Sulabha Deshpande - Actress (Hindi, Marathi)

 

==================================================================================================

Tuesday 23, December 2025, 05:45.

Sulabha Deshpande

About:

Born 1937, Mumbay, India 

Died 4 June 2016 (aged 78–79)Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Occupations: Actress, director

Years active 1960–2016

Spouse Arvind Deshpande - (m. 1960; died 1987)​

Introduction:

Sulabha Deshpande (1937 – 4 June 2016) was an Indian actress and theatre director. Apart from Marathi theatre and Hindi theatre in Mumbai, she acted in over 73 mainstream Bollywood films. She also performed in art house cinema such as Bhumika (1977), Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan (1978), and Gaman (1978) as a character actor, along with numerous TV series and plays. A leading figure in the experimental theatre movement of the 1960s, she was associated with Rangayan, and personalities like Vijay Tendulkar, Vijaya Mehta, and Satyadev Dubey. In 1971, she co-founded the theatre group Awishkar with her husband Arvind Deshpande, and also started its children's wing, Chandrashala, which continues to perform professional children's theatre. In later years, she acted in serials such as Jee Ley Zara, Ek Packet Umeed, Asmita and in films such as English Vinglish (2012).

She was awarded Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress for film Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe.

VIDEO: Biography सुलभाताई देशपांडे

Early life:

She was born and brought up in Mumbai, where she studied at Siddhartha College in Fort, Mumbai, and later received a degree in education.

Career:

VIDEO: Sulabha Deshpande | Amrish Puri को ब्रेक देने वाली इस Actress को शायद किसी ने नोटिस किया होगा

 

Deshpande started her career as a teacher at Chhabildas Boys' High School in Dadar, Mumbai. While working there she asked noted playwright, Vijay Tendulkar to write a few plays for her students. This started her association with theatre, and in time made her one of the pioneers in the experimental theatre movement of the 1960s, as she joined the group Rangayan, which was founded by Vijaya Mehta, Vijay Tendulkar, Arvind Deshpande and Shriram Lagoo. Soon, she started her acting career, though she first received acclaim when she won state-level competitions for her plays like Madhlya Bhintee and Sasaa Ani Kasav. After Rangayan dispersed, she along with her husband Arvind Deshpande, and Arun Kakade formed the theatre group, Awishkar in 1971. Having played the lead role of Leela Benare in Vijay Tendulkar's noted play Shantata! Court Chalu Ahe in 1967 she established her caliber. Later she reprised her role in the 1971 film version of the play directed by Satyadev Dubey, which turned out to be breakthrough role in feature films. Thereafter she went on to work extensively both in Hindi cinema as well as Marathi cinema, and directors like Shyam Benegal, through the height of Indian new wave cinema, in the 1970s and 1980s.

Awishkar was housed in the Chhabildas Hall at the Chhabildas Boys' High School, Mumbai, and thus gave rise to Chabildas theatre movement of amateur theatre. It also holds adult education workshops and trains young adults. Soon, she established the Chandrashala, the children's theatre wing of Awishkar, and directed plays like Baba Harvale Ahet, Raja Ranila Ghaam Hava and Pandit Pandit Tujhi Akkal Shendit and notably the Sangeet Natak, Durga jhali Gauri (Durga Became Gauri) in 1982, a dance drama with a cast of seventy children. She later directed the Hindi film version of the play Raja Ranila Ghaam Hava in 1978. After nearly 18 years of its establishment, Awishkar's association with Chhabildas school ended and the group restarted at the Mahim Municipal School, where it continues to hold its theatre productions, workshops and annual school production of Durga jhali Gauri performed by a new cast each year. Notable Bollywood actors Nana Patekar and Urmila Matondkar have been students of Chandrashala. She was playing the role of Grandmother-in-law in Zee Marathi's Serial Asmita.

Personal life:

VIDEO: Sulbha Arya Family With Husband, Son, Career and Biography

She was married to noted theatre actor-director, Arvind Deshpande, who died in 1987.

