Amol Palekar was born on November 24, 1944, in a Maharshtrian Saraswat Brahmin family is a well known actor of the '70s and later director of notable Indian movies.

A graduate from the J.J.School of Art, an actor and director on the Marathi stage in the evenings, Amol was a bank clerk during the day. He made his debut in Bollywood with Basu Chatterji's light film 'Rajnigandha', playing his real self as a clerk, and went on to play a middle class young man in several films 'Chhoti Si Baat', 'Chitchor', 'Gharonda', 'Baaton Baaton Mein', 'Damaad', 'Do Ladke Dono Kadke', 'Rang Birangi', 'Naram Garam'. But though some of his films were hits, the Maharashtrian Amol's market was considered limited to Mumbai.

Though he made a successful pair first with Vidya Sinha and later with Zarina Wahab, he refused to capitalize on that.

He made his presence felt as a director in films like 'Thodasa Romani Ho Jaye', 'Mriganayani' and 'Dayera` which was hailed as a unique, sensitively made film on the life of a transvestite.

He turned from actor to director with the Marathi film Aakriet.

He proved his capabilities as a director through his movie Paheli which was India's official entry in the race for Best Foreign Film at the 2006 Oscar. The movie, however, did not make it to the final nominations.

FILMOGRAPHY :

As an Actor

Aks
Baaton Baaton Mein
Golmaal
Rajnigandha
Rangbirangi
Naram Garam
Chhoti Si Baat
Do Ladke Dono Kadke
Meri Biwi Ki Shaadi
Chitchor
Damaad
Khamosh
Gharonda

As a Director

Akrit (Unimaginable) - 1981
Ankahi (Unspoken) - 1985
Thodasa Rumani Ho Jaye - 1990
Bangarwadi - 1995
Daayraa (The Square Circle) - 1996
Anahat (Forever)
Kairee (Raw mango) - 2001
Dhyaas Parva (Kal Kaa Aadmi in Hindi) - 2001 National Award for Best film on family welfare based on Raghunath Karve's life.
Paheli (Riddle) - 2005
thaang (quest) - 2006

TV Serials

Kachchi Dhoop - 1987
Naqab - 1988
Paoolkhuna - 1993
Mrignayanee - 1991
Kareena Kareena - 2004