Amol Palekar (born 24 November 1944) is an eminent Indian actor, director, and producer whose work spans Hindi and Marathi cinema. He is also a trained painter and published author and identifies himself as an agnostic atheist. Palekar emerged as a leading figure of the Hindi film industry's “middle cinema” movement, which bridged mainstream and parallel filmmaking. His performances in celebrated films such as Gol Maal, Chhoti Si Baat, and Bhumika established him as one of the most relatable screen personalities of the 1970s. At the age of 80, he released his autobiography, the English edition of which is titled Viewfinder.
Palekar was born in Mumbai to Kamlakara and Suhasini Palekar in a Marathi-speaking middle-class household. He grew up alongside his three sisters—Neelon, Rekha, and Unnati. His father worked at the General Post Office, while his mother was employed in a private firm. Palekar studied Fine Arts at the Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai, beginning his career as a painter. Over the years, he held seven solo exhibitions and participated in several group shows, earning recognition within the contemporary art community. He married Sandhya Gokhale following his divorce from his first wife, Chitra.
Despite his grounding in fine arts, Palekar's public identity was shaped largely on stage and screen. Active in Marathi and Hindi experimental theatre since 1967, he worked as an actor, director, and producer, though his substantial contributions to Indian theatre were often overshadowed by his popularity in cinema. His understated, “everyman” screen presence offered a contrast to the dominant hero archetypes of the era. He received multiple honours, including three Filmfare Awards and six state awards for Best Actor. His work in Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam and Kannada films also drew critical acclaim. In 1986, he stepped back from acting to focus on filmmaking.
As a director, Palekar became known for his nuanced portrayals of women, his adaptations of literary classics, and his engagement with socially progressive themes. His television work includes popular serials such as Kachchi Dhoop (1987), Mrignayani (1991), Naquab (1988), Paool Khuna (1993), and Krishna Kali (2006).
After returning to theatre after 25 years, he directed and starred in Kusur (The Mistake) in 1994. Over his career, he has earned several National Film Awards across categories and received the Padma Shri in 2000, recognizing his enduring influence on Indian cinema.