Alka Kubal-Athalye (born 23 September 1965) is a Marathi film actress from Mumbai, India. in a carrier spanning 40 years She has worked over 100 Marathi and some Hindi movies. Her film Maherchi Sadi made her a household name in Maharashtra. She has often played strong and complicated female characters—from fictional to literary—in both mainstream and independent films. Kubal won twice Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress and nominated three times for Filmfare Marathi Awards.
Kubal established herself as the most popular Marathi actress of the 1980s and 1990s. She is best known for her performances in films such as Streedhan (1984), Lek Chalali Sasarla (1984), Tujhyawachun Karmena (1986), Shubha Bol Narya (1990), Maherchi Sadi (1991), Soona Yeti Ghara (1995), Kamaal Majhya Baikochi (1997), Navsach Por (1998), and Devki (2001).
Early life Kubal was born on 23 September 1965 in Mumbai. Her father, Ladu Krishna Kubal, served as a superintendent in the technical department of Tata Mills, while her mother, Sumati Kubal, was a teacher in a municipal school. She completed her schooling at Maharashtra Vidyalaya in Goregaon and later attended Dalmia College in Mumbai, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Psychology.
Although she did not come from a family with a background in the arts, Kubal was drawn to the creative field from an early age. She began her career as a child artist on the Marathi stage, performing in approximately 400 shows of various plays during her school years. Her most notable theatrical works from this period include Natsamrat, Sandhyachhaya, and Veda Vrindavan.
Personal life She is married to the cinematographer Sameer Athalye, and along with acting she produced some Marathi films like Aamhi Ka Tisre (2012), Agnipariksha (2010) and Suwasinichi Hee Satwapariksha (2010). She has played the role of the mother in the biopic Dr Tatyarao Lahane... Angaar Power is Within.
Career Early career and cinematic debut (1981–1984) Alka Kubal began her professional acting journey on the Marathi stage, appearing in plays such as Aapla Manus and Vatvat Savitri. She made her silver screen debut in 1981 with the film Chakra. Her first major commercial success came with the 1984 film Lek Chalali Sasarla, which performed exceptionally well across Maharashtra and established her as a leading actress in the industry.
Stardom and "Queen of Family Dramas" (1980s–1990s) Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, Kubal became synonymous with family-centric and female-oriented cinema. She specialized in portraying various domestic roles, including the resilient daughter, obedient daughter-in-law, and devoted mother. Her career reached a historic peak with the 1991 blockbuster Maherchi Sadi, which became one of the highest-grossing films in Marathi cinema history. She received critical acclaim and awards for her performances in Streedhan and Tujhyavachun Karmena. To challenge her image as a sentimental heroine, she ventured into comedy with the film Shrimant Damodar Pant.
Film Production and Television (2000s–Present) After three decades in front of the camera, Kubal expanded into film production. Her production credits include Suwasinichi Sattvapariksha, Nate Mama-Bhachiche, Agnipariksha, and the socially relevant film Aamhi Ka Tisre, which addressed the challenges faced by the transgender community.
