Mahesh Kothare

Mahesh Ambar Kothare (Marathi pronunciation: [məɦeːʃ koʈʰaːɾe]; born 28 September 1953) is an Indian film actor, director and producer of Marathi and Hindi films. He is regarded as a revolutionary figure in the Marathi film industry, known for his contributions to comedy, fantasy, and technical innovation. Kothare started his acting career as child artist in Chhota Jawan and acted in well-known Hindi movies such as Chhota Bhai, Mere Laal, and Ghar Ghar ki Kahani. The well known Hindi song "Tu Kitni Achhi Hain" from the film Raja Aur Runk features Kothare as Master Mahesh.

He began his directorial journey with the groundbreaking film Dhum Dhadaka in 1985 and went on to deliver numerous box office successes over the next two decades. Kothare's films are known for their technical nuances and fantasy concepts, making him one of the few Indian filmmakers to achieve consistent success in the fantasy genre. He directed Dhadakebaaz (1990), the first Marathi film shot in the anamorphic (Cinemascope) format. He was also the first to introduce Dolby Digital sound to Marathi films with Chimni Pakhara (2001), and brought special effects to the industry with Pachadlela in 2004. Venturing into science fiction, he became the first Marathi filmmaker to explore the genre.

In 2013, Zapatlela 2, the first Marathi film made in true 3D, which served as a sequel to the 1993 hit Zapatlela. He is also the founder of Kothare Vision, a production company primarily focused on creating mythological television series. The autobiography of Mahesh Kothare Damn It Ani Barach Kahi was published by Mehta Publishing House in 2023.