Marathi cinema (मराठी चित्रपट) refers to films produced in the Marathi language in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is the oldest and pioneer film industry in India. The first Marathi movie released in India was 'Shree Pundalik' by Dadasaheb Torne on 18 May 1912 at 'Coronation Cinematograph', Mumbai.and a Marathi crew who were performing Marathi & Sanskrit Sangeet natikas (musicals) and plays in marathi at that period. The first Marathi talkie film, Ayodhyecha Raja (produced by Prabhat Films) was released in 1932, just one year after "Alam Ara" the first Hindi talkie film. Marathi cinema has grown in recent years. The industry is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Atul Kulkarni (born 10 September 1965) is an Indian actor who has won two National Awards and has attained the superstar status in Marathi film industry after successful movies like Valu and Natarang.

Kulkarni won a National Award for his portrayal of Shriram Abhyankar in the film Hey Ram. Although he started his career in theatre, he has won critical acclaim for his performances in films like Page 3 and the Aamir Khan starrer Rang De Basanti. He has acted in several Marathi movies including Maati Maay (A Gravekeeper's Tale) that premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. He has achieved superstar status in Marathi Films with the success of blockbuster movie of year 2009-10 Natarang.

Kulkarni was born on 10 September 1965 in Belgaum, Karnataka, India. Atul completed his secondary education (10th Standard) from Haribhai Devkaran High School, Solapur, Maharashtra. His father, a businessman, and his mother, a housewife, were settled in Solapur. He completed his Junior College (12th Standard) from Belgaum and was able to secure a seat for electrical engineering at College of Engineering Pune (COEP) . Due to his disinterest in engineering, he quit the college and came back to Solapur to join D. A. V. College, Solapur which was affiliated to Shivaji University. He completed his graduation in English literature.

Sonali Kulkarni (born 3 November 1974) is an Indian actress. She was born in Pune. She has worked in Marathi and Hindi films. She is known for her roles in Dil Chahta Hai, Singham, Taxi No 9211, and Gair.

Sonali Kulkarni first made her appearance on the screen in a Kannada film titled Cheluvi directed by Girish Karnad. She thereafter has appeared in many films, which includes an Italian film titled Fuoco Di Su Me for which she won an award in the 2006 Milan International Film Festival.

She has received a Special Jury Award (non-feature) in the 49th National Film Awards (2002) for her role in a short film in Marathi Chaitra.

Apart from acting, she was an editor with Viva, a supplement of Marathi daily newspaper Loksatta from June 2005 till May 2007. She used to pen a weekly column called "So Kool". The columns are published in the book So Kool by Rajahansa Prakashan. Actor Nana Patekar on the release of this book said, "Whenever I read her articles, I feel she is talking to me. There is so much of simplicity in her writing."

Milind Soman (Marathi: मिलिंद सोमण) (born 4 November 1965) is an India model, actor, and film producer.

Milind Soman was born in Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin Family in Scotland and lived in England until the age of seven, when his family moved back to India. He is a Gowd Saraswat Brahmin form his maternal side. He was also a national-level swimmer for India and was then discovered as a model.

For many years, Milind had a relationship with co-model Madhu Sapre.

In July 2006, Soman married Mylene Jampanoi, his French co-actor of the film "Valley of Flowers" in a tourist resort of Goa. They had met on the sets of the same film. The two divorced in 2009. Soman is seeing another actress Shahana Goswami, but they broke up.

Soman was one of the earliest professional male models in India. His first significant work was to model in an advertising campaign for a clothing manufacturer. He quickly became one of the most successful models in the country.^{[citation needed]} He rose to further fame while featuring in Alisha Chinai's superhit music video, Made in India (1995) which then made him a household name.

Smita Patil (17 October 1955 – 13 December 1986) was an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. Regarded among the finest stage and film actresses of her times, Patil appeared in over 75 Hindi and Marathi films in a career that spanned just over a decade. During her career, she received two National Film Awards and a Filmfare Award. She was the recipient of the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour in 1985.

Patil graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune and made her film debut with Shyam Benegal's Charandas Chor (1975). She became one of the leading actresses of parallel cinema, a New Wave movement in India cinema, though she also appeared in several mainstream movies throughout her career. Her performances were often acclaimed, and her most notable roles include Manthan (1977), Bhumika (1977), Aakrosh (1980), Chakra (1981), Chidambaram (1985) and Mirch Masala (1985).

Apart from acting, Patil was an active feminist (in a distinctly Indian context) and a member of the Women's Centre in Mumbai. She was deeply committed to the advancement of women's issues, and gave her endorsement to films which sought to explore the role of women in traditional Indian society, their sexuality, and the changes facing the middle-class woman in an urban milieu.