She has also been a prominent figure on Marathi television, starring in popular series such as Yugandhara, Amrutvel, Bandini, Ye Re Ye Re Paisa, Akashzhep, Mangalsutra, and Aai Majhi Kalubai. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, she has appeared in over 250 Marathi films. Filmography Films YearTitleRole Notes1979SobatiUnnamed1981ChakraAmli1984StreedhanRatnaLead debut Maharashtra State Film Award for Best ActressLek Chalali SasarlaMukta Inamdar 1985Vahinichi MayaMadhavi 1986Tujhya Vachun KaramenaAnuradha Suryavanshi Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress1987Porichi Dhamaal Bapachi KamaalNeela1988NashibwanAlka 1989De TaaliAlka Daji Raoji RedeRajane Wajvila BajaKaruna Auntie Ne Vajavili GhantiSharmila PansareRickshaw WaliSujataMadhu Chandrachi RatraNainaDharla Tar ChavtayNayan Patil Zakali Muth Sawa LakhachiVidyaGharkul Punha HasaveLaxmiBalache Baap BrahmachariKamal Patil 1990Shubha Bol NaryaLaxmi Dhumakool AlkaLapwa ChhapwiSita Gokhale 1991Yeda Ki KhulaMohini Bandalbaaz Manju Aandhala Sakshidar Nilofar D'Souza Kal Ratri 12 Wajta Lakshmi Fatfajiti Maina Doctor Doctor Suman Jasa Baap Tashya PoriPooja Thorat-Sahukar Maherchi SadiLaxmiNaya ZaherAlkaHindi film 1992 Anuradha Anuradha / Madhavi Amrutvel Nanda Khulyancha Bazar Radha 1993 Tainchya Bangdya Suman Chaar Diwas Sasuche Shalu Ram Rahim Alka Mahercha Aaher Uma Jadhav 1994 Gharandaaz1995Zakhmi KunkuDurga Taich Lagna Alka Senani Sane Guruji Yashodabai Sunbaichi PunyaaiShila Soona Yeti GharaSavitriNominated Filmfare Award for Best Actress – MarathiOti Hi Khana NarlachiLaxmi1996 Durga Aali Ghara Janki Deshmukh Maya Mamta Shante1997Sasuchi MayaGayatri Naik Baba Kamaal Majhya Baikochi Laxmi Niphadkar Bahini Bahini Tyaag 1998 Navsach Por ShantaNominated Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Marathi1999Nirmala Macchindra KambleNirmala Sasar Majhe He Bhagyacha Maherchi Pahuni Shubhangi Tuch Majhi SuhasiniSuhasini PratidaavDhangad DhingaMrs. Nadkarni 2000 Tochi Ek Samrat2001Shirdi Sai BabaTulsiDevkiVasudha Paranjpe Tulas Aali Ghara Varsha Inamadar Zak Marli Mumbai Pahili2002OwaliniDevki Kumbhar Maratha Bataliyan Savitri Bhosle 2003 NishkalankMansi Desai Bhaubeej Mrs khan2004Aai Tuza AshirwadUrmila Oti KrishnamaichiKrushna Majh Ghar Tujha Sansar Sarita Suhasinichi Hi Satvapariksha Suman 2006NaatigotiKusum V. Rao Gruhlakshmi Laxmi2010AgniparikshaAlka 2012He Vaat JeevanachiLaxmiAmhi Ka TisreAnu's wife 2013Sur Rahu DeDeepikaShrimant Damodar PantShanta (Mai) Majhi ShalaSavitri Sant SevalalUnnamed 2014Marg Maza AekalaLaxmi 2015Olakh - My IdentitySanjay's motherTe Don DiwasAlkaAnjaan ParindeyUnnamed 2016Well Done BhalyaRahul's mother's ChiranjeevGanya Kaka's wife2018Ghar Hota MenachaLaxmiDr. Tatya Lahane - Angaar Power is WithinAnjanabai2019Wedding Cha ShinemaPrakash's mother2020DhuralaJyoti Tai Ubhe2022Sher ShivrajTulja Bhavani2023Aalay Majhya RashilaAai SubhedarJana Garadhin2025ManglaSuhasini Deshpande
Television Year Title Role Notes2008Anand Baba Chichondi, Ahmednagar dd Sahyadri2008Ashta Roopa Jai Vaibhavlaxmi MataSheela2020-2021Aai Majhi KalubaiKalubaiLead role
Awards
Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress For Debut Film Streedhan. Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress For Tujhyawachun Karmena. Nominated Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Marathi for film Soona Yeti Ghara. Nominated Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Marathi For Film Navsach Por. Nominated Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Marathi for film Dhurala. She has received several awards including the V. Shantaram Award in 2016, Rajya Sanskrutik Puraskar in 2013 and many others.
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