Who Is Sonali Kulkarni? Age, Biography and Wiki
Sonali Kulkarni, born on November 3, 1974, is a prominent Indian actress known for her versatile roles in Marathi and Hindi cinema. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as a talented actress, director, and writer. As of 2025, Sonali is 50 years old. Her dedication to the arts is reflected not only in her performances but also in her involvement in various social causes and initiatives.
Occupation | Producer |
---|---|
Date of Birth | November 3, 1974 |
Age | 50 Years |
Birth Place | Pune, Maharashtra, India |
Horoscope | Scorpio |
Country | India |
Popularity
Sonali Kulkarni's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Sonali Kulkarni stands at an impressive height of 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm). Her weight is approximately 57 kg (126 lbs). Known for her fit physique and graceful appearance, Sonali maintains a healthy lifestyle, contributing to her stunning looks even at the age of 50.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Sonali Kulkarni comes from a well-respected family with a rich background in the arts. As of 2025, Sonali is in a committed relationship but prefers to keep her boyfriend's identity private, respecting their shared desire for confidentiality. She values her personal life away from the public eye and focuses on maintaining a balance between her career and family life.
Her father is an engineer, and she has two older brothers, Sandeep and Sandesh. She attended Abhinava Vidyalaya and graduated from Fergusson College, where she majored in political science and received a scholarship in Marathi literature. She trained in Bharatanatyam for eleven years and in classical music for four.
For her interest in acting, she attended a workshop by Satyadev Dubey, after which she and Sandesh formed a theatre group called Samanvay. Sandesh is a director and is married to actress Amruta Subhash.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Sonali Kulkarni’s estimated net worth stands at approximately $5 million. Her earnings primarily come from her work in films, television, and endorsements. Over the years, she has built a lucrative career that includes roles in commercial hits and critically acclaimed films.
Next, she appeared in the Marathi crime thriller Manvat Murders, directed by Ashish Bende, the series is based on real incidents from the Marathwada region, where multiple women were murdered in a village.
She portrayed a woman unable to have children who becomes involved in ritualistic killings alongside Uttamrao Barhate (played by Makarand Anaspure) in pursuit of hidden wealth. She described her role as one of the most challenging of her career.
Her performance received rave reviews, Archi Sengupta of Leisure Byte stated, "Kulkarni brings a desperate yet threatening antagonist to the floor," while Manas Mitul of Gadgets 360 called her performance "one of her finest" and added, "she has done an exceptional job of portraying this unabashed faith in an immoral cause...
she'll make you uncomfortable every time she is on the screen." She won the NDTV Marathi Entertainment Awards for Best Actress.
Career, Business and Investments
Sonali's career began in the late 1990s, and since then she has appeared in numerous films, both in Marathi and Hindi. Some of her notable works include "Kandukondain Kandukondain," "Gadad Jambhal," and "Shikasta." Additionally, she has ventured into production and has invested in several successful projects, showcasing her versatility not only as an actress but also as a savvy businesswoman.
In 2025, Sonali continues to work on influential projects and is involved in various philanthropic activities. Her passion for social issues is evident in her work, advocating for women's rights and education.
In 2018, her chemistry with Siddharth Chandekar in Gulabjaam was praised.
Mihir Bhange of TOI called the film "a tasty meal that leaves a sweet aftertaste," adding, "she [Kulkarni] is the salt in the film; that bit without which the recipe would be bland and incomplete." Yogesh Pawar of DNA stated, "She brings to her Radha Agarkar an organic vulnerability and strength that sets the tone for her character's trajectory." A
lok Deshpande, The Hindu reviewer, wrote: "Kulkarni has delivered one of the best performances of her career in Gulabjaam.
Her anger, helplessness, rare smiles, and surrendering to the past, paint a memorable Radha." Her subsequent films, Hope Aur Hum and Madhuri, garnered mixed reviews, although her acting was praised. She then portrayed veteran Hindi and Marathi actress Sulochana Latkar in the biography Ani... Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar.
Social Network
Sonali Kulkarni is quite active on social media platforms, where she engages with her fans and shares insights into her life and career. You can find her on the following platforms:
- Instagram: @sonalikulkarni
- Twitter: @sonalikulkarni
In 2001, she appeared in two successful Hindi films: Rajat Mukherjee's romantic thriller Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, which received critical acclaim and grossed ₹ 281 million (US$3.5 million) at the box office, and Farhan Akhtar's coming-of-age comedy-drama film Dil Chahta Hai, in which she starred opposite Saif Ali Khan and the film went on to become t
he year's fifth highest-grossing film.
Mehul Kumar's Kitne Door Kitne Paas, critically acclaimed musical ensemble Dil Vil Pyar Vyar, and Agni Varsha, a silver screen adaptation of Girish Karnad's Mahabharata play The Fire and The Rain, being box-office failures in 2002.
Despite her unsuccessful Hindi films, she received a Special Mention – Non-Feature Film at the 49th National Film Awards for her role in the Marathi culturally diverse short film Chaitra. Based on author G.A.
Kulkarni's story of the same name, the tale is about a proud woman, her beautiful redemption from an unfair societal insult, and her tragic bad luck, set during the Haldi-Kumkum festival.
Education
Sonali Kulkarni completed her schooling in Pune and later enrolled at the Savitribai Phule Pune University, where she earned a degree in Sociology. Her education played a significant role in shaping her perspective on various social issues, which she often addresses through her work in cinema and community initiatives.
She has worked in over 70 films, both experimental and non-experimental, in addition to acting in a few non-Indian films. She is regarded as one of the most versatile Marathi actresses. Although born into a middle-class Maharashtrian family in Pune, Kulkarni was drawn to acting at an early age and had attended Satyadev Dubey's acting workshops.
At the age of 18, she made her cinematic debut in the Hindi film Cheluvi (1992). Later, she debuted with Mukta (1994) in Marathi. This was followed by critical praise with Doghi (1995), Daayraa (1996), and Gharabaher (1999), the former earning her Maharashtra State Film Award and Filmfare Marathi Award.
Subsequently, she starred in the Hindi films Mission Kashmir (2000), Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (2000), Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001), Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Taxi Number 9211 (2006), and Singham (2011). She received further acclaim and a National Film Award for her portrayal of a powerful woman in the Marathi-language short film Chaitra (2002).