DILIP PRABHAVALKAR
Akademi Award: Acting

Born in 1944 in Mumbai, Shri Dilip Prabhavalkar is among the best-known actors of the Marathi stage. He began his career in the children's theatre and then worked with Ratnakar Matkari’s amateur group. After having worked in some experimental productions, Shri Prabhavalkar went on to the commercial theatre, where he also made a mark as an actor. Performances in plays that have won him renown include Albatya Galbatya, Prem Kahani, Aranyak, Lobh
Nasava hi Vinanti, Batatyachi Chawl, and Wah Guru! He has also acted in many Marathi television serials and films. For his cameo role as Mahatma Gandhi in the Hindi film Lage Raho Munnabhai and his performance in the Marathi film Shevri, he received National Awards for Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role.

Shri Dilip Prabhavalkar is at the same time a multi-faceted writer in Marathi. He has written numerous radio plays and one-act plays, short stories, humorous works, and articles on sports. His comic drama Hasvaphasvi, in which he played six different roles, ran to more than 750 shows in Maharashtra. His book Googly won him the Best Humorous Literature Award bestowed by the Government of Maharashtra in 1989. He was presented the C.V. Joshi Puraskar by Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad for his book Kaagdi Baan .

For his work in theatre, Shri Prabhavalkar has received the Rajiv Gandhi Award and the Mumbai Natya Parishad Award.

Shri Dilip Prabhavalkar receives the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to Indian theatre as an actor.