Makarand Deshpande

In 1990, mentored by Sanjana Kapoor, Makarand formally anchored himself at Mumbai’s iconic Prithvi Theatre. Seeking absolute creative independence, he collaborated with actor Kay Kay Menon in 1993 to establish the Ansh Theatre Group. Theatre quickly transitioned from a passion to his literal way of life. Under the Ansh banner, he became a force of nature, writing hundreds of boundary-pushing plays. Some of his most celebrated stage pieces include: Sir Sir Sirla, Maa In Transit, Joke, Krishna Kidding, Patni (a highly acclaimed musical-theatrical act co-created with sitar maestro Niladri Kumar).

While theatre remains his core foundation, the silver screen turned Makarand into a household name across India. Directors frequently cast him as complex wayfarers, comedic wanderers, or unpredictable villains due to his fierce gaze and distinct voice. 

He left an indelible mark on Hindi cinema through acclaimed collaborations in Satya (1998), Sarfarosh (1999), Ram Gopal Varma’s Jungle (2000), Ashutosh Gowariker’s Swades (2004), and Vishal Bhardwaj's children's horror-comedy Makdee (2002).

Expanding smoothly beyond Bollywood, Makarand achieved incredible regional popularity. He won back-to-back South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) in 2012 for his chilling negative roles in the Kannada thriller Dandupalya and the Malayalam film No. 66 Madhura Bus. He also featured prominently in massive cinematic epics, including S.S. Rajamouli’s RRR (2022) and the action feature Daaku Maharaaj (2025). 

As a filmmaker, Makarand has sat in the director's chair for over five films, including Hanan (2004), which secured a nomination at the prestigious Busan International Film Festival. In 2024, he crossed over to global audiences by making his English-language debut as a powerful antagonist in Dev Patel’s critically acclaimed action thriller, Monkey Man.