in the Marathi film "Aboli" for which she was widely praised and lead her to win Filmfare Award Marathi Best Actress at Filmfare Awards Marathi in the year 1995. Shahane has acted in many Marathi films. She released her first Marathi film as a director, called Rita. Adapted from her mother Shanta Gokhale's novel, Rita Welingkar, Renuka plays the pivotal role of a friend, guide and philosopher of Rita, the protagonist. Rita had Jackie Shroff, Pallavi Joshi, Suhasini Mulay and Mohan Agashe in the cast. She also acted in a Telugu movie Money, produced by Ram Gopal Varma, which was a big hit. Circus was one of the initial Indian television serials that she starred in. She portrayed the love interest of then relatively unknown Shah Rukh Khan's character. Her role as a strong-willed woman in another television serial, Imtihaan was widely appreciated. Tribhanga is Renuka Shahane's first Hindi directorial starring Kajol, Tanvi Azmi, Mithila Palkar, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Vaibhav Tatwawaadi, Manav Gohil, Kanwaljeet Singh, Shweta Mehendale, Nishank Verma.

• Year — Title — Role — Language — Ref. • 1989–1990 — Circus — Maria — Hindi • 1990 — Yeh Hui Naa Baat • 1993–2001 — Surabhi — Host • 1994 — Imtihaan — Sister • Aasmaan Se Agay • Junoon — Chandni • 1995–1998 — Sailaab — Shivani • 1997 — Mrs. Madhuri Dixit — Madhuri Dixit • 1997-1998 — Ghutan — Shamli • 9 Malabar Hill — Suman • 1998–1999 — Kora Kagaz — Pooja • 2001 — Khamoshiyaan...Kab Tak — Mrs. Bashesh • 2007 — Jeete Hain Jiske Liye — Anjali Dhanrajgir • 2010–2011 — Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4 — Contestant • Hyala Jeevan Aise Naav — Host — Marathi • 2011 — Fu Bai Fu — Judge • Aawaj Mahrashtracha — Host • Ladies First — Co-Host — Hindi • 2014 — Mere Rang Mein Rangne Waali — Renuka Deshmukh • 2015 — Comedychi Bullet Train — Judge — Marathi • 2015 — Kabhi Aise Geet Gaya Karo — Amrita — Hindi • 2018 — Khichdi — Bawaskar Madam • 2018 — Chala Hawa Yeu Dya — Guest • 2019 — Kaun Banega Crorepati 12 — Guest • 2020 — The Kapil Sharma Show — Guest • 2022 — Band Baja Varat — Judge — Marathi

• Year — Title — Role — Language — Ref. • 2018-2019 — What the Folks — Vandu Solanki — Hindi • 2022 — First Second Chance — Vaidehi — Hindi • 2025 — Dupahiya — Pushpalata Yadav — Hindi • 2026 — Aga Aai Aaho Aai — Marathi