Rohini Hatangadi
Rohini Hattangadi (née Oak; born 11 April 1955) is a distinguished Indian actress whose expansive body of work spans Marathi, Hindi, and several regional cinemas, in addition to theatre and television. She has received two Filmfare Awards and a National Film Award, and remains the only Indian actress to win the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, for her portrayal of Kasturba Gandhi in Gandhi (1982), the biographical film directed and produced by Richard Attenborough and written by John Briley.
Born in Pune, she was educated at Renuka Swaroop Memorial Girls High School before enrolling at the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, in 1971. Although the Film and Television Institute of India was located in her hometown, her artistic inclination remained firmly rooted in theatre, influenced by her father, Anant Oak. At NSD, she trained under Ebrahim Alkazi and graduated in 1974 with distinctions including Best Actress and Best All-Round Student. Her future husband, Jayadev Hattangadi, a fellow student specialising in direction, received the Best Director award; the two married in 1975. She also trained in classical dance forms such as Kathakali and Bharatanatyam for over eight years.
Hattangadi made her film debut with Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan (1978), followed by Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai (1980) and Chakra (1981). Her international breakthrough came with Richard Attenborough's Gandhi (1982), which brought her global acclaim but also led to early typecasting in older roles. She subsequently delivered acclaimed performances in parallel cinema, notably Arth (1982), Party (1984), and Saaransh (1984). She continued to balance art-house and mainstream cinema, appearing in Aghaat (1985), Anjuman (1986), Jalwa (1987), Pratighaat (1987), ChaalBaaz (1989), Agneepath (1990), Damini (1993), Ghatak: Lethal (1996), Pukar (2000), and Munnabhai MBBS (2003).
Across her career, she has appeared in more than 80 films and remained deeply engaged with theatre, where she honed her craft through productions such as Evam Indrajit (1963; later revivals featuring her family's involvement). Her television work includes Mahayagya (1997), Yeh Kahaan Aa Gaye Hum (2015), Intehaan (2009), and Hindustani (1996), along with Marathi serials Char Divas Sasuche (2001), Vahinisaheb (1999), and Honar Soon Mi Hya Gharchi (2013). She also appeared in Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann (2006) and Swamini (2019). In 2022, she reprised the role of Kasturba Gandhi in a Gujarati web series, reaffirming her enduring association with the character. She announced her retirement from television in November 2025.
In her personal life, she was married to theatre director Jayadev Hattangadi until his death in 2008. Their son, Aseem Hattangadi, is also a theatre actor and has appeared in stage productions such as Evam Indrajit.
Born in Pune, she was educated at Renuka Swaroop Memorial Girls High School before enrolling at the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, in 1971. Although the Film and Television Institute of India was located in her hometown, her artistic inclination remained firmly rooted in theatre, influenced by her father, Anant Oak. At NSD, she trained under Ebrahim Alkazi and graduated in 1974 with distinctions including Best Actress and Best All-Round Student. Her future husband, Jayadev Hattangadi, a fellow student specialising in direction, received the Best Director award; the two married in 1975. She also trained in classical dance forms such as Kathakali and Bharatanatyam for over eight years.
Hattangadi made her film debut with Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan (1978), followed by Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai (1980) and Chakra (1981). Her international breakthrough came with Richard Attenborough's Gandhi (1982), which brought her global acclaim but also led to early typecasting in older roles. She subsequently delivered acclaimed performances in parallel cinema, notably Arth (1982), Party (1984), and Saaransh (1984). She continued to balance art-house and mainstream cinema, appearing in Aghaat (1985), Anjuman (1986), Jalwa (1987), Pratighaat (1987), ChaalBaaz (1989), Agneepath (1990), Damini (1993), Ghatak: Lethal (1996), Pukar (2000), and Munnabhai MBBS (2003).
Across her career, she has appeared in more than 80 films and remained deeply engaged with theatre, where she honed her craft through productions such as Evam Indrajit (1963; later revivals featuring her family's involvement). Her television work includes Mahayagya (1997), Yeh Kahaan Aa Gaye Hum (2015), Intehaan (2009), and Hindustani (1996), along with Marathi serials Char Divas Sasuche (2001), Vahinisaheb (1999), and Honar Soon Mi Hya Gharchi (2013). She also appeared in Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann (2006) and Swamini (2019). In 2022, she reprised the role of Kasturba Gandhi in a Gujarati web series, reaffirming her enduring association with the character. She announced her retirement from television in November 2025.
In her personal life, she was married to theatre director Jayadev Hattangadi until his death in 2008. Their son, Aseem Hattangadi, is also a theatre actor and has appeared in stage productions such as Evam Indrajit.
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