Ashwini Kalsekar

der Neena Gupta to pursue her dream to become and actress. Between 1992 and 1995,she also got trained under Muzammeel Vakil a theatre coach. Ashwini Kalsekar is a trained Kathak dancer.

Ashwini Kalsekar primarily worked with Sriram Raghavan, Rohit Shetty, Ram Gopal Varma and Ekta Kapoor. She is an actress who worked predominantly in Marathi and Hindi television and film industry. 

She played the Cop in the popular television show, CID.  Her first lead role in television was on Zee TV’s 1999 series Mr.Gayab. Ashwini had risen to fame with negative characters in Kasamh Se. Afsar Britiya, Jodha Akbar, Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar and Kavach. She also featured as a judge in the Marathi reality show ‘Fu Bai Fu’ in the year 2011. 

Like her husband Murali Sharma, Ashwini debuted in Tollywood with the film Badrinath. Since 2019 she is focused on web series on OTT and with Zee5’s series, ‘Chargesheet’. She also featured in The Shuttlecock Murder in the MX player web series, Cheesecake as Chaaru, an animal communicator which had premiered in December 2019, in 36 Farmhouse on Zee 5 and on Hotstar Special show Rudra The Edge of Darkness.

However, Ashwini had mentioned in one of her interviews that Shanti was her first acting project, followed by her success in television serials such as CID, Anjaane, Siddhant and K. Street Pali Hill.

In 1990 Ashwini Kalsekar appeared in an Odia film Paradeshi Chadhei.  In 1996 she performed in the Marathi film, Tula Jhapar La. She did many films in Marathi in supporting roles.

Ashwini’s biggest break came when she played the antagonist in Ekta Kapoor’s soap Kasamh Se where she played Jigyasa Walia. The role fetched her the Indian Television Academy Award for Best Actress in a Negative Role. She also won in the Indian Telly Awards for Best Actress in a Negative role, besides many other major awards.

In 2012, Ashwini Kalsekar played the role of Maham Anga the foster mother of Emperor Akbar in the historical drama series, Jodha Akbar by Ekta Kapoor. The role fetched her critical acclaim and she won major awards. She went on to win the Indian Telly Award for Best Actress in a Negative Role. She also won the Best Actress for Negative Role at the Boro plus Gold Award. She was a part of Marathi comedy reality show, Fu Bai Fu. She was also the judge of the show along with Swapnil Joshi and Sanjay Jadhav for 2 seasons in 2012.

In 2014, Ashwini performed the role of Pam Khanna in Ekta Kapoor’s soap Itna Karo Na Mujhe Pyaar.

Ashwini has been a versatile actress known for her dynamic supporting roles and some of her comedic timings in Hindi, Marathi and Tamil cinema. She has had major blockbusters, been a part of thriller films and horror comedies. Her most notable films that she featured in are, Golmaal Returns, Golmaal 3, Golmaal Again, Bhool Bhuliyaa 2 and 3, Cirkus, Vicky Vidya Ka Who Wala Video one of her most recent in 2024. She also acted in films like Khakhee, Johnny Gaddaar, Singham Returns, Badlapur, Simmba, Andhadhun, and few notable dramas such as Merry Christmas, Hamare Baarah and Vanvaas all of which were released in 2024 and in Son of Sardaar 2 released in 2025.

Ashwini Kalsekar’s most recent film in 2026 is The Narmada Story released on 12th June 2026. She plays the role of Agni Dhurve a tribal woman from Madhya Pradesh fighting the human trafficking syndicate.