Death:

VIDEO: Senior Marathi Actress Sulbha Deshpande passes away Lokmat 45.4 lakh subscribers Subscribe 4

Sulabha Deshpande died on 4 June 2016 in Mumbai, after a prolonged illness. She was cremated the next day.

Selected filmography:

VIDEO: Sulabha Deshpande | Bollywood Hindi And Marathi Films Actress | All Movies List

Films:

All films are in Hindi, unless otherwise noted.

As actor:

Year Title Role Note(s)

1971 Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe Leela Benare Marathi film

1974 Jadu Ka Shankh

1975 Zindagi Aur Toofan

1977 Jait Re Jait Marathi film

Bhumika Shanta

1978 Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan

Kondura Kanthamma Hindi / Telugu film

Gaman Vasu's mother

1980 Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai Albert's mother

Kasturi

Yeh Kaisa Insaf

1982 Vijeta

Sitam

Bheegi Palkein Janki Kishan Acharya

Ramnagari

1984 Duniya

Hech Maza Maher

1985 Ghar Dwaar

Janu

Sur Sangam

1987 Ijaazat Parvati

1988 Salaam Bombay! Social Worker at Welfare Centre

Khoon Bhari Maang

1989 Tridev

1990 Ghar Ho To Aisa Dipti Naval's Mother

Krodh

1991 Dushman Devta

Chaukat Raja Nandu's mother Marathi film

1992 Dhaar

Dil Aashna Hai

Hamla

Jaan Tere Naam

1993 Aadmi Khilona Hai

1994 Chouraha

Mister Aajad

1995 Ab Insaf Hoga

Daughters of This Century Hemlata

Yarana

1996 Badalte Rishte

Bhishma

Bhairavi

1997 Virasat Bali's mother

Tamanna

Ek Phool Teen Kante

Common Man

Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat

Ghulam-E-Mustafa

1998 Yug Purush

1999 Gair

2005 The Film

Darpan Ke Piche

2009 Vihir Bau Aaji Marathi film

2010 Haapus Marathi film

2011 Mala Aai Vhhaychy! Marathi film

2012 English Vinglish Mrs. Godbole

2013 Investment Aai Marathi film

2017 Braveheart

As director:

Year Title Language Notes

1978 Raja Rani Ko Chahiye Pasina Hindi Children's film\

Television:

As actor:

Year Title Language Channel

1986 Chhoti Badi Baatein Hindi

Rishtey (Season 1)

Episode: Jeeya Jaaye Naa... Hindi Zee TV

Rishtey (Season 2)

Episode: Chhaaya Hindi Zee TV

1995 Aahat Season 1 1995-2001 episode 116-117 Tasveer Hindi SET

1996 Badalte Rishte Hindi

1997–1999 Tanha Hindi StarPlus

1998 Woh Hindi Zee TV

1998 Alpviram Hindi SET

2004 Kumkum - Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan Hindi Star Plus

2006 Resham Dankh Hindi STAR One

2008 Ek Packet Umeed Hindi NDTV Imagine

2008-2010 Kulvadhu Marathi Zee Marathi

2009 Kunku Marathi Zee Marathi

2011 Mrs. Tendulkar Hindi Sony SAB

2013 Kehta Hai Dil Jee Le Zara Hindi SET

2014-2016 Asmita Marathi Zee Marathi

Theatre:

Title Language Notes

Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe Marathi

Raja Ranila Ghaam Hava Marathi

Sakharam Binder Marathi

Durga Zaali Gauri Marathi

Baba Harvale Ahet Marathi

Pandit Pandit Tujhi Akkal Shendit Marathi

Awards:

She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for theatre acting in Marathi and Hindi theatre in 1987, the award is given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practising artists. She also received the award, Tanveer Sanman in 2010. She has also been honoured by various other awards like Nanasaheb Phatak Puraskar, Ganpatrao Joshi Puraskar, Vasantrao Kanetkar Puraskar, Kusumagraj Puraskar, Rangabhoomi Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar and Sarvashrestha Kalagaurav Puraskar by Sanskruti Kaladarpan.

****

==============================================================================================