Nilu Phule

Nilu Phule (Marathi pronunciation: [niɭuː pʰuleː]; 4 April 1930 – 13 July 2009) was an Indian actor known for his roles in Marathi movies and Marathi theatre. Nilu Phule acted in around 250 Marathi and Hindi movies during his film career. He was most prominently seen playing the roles of notorious villains in the movies. He is recipient of numerous accolades including a Filmfare Award Marathi, four Maharashtra State Film Awards, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and Zee Chitra Gaurav Lifetime Achievement Award.

Phule was also a social worker, and was associated with Rashtra Seva Dal.

Early life Phule was born in 1930 in Pune as Nilkanth Krushnaji Phule in a Mali (gardener) family. He is the great grandson of Indian social reformer Jyotirao Phule. He was involved in the independence movement. According to his interview in a serial 'Vastraharan' on a Marathi channel, he was a freedom fighter from Pune.

Phule's first job was that of a gardener at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune aged 17. He used to get a salary of Rs. 80 per month, out of which, he used to donate Rs. 10 to the Rashtriya Seva Dal, a social organization he was involved with. He wanted to pursue his gardening career forward, but due to lack of financial support, he could not start his own plant nursery. During this time, at the age of 20, Nilu was inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's writings and went on to write a drama, Udyan. His composing for the drama Yerya Gabalache Kam Nahi during the 1957 Indian general election garnered him fame.

Death Nilu Phule died on 13 July 2009, aged 79, from esophageal cancer. His wife Rajani Phule died in 2011. They are survived by their daughter Gargi Phule Tathe. Zee Chitra Gaurav Lifetime Achievement Award

Plays Acted Katha Akalecha Kandyachi Sakharam Binder

Filmography