Nishigandha Wad

Nishigandha Wad (; born 11 October 1969) is an Indian actress and author known for her work in Marathi cinema, television, and theatre, while also appearing in Hindi films and television. With a career spanning more than three decades, she became a prominent presence in Marathi cinema during the 1990s, particularly known for portraying strong and independent female characters, and later established a parallel career in Hindi television.

Wad began performing as a child in Marathi stage productions before making her television debut in the serial Aavhan, which brought her early recognition. She entered Hindi films with Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro (1989) and made her Marathi film debut opposite Ashok Saraf in Sachin Pilgaonkar's Eka Peksha Ek, going on to appear in films such as Shejari Shejari (1990), Bandhan (1991), Bala Jo Jo Re (1993), and Sada Haldi Kunkwacha (1997) as well as more than twenty-five television serials, including Kulvadhu (2008–2010). From the 2000s, she broadened her work in Hindi film and television, with roles in Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge (2002), the long-running serial Sasural Simar Ka (2011–2018), Wazir (2016), and Race 3 (2018), and later played Jijabai in the historical serial Jai Bhavani Jai Shivaji (2021) and the film Har Har Mahadev (2022). She has since continued to work in Hindi television, including Suman Indori (2024–2025) and O Humnava Tum Dena Saath Mera (2026).

Alongside her acting career, Wad has pursued academic research extensively, completing a PhD from the University of Mumbai in 2003 on the changing role of women in Marathi and British theatre, and a second PhD in 2013 on women's empowerment; she is currently pursuing a third doctorate on the poetry of Shanta Shelke. In addition, she has authored several Marathi-language books, three of which have received Maharashtra state literary awards.

Early life Nishigandha Wad was born on 11 October 1969 in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, to the writer Vijaya Wad and Dr. Vijay Wad. She has a younger sister, Prajakta, who works as a medical professional. Raised in a household with strong literary and academic leanings, Wad took an early interest in acting, taking part in cultural programmes and school plays while studying in primary school.

Her performances at inter-school drama competitions earned her recognition during her school years, and while in the sixth standard she received a National Scholarship for Dramatics from the Department of Culture, Government of India. During her secondary schooling, she also acted in commercial Marathi plays such as Premachya Gava Jaave, Moruchi Mavshi and Asa Ghadla Kasa.

Career Wad was noticed by Atmaram Bhende in 1987, who gave her a television break with his directorial Marathi serial Aavhan, written by Jaywant Dalvi, in which she played Veena; the serial went on to become a major success, earning her several Best Actress honours in the years that followed.

Wad made her Marathi film debut in 1990 with Sachin Pilgaonkar's comedy Eka Peksha Ek, followed by Shejari Shejari the same year, both of which starred her opposite Ashok Saraf. She subsequently appeared in leading roles in films such as Bandhan (1991), Vaat Pahate Punvechi (1992), Wajva Re Wajva (1993), Premankur (1993) and Topi Var Topi (1994). In 1993, Wad starred opposite Ajinkya Deo in Bala Jo Jo Re, a Marathi remake of the 1985 Hindi film Sanjog, and also portrayed Maharani Tarabai, the courageous Maratha queen who led the Maratha Empire against Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, in Dinkar D. Patil’s historical film Shivrayachi Soon Tararani. During this period, she also appeared in supporting roles in Hindi films such as Pratikar (1991) and Karm Yodha (1992). She also appeared in episodic roles in popular television series including Zee Horror Show, Saturday Suspense, X Zone and Star Bestsellers. She continued to work in Marathi cinema through the late 1990s and early 2000s, appearing in films such as Sada Haldi Kunkwacha (1997), Rang Premacha (1998), Pathrakhin (1999), Navra Majhya Muthit Ga (2000), Hrudaysparshi (2000), and He Khel Nashibache (2001), often portraying strong, independent female characters alongside actors such as Ashok Saraf, Ajinkya Deo, Ramesh Bhatkar and Ashok Shinde.

From the early 2000s, Wad explored further into Hindi cinema and television, increasingly taking on supporting and character roles. She played Salman Khan’s mother in Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge and Ameesha Patel’s caring aunt in Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage, and went on to portray mother and elder roles in several Hindi films. In 2006, she starred in the Marathi drama Akhand Saubhagyawati, directed and produced by her husband, Deepak Deulkar. Around the same period, she gained wider recognition for her performance in Zee Marathi’s popular daily soap Kulvadhu, alongside Milind Gunaji, Poorva Gokhale and Subodh Bhave. In 2012, she took on one of her few Hindi film lead roles in the drama In the Name of Tai, in which she played Tai, a courageous village lawyer who fights against powerful builders and politicians to protect her community’s land. Although the film received mixed reviews, her performance was praised, with The Times of India noting that Wad brought dignity to the film.

The 2010s were largely dominated by her television work. Wad appeared in the long-running Hindi serial Sasural Simar Ka (2011–2016), playing Sujata Bharadwaj, and later featured in Sajda Tere Pyaar Mein (2012), Khushiyon Kii Gullak Aashi (2014) and Savitri Devi College & Hospital (2017–2018). On the film front, she played Aditi Rao Hydari’s mother in the Hindi thriller Wazir (2016) and later portrayed Anil Kapoor’s wife in the action film Race 3 (2018).

In 2021, Wad returned to Marathi television after nearly a decade away from the medium, taking on the role of Rajmata Jijau in the Star Pravah's historical serial Jai Bhavani Jai Shivaji. The following year, she reprised the role in Abhijeet Deshpande’s historical action film Har Har Mahadev, which grossed around ₹25 crore (US$2.6 million) and became the third-highest-grossing Marathi film of 2022. Wad later played Hina Akhtar, a strong-willed and traditional woman whose past actions become central to Ghazal’s quest for revenge, in the Hindi serial Rabb Se Hai Dua (2023–2024) and subsequently joined the Colors TV family drama Suman Indori (2024–2025), where she played a senior member of the Mittal family. In 2026, she appeared in the television series Mahadev & Sons as Radha Bajpai.

Personal life and other works Wad is married to actor Deepak Deulkar, known for playing Balram in the television series Shri Krishna (1993–1997). The couple, who live in Mumbai, have a daughter named Ishwari.

Wad completed a doctorate from the University of Mumbai in 2003, under the guidance of historian Varsha Shirgaonkar, with a dissertation titled Changing Role of Women in Society – Reflections from Marathi and British Theatres. In a 2021 interview, Wad said she had gone on to pursue two further doctorates, one on women's empowerment beginning in 2013 and another, then in progress, on the poetry of Shantabai Shelke. Alongside acting, she has authored several Marathi-language books, some of which have received state literary honours, and has spoken publicly on subjects such as women's empowerment and personal relationships. She also served as the editor of the Marathi magazine CharChoughi for more than a decade.

In December 2020, comments she made opposing same-sex marriage during an appearance on a Marathi talk show drew online criticism. She later told The Times of India that she was not homophobic and that her remarks had been misconstrued.

Filmography Films

Television

Theatre

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