Jyoti Chandekar(1957-2025)

Jyoti Chandekar was an acclaimed Indian actor, primarily known for her extensive work in the Marathi film industry. She is also the mother of prominent Marathi actress Tejaswini Pandit.Early in her career, Chandekar worked alongside several celebrated figures, including a prominent role with Amitabh Bachchan in one of his Hindi films. In 1999, she appeared in the popular Marathi thriller Bindhaast, which featured an all-women cast. Her small yet prominent role contributed to the film's massive success, which was subsequently remade in various languages.Chandekar was recognized for her compelling performances in Marathi films such as Guru, Deva Ek Atrangee, and Bhikari. In the 2010 Marathi film Sukhant, she portrayed the character Sita, a bedridden mother, opposite Atul Kulkarni, who played her son.A highlight of her career was the critically acclaimed drama Tichaa Umbartha, where she shared the screen with her daughter, Tejaswini Pandit, who played the lead role. Their performances were highly praised, and Chandekar received the "Best Supporting Actor" award at the Zee Gaurav Awards in 2015 for her powerful role in the film.On television, she was part of the famous Marathi series Chatriwaali and later performed in the series Tu Saubhagyavati Ho (2021), where she shared the screen with Deeksha Ketkar and Harish Dudhade. Her later work included the Marathi film Shyamchi Aai (2023), directed by Sujay Dahake, and the series Tharala Tar Mag (2024), where she played the role of Poorna Ajji.Jyoti Chandekar passed away on 16th August 2025 at her home in Pune after a prolonged illness.