Overview
Supriya Pilgaonkar is an Indian actress and television producer known for her work in Marathi and Hindi films and television serials. She rose to popularity in the late 1980s with the Marathi film Maherchi Saadi and later became a household name through the Hindi television sitcom Tu Tu Main Main. She is married to actor and producer Sachin Pilgaonkar, with whom she has frequently collaborated on screen and in production.
Key Facts
| Full name | Supriya Pilgaonkar (née Sabnis) |
|---|---|
| Profession | Actress, television producer |
| Languages | Marathi, Hindi |
| Spouse | Sachin Pilgaonkar |
| Child | Shriya Pilgaonkar (actress) |
| Notable Marathi film | Maherchi Saadi |
| Notable TV serial | Tu Tu Main Main |
| Production banner | Sachin Pilgaonkar Productions (with husband) |
Background
Supriya was born into a Maharashtrian family and was drawn to performing arts from a young age. She entered films through Marathi cinema, which had a strong tradition of family-oriented dramas during the 1980s. Her marriage to actor-director Sachin Pilgaonkar, a long-established figure in Marathi and Hindi cinema, brought her into a working partnership that has spanned several decades across films, television and stage.
Career
Marathi cinema
Supriya's breakthrough came with Maherchi Saadi, a Marathi family drama that became a major commercial success and remains one of the most widely watched Marathi films of its era. The film established her as a leading actress capable of carrying emotional, family-centric narratives. She continued to work in Marathi films, often opposite or under the direction of Sachin Pilgaonkar, in titles that have shaped popular Marathi cinema.
Hindi television
Supriya gained nationwide recognition through Tu Tu Main Main, a Hindi sitcom centred on the lighthearted disputes between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. The show, in which she starred opposite Reema Lagoo, ran successfully on Indian satellite television and is widely regarded as one of the defining family sitcoms of 1990s Indian television.
She subsequently appeared in a range of Hindi serials, including long-running daily soaps on channels such as Star Plus, Sony Entertainment Television and Zee TV. Her television credits include shows such as Kabhii Sautan Kabhii Sahelii, Sasural Genda Phool, where she played the matriarch of a large joint family, and Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi, in which her portrayal of a protective mother received wide popular attention.
Hindi cinema and other work
Supriya has appeared in supporting roles in Hindi films, often portraying mothers or strong family figures. She has also been involved in production through the family banner she runs with Sachin Pilgaonkar, which has produced Marathi films and television content. The couple has additionally participated in dance reality shows on Indian television as celebrity contestants.
Timeline
- Late 1980s: Debut and breakthrough in Marathi cinema with Maherchi Saadi.
- 1990s: Stardom on Hindi television with Tu Tu Main Main.
- 2000s: Continues working in Marathi films and Hindi serials; expands into production.
- 2010s: Notable roles in Sasural Genda Phool and Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi.
- 2020s: Continues with selective film, web and television projects.
Personal Life
Supriya is married to actor, director and producer Sachin Pilgaonkar. Their daughter, Shriya Pilgaonkar, is an actress who has worked in Hindi films and web series, including streaming platform productions. The Pilgaonkar family is based in Mumbai.
Significance
Supriya Pilgaonkar's career bridges Marathi regional cinema and mainstream Hindi television, making her a recognisable figure across both audiences. Her work in Maherchi Saadi contributed to the resurgence of family-oriented Marathi cinema in the late 1980s, while Tu Tu Main Main helped popularise the family sitcom format on Indian satellite television. She is regarded as one of the prominent actor-producer figures of her generation in Marathi entertainment.